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It started during an otherwise regular visit to the Northern Palace. Luo Binghe and Mobei-Jun were off discussing some important Demon Realm business, leaving their partners to wile away a few hours catching up. The first thing Shen Qingqiu noticed upon entering Shang Qinghua’s private study was—

“How the fuck do you have a computer?” he demanded, aghast, staring at the offending object which was sitting on Shang Qinghua’s work desk amongst his scrolls and calligraphy supplies like it was the most natural place in the world to find a piece of 20th century technology. It was, admittedly, a fairly clunky looking thing, nothing like the laptop its owner had once used to crank out ten-thousand word chapters in a day, but…still. What the fuck.

Shang Qinghua looked like he didn’t understand the question. “Well, it cost me nearly all of the B-Points I’d been saving, but it had to be done if I was going to keep writing as much as I used to.” He patted the monitor with a sigh. “Even if it is basically just a word processor and nothing else. All I can do is type with it. Can’t afford the better ones. Unlike you, I don’t earn points just by satisfying my husband.”

Shen Qingqiu stared at him, trying to reconcile what he’d just heard with something that made sense. “I—you what? Your System traded it for points?”

It was Shang Qinghua’s turn to look at him blankly. “I bought it from the Perk Store. You don’t have one?”

“No, I don’t have one. How long have you had one?”

“Years! Ever since the main story finished and I unlocked my premium account!” Shang Qinghua said, sounding slightly incredulous. “Didn’t the System upgrade your profile when you finished?”

“Well, yes, but—” Shen Qingqiu pinched the bridge of his nose and turned around. “System!”

The interface that popped up before him was familiar, albeit not one that he had seen in several years. “The System is available 24-hours for your convenience. How can I be of assistance? ”

“What’s this ‘Perk Store’? Do I have one?”

The interface suddenly changed to a scrolling list of items, each with a picture and a number beside it. “As the holder of a premium account, you are granted access to all of our quality Perks from across multiple worlds. These can be exchanged for B-Points at your own convenience. Refunds are not accepted.”

Shen Qingqiu couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?!”

“User deactivated all non-essential system notifications after completion of the main story.”

Right. Right. He did do that. And why shouldn’t he have? He’d finally beaten Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky’s nonsensical plot. He’d earned the right to settle down with his husband in peace without some obnoxious AI-and-possible-god-of-this-universe chiming in to say he’d earned five points for protagonist satisfaction every time he stretched and accidentally elbowed Binghe in the face. He was quite happy without the System butting in on his personal life. Or his sex life. Or, in fact, his life in general. 

To be totally honest, most of the time he forgot that the System even existed. There were no more essential side plots to complete and no need to collect points on fear of death. 

But if Shang Qinghua was able to get a computer, what other “Perks” did the System have in store… 

Waving away the interface, he turned back to Shang Qinghua, who raised his eyebrows. “Well?”

“I have access,” Shen Qingqiu said sheepishly. 

So Shen Qingqiu spent the next few hours familiarising himself with the catalogue. 

He was pleased to see that although he’d disabled point notifications, he still had quite a respectable number of B-Points accumulated since he last checked. (Naturally, the protagonist was very satisfied these days.)

The catalogue started simple, but even then, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t believe what he was looking at. For only ten points, he was able to buy a Starbucks coffee. For twenty, a bar of modern soap. It had everything…toothbrushes and toothpaste. Nice, fragrant shampoos and conditioners. A soft, fluffy pillow. Toilet paper. Shen Qingqiu stocked up on everything that even remotely struck his fancy, storing them inside a qiankun bag for the trip home. It had books. Shen Qingqiu would finally be able to know how some of the other novels he’d been reading when he died ended. It had tech. As Shang Qinghua had said, these were some of the more costly perks. Even the very basic typing computer he’d bought was 5000 B-Points, and for 200,000, you could even get a goddamn iPhone. 

He found he could search by function as well as price. His face turned red when he noticed there was a category labelled “sex and pleasure”, which he quickly swiped past. He wasn’t shameless enough to look at that stuff around Shang Qinghua even if it was only visible to himself. But he...tucked it aside for later. 

It had stuff from this world, too. Cultivation equipment like blank talismans and even some cool-looking weapons, but Shen Qingqiu ignored those. He wasn’t going to waste points on stuff he could get on his own and didn’t even really need. But this...this was a game changer. He couldn’t believe his luck. 

He glanced at his current point total as he finished his coffee. After all of his enthusiastic spending, it was down to about a thousand now. Certainly nothing to scoff at, but he should probably stop shopping in case he decided to save for one of the pricier perks later on. 

His life had just become a lot more interesting. 

Luo Binghe was a perceptive man, and he noticed his Shizun’s improved mood almost immediately. But it wasn’t until later that night, when they were finally getting ready for bed, that he had any inkling of what it was about. 

They were making out on the bed. (The new pillow was already a marked improvement. So much more comfortable.) Luo Binghe had one of Shen Qingqiu’s hands pinned and a knee pressed in between his legs. “Shizun,” he gasped, trailing a line of kisses along the underside of his chin. “Can I? I promise I’ll be careful.”

“Mn, Binghe has been very good,” Shen Qingqiu replied breathily, tipping his head back to give him better access to his neck. 

Delighted, Luo Binghe released his hand and shuffled back a little to begin removing his Shizun’s clothing. Shen Qingqiu helped him out, tugging impatiently at his husband’s belt. It didn’t take long before they were both completely stripped, their clothes in a pile by the bed. Luo Binghe eagerly moved to climb on top of him and reach for the jar of oil they kept nearby, but Shen Qingqiu suddenly stopped him, grabbing his hand. “Wait, wait, I forgot something.”

Binghe sat back curiously as Shen Qingqiu leaned over the side of the bed and picked up his discarded robe, rummaging through the sleeves until he withdrew a strange tube-shaped bottle. 

It was unlike anything that Luo Binghe had seen before, and he didn’t recognise some of the characters written on it. Even so, he obediently reached out and took it when Shen Qingqiu handed it to him. “Use this instead tonight,” Shen Qingqiu said, showing him how to open its cap. It made a clicking sound when he did so. “It’s better.”

“Where did it come from?” Luo Binghe asked curiously, squeezing out a small amount onto his fingers. It was silky smooth and more viscous than what they usually used, not to mention nicer-smelling. 

Shen Qingqiu blushed a little, making him look irresistibly adorable, but all he did was wave his hand. “Binghe, your teacher must be allowed to have some secrets.” 

At this, Luo Binghe met his gaze and raised his eyebrows, his interest piqued, but he had learned not to push his luck when his Shizun was being evasive. Especially during moments like these. “This disciple understands,” he purred contentedly, pushing Shen Qingqiu back onto the bed and kissing him deeply at the same time his fingers found their way between his legs. 

The moan that Shen Qingqiu gave in response to being breached was indescribable. Luo Binghe felt a shiver of pleasure run down his spine just from the simple sound. He was careful not to push in too fast, slowly circling his fingers around his rim a few times before steadily pressing one inside. 

The new lubricant did its job admirably, and with Binghe taking his time so attentively, there was none of the usual discomfort that Shen Qingqiu had come to associate with this. He made sure to show Binghe his appreciation, wrapping an arm around his neck and burying his face in his shoulder, holding him close. 

His poor disciple was practically trembling with desire. “Shizun, does it feel good?” 

Shen Qingqiu opened his eyes, pulling his head back to regard him. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Shizun when we’re like this?”

Luo Binghe smiled faintly. “This disciple…I apologise,” he said, spreading his fingers a little more inside Shen Qingqiu and making him see stars. “Then what would you like me to call you?” he asked, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Husband?” he asked, nuzzling against his hair. And then, in a lower voice right next to his ear, “...wife?”

With a flustered groan, Shen Qingqiu pushed back against the fingers that were steadily working him open. “Just get on with it!” 

Chuckling, Luo Binghe obliged, adding a third finger. “This new lubricant seems to work very well,” he murmured against Shen Qingqiu’s cheek before peppering it with more kisses. “What else do you have up your sleeves?”

Shen Qingqiu moaned into the side of his face. “You...will never find out if you don’t hurry up,” he snapped, although the sheer amount of arousal in his voice took away any bite it might have had. If anything, this answer made Luo Binghe even happier. He loved it when Shen Qingqiu was so openly desperate for him. 

After he’d decided he’d tortured him long enough, Luo Binghe withdrew his fingers and reached for the lube bottle again, spreading a liberal amount over his cock. The sensation was odd but not at all unpleasant. 

By the time Luo Binghe lined himself up, Shen Qingqiu was a mess, head turned to the side while he panted heavily. His silky black hair was splayed out enticingly over the pillow that he’d brought home today. Right here, like this, with his face flushed in desire and arousal, he was an absolute vision of beauty. Luo Binghe’s mouth went dry, unable to believe how fortunate he was. “My beautiful wife,” he murmured fondly, working the head of his cock inside. 

Giving another groan, Shen Qingqiu grabbed the edge of the pillow and pulled it up to cover his eyes. Luo Binghe smirked and grabbed his hand, prising it away. “Shizun, I want to see your face.” 

“S- stop calling me—”

Luo Binghe abruptly pushed in further while Shen Qingqiu was still talking, and the words cut off into a moan. Shen Qingqiu threw his head back, baring his neck, and Luo Binghe indulged in the feast put before him, biting down on the soft skin and making him gasp out in pain. 

Even so, the difference made by the modern lubricant was immediate and unmistakable. There was still a burn from Luo Binghe’s size—it was simply an unavoidable matter of physics—but it went in smoothly and easily, reaching the deepest parts of Shen Qingqiu’s body. Without even thinking about it, his legs jumped up to wrap around his waist. “Now you...keep going.”

Luo Binghe did not need any more encouragement. Grinning, he started to thrust, and soon, Shen Qingqiu’s whole body was rocking with the force of each motion. It was…

Oh, fuck, it was good. It was really fucking good. Shen Qingqiu adjusted his hips, trying to get the angle just right, and then let out a cry of pleasure as his prostate was suddenly being rammed every single time. 

…Not to say that it was normally bad. Shen Qingqiu wasn’t the kind of masochist who would keep doing this with Binghe if he got nothing out of it. But he’d more or less accepted that it was always going to be at least a little bit painful, too. Sometimes more than a little, even with the lubricant that they used. It was just an inevitability with the size of that damn pillar. Right now, though, he was starting to think that that might not be the case… 

Luo Binghe, for his part, was absolutely beside himself with joy. He watched Shen Qingqiu, transfixed, drinking in every little gasp and moan and sign of his Shizun’s pleasure. A tear prickled in the corner of his eye—a happy one. “How is it? Is it good?” he asked eagerly. 

Another moan left Shen Qingqiu’s lips. This damn disciple could still fish for compliments even when they were like this? He didn’t answer, eyes screwed shut. 

Eventually, Luo Binghe curled a hand into Shen Qingqiu’s hair, kissing him roughly for a few moments before he broke it off again, their faces inches apart. “Shizun, does it feel good?” he asked again, a quiet plea.

Shen Qingqiu threw an arm over his eyes, burying his face in his elbow and realising, as he did so, that his face was wet with tears. “Y- yes…” 

Luo Binghe’s eyes widened. “It does? You like it?”

His thrusts suddenly become harder, invigorated. Shen Qingqiu let out a sob. “Yes! Husband, it feels so good!” he gasped out, his voice breaking on the last word. “P- please…”

He felt a hand on his forearm, as Luo Binghe carefully pried his arm off his face and pinned it to the bed. “Shizun, I—I want to see you, please don’t hide from me. You’re so beautiful like this.”

Shen Qingqiu bit his lip, trying to hold back another sob. Seeing this, Luo Binghe leaned down and started kissing him again so that he couldn’t. “What do you want? What can I do?” he asked against his mouth.

“Ah—” Shen Qingqiu forced himself to open his eyes, staring sightlessly up at him. “T- touch me,” he managed. 

Realising he’d almost forgotten, Luo Binghe obediently reached for Shen Qingqiu’s cock, wrapping his hand around it and stroking gently. The traces of lube he had left on his hand helped things along, too, gliding smoothly against silky skin. It wasn’t long before Shen Qingqiu was coming hard in between them. 

