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Chapter Text

Liu Qingge couldn’t stop thinking about what Shen Yuan had said.

Demons fight like that to flirt.

Perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He wasn’t entirely unaware of the way Luo Binghe looked at him, after all. At first, when the boy was younger, Liu Qingge had assumed it was just hero worship—Luo Binghe was hardly the first disciple to stare at him like that, although he had quickly become the only one with the skill to truly challenge Liu Qingge. But now…

Luo Binghe had blushed, but he hadn’t refuted Shen Yuan’s statement, had he?

It was troublesome. Liu Qingge was… very fond of Luo Binghe, obviously. And Luo Binghe was beautiful—one would have to be blind not to notice. Liu Qingge had ignored that fact before, because the boy was too young, and a disciple besides. And he was still pretty young, Liu Qingge tried to remind himself. But Luo Binghe was old enough to know his own mind… and he was no longer a disciple of Cang Qiong, either.

That didn’t make the matter much less complicated. Luo Binghe was a half-demon, a fact that wouldn’t sit well with most humans. It didn’t trouble Liu Qingge as it once would have, but he was still a Peak Lord. He cared little for his own reputation, but he still had to give some thought to how his actions would affect his sect.

And then there was Shen Yuan. He and Luo Binghe had clearly become… close, to say the least. Maybe they were better suited for each other, both being demons. Regardless of Liu Qingge’s own feelings, perhaps the responsible thing would be to step back, return to the human realm, and leave them to their happiness.

…Which would have been much easier to do if Shen Yuan didn’t keep pushing Luo Binghe and him together at every opportunity.

A few days later, Shen Yuan suggested another outing for them. Apparently, he had discovered a meadow where some rare demonic herb grew in abundance; a plant whose blossoms could be brewed into a tea with potent healing properties. If gathered fresh, he explained, the tonic might speed Liu Qingge’s recovery. Luo Binghe, of course, leapt at the idea, eager as always to do anything for Liu Qingge’s benefit. And with Luo Binghe’s hopeful gaze fixed on him, Liu Qingge could hardly refuse.

So, Shen Yuan flew them there the next afternoon. From above, the field was impossible to miss—a vast expanse of red, orange, and purple flowers, covering the rolling hills in a blanket of color. The descent was like sinking into a sunset, a sweet and heady scent rising up to meet them. When they dismounted, flowers swaying around their knees, Shen Yuan crouched low, wings already flexing in preparation to spring back into the air.

“Shizun, you’re leaving?” Luo Binghe asked.

“Yes. I’m… a bit allergic to these particular flowers,” Shen Yuan said lightly. “I’m afraid they make me sneeze. I’ll be back to pick you up in a shichen or so!”

Liu Qingge frowned. A whole shichen? Surely they didn’t need that long just to pick a few plants…? But before he could speak, Shen Yuan had already launched himself skyward again, the wind from his wings stirring the field into ripples of color as he vanished into the distance.

Luo Binghe turned to Liu Qingge, a wry smile on his face. “Well… shall we?”

So they set to work, wading through the flowers. Apparently the ones they wanted were the red blossoms—which were also the source of the fragrant smell, and produced a sticky pollen that stained their fingertips. It didn’t take long to pick several bouquets worth, which Luo Binghe conscientiously packed away in a qiankun pouch. He was wearing jet-black robes today, and the flowers stood out against them in bloody red contrast. Although it was late winter in the human realm, the weather here was fair, Luo Binghe’s skin practically glowing in the sun.

Eventually Luo Binghe paused in his labor, glancing at Liu Qingge. “It’s very beautiful here, isn’t it Shishu?” he asked. He didn’t seem to be looking at the field, however—his eyes were fixed squarely on Liu Qingge.

Liu Qingge felt his face prickle with heat. “It’s… nice,” he allowed.

Luo Binghe tilted his head thoughtfully. Then, without warning, he darted forward and tucked one of the red flowers into Liu Qingge’s ponytail. “There. Now Shishu looks even more beautiful!”

Liu Qingge stiffened. “Hey—!”

He lunged at Luo Binghe, who danced away, laughing. “Oh? Does Shishu want to put flowers in my hair too? I’m afraid he’ll still be the prettiest, though.”

Liu Qingge narrowed his eyes. “I’ll show you pretty.”

He threw himself at Luo Binghe again, this time using his qinggong. But Luo Binghe was ready, and he leapt away with a grin, petals scattering around him. Liu Qingge gave chase, and soon they were both leaping across the hills, their steps as light as air, the flowers buckling and swaying in their wake. Luo Binghe stayed just ahead, laughing, until Liu Qingge finally succeeded in grabbing one dark, trailing sleeve.

He crashed into Luo Binghe at high speed, and their momentum carried them both down in a tumble, rolling through the flowers in a tangle of limbs until they came to rest in a hollow among the hills. They left a trail of crushed blossoms behind them, the sweet scent billowing up into the air. Liu Qingge landed on top, braced over Luo Binghe, their chests heaving from exertion. Luo Binghe lay beneath him, petals tangled in his hair, a smear of pollen across one cheek. He was smiling up at Liu Qingge, as radiant as the sun.

And again, Shen Yuan’s words came back to Liu Qingge. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out, “Are you flirting with me?”

Luo Binghe’s eyes went wide. “Am I flirting with you? Wasn’t Shishu the one who tackled me to the ground just now?”

Liu Qingge just frowned. “Are you or aren’t you?”

Luo Binghe’s expression softened. Slowly, he reached up and plucked a petal from Liu Qingge’s hair. “Do you want me to be?”

Heat began to climb up Liu Qingge’s neck. “I… wouldn’t mind,” he admitted quietly. He felt he owed Luo Binghe his honesty, if nothing else. “But… aren’t you flirting with Shen Yuan, too?”

Luo Binghe bit his lip. “I—”

“It’s alright, if you are,” Liu Qingge said quickly. His chest felt tight, but the words came out steady. “He would be good for you.” Certainly Liu Qingge himself couldn’t give Luo Binghe everything he deserved—he couldn’t even promise to stay, knowing he would be needed back in the human realm on a regular basis.

“You know… Shizun said the same thing about you,” Luo Binghe said, with a slanted smile.

Liu Qingge blinked down at him. “He did?”

Luo Binghe nodded. “Surely you’ve noticed how he keeps pushing us together?”

“...Yes,” Liu Qingge admitted, rocking back on his heels. He’d intended to give them both some space, but Luo Binghe sat up too, so that they were nearly chest to chest again—except now with Liu Qingge in Luo Binghe’s lap.

“He went out of his way to arrange a pretty romantic setting for us, wouldn’t you agree?” Luo Binghe murmured, swaying closer. “What do you suppose he thinks we’re doing right now?” Luo Binghe’s hands were on his hips, Liu Qingge suddenly realized. When had he put them there?

Liu Qingge swallowed. “Probably… more or less this.” Luo Binghe’s face was very close now—Liu Qingge could see the soft sweep of every lash as he blinked.

“Then… we shouldn’t let his efforts go to waste, should we?” Luo Binghe said. He leaned in, but just before their lips could make contact, Liu Qingge stopped him with a hand pressed against his mouth.

“Wait. You didn’t answer my question about whether you’ve been flirting with Shen Yuan.”

For a moment, Luo Binghe’s parted lips were warm and damp against Liu Qingge’s fingertips. Then he pulled back just enough to speak, his gaze earnest. “You said… that it was alright, if I was.”

Liu Qingge nodded.

Luo Binghe sighed. “Then… yes. The truth is, I’ve developed feelings for both of you.”

Liu Qingge studied him. Luo Binghe’s eyes were wide, his expression a bit anxious.

“...Alright,” Liu Qingge said.

“Alright? Does that mean you—”

But he got no further, because Liu Qingge had already leaned back in and pressed their lips together.

The kiss began softly, almost hesitant, their lips sliding together once before pulling apart. But then Luo Binghe surged forward again, his eyes dark, his lips parted eagerly. Liu Qingge felt the hot swipe of his tongue, and opened his own mouth—only to grunt in pain as Luo Binghe sunk his teeth into his lower lip, not quite enough to draw blood but certainly enough to sting.

Liu Qingge broke the kiss with a scowl. “What are you doing?”

Luo Binghe blinked back at him, confused. “...Kissing?”

“That’s not kissing, it’s biting.” Liu Qingge paused, considered. “Is that a demon thing too?”

“I… I don’t know,” Luo Binghe said, looking genuinely bewildered. “I’m sorry! Can we—try again?”

Liu Qingge found himself smiling. “Sure.” He cupped Luo Binghe’s jaw firmly, thumb brushing the corner of his mouth. Then he bent in again, kissing him with steady purpose, carefully guiding the pace. This time, Luo Binghe followed his lead, and the kiss settled into something gentler… but equally consuming.