Even though Luo Binghe could have lasted for hours, he always tried to finish as soon as possible after Shen Qingqiu did, knowing how quickly his poor Shizun’s body became oversensitive. Despite this, he couldn’t help but hold out a little longer, savouring the incredible feeling of Shen Qingqiu’s warm, welcoming body and the easy glide with which he entered him. By the time he was finally following him over the edge, Shen Qingqiu was a wanton, gasping mess. 

Luo Binghe gave a groan as he spilled his seed deep inside of him, riding out the high of his orgasm. Even when he was finally spent, he didn’t move, just remained draped over Shen Qingqiu’s gorgeous form, panting. 

At some point, he started kissing him again, although Shen Qingqiu was too overwhelmed to respond in any meaningful way. If it weren’t for the occasional little whimpers that escaped his throat, Luo Binghe might have doubted that he was even conscious. 

Finally, and with great reluctance, Luo Binghe pulled out and gathered Shen Qingqiu into his arms. A thin trickle of white escaped between Shen Qingqiu’s legs, and he turned toward Binghe and snuggled into his arms, feeling a little more lucid as he tried to gather his senses. 

Luo Binghe stroked his cheekbone, looking down at him adoringly. “Shizun, you just relax. I’ll clean you up,” he murmured, laying him back down upon the pillow. 

“Mn,” Shen Qingqiu replied, grabbing the pillow and burying his face in it. 

Leaning in a little closer, Luo Binghe added, “You don’t need to tell me where you got the bottle. Just...tell me you know how to get more of it, okay?”

“Mn.” 

A cool, robotic voice that only Shen Qingqiu could hear spoke up. “Congratulations! Protagonist satisfaction increased +50 points!”

It wasn’t until the following morning that Shen Qingqiu had the presence of mind to question this. He was rechecking his point total while browsing the catalogue when the System’s announcement finally kicked in. 

“Hang on,” he said, setting down his Starbucks. “Why only fifty points for sleeping with him? You once gave me five hundred just for punching him in the stomach!”

“The protagonist’s satisfaction level has been stable for the past three years and four months. In order to increase it further, please introduce additional parameters.”

Additional parameters? What the hell was that supposed to mean? “Ugh.” Shen Qingqiu took another sip of his coffee. “So, what, you won’t award points just for sex anymore?”

“In order to increase the protagonist’s satisfaction further, please introduce additional parameters.”

“Alright, alright. Look, can you show me a...diagram? How much has it increased and decreased since we got together?”

The System obligingly presented him with a line graph going back for the last few years. There was a massive spike around four years ago, when they’d first gotten together, and another some months later when they’d gotten married. There were also a few smaller increases and decreases between then and now, and he spotted a rather amusing little downward blip of a month or so followed by a respectable spike that Shen Qingqiu strongly suspected were Binghe’s qi deviation and the wine incident, respectively. But for the most part, the System was correct; it had levelled off. 

Since Shen Qingqiu hadn’t been keeping track of his point totals in this time, he hadn’t really given it much thought, but seeing it laid out like this, he couldn’t help but feel an inkling of fondness. It was obvious that Luo Binghe was very happy in their relationship and hadn’t grown bored in the slightest despite how much time had passed. 

He picked up his coffee again, sipping it thoughtfully. “System, are there any side quests currently available?”

“Negative. All story missions have been completed.”

Shen Qingqiu sighed, finishing off the rest of his cup.

Regardless of how good their relationship already was, if he wanted to continue enjoying perks like these, he would need to find ways to increase his point totals, and since the “main story” had already concluded, Binghe’s satisfaction score was the easiest one to focus on. 

Now that they had access to better lube, Shen Qingqiu was considerably more open to…experimenting. If just the lube was enough to give him fifty points, then with everything else in the Perk Store, it shouldn’t be too hard to...spice things up. He started making a mental list of what had worked in the past. 

Binghe liked being reminded that Shen Qingqiu wanted him, rather than simply humoured him; he liked it when he made the first move. Normally, Shen Qingqiu left that to him—mostly because the protagonist propositioned him so frequently that he honestly never had the chance to do it himself—but if he wanted the points he would have to take the initiative more. 

That was easy enough; he’d never be as shameless as his husband, but even Shen Qingqiu could not be married to the same person for over three years without getting a little more comfortable around him. 

As for what they actually did, well…there were still plenty of fantasies that Binghe had expressed to him that they hadn’t tried yet, mostly because Shen Qingqiu had been way too embarrassed in the early stages of their relationship. Some of them were still a no-go—he didn’t think he’d ever be comfortable with the idea of hurting him on purpose, for example—but others… 

Well. There was only one way to find out. 

Several days later, Shen Qingqiu met Luo Binghe outside the audience hall of the palace, and the poor protagonist froze like a rabbit caught in headlights. 

Shen Qingqiu had thrown on the most alluring silken robe he could find, and it clung enticingly to his figure as he leaned casually against the wall, waiting for his husband to finish for the day. (Truth be told, he felt a bit ridiculous in it, but Luo Binghe was easy to please.) “Junshang,” he purred alluringly. “You kept this humble one waiting all day.”

(Okay, now that he was actually saying it, it felt more than a bit ridiculous.)

Thankfully, Luo Binghe’s reaction was worth every ounce of embarrassment Shen Qingqiu might have felt. His poor disciple wrung his hands, scratched the back of his neck, tripped over his words. “Shi—Shizun, what are you—”

Curious, Shen Qingqiu glanced in the direction of Luo Binghe’s crotch. Even through multiple layers of clothing, it was impossible to completely hide that magnificent pillar once it got going. He smiled to himself. Too easy. 

Coming closer, he placed a hand on Luo Binghe’s chest. “Is something the matter?”

He’d meant to sound flirtatious, but unfortunately, a hint of his usual personality bled into his tone, and it came out somewhat demanding. Nevertheless, Luo Binghe visibly swallowed, eyes trailing unmistakably down the length of Shen Qingqiu’s body. “N- nothing,” he said, voice considerably higher than normal. “This disciple—I—this lord...apologises for keeping you waiting.”

Shen Qingqiu pressed in closer, resting his head against Luo Binghe’s shoulder. Alright, this was better. He didn’t have to look him in the eyes like this. “Junshang, I was thinking…it’s been a while since you and I enjoyed some wine together before bed.” 

A strong hand came up to wrap around his waist. Luo Binghe responded with heady excitement. “Oh—I can get us some wine,” he said hastily. “The finest in the realms, I’ll have it brought right now.”

“Mm, I was actually thinking I’d prefer the kind that you make,” Shen Qingqiu said, his face a little red. He leaned in closer, and next to Binghe’s ear, he continued, “And it’s not for us. It’s for me.” 

Luo Binghe’s eyes suddenly widened. 

“Oh…” he choked out. “This disciple—this lord—believes we might still have a bottle of it somewhere.”

Running his hand down Luo Binghe’s arms, Shen Qingqiu murmured, “...Good.” 

And with that, he fixed his hand over the bulge in Luo Binghe’s trousers. It was very hard. 

Several hours later, while Shen Qingqiu laid passed out drunk in his husband’s arms, a System notification appeared above his head to be heard by no-one. 

“Congratulations! Protagonist satisfaction increased +500 points! Keep up the good work! ^_^”

Five hundred points was good (as Shen Qingqiu discovered the next day while drinking his Starbucks and recovering from the most intense hangover he’d had in years), but they could definitely do better. He’d finished browsing the System’s “sex and pleasure” category in its entirety, and while most of the better items were somewhat costly, he was sure they’d be a good investment that he could wring at least a few thousand points out of before the novelty wore off. 

But to get there he needed to save. 

Luo Binghe had been in an exceptionally good mood lately. It took a solid ten minutes every morning just to convince him to get out of bed rather than continue cuddling with Shizun. He kept interrupting whatever he was doing to run over and give Shen Qingqiu kisses. He somehow managed to put even more effort into their meals than usual, often moulding the food into fun shapes, or having some rare ingredient brought in from the other side of the country. (“Shizun deserves the very best!”) And he was always finding excuses to touch him. 

It might have been a bit annoying, if it weren’t so endearing. His husband loved taking care of him, and for that, well, he deserved a reward… 

Luo Binghe had ducked out to take their dinner plates back to the kitchens, and Shen Qingqiu immediately threw his book aside and went rifling through their drawers, trying to find the thing he wanted. He knew Binghe still kept it somewhere, he’d spotted it while cleaning a couple of months ago. His husband always was the sentimental type. 

Sure enough, he located it bundled up in the sleeve of one of Binghe’s robes and, with a self-satisfied smirk, tucked it away inside his own before going to brush his teeth like everything was normal. 

He made sure not to let slip that anything was amiss when Luo Binghe got back. He wasn’t sure how successful he was; he thought he caught his husband giving him a few curious glances, but that might have just been the fact that Shen Qingqiu had already surprised him so much lately that he was starting to get suspicious. 

Regardless, neither said anything until they were both in bed, and Shen Qingqiu suddenly rolled over onto Binghe’s lap, straddling his thighs and placing his hands on his shoulders. 

Luo Binghe looked up at him, eyes wide. His hands went automatically to hold his waist. “Shizun…?”

Shen Qingqiu leaned in closer, so that their foreheads were pressed together. “I remembered something today,” he murmured, brushing their lips together as delicately as a dragonfly. 

Luo Binghe gave a shudder. “What did Shizun remember?” he asked, a hand squeezing his buttocks. 

Giving him another kiss to distract him, Shen Qingqiu reached into his sleeve, which was weighed down by the concealed object. “Binghe once asked me to fulfil a request for him, and I said no,” he continued, murmuring the words against his lips. 

He got an airy gasp by way of a response. “It is this disciple’s honour and privilege to serve Shizun. He can deny me any request he wishes.”

“Maybe your teacher doesn’t want to deny you.” And then, watching closely for his reaction, Shen Qingqiu withdrew a bundle of gold flaxen rope from his sleeve. 

That Heavenly Pillar, currently trapped beneath Shen Qingqiu’s body, reacted so fast that it actually jostled him in the process. 

Luo Binghe flushed. When he spoke, his voice was strangely uneven. “Shi—Shizun, the Immortal Binding Cables…you remembered…?” 

Shen Qingqiu unhooked the end of the rope from the bundle so that it could unspool. “I always remember the things you ask me,” he said matter-of-factly, smoothing out the kinks in the rope while he waited for Luo Binghe to reach out and take it. 

But he did not. He just kept staring at it, strangely transfixed. He knew, thought he knew, hoped he knew what Shen Qingqiu was offering, but it had been so long, he’d already been turned down, he wouldn’t dare suppose… “Shizun,” he said, looking up at him with a tender expression. “Are you saying you want to use the ropes on me, or…do you…would you let me…”

Shen Qingqiu hadn’t realised how much tension he’d been holding in his body until all of it suddenly left him in that moment.

He knew, just from Binghe’s face, that the man would be more than delighted with either outcome. Unlike Shen Qingqiu, he was just…like that. Anything with Shizun or to Shizun or from Shizun, all of it was a gift to be cherished. But nevertheless, he still had things that he wanted, and that he felt he did not deserve. Things that Shen Qingqiu had, himself, shamed him for wanting. 

His face softened and, dropping the rope from one hand, he reached out to cup Binghe’s face. “Use them on you? That wasn’t what you asked me, was it?” he asked, brushing his cheekbone with his thumb. He gave him another kiss and pressed the end of the rope into his hand. 

Luo Binghe let out a shuddering breath. “This disciple…would never presume…”

“No, you wouldn’t,” Shen Qingqiu murmured, still peppering his lips with kisses. “But this teacher is willing. This teacher accepts every part of you.”

A few stray tears made their way down Luo Binghe’s face, and he clutched the rope like it was a lifeline. 

Shen Qingqiu hadn’t expected this conversation to go this way; he’d figured Binghe would jump at the opportunity the way he had with the wine, but apparently this was...a more sensitive point than he had ever realised. It must have really affected him, to finally voice his fantasy only to have it shut down so emphatically by the person he loved.