Liu Qingge had kissed a few times before—a series of awkward encounters that never lingered long in his memory. But this was… different. Heat coiled in his belly, his attention narrowing to the places where their bodies touched: the pressure of Luo Binghe’s lips, the warmth of his breath. He pulled Luo Binghe closer, his hands tangling in his long curls. Luo Binghe responded with a hungry sound, one hand on the small of Liu Qingge’s back, the other trailing down his side in a way that made Liu Qingge want to press closer still—until there was no space left between them.

Feeling suddenly out of control, he pulled back, his forehead dropping to rest against Luo Binghe’s, his pulse thundering in his ears. “You’re… eager,” he panted, embarrassingly aware that the same could be said about him.

Luo Binghe laughed breathlessly. “Can you blame me? I’ve wanted to do that for years.” Then, more softly, he added, “But… there’s one more thing I wanted to tell you.”

Liu Qingge stilled. “What?”

“I’ve been trying to learn how to help Shizun, and I… found something.” Luo Binghe’s hand tightened against Liu Qingge’s back. “The reason he can’t keep his human form… it’s because he hasn’t taken a cultivation partner. Dual cultivation is the key.”

Ah. That would certainly explain Shen Yuan’s embarrassment about the matter. Liu Qingge’s mind immediately supplied the image of Shen Yuan in his human guise—serene, elegant, illusorily fragile—and then overlaid it with the vision of Luo Binghe pressed up close against him, lips at Shen Yuan’s pale throat, hands at his narrow waist. Liu Qingge swallowed hard.

“So,” he said carefully. “You’re going to offer to help him—”

“I want to, but I don’t know how,” Luo Binghe interrupted quickly. He glanced up at Liu Qingge through his lashes, deliberately coy. “I don’t know how to dual cultivate, I mean. But Shishu…” His fingers slid along Liu Qingge’s waist, lingering. “You do, don’t you? You could teach us.”

Liu Qingge froze. “Teach… both of you?”

The idea was shocking. For one, Liu Qingge was not at all certain that he was qualified to teach such a thing, having only theoretical knowledge and no practical experience. Then there was the sheer shamelessness of the suggestion! True, he had been contemplating the possibility of sharing Luo Binghe with Shen Yuan… but to do so in such an intimate manner was another thing entirely!

“Does Shen Yuan even want that?” he asked.

“I haven’t asked him, yet,” Luo Binghe admitted. “I wanted to speak with you about it first. Would you want to?”

Liu Qingge… thought about it. He wanted to with Luo Binghe—there was no point in denying that anymore. And he didn’t mind the thought of Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan together either. Shen Yuan made Luo Binghe happy, could understand his demonic side, and would be there for him when Liu Qingge couldn’t be. Liu Qingge had already prepared himself for that possibility—that Luo Binghe might eventually choose Shen Yuan over him. The thought had left him a bit hollow, but he would have endured it.

But that’s not what Luo Binghe was asking for, was it? He didn’t want to choose between one or the other—he wanted them both. Wanted all three of them, together.

Which was… a strangely compelling idea, now that Liu Qingge considered it. He thought about Shen Yuan in his humanoid form; the elegant lines of his body as he fought, the gleam of his exposed skin in the moonlight, the quirk of his smile. He thought about Luo Binghe kissing that smile from his face with the same wild eagerness he’d had today—of Shen Yuan pretending at irritation even as he melted into it. He thought about… helping them. Guiding them, as they came together for the first time.

He let out a shaky exhale. “I… would be willing. If Shen Yuan agrees.”

Luo Binghe’s face lit up. “Thank you Shishu!” he cried, and surged forward to kiss him again, almost knocking Liu Qingge backward in his enthusiasm.

Liu Qingge caught him, returning the kiss breathlessly. His heart was beating hard, a strangely buoyant feeling in his chest. “We should… wait for Shen Yuan’s answer… before we do more,” he felt compelled to add, breathing the words out between kisses. As incredibly tempting as Luo Binghe was right now, it didn’t seem right to take things further without first ascertaining Shen Yuan’s feelings about everything.

Luo Binghe nodded quickly. “I agree. But surely a few more kisses would be alright, since we’re already like this?”

“Mn. I suppose so.”

This time, when their lips met, he gently pressed Luo Binghe back down into the bed of crushed flowers, covering him with his body. Luo Binghe sighed and arched up against him, one hand coming up to tug gently at Liu Qingge’s ponytail. Their mouths met again and again, exploring each other in a slow, sweet slide. The flowers rustled around them, stalks swaying in the breeze, their heady scent lingering on the air.