He felt a little lost for words. He always struggled seeing Binghe cry, but he would not be Binghe if he didn’t; he was honest and wore his heart on his sleeve. Turning his head, he kissed away some of the tears. “Come on, don’t be sad. Er, we don’t have to do it tonight if you’d rather—”

“You don’t have to do it just because of me!” Luo Binghe said suddenly, dropping the rope and taking his hands. He looked up at him imploringly. “Shizun, thank you, but it’s really fine. I wouldn’t want you to force yourself if it’s not what you wanted. It means a lot just to hear you say—”

“Who said anything about forcing myself?” Shen Qingqiu interrupted, feeling a blush colour his lower face. “I…”

“Last time, you didn’t want to, so I—”

Shen Qingqiu placed a finger across his lips. “That’s not it,” he said, awkwardly. “It’s not that I don’t…” He paused, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I know you wouldn’t want me to force myself, but I really do want—I want—to try this with you,” he explained, scratching his neck and looking anywhere but at him. “Back then, I just…got embarrassed so easily. I still do, you know that.”

Letting out a shaky breath, Luo Binghe gave a weak nod. “Shizun, I know I can get carried away, but if you want to stop—I really will, okay?”

Ah, this sweet child. Shen Qingqiu reached out and brushed some hair out of his face. “Good boy,” he said, kissing him one last time before he suddenly felt strong hands on his robes, pushing them off his shoulders, and he relaxed into their touches with a sigh. 

Later, when his body was lined with faint red marks that criss-crossed his otherwise pale wrists and torso, when his hips ached with a familiar burn and a familiar pair of arms were cradling him tightly, a notification appeared above his head. 

“Congratulations! Protagonist satisfaction increased—”

Shen Qingqiu waved it away dismissively and went to sleep. 

Luo Binghe had no idea what was going on with his Shizun, but he liked it very, very much. It was rare for him to initiate things at the best of times, but lately he’d been suggesting all kinds of new and exciting ideas. Different positions, different locations…every time was a brand new experience that kept Luo Binghe guessing. To say nothing of the fact that on a purely quantitative basis, they were also just having sex more, which was very welcome. 

The new lube, he really didn’t get, but there came a point where he decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. It made the whole experience better for both of them, especially for Shen Qingqiu, and that made it a gift from the heavens. There were other things, too, like the pillow and the bathroom supplies; Shen Qingqiu seemed uncomfortable whenever he was asked, so Luo Binghe stopped asking. 

But when Shen Qingqiu approached him one day with a colourful, unopened box, looking very evasive, he could hold it in no longer. “Shizun, what’ve you got there?”

Shen Qingqiu’s face was turning a shade of red previously undiscovered by mankind, but he kept his head held high as he set the box down at the table and plonked himself down in the seat opposite Luo Binghe. “I would like to try something new!”

Luo Binghe had been expecting something along those lines, but that made it no less interesting. He tried to nod respectfully without getting too impatient. “...Can this disciple assume that this object is to be used in the bedroom?” he asked carefully.

At this point, Shen Qingqiu’s steely conviction was starting to fail him. He’d already opened his latest purchase in private to make sure it worked, but it still felt like if he did so in front of Binghe he was going to literally die of shame. “...That depends on you,” he said, gritting his teeth and pushing it toward him. “You open it.”

Luo Binghe obediently put down his tea and pulled the box toward himself. It was made of an unfamiliar material not unlike stiff paper, but opening it was easy enough. From it, he pulled… 

He had no idea what he was looking at. It had a large, bulbous body which narrowed out before widening again into a flared base, and was made of a smooth material he had never felt before. 

From context, it was pretty easy to figure out its intended use, though. Luo Binghe held it out, pleased to find that it wasn’t nearly as big as his own cock. “...Shizun, this is…for you?”

Shen Qingqiu snatched it back. “Obviously it’s for me,” he said.

These ideas his Shizun was coming up with. Luo Binghe was afraid to call attention to it lest Shen Qingqiu clam up and stop having them. Instead, he just grinned. “Then this disciple doesn’t understand what you need him for. This seems like the sort of thing that will just get in my way.”

He received a solid whack from his Shizun’s folding fan for his troubles. “You—!” Shen Qingqiu snapped, aghast, while Luo Binghe rubbed his head sheepishly. Composing himself, he continued. “It’s—you’ll like it, just, hold it for a minute.” 

Intrigued, Luo Binghe held out his hand to take the object back while Shen Qingqiu rummaged around in the box and took out something else that was decidedly smaller and was concealed easily by his hand. He pressed something on it. 

Immediately, the object in Luo Binghe’s hand started to vibrate intensely. Startled, he dropped it without thinking, and it rattled along the table, vibrating away. Luo Binghe stared at it like he couldn’t process what he was seeing. “Shizun,” he said loudly over the noise of the vibrator, “What manner of cultivation device is this?”

Shen Qingqiu touched the device in his hand again, and the vibrations ceased. 

It was with considerably more interest that Luo Binghe picked it up again, examining it with fascination. Whoever had designed it must have been a very skilled cultivator, to have imbued it with such a spell that it could be controlled so easily by that little remote. Naturally, Shen Qingqiu did not answer the question he had asked, so he tried a different one. “Is it safe?” he asked, looking up at his partner with concern. 

Was it safe? Shen Qingqiu wanted to laugh. It was probably safer than that stupidly large Sky Pillar he let fuck him on a regular basis. “Of course it’s safe,” he said, passing Binghe the remote so that he could familiarise himself with how it worked. “I, ah, haven’t used one before. I thought we could…”

Luo Binghe’s eyes sparkled with delight. “This disciple would be honoured to help Shizun figure out our new...acquisition.”

Shen Qingqiu wanted to bury his face in the dirt so he’d never have to look at him again. 

He had…some regrets. 

He’d definitely awakened a sleeping giant the first time he handed Binghe that remote. On one hand, his dear protagonist was still a very dedicated student who was eager to please his beloved Shizun, but on the other, he was also just a total degenerate who should never be trusted with that kind of power. 

The first time they used it in bed, Luo Binghe had no tact at all, instantly turning it up to its highest setting and reducing Shen Qingqiu into a wailing, sobbing mess within minutes, at which point he’d been too worked up to come. Binghe had apologised profusely, and then he’d started crying, and it was all around just a pretty ridiculous experience. But they’d both recovered quickly and decided to give it another go the following day, and that had been a marked improvement that had netted Shen Qingqiu another eight hundred points and one of the best orgasms he’d ever had. 

So all in all, a positive experience.

But also, Shen Qingqiu had answered the question “is it for inside the bedroom” with “that depends on you”, and Luo Binghe wasn’t the type to just let that go. So that was how Shen Qingqiu had ended up sitting at a meeting table surrounded by demon lords with a steady buzzing deep within him and the biggest hard-on he’d ever had in a public space. 

Adjacent to him, Luo Binghe was watching the demon who was currently speaking with a bored expression, like the damn bastard genuinely didn’t know exactly what he was doing to him at this very moment. Shen Qingqiu wanted to murder him. Or maybe jump his dick. He’d decide when it happened. 

The vibrator was on the absolute lowest setting (Binghe learned quickly from his mistakes), but it had been so for fucking hours (or at least, what felt like hours). Shen Qingqiu kept shifting about, trying to get comfortable. Every once in a while it would press against his prostate and he would stifle a gasp. 

The worst part was that he didn’t even need to be here. He might have some informal capacity as a token representative from the human realm, as well as the unofficial spokesperson for the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, but...really, he was just here to be Binghe’s emotional-support-slash-arm-candy. The guy hated these meetings and he got mopey when they were apart for too long. 

On Shen Qingqiu’s other side sat Mobei-Jun, the only other demon that Luo Binghe trusted enough to be around him (and that was mostly just because he already had a Peak Lord of his own). The dude didn’t seem to have clocked that anything was amiss, but then, Mobei-Jun always managed to look mildly disinterested in whatever it was he was doing, so it was difficult to tell. Either way, his imposing form mostly distracted the attention of the meeting’s other participants, who barely paid any attention to Shen Qingqiu and the abuse he was suffering. 

It was fine. It was fine. But then he heard his name being spoken, and—

“Shizun?” It sounded like Binghe had been trying to get his attention for some time.

Shen Qingqiu lifted his head from his hands, fixing him with a murderous glare. “What?”

His voice was rough and irritable, but that nefarious disciple of his only smiled sweetly and said, in a pleasant voice, “This disciple was simply asking if you had any thoughts on the proposed border treaties.”

Just as he said the words, Shen Qingqiu choked back a whine as the vibrations inside him suddenly became very, very noticeable. His eyes dropped instinctively to Luo Binghe’s right hand. It was closed around the remote so subtly that nobody else in the room had even noticed it. But they both knew what he was doing. Shen Qingqiu gawked at his shamelessness. You bastard, he wanted to say. I’ll gouge your fucking eyes out. 

Instead, he squeezed his thighs together. He was so hard it was almost painful, and he brought his fan up higher to cover his face. “This teacher wonders why you ask his opinion at all on a matter concerning demons,” he gritted out, gripping the edge of the table so tightly that his knuckles turned white. 

Luo Binghe’s smile, the excitement in his eyes, was tangible. He didn’t care about treaties or any of the subjects that they’d been discussing; all of this was just an opportunity to torment his Shizun in public. And now, he didn’t even need to touch him to do it. Shen Qingqiu wondered when he’d allowed him to get so fucking spoilt. 

It looked like Luo Binghe was going to reply, but then another voice spoke up from down the table. “Why indeed?” it scoffed. Shen Qingqiu’s frown deepened, and he turned toward the demon who had spoken. He was a lord from one of the minor border territories. In Proud Immortal Demon Way, Luo Binghe had run him through with a sword for inadvertently insulting one of the wives. “Why bring a human along to discuss—”

Annoyed at having his game interrupted, Luo Binghe suddenly shot up from his seat and rounded on him, eyes blazing with anger. “You will not speak like that to my Shizun,” he snapped, leaning over the table. “You won’t speak to him at all—”

Ah, Shen Qingqiu observed, so he was about to get run through with a sword in this timeline as well. Next to them, Mobei-Jun rubbed his brow with one hand like he was embarrassed. Many of the other demons were exchanging nervous glances. 

For the love of fuck. Why did Shen Qingqiu have to be the responsible one even when the protagonist was actively torturing him? He hastily reached for Luo Binghe’s arm. “No, it’s alright. I’m leaving,” he said, standing up with a wince. Thankfully, his fan concealed it from the rest of the table. 

Luo Binghe smirked, and Shen Qingqiu saw him stroke the remote absentmindedly without adjudging it. 

Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes, a million different possibilities running through his mind. His body was trembling and sweaty, his breathing laboured and uneven, while his husband sat there as unaffected as ever. “Is Shizun not feeling well?” Binghe asked innocently. 

God, every single one of these demons deserved compensation for having to be part of Luo Binghe’s depraved fantasies. How could they possibly not have realised what was going on? “I’ll be in my room,” he said curtly, standing up and turning away from the table before anyone could see his raging boner. He stalked toward the door, every tiny movement jostling his insides. 

Once he was out of the meeting room in the hallway which led back to the bed chamber he shared with Luo Binghe, he stopped and slumped back against the wall, toes curling as he finally allowed himself to let out a helpless, desperate whine. He started rubbing himself through his clothing, mouth falling open and eyes falling closed. A few seconds later, he turned around and pressed his forehead against the wall. 

The plug abruptly stopped vibrating, and Shen Qingqiu let out a sob at the sudden loss, but the door behind him opened barely a second later, and he knew instinctively that it was Luo Binghe. He must have ended the meeting early. 

“Shizun.” He sounded...nervous? “Did I go too far? I—”

Shen Qingqiu rounded on him, slamming him back against the door. 

The two stared at each other. Shen Qingqiu was panting heavily, his eyes slightly deranged as he stared up at him with lust. Luo Binghe, seeing this, immediately lost the apologetic edge his tone had carried. He grinned smugly, hands going to Shen Qingqiu’s waist, although one moved down a little further, inching towards the plug. “You seem bothered by something.”

“Shut up and touch me,” Shen Qingqiu snapped, trying to kiss him, but Luo Binghe stopped him in his tracks, and—that damn monster actually bent down and hefted him up by the waist, throwing him over his shoulder like a fucking war prize. 

“You—” In all their years together, Shen Qingqiu had never been handled quite like this. Luckily, his face could not have gone any redder than it already was. “You beast, put me down—”

“Shizun doesn’t like it?” Luo Binghe asked with a laugh, already striding purposefully toward their room. “You seemed like you were having trouble walking.”

His arms were holding him firmly and securely. Shen Qingqiu’s front was dangling over his back, and Binghe could definitely feel the erection pressing against his shoulder. Shen Qingqiu couldn’t believe the indignation. If somebody saw them…! “You still call me Shizun when you’re doing this to me?” he demanded. “Have you no shame at all?” 

“Shizun is welcome to punish me!” Luo Binghe replied with a note of laughter. 

Shen Qingqiu gave a token struggle, but the effort was making the plug jostle against his prostate, and he stopped before anything happened that he would certainly regret. “I ought to!” he snapped, although it was just a little too breathless for it to sound like much of a threat. “You’re unbelievable!” 

“Mn, I’ve been very bad,” Binghe replied as they approached the door to their room. 

Shen Qingqiu elbowed him in the lower back. “You think I won’t?” he threatened. 

Luo Binghe smirked. “This disciple always believes Shizun’s words,” he said matter-of-factly, opening the door. 

“Ugh.” Shen Qingqiu crossed his dangling arms so that he could bury his face in his elbows for the last few feet of the journey. He dropped his fan on the floor once they were inside, figuring he’d make Binghe fetch it for him later. This little squabble had brought him back to his senses somewhat, but he was still hopelessly aroused, so he offered no complaint as he was all-but-thrown down onto the bed. 

Luo Binghe climbed on after him. It looked like he was about to say something, but Shen Qingqiu didn’t give him the chance, pulling him eagerly down into a kiss before grabbing his disciple’s hands and guiding them to start removing his clothing. 

Giving an amused sort of smile, Luo Binghe obliged, stripping away the layers of Shen Qingqiu’s robes. The relief, the feeling of cool fresh air against his overheated skin, was almost too good to bear. Shen Qingqiu gave a shudder of pleasure. 

Since he hadn’t bothered offering any assistance in undressing, he was now completely naked when Luo Binghe was fully clothed on top of him. He’d assumed Binghe would start undressing himself upon finishing with him, but he did not. He just grinned, reaching down to press his fingers against the base of the plug. Shen Qingqiu tipped his head back, throwing an elbow over his face. 

Luo Binghe withdrew the remote from where he’d hidden it in his sleeve, looking at it thoughtfully. 

He still had no idea how it operated. It didn’t look like any kind of cultivation device he’d seen before, and the material it was made of felt utterly foreign. He could only guess. 

…But it hardly seemed important right now. 

Noticing the way his Shizun’s body was trembling underneath him, he hastily put the remote aside. “I’ve kept you waiting for hours,” he observed with a note of contrition, shuffling down to get a better look at what he was doing. He spread apart Shen Qingqiu’s long, pale legs, eyes falling with wonder on the base of the vibrator. “How does it feel?”

Shen Qingqiu swallowed, unable to look at him when he was like this. He felt so exposed. Vulnerable. “I want to come,” he said, voice soft. 

Luo Binghe pressed a kiss to his inner thigh without taking his eyes off the vibrator. “You will,” he promised, carefully tugging on it and starting to work it out. 

Shen Qingqiu whimpered, and Luo Binghe stroked his thigh apologetically. Since he still had an arm covering his face, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t see what was happening, but he heard shuffling followed by the click of the lube bottle, and felt something cool around his rim. Then another tug; finally, the object came free with a squelching sound. This time, Shen Qingqiu opened his mouth and let out a gasp. “Binghe—”

“Yes?” Binghe asked, looking up immediately. 

Shen Qingqiu squirmed underneath him as though struggling to get comfortable. “Please…”

Giving another kiss to his leg, Luo Binghe replied, “Of course.”

He let Shen Qingqiu’s legs fall back to the bed. Before him, his husband’s hole was red and puffy from hours of abuse, but it eagerly took in the finger he pressed against it, warm and inviting. Luo Binghe shuddered. Inside his robes, he was also uncomfortably hard, but he made no move to free himself, instead choosing to lower his head and press his mouth over the opening, closing his eyes. 

Shen Qingqiu yelped, his body jerking in surprise. “What are you—?” he panted. 

Luo Binghe smiled, patting Shen Qingqiu’s thigh reassuringly. “Just relax,” he said, before running his tongue over his husband’s rim. The lubricant felt weird, but it wasn’t bad. Didn’t really taste like anything. He plunged his tongue deeper, pressing inside and causing Shen Qingqiu’s legs to spring up, hands grasping the blankets. 

He could not believe the indignity of his present situation. His face burned with embarrassment from having his husband’s mouth probing around his most sensitive area. For a moment, he forced himself to be still, but when Luo Binghe’s hand crept up and wrapped around his cock, he could bear it no longer. “W- wait, stop!”

Luo Binghe lifted his head, eyes wide. “Is it bad?”

Shen Qingqiu had uncovered his face, but he still had his head turned to the side. “I—”

Luo Binghe pressed his cheek against the side of Shen Qingqiu’s cock, still rubbing it absentmindedly. “Shizun, I want to taste you,” he whined. 

How could he just say that with a straight face? Shen Qingqiu forced himself to look down at him, nestled comfortably between his legs like he owned them. (Maybe he did.) “It’s—it’s too—” Shen Qingqiu swallowed, his resolve crumbling upon sighting his piteous expression. “It’s not bad, it’s just…” 

Blinking, Luo Binghe answered him, “Then, how about this…” 

This time, without breaking eye contact, Luo Binghe turned his head and ran his tongue over the length of Shen Qingqiu’s shaft, causing him to screw his eyes shut and his legs to jerk upwards. “Ah—”

Luo Binghe grinned. “Better?”

“Binghe,” Shen Qingqiu whined, pressing his head against his pillow. He tried to push Luo Binghe’s head away. 

This damn disciple of his was relentless. “Or is there something else that Shizun wants?”

You know damn well what I want! “Please…” 

“Hm?” Luo Binghe prompted, nuzzling his face against his cock again. 

Swallowing his last vestiges of pride, Shen Qingqiu closed his eyes. “I want to come with you inside me,” he begged. 

Luo Binghe’s heart fluttered. “You’re sure? You’re not too sore?” he asked, shuffling further up the bed so that he could take Shen Qingqiu’s face in his hand. 

Of course he was sore. Binghe had been edging him all afternoon. But he’d been craving a specific kind of relief, and nothing else would do. Shen Qingqiu blinked up at him wearily, reaching up to grasp at the collar of his robe, and gave a faint smile. “Now you’re suddenly worried about me?” he asked. 

Luo Binghe ran his thumb across Shen Qingqiu’s bottom lip, gazing down at him adoringly. Given what he’d just been doing with his mouth, he refrained from kissing him, but he did grin cheekily. “I don’t like sharing you,” he admitted, reaching up to cover the hand that was tugging at his clothing. “Whenever you’re around other people, I worry that you’ll forget about me.”

“Don’t give me that. You asked me to come,” Shen Qingqiu said dourly. “You planned it all along.” 

“Did Shizun mind?” Luo Binghe asked, sitting up so that he could start to strip off his own clothing. 

Shen Qingqiu blushed. “I mind that we’re finally alone now and you’re still keeping me waiting!”

Hanging his head sheepishly, Luo Binghe fumbled with his robe for a few more moments and then threw it aside. “This disciple apologises,” he said earnestly, leaning back down and burying his face in Shen Qingqiu’s neck. 

Although the plug was not particularly large, he’d been wearing it for long enough that he was stretched open and ready, but Luo Binghe still added a liberal amount of extra lubricant. When he finally grasped his cock, running his hands over the length to ensure it was well coated before pressing against Shen Qingqiu, it went in easily. 

Finally filled the way he wanted to be, Shen Qingqiu gave a sigh, wrapping his arms around Luo Binghe’s neck. 

Luo Binghe began to move. Slowly at first. Carefully. He was always slow and careful when he started, but he was like a little puppy; he got overexcited so easily. Even so, it could not be denied that he’d improved with leaps and bounds since that time in Maigu Ridge. He understood the limitations of their bodies and the fact that his size meant he couldn’t afford to be too hasty. 

He always was a most diligent student. 

Even so, it wasn’t long before Shen Qingqiu was letting out breathy little moans with each thrust. He was so sensitive, it was all he could do to hold on, and he hid his face in Luo Binghe’s shoulder, panting openly against him. 

Binghe curled a hand into his hair, cradling his head while he pounded into him. Shen Qingqiu was gripping him tight enough to be painful, but he didn’t mind in the slightest. If anything, it felt good; a tangible reminder of his Shizun’s passions. Leaning in closer, he whispered, “Shizun, you feel so good.”

Shen Qingqiu was so overcome that he couldn’t even protest Luo Binghe calling him Shizun. He moaned again.

Taking this as encouragement, Luo Binghe continued. “This afternoon, all I could think about was taking you over that stupid table, right in front of everyone,” he confessed. 

“D—don’t talk like this,” Shen Qingqiu gasped, tears prickling the corners of his eyes. 

Luo Binghe started fucking him harder. “I wouldn’t, you know I wouldn’t, but you were just so pretty sitting there. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

The fond, tender smile on his face laid in stark contrast to the motions of his hips. Luo Binghe reached in between them to grasp Shen Qingqiu’s cock, pulling another fevered moan from his Shizun’s throat. Looking pleased, he lowered his head, mouth fixing around one of his Shizun’s nipples and sucking gently. 

It was all just too much. Without even thinking about it, Shen Qingqiu thrust his hand down to push him off his chest, but accidentally slapped him quite hard across the cheek. 

Luo Binghe was so surprised that his thrusts faltered, and Shen Qingqiu immediately opened his eyes, covering his mouth in horror. “Binghe, I’m sorry—”

But Luo Binghe’s eyes had gone dark with lust. “It’s fine,” he said, voice several notes lower. “I don’t mind.”

He drew Shen Qingqiu’s hand back up against his face, meeting his eyes. “You can hurt me if you want.”

Shen Qingqiu swallowed with uncertainty, stroking Binghe’s cheek with his thumb. “You mustn’t say things like that,” he mumbled awkwardly. 

It was…difficult to determine how Luo Binghe was feeling from his reaction alone. He cocked his head slightly, as if he didn’t understand what Shen Qingqiu was saying. 

It wasn’t the first time Luo Binghe had not-so-subtly implied that he’d be down for…that. Everyone knew that Luo Binghe was a Class A masochist, but there was a difference between teasing him about it and actually following through. Shen Qingqiu had learned how to skilfully divert the conversation away, but it came seemingly out of nowhere this time; the slap had been an accident and hadn’t even been particularly hard. It was like Binghe had been waiting for an excuse to remind him. 

Trying to deflect, Shen Qingqiu raised his head off the pillow and kissed him on the forehead. Luo Binghe, sensing he’d made things awkward, gave an apologetic smile and started moving his hips again. Relieved, Shen Qingqiu relaxed back against the pillows, running his hands appreciatively over Luo Binghe’s back and enjoying the firm, familiar weight of him. 

Only a few moments later, Shen Qingqiu came with a moan, his orgasm crashing into him with a vengeance. He’d been waiting so long that when he finally found relief, he swore he blacked out. Or maybe he was just so caught up in the sensation that he didn’t notice Luo Binghe finishing after him. All he knew was that the next thing he knew, he was coming back to reality with Binghe panting over him. Their stomachs were sticky. 

Eventually, Luo Binghe rolled off, peppering a few more chaste kisses against his head before he could convince himself to be parted from him. Shen Qingqiu rolled onto his side, burying his face in the pillow, and soon enough felt a warm cloth gently wiping him down. 

“Congratulations! Pro—”

“Shut up,” Shen Qingqiu grumbled into the pillow. Luo Binghe climbed back into bed behind him, wrapping an arm around his stomach. 

So the vibrator had made up its cost price in B-Points, but it was a little hard to introduce additional parameters with it that were going to top that, and since Shen Qingqiu didn’t want to wear out its novelty too quickly, he decided to shelve it for the time being. 

Unfortunately, he was starting to run out of ideas for things to try. 

They had, however, finally finished up their business in the Demon Realm and returned to their little cabin in the mountains. Shen Qingqiu was grateful for the freedom and the fresh air. Luo Binghe was just happy to have Shizun all to himself again. 