But Liu Qingge only tasted Luo Binghe.

When Shen Yuan returned to the meadow to fetch them, he found Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe both looking… suspiciously disheveled. Luo Binghe’s cheeks were flushed, his robes crooked, and there seemed to be several leaves stuck in his hair. Liu Qingge wasn’t much better off—his clothes were wrinkled and his ponytail askew, a single red petal caught in it. Even more damningly, there was a new sort of tenderness in their eyes, whenever they looked at each other.

Had they… finally done it?!

Of course, Shen Yuan couldn’t just come out and ask—that would be rude! But he’d become rather invested in their burgeoning romance… so he kept a close eye on them over the next few days, discretely investigating.

The results were…inconclusive. On the one hand, they did seem more comfortable around each other. They often stood closer than was strictly necessary, and had a habit of gazing longingly into each other’s eyes. But on the other hand, there was no PDA—no stolen kisses, no lingering touches, not even handholding! The sexual tension was off the charts, but… didn’t it still feel unresolved?

Still, he was nearly certain that something had gone down in that field. Maybe they were just taking it slow? That wasn’t really Luo Binghe’s usual style, but then, this Luo Binghe wasn’t exactly the ruthless lady-killer from the original story, now was he? Perhaps he was taking a slower approach to wooing the skittish Liu Qingge, or simply waiting for him to recover fully from his poisoning.

As the days continued to pass, however, nothing seemed to change. Day after day, Liu Qingge grew stronger; the color returned to his face, his qi flowed smoothly, and his training bouts became increasingly energetic. But still, there was no obvious evidence of Luo Binghe dragging him off to bed. Was Liu Qingge made of steel, that he could resist this long? Or was Luo Binghe really just that hesitant and unsure of himself? Shen Yuan really felt that he at least had done everything he could—arranging romantic dates, encouraging them to spend time together, and even mentioning how Liu Qingge was excellent first-husband material! And yet… nothing.

By the time the full moon rolled around again, Shen Yuan had resigned himself to the fact that either their romance was moving at a truly glacial pace, or else he had seriously misinterpreted everything.

That night, as had become their habit, Luo Binghe served dinner out in the courtyard. The moon peeked over the outer walls, clear and round like a pearl, casting the flagstones in a pale glow. Shen Yuan had dressed a little more carefully than usual, in loose green robes with delicate stitching that caught the moonlight, his hair pulled back in a golden guan, ornamented with black jade. It was his only night of the month in this form, after all; might as well look halfway presentable.

As he stepped into the courtyard, he spotted them immediately. Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge were standing under one of the gnarled old plum trees, their heads bent together in quiet conversation. The tree was hung with lanterns, a variety of dishes laid out on a low table below. It looked an awful lot like the setup for a date—there was even a bouquet of fresh bood-lillies, their black stems tucked neatly into a vase in the center of the table.

Shen Yuan hesitated, suddenly feeling as though he was intruding. Maybe he ought to make some excuse, and leave the two of them alone. But then again… it was his night. His one night. Was it so wrong to want to spend it with them? Even if he felt a little like an unwanted third wheel in his own home?

Luo Binghe noticed him then, and his entire face lit up. “Shizun! You’re here—come sit.” He ushered Shen Yuan forward with all the enthusiasm of a host greeting an honored guest, pulling out the low stool at the head of the table.

Shen Yuan sat gingerly, acutely aware of the meaningful glance Luo Binghe exchanged with Liu Qingge before they took their seats on either side of him. It was a rather peculiar arrangement—wouldn’t it make more sense for the two of them to sit side-by-side? That way, they would be close enough to bump shoulders, maybe even sneak in a little handholding under the table. Luo Binghe could lean in to murmur sweet nothings in Liu Qingge’s ear, feed him delicate morsels from his chopsticks (one of his trademark seduction techniques)—

“Shizun.” Shen Yuan nearly jumped when Luo Binghe’s voice interrupted his train of thought. He looked down at his bowl, expecting food to be ladled in, but instead found Luo Binghe holding a piece of glossy red fruit delicately between his chopsticks.

“Shizun, I tried cooking fire-peaches for the first time,” Luo Binghe said earnestly. “Will you tell me if I prepared it the right way?”

Shen Yuan blinked at the offering. Surely Luo Binghe meant to drop it into his bowl… but he made no move to do so. The chopsticks lingered patiently in the air, the sticky fruit shining like a jewel between them.