The morning after their return, Luo Binghe brought Shen Qingqiu breakfast in bed, as he always did, and slid comfortably back into bed beside him so they could eat together. He was just collecting their bowls when they finished, with the intention of taking them back to the kitchen, when Shen Qingqiu surprised both of them by tugging him back onto the edge of the bed and setting his chin on his shoulder. “Don’t get up yet. Let’s stay in bed for a while longer,” he said, eyes closed.

Luo Binghe blinked at him, not protesting in the slightest. Setting the bowls aside, he swung his legs back into bed and turned to face him. A hand found its way back into Shen Qingqiu’s hair while the other settled on his lower back. “You seem happy to be home,” he observed, lip curling slightly. 

Shen Qingqiu’s ears burned. “A bunch of visiting demon officials aren’t my idea of good company,” he said dismissively, scooting over to make more room and laying down again.

Luo Binghe eagerly cuddled up against him, wrapping his arms around him like an oversized teddy bear and resting his head upon his shoulder. “This disciple agrees,” he murmured, voice soft. “I would much rather be here with Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu reached a hand up to start petting his hair. Luo Binghe’s smile increased at the simple gesture, and he lifted his head to look at him and press against the hand in the same motion. “How long should we stay here this time?”

“Not sure. A few weeks, maybe.” Shen Qingqiu hadn’t really thought that far ahead. “I suppose it’s about time we thought about paying a visit to Qing Jing Peak.”

He knew this was a sensitive matter for his poor husband. Sure enough, Luo Binghe stiffened a little, his face falling, but Shen Qingqiu had prepared for it, and he gave his head a few more soothing pats. “Don’t look at me like that. If you want to keep calling me your Shizun, I have to spend some time actually being a Peak Lord.” His tone was soothing, if a little amused. 

“I know, Shizun.” Luo Binghe sounded genuinely apologetic. “I’m sorry. I promised I wasn’t going to complain anymore. Especially after you just spent so much time in the Demon Realm for me.” 

Ah, this boy…

He knew Luo Binghe had a hard time whenever they returned to Cang Qiong Mountain. Even though most of the disciples had warmed up to his presence in the last few years, the majority of the Peak Lords’ opinions still ranged from lofty indifference to outright hostility. Either way, he felt awkward and out of place whenever they visited. It didn’t help that Shen Qingqiu’s time was nearly always occupied with other people, too. As a result, Luo Binghe spent most of their visits in the bamboo house, preparing their meals or half-heartedly assisting with Shen Qingqiu’s paperwork. Tolerated, but not particularly welcome. 

Shen Qingqiu stroked his hair some more, combing it out with his fingers. “It’s alright. Being disappointed isn’t complaining,” he replied placatingly. He didn’t like forcing Binghe into situations that made him uncomfortable, but it was still his duty as a Peak Lord to go back every once in a while. And Binghe understood that, even if he didn’t particularly like sharing Shen Qingqiu’s attention with his fellow disciples. (It wasn’t like he didn’t have the option not to come himself. He never took it.)

Giving a little smile, Shen Qingqiu continued, “This teacher can make it worth your while. What was it you said once? Something about a certain fantasy involving the Bai Zhan Peak practice field?”

For a moment, it seemed like Luo Binghe hadn’t understood his meaning. Then his head shot up, looking at him with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. “Shizun,” he said hoarsely. “You…?”

In truth, Shen Qingqiu didn’t at all understand Luo Binghe’s obsession with Bai Zhan Peak, but sneaking into the training field for an illicit encounter would hardly be the most risque thing they’d ever attempted. It was worth it for Luo Binghe’s current expression alone. Ruffling up his hair, Shen Qingqiu fixed him with a look and said, “What? Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind now that I’m saying yes.”

Luo Binghe scrambled into an upright position, shifting so that he was kneeling over him. “Shizun, don’t tease me,” he whined.

Shen Qingqiu raised his eyebrows. “What use would I have for teasing you?” he demanded. “When have I ever teased you?”

Luo Binghe opened his mouth, but then reconsidered what he’d been going to say and shut it again. Smart boy. “Somebody could see us,” he said cautiously, like he was testing the waters. 

Shen Qingqiu’s face turned red. “Well, we’ll go at night, obviously.” Bai Zhan Peak kept to a very rigid sleep schedule. 

“You’ll have to keep very quiet.”

At this, Shen Qingqiu scowled. “What are you saying? You’re the one who makes the most noise.”

Luo Binghe smirked like this was funny to him, but didn’t argue. “Shizun has been very generous lately, indulging this disciple,” he observed, hands going to the collar of his sleepwear and tugging it absentmindedly. Or perhaps cheekily. 

As usual, some of Shen Qingqiu’s boldness was leaving him when placed under the earnestness of that stare. “Don’t push your luck. I can still change my mind,” he huffed, which seemed to amuse Luo Binghe even more. 

“Of course you can,” he said, lowering his head to press a kiss to Shen Qingqiu’s collarbone. There was a fading hickey there, from a few days ago. “I will serve you faithfully no matter what.” Here, he paused, as though thinking very hard on what he was about to say. “...But I, I like this side of you,” he admitted, blushing. 

Shen Qingqiu propped himself up onto an elbow, and petted Luo Binghe’s head some more. He was still struggling to find words in the wake of that penetrating gaze. 

He hadn’t really expected his behaviour to go unnoticed by Luo Binghe. His husband was much too astute for that. Even so, he had no choice but to be evasive. “Oh?” he asked, vaguely. “Are you surprised?”

Luo Binghe paused, considering this. “I like every side of Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu snickered. That was indeed the correct answer. “Would you say you’re feeling…satisfied?” he asked, glancing at his face.

Tucking his head in under Shen Qingqiu’s neck, Luo Binghe closed his eyes contentedly. “You don’t need to do anything special to make me satisfied,” he murmured, pecking little kisses to the underside of his chin and wherever he could reach. 

Alas, poor Binghe. He had no idea the System was exposing all his dirty secrets. He could try and be sweet and deferential all he wanted, but Shen Qingqiu knew exactly how satisfied he’d been feeling lately. Reflecting on this, for the first time, he felt a bit uneasy with what he’d been doing; wasn’t it essentially using him for his own benefit?

Still…Binghe obviously liked it, and Shen Qingqiu had to admit, it had been pretty fun. Even for its own sake. He blushed slightly at the thought. 

It was true that, during the early stages of their relationship, sex had been a little…well, if not a chore, then certainly not great. Luo Binghe finally had the chance to act on all the desires he’d been repressing most of his life, and had been known to approach their lovemaking with more, ah, vigour than what Shen Qingqiu, only just coming to terms with his own attraction to men, was fully able to contend with. Luo Binghe had very little shame and Shen Qingqiu, far too much. To make matters worse, they’d both lacked experience. It had led to more than a few uncomfortable situations. 

So with all of that in mind, he was truly grateful that they could be here now, comfortable enough to explore their bodies and try new things. He genuinely looked forward to going to bed with his husband at night. He cherished the closeness they shared. 

And if it allowed him to enjoy the benefits of modern toiletries too? That was just a perk. 

Shen Qingqiu smiled to himself, curling a lock of his husband’s hair around his finger. “Binghe?” 

Still nuzzling into his neck, Luo Binghe glanced up at him. “Yes?”

Shen Qingqiu raised his eyebrows. “Do you really think that if you put your hands up my shirt slowly enough, I won’t notice?”

Luo Binghe’s hand, which had indeed been sneaking its way up the expanse of Shen Qingqiu’s chest, came to a halt, although neither did it withdraw. “Shizun, that’s not fair. I have one down your pants as well.” The hand that was hovering over his hip gave it a liberal squeeze. 

Shen Qingqiu sighed. That had not, in fact, escaped his notice. “Any particular reason for it?”

“No.” Luo Binghe’s hand inched closer to his ass. 

“It seems like there might be.”

“Shizun, you always assume the worst.”

Shen Qingqiu pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. “So if I just lay here, nothing will happen.”

Against his neck, Shen Qingqiu could feel the outline of Luo Binghe’s mouth forming into a smile. “You can lay there. I’ll do everything.”

“Maybe I’ll go to sleep.”

From somewhere down below, something very large suddenly became something very hard. Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes. Of fucking course it responded to somnophilia. 

Luo Binghe finally shifted so he was kneeling over him again, looking at him fondly. “This disciple can always visit Shizun’s dreams,” he said, leaning closer so that their lips were almost brushing. 

Shen Qingqiu blinked up at him dourly. “If you want something, just say it.”

“Shizun knows what I want,” Binghe purred.

Yes. Yes, he did know that. Lifting his head, Shen Qingqiu gave him a kiss. “Then you should take it,” he murmured softly. 

Grinning, Luo Binghe grabbed at his clothing, tearing it off. Hearing something rip, Shen Qingqiu’s tender expression instantly turned into an exasperated scowl. “Binghe!” And he’d been doing so well! No ripped clothing incidents in months! 

“This disciple will buy you new ones,” Luo Binghe replied, without a trace of remorse. He impatiently tugged the rest of the offending articles away. 

“You wouldn’t need to if you’d just…” Shen Qingqiu trailed off into a shaky breath when he felt a warm hand reaching down between his thighs. This impatient disciple. “...Take your time,” he finished.

“You just told me to take what I wanted,” Luo Binghe protested affectionately, lowering his head to press a kiss to Shen Qingqiu’s collarbone. “You don’t have to hold back with me either, Shizun. I know you like to let me do everything, but if there’s anything you want—”

“Just what the hell is that supposed to—ah—” Shen Qingqiu’s protests died in his throat when he felt a steady hand wrap around his cock, stroking it skilfully. “What I want is for you to stop calling me Shizun. This isn’t something you do with your Shizun!” 

“Call me husband,” Binghe asked imploringly while he withdrew his hands to fumble around for the lube. “Then I won’t call you Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes. “What, so you can call me wife instead?” he asked, shuffling down to get more comfortable while Luo Binghe grabbed the bottle. 

At this, Luo Binghe looked down at him, eyebrows raised. “You don’t like it?” he asked. 

His face turning beet red, Shen Qingqiu reached up and snatched the lube bottle from him. “If either of us is the wife, it’s you. Hurry up and take your clothes off, this isn’t fair when I’m naked.”

Luo Binghe snorted, but obligingly started to remove his own clothing (with only a fraction of the enthusiasm he’d had for Shen Qingqiu’s). “I know I’m very lucky to have you for a husband,” he admitted honestly. “You can call me whatever you want. I don’t mind.” 

In truth, Shen Qingqiu didn’t mind either. There was nothing about their relationship that fit neatly into boxes. 

He took advantage of Luo Binghe’s distraction with his clothes to squeeze some of the lube onto his fingers (what the fuck did he mean, he let Binghe do everything? This disciple of his had such a selective memory…) and hurried to press two of them into himself before Luo Binghe could finish undressing. 

The pressure made him wince. He definitely should have started with one finger, but in his defence, Binghe usually did this for him. (That didn’t mean anything. It was just easier since he could see what he was doing.) Noticing, Luo Binghe reached forward, having finally divested himself of his remaining clothes, and touched his wrist. “Shizun. Let me do it.”

Shen Qingqiu looked at him without withdrawing his fingers. “Oh? You’re not upset about me making you do it all?” he asked sarcastically.

“Of course not! It’s my honour as a dis—” 

Shen Qingqiu huffed, and Luo Binghe quickly realised his mistake. Smiling apologetically as he settled in between Shen Qingqiu’s long legs, he stroked his thumb along the back of his hand in a placating way. “Then, I will help,” he replied dutifully, picking up the lube from where Shen Qingqiu had discarded it and adding a generous amount to both his hands. 

Shen Qingqiu had been expecting the “help” to be stroking his cock some more. When Luo Binghe reached instead for where Shen Qingqiu was currently working himself open, he then assumed that Luo Binghe was simply going to pull his hand away and replace it with his own. Instead, he started by carefully pressing his own finger against the rim, rubbing it tenderly alongside the fingers without pushing inside.

A shuddering breath escaped Shen Qingqiu’s lips. 

When Luo Binghe lifted his head, his expression had changed. Where moments ago it had still been teasing and lighthearted, it was now serious and solemn. It was obvious that he was devastatingly aroused, but he was no longer the repressed youth he had once been, and he could be patient when it mattered. “Take your time,” he said softly. 

Take your time, take your time…Shen Qingqiu wanted to yell at him for quoting his own words back at him, but he was suddenly very distracted. With his other hand, he began stroking himself, and Luo Binghe nodded approvingly, reaching forward and giving it a few pumps himself to smear on some of the lubricant from his hand. 

Turning his attention back to his Shizun’s warm opening, Luo Binghe shifted his hand so that his palm was pressed against the back of Shen Qingqiu’s hand, as though embracing it. Currently, Shen Qingqiu’s fingers were only pressed inside to the first knuckle. “Does it hurt?” he asked. 

Unable to answer, Shen Qingqiu just shook his head. He’d started too quickly, but his body was used to it and had adjusted. Looking pleased, Luo Binghe began to push Shen Qingqiu’s fingers forward, guiding them to press in deeper while adding one of his own. 

It was thrilling, their three fingers steadily working together to open him up. Shen Qingqiu was panting, the hand on his cock losing its rhythm as he desperately stroked. After a few more moments, Luo Binghe curled his finger, pushing against Shen Qingqiu’s to do the same. “Press up like this. You always like it when I do it.”

Sure enough, Shen Qingqiu let out a breathy gasp only seconds later. He could feel a harder spot inside himself where his prostate was. “Husband…” he whispered, voice soft. 

Luo Binghe stroked Shen Qingqiu’s thigh lovingly. “I’m here,” he replied earnestly. “Do you want to come like this?” 

The idea was certainly tempting, but he wanted more. Shen Qingqiu groaned, his hand tightening briefly around his cock, and shook his head. “N- no, fuck me.”

He couldn’t see Binghe’s cock from where he was lying, but Shen Qingqiu liked to imagine he heard it pop up with a springing sound when he said that. Certainly, he felt the hand tighten around his own, and a flash of excitement crossed his husband’s face. “Say that again,” Binghe said in a low voice. 

Shen Qingqiu looked at him scornfully, withdrawing his fingers from himself. “Binghe.”

“Just one more time,” Luo Binghe pleaded. “It sounded so pretty in your voice. Please?”

For fuck’s sake. Luo Binghe’s eyes had gone wide like he was on the verge of tears. He had the nerve to pull that face when he still had a finger inside of him? Shen Qingqiu ought to leave him with blue balls just for that. With a face full of lines, he said, “Don’t you dare start crying. Haven’t I already indulged you enough?” 

“You have,” replied Luo Binghe, dropping the puppy dog eyes since they hadn’t worked. In their place was something much more mischievous. “So what’s a few more little words, hm?” Adding another finger, he started pumping them in and out. “Come on, say fuck me, husband.” 

“Spoilt,” Shen Qingqiu muttered, throwing his head back and running a hand over his face. He shuddered. 

“Mn,” Binghe replied happily. “I am spoilt. I’m the most spoiled husband in the world. Say it? Please?”

“Make me.”

Luo Binghe froze. For a moment, all he could do was stare—before a massive grin crossed his face. “Okay.”

All of a sudden, Shen Qingqiu felt an intense spasm of pleasure from deep inside of him as Luo Binghe pressed his fingers against his prostate, massaging it deeply. His own hand instinctively went to grab his cock, but Binghe seized his wrist and pinned it to the bed beside his hip, causing Shen Qingqiu to let out a whine. Luo Binghe’s eyes were alight with joy. “Does my wife want me to fuck him?” 

“Yes!” Shen Qingqiu moaned, screwing his eyes shut as his body spasmed, lifting off the bed. The feeling was so intense that he wouldn’t have been surprised to learn that Luo Binghe was using Heavenly Demon Blood to increase his sensitivity. 

Luo Binghe smirked. “Then say it.”

Shen Qingqiu turned his head and buried it as best he could into the pillow, panting stubbornly. “I won’t.” (He would. Eventually.)

“Shizun,” he said petulantly. “Why won’t you say it?”

Despite everything, Shen Qingqiu let out a breathy laugh. “Don’t you like it when this teacher challenges you?”

Damn it. Every time he let Binghe get away with calling him Shizun in bed he was subjecting himself to ten more times reminding him not to, but such was Shen Qingqiu’s lot in life. At least his disciple seemed happy. He did, it seemed, like the challenge; had Shen Qingqiu been able to look at him, he would have seen him beaming like a schoolboy. “Well…this disciple won’t do it until you say it again.”

“I can live with tha—ha—at.” The last word broke off into a moan as another shudder rocked his body. He threw the unpinned hand over his eyes. All of a sudden the sensation stopped as Luo Binghe withdrew his fingers and reached up to grab his wrist, and Shen Qingqiu was left groaning in frustration as his hand was pulled away from his face. He was still so sensitive, but he couldn’t even touch himself. 

“You’re so beautiful,” Binghe remarked, sounding a little too overcome with emotion for somebody who was currently pinning both of his hands. 

“Ngh.” Shen Qingqiu squirmed. He simultaneously felt on the verge of coming and as though it was going to take him hours. Too much, and not enough. Either way, he was desperate for any kind of touch, and Binghe was not playing nice. 

Suddenly, he felt soft lips press against his own. Luo Binghe had climbed up closer to him, and his familiar scent flooded Shen Qingqiu’s senses, making him strain up against him. The touch of Luo Binghe’s cock against his own was as unmistakable as it was overwhelming. “You were the one who said you didn’t want to come like this,” Binghe purred.

“Just fuck me!" Shen Qingqiu finally cried out. This was getting ridiculous. Luo Binghe’s eyes widened like he hadn’t truly expected him to say it. 

And then he was smiling again, the expression soft and sweet. “Of course,” he murmured, giving him another little kiss to the corner of his mouth. 

He released his hands, and Shen Qingqiu sagged with relief. His eyes were half-lidded with lust and when he dared to open them again, he saw Luo Binghe fiddling with the bottle of lubricant, squeezing some more directly onto his cock. 

Unfortunately, Shen Qingqiu was no longer in a position to admire his husband’s beauty for what it was. He grabbed at him hungrily just as he was getting into position, and pulled Binghe’s head down to kiss him roughly, desperately. The way his hand curled into his husband’s hair was not at all gentle, and he heard Binghe let out a gasp in response. 

But he did not get a chance to react to it. A large, blunt shape pressed against where Luo Binghe’s fingers had been only moments earlier, and he relaxed, shuffling down in anticipation and spreading his legs open wider. When he felt himself breached, he inhaled sharply, an arm wrapping around Luo Binghe’s neck and holding on for dear life. 

The burn was a lot—it had been a few days since they last made love—but Shen Qingqiu was well prepared. Regardless, he was so wound up that the sensation of Luo Binghe entering him was enough to make him cry out. 

Binghe cupped his face and kissed him, muffling the sound as he pushed in further and started to pull back again. “Is it okay?” he asked softly, brushing Shen Qingqiu’s lips with his thumb.

Shen Qingqiu nodded, although he was still clinging to him rather tightly. The hand that was still in Luo Binghe’s hair had not relaxed at all, but his disciple made no complaint and showed no sign of discomfort. 

Receiving this response, Luo Binghe visibly sagged with relief. Even though it had been a long time since Shen Qingqiu had any real complaints about his “technique”, it was still a source of anxiety for him. “Then, I’m going to do as you asked.”

He started to move properly, and Shen Qingqiu settled in to enjoy the ride. Every once in a while, Luo Binghe would hit the angle just right and he would shudder with pleasure, and soon enough, he was a gasping mess, toes curling and fingers scrambling for purchase. 

Luo Binghe seemed delighted with this; he hitched his husband’s thigh up next to his waist, allowing himself to go deeper, and Shen Qingqiu moaned, crying out in both pleasure and pain. “Binghe!”

“I’m here, Shizun.” Luo Binghe’s voice was the only thing he could hear over the beating of his heart and the sounds of their bodies moving together. 

A tear escaped Shen Qingqiu’s eye. “It’s too much,” he moaned out, burying his face in Luo Binghe’s neck. 

“I’ve got you.” Luo Binghe’s speed increased, and now he was panting above him, eyes wild with excitement as they rocked together in unison. Against his back, Shen Qingqiu’s fingers tightened, the nails digging in deep, and Luo Binghe gave another gasp, his thrusts stuttering. Reaching in between them to wrap his hand around Shen Qingqiu’s cock, he spoke, “Shizun—are you close—?”

Neither was expecting it when Shen Qingqiu came hard and suddenly in between them. The attention to his cock coupled with the feeling from Binghe’s own, the beautiful burn of it deep inside him while it fucked him through his orgasm…Shen Qingqiu’s vision went white. 

He heard someone cry out in surprise from somewhere on top of him. Caught up in the moment, Shen Qingqiu dimly assumed that Luo Binghe was just responding to the way his husband’s body had gone tight around his own. A second later, though, Shen Qingqiu opened his mouth, which was still clamped down upon Binghe’s shoulder, and realised that he’d actually bitten him. Quite hard. 

“Ah—” Alarmed, Shen Qingqiu stared at the spot, which was already red and raised. He couldn’t tell whether it was bleeding. Didn’t get time to inspect it. Right at that moment, Luo Binghe suddenly yanked his hips up against his own, burying himself to the hilt and releasing deep inside him with a vengeance. Shen Qingqiu moaned again, his back arching off the bed. Binghe’s orgasm seemed to last forever, and he was held firm throughout it. 

In the end, the thing that brought him back to the moment was—

“Congratulations! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Protagonist satisfaction increased +1000 points! ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*(★≧▽^))★☆*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ You’re doing amazing!!!” 

Shen Qingqiu stared at it blankly for a second before waving it away. The pop-up was a good indicator that Luo Binghe didn’t mind being bitten, but he still…he still hadn’t meant to do it. Sitting up before Luo Binghe had even had a chance to recover, he pushed his husband up into a kneeling position and kept an arm around his back. “Binghe, are you okay?”

“Hm?” Luo Binghe was still a little dazed with pleasure, eyes still wet with a few stray tears. He seemed confused when the way they shifted caused him to slip out of Shen Qingqiu, and looked at him in bewilderment. “Ah…of course. Shizun, what are you—”

Swallowing, Shen Qingqiu brushed his fingers over the bite mark, realising with a flipping feeling in his stomach that he’d drawn blood in several places. It was red and angry, and he knew from experience that this type of bite would take days to recover. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Luo Binghe blinked a few times, as though not understanding. He cocked his head, giving a bemused sort of smile. “It’s okay,” he said, sounding more like his usual self. “I didn’t mind.”

Without answering, Shen Qingqiu pressed his lips to the spot, giving it an apologetic kiss, and Luo Binghe’s expression softened. “Shizun, I’ve given this kind of mark to you before. What’s the problem?”

Lifting his head to meet his gaze, Shen Qingqiu paused before saying, “It’s not the same.” He hesitated. “I’m your Shizun. I’m not supposed to lose control.”

Luo Binghe reached up to brush his fingers curiously over the bite mark. Then he shifted, placing his hand on Shen Qingqiu’s cheek and gently tilting his face so that he could only look at Luo Binghe. “It’s my honour,” he whispered. Leaning in closer, he gave Shen Qingqiu a chaste kiss. “You can lose control around me. You can do whatever you want to me. I’ll take all of it.” Another kiss. “Shizun, there’s nothing you can do to me that I wouldn’t want. I’ll gladly endure it.”

Hearing those same words that Shen Qingqiu had once said to him, years ago when they were still only just figuring things out, he looked down for a second, touching his head against Luo Binghe’s chest. After a moment, he nodded, still pressed up against him.

Why the hell was he so worked up over something that his husband had loved? A thousand points! And all it had taken was one little bite that Binghe could heal in a matter of seconds if he wanted to. This was cause for celebration! He could get that music player he’d been eyeing off. Or three months’ supply of coffee. 

When he lifted his head again, he was considerably more relaxed. Luo Binghe was still looking at him with that impossibly sweet expression, and Shen Qingqiu reached up to cup his face in turn. “Such a loyal disciple,” he murmured. 

Luo Binghe gave a lopsided sort of smile. “Only for you.”

Shen Qingqiu stretched his neck to kiss him again. Out of nowhere, it struck him just how beautiful his husband was. “Binghe…”

Luo Binghe perked up. “Mm?”

Shen Qingqiu paused, realising he didn’t have anything he wanted to ask. He’d just felt like saying his name.

After a moment, though, he answered. “It’s so early and we’ve already slept together. What are we going to do for the rest of the day, hm?”

“I’ll wash our dishes and then draw you a bath,” Luo Binghe suggested. “Afterwards, maybe we can take a walk into town.”

Now feeling totally relaxed again, Shen Qingqiu nodded his approval and slumped back into bed. “Don’t make it too hot.”

“Of course not,” Binghe replied dutifully.

“And use the bigger tub. You should join me.”

“As Shizun wishes.”

“Then I’ll do your hair after. It’s a mess.”

“This disciple is grateful.”

Shen Qingqiu smiled to himself.

In all honesty, Shen Qingqiu had no idea how the electronics that the Perk Store offered managed to function in a world without electricity, but considering how Shang Qinghua’s computer got by just fine and the vibrator was yet to run out of batteries, he decided not to worry about it. Whatever the System was, it knew what it was doing.

There was an e-reader he’d been eyeing off that came preloaded with access to Zhongdian’s entire library. He had to admit, it had been really fun getting back into trashy webnovels, even if he could no longer comment, but having to buy them individually was costly and they were starting to take up a lot of space. Unfortunately, the e-reader was still a good five thousand points out of his price range.

That being said… 

A thousand points. For one bite. It had been playing over in his mind ever since it happened. Shen Qingqiu sighed, closing the catalogue and idly turning his attention back to the letter he’d been trying to write.

There were times when Shen Qingqiu wondered if he was a bit of a masochist himself. He must have been, to keep sleeping with that oversized third leg his husband possessed. (Especially in the beginning when Luo Binghe hadn’t learned to use it properly and they didn’t even have modern lubricant.) But any masochism of Shen Qingqiu’s was utterly dwarfed by that of his own poor husband. 

Shen Qingqiu had gotten into the habit of deflecting whenever it came up, but…really, it didn’t have to be such a big deal. They’d been together for over four years now. If Shen Qingqiu’s face had thickened enough to wear a vibrator in public or let Binghe tie him up, then surely that would be a piece of cake. 

And so it was that a few days later, Luo Binghe returned to their house with a bag of rice he’d procured in town to the sight of his beloved Shizun waiting for him.

Shen Qingqiu was wearing the same sheer robe he’d acquired a few months ago when they’d first started doing this. It was thin and embroidered with bamboo patterns reminiscent of what he usually wore on Qing Jing Peak. Luo Binghe froze the moment his eyes fixed upon it, and the large bag of rice dropped to the floor with a muffled noise. 

“Shizun,” he said, sounding hoarse. 

His entire face bright red, Shen Qingqiu wrapped his fingers tighter around the short riding crop he’d acquired from the Perk Store, and tapped it against his other hand. This was fine. It only felt ridiculous to him; Binghe was going to love it. “You kept your Shizun waiting for a very long time.”

To Luo Binghe’s credit, he was incredibly smart. It only took him a fraction of a second to realise exactly what was going on. 

His eyes went wide with anticipation. He looked like he was about to leap into the air in his excitement. Once he had recovered enough to speak, he licked his lips and said, “This disciple apologises to Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu was suddenly very aware of the fact that his head was itchy. He instinctively moved to scratch it, but remembering what they were doing, forced himself to ignore it. Calm and collected. That was the idea of this. Instead, he gave a contemptuous sigh and said, “Shut the door and come over here.”

Luo Binghe was practically tripping over himself to obey, slamming the door shut and leaving the rice where it had fallen. He rushed forward to where Shen Qingqiu was standing against the table and sank to his knees in front of him, staring down at the floor. “This disciple is at Shizun’s command.”

Taking a deep breath, Shen Qingqiu placed the crop against Luo Binghe’s cheek and used it to tilt his head up to look at him. 

Inside his chest, his heart was beating like a jackhammer. Now that they were in this situation, it occurred to him that he really had no idea what the hell he was doing. He knew, in theory, how this worked, but it wasn’t like he’d done it before. There’d been plenty of sex in the books he read, but this type of thing had never interested him enough to go looking for it. Even in Proud Immortal Demon Way, while the sex scenes could get rough, there wasn’t a lot of going out of one’s way to cause pain for the sake of it. Definitely not with Luo Binghe on the receiving end. 

But Binghe’s words from the other day stuck with him. There’s nothing you can do to me that I wouldn’t want. 

Luo Binghe was literally invulnerable. There truly was no way that this could go wrong. 

On his knees before him, Luo Binghe gazed up at Shen Qingqiu with arousal and something bordering on hunger. “Does Shizun want—”

Shen Qingqiu suddenly smacked him across the face with the crop. It wasn’t hard, but the surprise rendered Luo Binghe speechless. Above his head, a small window appeared. 

“WOOHOO! Congratulations! Protagonist satisfaction increased 200 points! Incredible!”

What the hell?

The damn thing was interrupting them in the middle of the act now? Just how much was Binghe enjoying this??? They hadn’t even taken off their clothes yet! Shen Qingqiu waved it away, turning his attention back to Luo Binghe, whose pupils were blown wide as he drank in his every move. 

It was odd, being under that penetrating stare. Even though Binghe had looked at him like that many a time, it felt different right now. Luo Binghe’s cheek was a little red where the crop had struck him, but it didn’t seem too bad. Even so, Shen Qingqiu shuddered. Normally, by this point, Luo Binghe would snatch him up and carry him back to their room to have his way with him, but that hadn’t happened yet. Shen Qingqiu wished it would. 

But that wasn’t what this was about. It was about patience. Restraint. Discipline. Shen Qingqiu locked eyes with his husband, realising he hadn’t said anything since he’d struck him with no warning. Luo Binghe seemed to have noticed this too. His eager expression faltered, “Shizun, are you—”

“Don’t ask questions,” Shen Qingqiu said sharply. “Now you…go back to bed and take your clothes off. Wait for me there.”

Luo Binghe’s face relaxed again, and he nearly fell over with how quickly he scrambled to follow the command; he stepped on his own sleeve as he stood up and caused himself to topple forward. Out of habit, Shen Qingqiu covered his mouth to conceal a smile, but he found he was not as endeared by Binghe’s clumsy antics as he usually was. He just felt uneasy. 

He watched as Luo Binghe ran on ahead, already loosening his clothing, and stopped to lean over the table, running a hand down his face. Two hundred points already, and they’d barely even started. He was doing fine. Binghe was having a great time. 

He distracted himself by looking idly over the crop he’d bought, giving his husband time to undress. He’d never held anything like it before, but…well, he supposed it wasn’t hard to figure out. 

When he’d finally decided enough time had passed, he turned on his heel and marched toward the bedroom, halting in the entrance to lean against the doorframe. 

Binghe’s clothes were lying in a hastily discarded pile on the floor, while their owner knelt near the edge of the bed. Seeing him, Shen Qingqiu relaxed, allowing himself a moment to take in his appearance. His beautiful disciple looked happy as a clam; he was staring straight down at the bed, but upon hearing Shen Qingqiu enter, he chanced a look up and gave him an encouraging smile. 

Swallowing, Shen Qingqiu looked at the crop in his hand, and began to feel a bit ridiculous. Still, he approached the bed, sitting on the edge but turning so that he could face his husband.

Although they were fairly close in height, Luo Binghe was a little bit taller; Shen Qingqiu was used to looking up at him. Right now though, the way Binghe was sitting with his head lowered, he seemed much shorter than he really was. It reminded him of when they’d first met. 

Ugh, he really didn’t want to think about that when they were in bed together, that was so weird. Instead, he reached out a hand and took Binghe’s face in it, brushing his thumb gently over the redder patch on his cheek. “Does it hurt?” he asked softly. 

Luo Binghe gave a cheeky smirk. “Yes.”

Shen Qingqiu winced, and the grin on Luo Binghe’s face faltered. “I mean, no,” he continued hurriedly. “It doesn’t hurt at all.” He smirked again, looking up at him with a hint of defiance. “Do your worst, Shizun, this disciple can take it.”

Don’t call me Shizun in bed, Shen Qingqiu wanted to say. He stopped himself. That was the least of his concerns right now. 

He leaned in closer and pressed a kiss to the spot. “Good boy,” he murmured.

Luo Binghe’s cock, which had already been half-hard, practically sprang up to attention. Noticing this, Shen Qingqiu chuckled giddily, feeling like the air had been let out of a balloon. Whatever else they were doing, he could always count on Binghe’s praise kink. That, at least, was familiar. 

But they’d done praise kink a thousand times; the System wasn’t awarding points for it anymore, only for new stuff. So he reluctantly straightened up again. He resisted the urge to reach for Binghe’s cock, and instead grabbed a handful of his hair, using it to angle his head to look up at him. “That’s—that’s what you want me to say, isn’t it?” he demanded. 

Binghe’s eyes widened. “I—”

Shen Qingqiu gripped his chin tightly, causing his lips to pucker. “Yes?”

The Adam’s apple in Luo Binghe’s throat visibly bobbed as he swallowed. “Yes…all this disciple wants is to be good for Shizun.”

Why did he have to be so sweet when Shen Qingqiu was trying to psyche himself up to be mean to him? “Well, you’ve been…very bad,” he replied. It sounded lame to his own ears. He couldn’t even think of a pretend reason. “How should I punish you?” 

Evidently, it did not sound lame to his companion. Luo Binghe’s tongue darted out to wet his lips. “You should make me remember better,” he whispered. 

Shen Qingqiu let go of his face and reached for the crop, which he’d left discarded on the bed beside them. For a moment, he didn’t move. 

Luo Binghe looked up at him, still heady with anticipation. “I promise I can take it,” he promised, reaching out to cover Shen Qingqiu’s hand where it was holding the crop. “Whatever Shizun will give me.”

When Shen Qingqiu finally managed to look at him again, he felt an unexpected wave of fondness wash over him. Only Luo Binghe could be so cute while asking to be spanked. “Then...get ready,” he said, thickening his face and straightening up a little. 

Hearing this, Luo Binghe immediately shuffled closer so that he could lay across Shen Qingqiu’s lap. On instinct, Shen Qingqiu placed a hand upon the small of his back, petting uncertainly with the hand that wasn’t holding the crop. He could feel the hard press of Binghe’s cock against his thigh. “I’m ready, Shizun,” Luo Binghe said earnestly. 

Taking a deep breath, Shen Qingqiu brought the crop down upon Luo Binghe’s bottom. 

Binghe jerked slightly, gasping, and Shen Qingqiu froze.

“Congratulations! Protagonist satisfaction increased! 200 Points!”

Annoyed, Shen Qingqiu closed the window. “Are you okay?” he asked, worried, only for Luo Binghe to nod his head vigorously against the bed. 

“Yes,” he replied breathily. “I’m good, keep going.”

Relieved, Shen Qingqiu smacked him again, this time a little harder. Again, Binghe’s body shuddered, and he inhaled sharply like he was in pain. 

He was in pain. Even if he liked it. Shen Qingqiu didn’t know why he’d expected Luo Binghe to react like this was purely pleasurable for him. The whole point of it was about extremes; he enjoyed the pain, but it was still technically pain. 

“Congratulations! 100 Points!”

Okay, okay, so he was still enjoying it. It was fine. Trying to calm his breathing, Shen Qingqiu brought the crop down a third time, and Luo Binghe let out a whine, his fingers clutching the blankets while he rutted against Shen Qingqiu’s thigh. 

“Congratulations! 100 Points!”

Luo Binghe’s face was screwed up, panting heavily. He was—

—He was strung up by his arms, much younger than the Luo Binghe currently before him. His back was spattered with blood from a whip. Unshed tears welled in his eyes, but he scrunched up his face, forcing himself not to let them fall. “Shi...Shizun, please, I don’t—”

Seated several feet away from him, Shen Qingqiu looked boredly down at the cup of tea he’d been stirring. “Don’t what?”

Shen Qingqiu gasped, pulled out of the memory as quickly as it had started. He was physically trembling. 

It wasn’t him. It was not his own memory, he knew that. It came from Shen Jiu, like the ones he’d seen with Meng Mo’s help. But he hadn’t expected—not here—

Over his lap, Luo Binghe turned his head so he could look up at Shen Qingqiu and give him another look of encouragement. “Shizun, do it again,” he pleaded. 

Smack. 

“Congratulations! 100 Points!”

Luo Binghe was standing over a chasm, staring at him in confusion. He wouldn’t move, even when faced with Xiu Ya’s blade. He trusted him. Didn’t believe he would do it. He would not fight back. When he went sailing into the Abyss, the only emotion on his face was desperation. In Shen Qingqiu’s ears, a cool robotic voice congratulated him for successful completion of the storyline. 

Shen Qingqiu dropped the crop. He hadn’t wanted to. He’d had no choice. “I—”

Luo Binghe, face torn apart with anguish, clutching Shen Qingqiu’s lifeless body. 

Luo Binghe, unrecognisable under Xin Mo’s thrall.

Luo Binghe crying alone on the floor of the bamboo house, hot tea dripping down his chin.

Luo Binghe… 

Luo Binghe’s voice. “Shizun?”

“I’m sorry,” Shen Qingqiu gasped out. “Stop—we need to stop—Binghe, I’m sorry…”

Luo Binghe was already scrambling to sit up, eyes wide in alarm. “Shizun, I…what’s wrong?”

Before he was even upright, Shen Qingqiu was already frantically pulling him into his arms. He cradled Binghe’s head, tucking it in against his chest, and started raining kisses upon his hair. Each one feather light, like Shen Qingqiu was trying to cover every inch of his head. 

This had been a bad idea. What had he been thinking—

“Protagonist satisfaction—”

Shen Qingqiu fucking exploded. 

“Shut up!” he yelled. “Shut up, just shut up!” Tears were welling up in his eyes. “I don’t need you! I don’t need a point system grading my fucking marriage! Disable all notifications and just leave us alone!”

The window disappeared before Shen Qingqiu could even see what it was going to say.

Behind it, Luo Binghe was lifting his head to stare at him imploringly. For a second, Shen Qingqiu thought he’d heard what had just transpired. He thought maybe he wouldn’t have cared if he did, but Luo Binghe didn’t say anything about point systems or notifications. He just took Shen Qingqiu’s face between his hands and started kissing him. Tenderly. Sweetly. Just how he knew he liked it. “It’s okay,” Binghe murmured in between kisses. “Shizun, I’m here.”

“I’m sorry.” Shen Qingqiu clung to him. This was so stupid. Why was he the one being reassured? 

“Shizun, why are you—” 

“I never wanted to hurt you,” Shen Qingqiu said hoarsely. Hadn’t he already hurt him enough?

He should have at least tried to discuss it with him, instead of just springing it on him as a surprise. Maybe they’d have figured out sooner what a colossally terrible idea it would be to so much as consider it. 

When the fuck did he start letting the same entity that had forced him to push Luo Binghe into the Endless Abyss become a higher authority on what was good for their relationship than just fucking talking to him? 

In his arms, Luo Binghe still looked confused. It seemed like he was going to say something—maybe even ask if he’d done something wrong—but Shen Qingqiu suddenly shifted, pulling him along. “Just, wait a minute,” he said.

He moved to lay down on the bed, and Luo Binghe went with him willingly. Shen Qingqiu kept cradling him in his arms, and after a short pause, Luo Binghe’s arms went around his torso. He buried his face in his Shizun’s neck and started gently stroking his back. To anyone watching, it would be unclear which of them was comforting the other. 

They laid there for several minutes while Shen Qingqiu’s heart rate returned to normal. Neither spoke. 

It was usually Luo Binghe who broke any extended silences between them, but he stayed quiet, seemingly determined not to press. Eventually, Shen Qingqiu had recovered enough to register that Binghe was still naked, and he himself was only wearing a thin robe which provided no modesty, and sat up with the intention of pulling their blanket over themselves. 

When he did so, though, his eyes fell on a couple of red welts on Luo Binghe’s ass and thighs. In truth, they looked nothing like the state of the young Binghe’s back in Shen Jiu’s memory, but the sight of them still hit him with a deep sense of revulsion.

“Do they hurt?” he asked anxiously, reaching out and placing his hand over one of them. Maybe he could get some ointment or lotion from the Perk Store. The idea of even looking at the thing right now filled him with distaste, but if it would help Binghe—

“Hm?” Luo Binghe craned his head to see what he was looking at. “...Oh.”

Before Shen Qingqiu’s eyes, the redness vanished, the swelling disappearing until there was nothing but pale, unblemished skin once more. 

He blinked. Right. Yes. Relaxing slightly, Shen Qingqiu lifted his hand just as Luo Binghe moved to sit upright. This time, Binghe was the one who put his arms around Shen Qingqiu and cuddled him against his chest.

Luo Binghe had never done that before for a scar that came from him. Not even an accidental one like the bite mark on his neck. Those were gifts from his Shizun, he would always say. Things to be treasured. Shen Qingqiu didn’t understand, but he accepted it without complaint. But now, recognising his distress, Binghe had made them go away without a second thought.

Shen Qingqiu loved this man.

“I don’t…” He looked away. “I don’t like hurting you.”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Luo Binghe replied. “Not when it’s you.” It sounded less of a protest than a reassurance.

Letting out a shaky sigh, Shen Qingqiu nodded. “I know it’s something you wanted to try, so I thought I could surprise you, but I…” He trailed off, face burning with shame.

Luo Binghe’s face softened. “I truly didn’t know it would affect you like this, or I never would have brought it up. I’m sorry, Shizun.”

Here, Shen Qingqiu laughed humourlessly. “It’s not your fault.” Lifting his head, he placed a hand on Binghe’s cheek and kissed him. “I just saw you like that, and I…Binghe, I don’t ever want to see you in pain again.”

Luo Binghe blinked a few times, processing this. When he spoke again, there was uncertainty in his voice. “Is this about…Shizun, is it about…when I first joined Qing Jing Peak?”

Shen Qingqiu froze. Seeing this, Luo Binghe hurriedly continued. “Shizun, I really don’t blame you for back then. I know you just wanted to help me get stronger. And I did. See, I’m fine now. Actually, I’m grateful—”

“No.”

Both of them were surprised by the sheer vehemence in Shen Qingqiu’s voice. He looked up sharply, cutting Luo Binghe off. “You were a child. You didn’t deserve it. Do you understand me? You didn’t deserve what—” The word he caught in his throat. You didn’t deserve what he did to you.

But what did it matter if it was Shen Jiu or Shen Yuan back then? What did it matter whose fault it was? It happened, and it wasn’t Shen Jiu who had thrown Binghe into the Endless Abyss. It wasn’t Shen Jiu who had pushed him away and hurt him, too caught up in his own preconceived expectations to see the reality of what was before him. Luo Binghe was tortured by a man bearing the same face as the one he’d crossed arms with and made love to on their wedding night. Of all the greatest hardships in Luo Binghe’s life…how many of them began, in one way or another, with a man named Shen Qingqiu?

“—what happened to you,” he finished, brushing Luo Binghe’s cheekbone with his thumb. 

Luo Binghe reached up and covered the hand that was touching his face. “Shizun…”

“Do you understand?” Shen Qingqiu asked again, more forcefully.

“I...understand,” Luo Binghe said, voice soft. He still sounded uncertain.

Shen Qingqiu pulled Luo Binghe’s head back into his arms and tucked it under his chin, staring at nothing. Almost absentmindedly, he kissed Binghe’s hair again and began to stroke it.

Luo Binghe turned his head so that he had one ear pressed against Shen Qingqiu’s chest. “I…never realised you felt so strongly about it,” he admitted. 

I’m your Shizun. How could I not?

In almost four years of marriage, they barely discussed what happened back then. In their own ways, they’d both been trying to put the past behind them. Luo Binghe clung to the fond memories of his youth but refused to linger on the things he could not reconcile with the person who had treated him so well in those memories. And Shen Qingqiu…

How could Shen Qingqiu tell him that he couldn’t even remember the things that had happened before his transmigration? And the things that happened after, all his greatest regrets, all the things he’d missed when he was wrapped up in his own head and the specific image of Luo Binghe that he’d built inside it…how could he force his husband to live through that again and disrupt the happy ending they’d worked so hard to build for themselves?

Raising his gaze to look up at the ceiling, Shen Qingqiu gave a tired sort of smile and answered, “Binghe is the most important thing in the world to me.”

He heard a sniffling against his chest. “Oh…”

Shen Qingqiu petted his hair some more, unable to respond. 

Eventually, Luo Binghe shifted, wanting to look at his face again. “Did it really upset you that much? Just a few, ah…”

Without waiting to find out which noun he would have used to describe what they’d just done, Shen Qingqiu shifted uncertainly under the earnestness of his gaze. “Binghe, do you really enjoy it? Or do you just—do you—”

Did you think it would please me?

Here, Luo Binghe looked down, blushing. “I enjoy anything that I do with you.”

“But that’s not—” Shen Qingqiu’s voice had gone up in pitch as he wracked his brain to find the right words for what he wanted to ask. 

Seeing him struggle, Luo Binghe jumped in. “I’m not just trying to please you,” he continued hurriedly. “But Shizun, I really wasn’t lying when I said there was nothing you could do that I wouldn’t like. I think about things I’d like to do with you all the time, and most of them, I never even mention.”

Shen Qingqiu wanted to ask what kind of things. He didn’t like the idea that his husband wasn’t comfortable sharing things with him. But he also knew Luo Binghe; the man wasn’t embarrassed voicing his desires. If there were things Binghe had chosen not to bring up, knowing Shen Qingqiu as well as he did, then he must have had a reason. 

In the end he just replied, “You can tell me. If you want.”

Luo Binghe’s face turned a little redder. “Maybe...another time. What I mean is, I know you’re shy. I don’t want some imaginary version of you that wants everything I want. I want you. But sometimes, it’s hard for me to tell whether you’re just shy or there’s another reason you don’t like something. So I try to just let you take the lead on what we do.” He hesitated. “Shizun, these last few months have been really fun, but you haven’t—it hasn’t just been for me, has it?”

The memories of a dozen different System notifications raced through his mind, and Shen Qingqiu hung his head in shame. 

That wasn’t quite it, though, was it? “Introducing additional parameters” was meant to be fun. It might have started as a way of earning points, but he had liked it. He’d liked exploring things with his partner. Even so, the fact that it had ended up like this…

It was a sign that something was wrong. And that needed to change. 

“It wasn’t just for you,” Shen Qingqiu said emphatically. 

In his arms, Luo Binghe’s anxious expression relaxed somewhat, but he still seemed uncertain. “You’re sure?”

Shen Qingqiu laughed awkwardly. “Binghe, your husband is very good at making excuses, but even I can’t pretend I didn’t like it.”

It was as though his laughter had deflated all the tension in the room. Luo Binghe sighed in relief. “But, just now…?”

Shen Qingqiu looked away. “I didn’t expect it to bother me so much.”

Taking his hands, Luo Binghe pulled them up to his mouth and kissed each of them in turn. “It means a lot that you wanted to surprise me. But next time, we can talk about it first.”

A fond look crossed Shen Qingqiu’s face, and he moved his hand to cup Binghe’s cheek. “When did you grow up so much?” he asked softly. 

Nuzzling into the hand, Luo Binghe smiled back. “I had an excellent teacher.”

Maybe he did. Or maybe he was just good. 

They stayed in bed for a while. Eventually, they laid down and settled under the blankets. (The crop was kicked under the bed, out of sight.) Shen Qingqiu, at least, went to sleep for a little while. Binghe might have, too, but if he did he woke up again before Shen Qingqiu, who opened his eyes to see him watching him patiently. 

Luo Binghe gave him a kiss and told him to wait in bed while he went to make dinner. He got up, dressing himself like he’d done a thousand times before. Shen Qingqiu watched him right until he left the room, but only lasted about thirty seconds afterwards before he was getting up to follow him out. 

He found him standing in front of the stove, washing some rice in a pot. Without saying a word, Shen Qingqiu pressed up against his back, winding his arms around his stomach and pressing his face into his shoulder. 

Luo Binghe smiled.