“...Ah,” Shen Yuan said faintly, darting a glance at Liu Qingge. Liu Qingge’s expression was hard to read; there was a faint flush across his cheekbones, but otherwise he looked entirely unruffled—as if Luo Binghe hand-feeding his Shizun was the most natural thing in the world.

Shen Yuan cleared his throat. “Well… alright.” He leaned forward and accepted the bite directly from the chopsticks. A burst of sweet, spicy juice exploded across his tongue; the fruit was, of course, perfectly cooked.

“It’s… delicious,” Shen Yuan admitted after swallowing.

Luo Binghe grinned, his gaze briefly dropping to track the bob of Shen Yuan’s throat, then leaned forward. “You have… a little juice. May I—?”

Shen Yuan blinked at him in confusion. Luo Binghe seemed to take it as permission, because he reached out to dab at the corner of Shen Yuan’s mouth with his thumb. It came away with a tiny spot of red on it, like a pinprick of blood. Luo Binghe popped the digit into his mouth, hollowing his lips around it.

Shen Yuan could only stare, speechless. What was going on here, exactly? If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought that Luo Binghe was trying to seduce him, not Liu Qingge!

He hastily cleared his throat, and said pointedly, “Binghe, perhaps your Liu-Shishu would appreciate a taste as well.”

Luo Binghe tilted his head, the corner of his mouth turning up. Obediently, he picked up another glossy slice of fruit and offered it to Liu Qingge. Liu Qingge’s ears went pink, but he accepted the bite stiffly, chewing it with a resigned look on his face that morphed into reluctant appreciation. “It’s good,” he muttered.

Luo Binghe beamed.

Dinner continued in that vein; Luo Binghe fussing, Liu Qingge mostly silent, and Shen Yuan trying valiantly to act like everything was normal despite the weirdly charged atmosphere. Finally, when the bowls were empty and the moon hung high above the courtyard, Liu Qingge set his chopsticks down with deliberate care. He glanced at Luo Binghe, who gave him an encouraging nod.

“Shen Yuan,” Liu Qingge said, his voice steady, “there’s something we’ve been meaning to speak with you about.”

Shen Yuan blinked at him. “Oh?”

Were they… going to officially announce their relationship?

Luo Binghe leaned forward, his dark eyes shining in the lamplight. “Yes. Shizun… when I was cleaning your rooms the other day, I came across a letter.”

Shen Yuan went still. “Ah…”

“I didn’t mean to snoop,” Luo Binghe said quickly, his gaze unwavering. “But I happened to see a mention of… well, of dual cultivation.” His tone softened, as he continued. “I know it’s the key to unlocking your full transformational abilities.”

Ah. Well. That cat was out of the bag then!

Shen Yuan sighed. “That… is true,” he admitted. “So you can see why it hasn’t exactly been a skill I’ve had a chance to practice.”

Luo Binghe nodded earnestly. Then, for some reason, he reached across the low table and took Shen Yuan’s hand in his own. “I can see that,” he said, looking up at Shen Yuan almost bashfully. “But… we could learn, together.”

Somehow, even with his hand gently clasped in Luo Binghe’s, it took a moment for Shen Yuan to fully grasp his meaning. And when he did, he stiffened in shock and yanked his hand back, his eyes flying to Liu Qingge. “Binghe! Surely you aren’t suggesting—! What about your Liu-Shishu?!”

“I’m fine with it,” Liu Qingge said calmly.

Shen Yuan just stared at him. He was… fine with it?! Liu Qingge’s ears were red all the way up to the tips, his jaw clenched with the sort of stubborn resolve he often wore during a sparring match.

Luo Binghe recaptured Shen Yuan’s attention by taking his hand again, his grip slightly firmer this time, his thumb worrying at Shen Yuan’s knuckles as if to sooth him. “We talked about it,” he said earnestly. “Shishu is willing to… to help. Since he has some understanding of how such a thing is done.”

Shen Yuan could only continue to stare at the two of them in bafflement, too shocked even to try to reclaim his hand again. They… they had—! They had talked about it?!

His mind spun. This was… this was… well, actually, if he thought about it, didn’t it make some sense? PIDW was rife with threesomes, often initiated for all sorts of equally preposterous reasons. Of course he’d never expected to be personally propositioned in such a manner, but… now that he knew Luo Binghe was into men, perhaps he should have been prepared for the possibility. Especially when one considered the governing principles of this world…

He swallowed heavily, looking back and forth between the two of them. Liu Qingge’s blush had spread across his cheeks and down his neck, but his expression remained firm. Luo Binghe, by contrast, gazed at Shen Yuan with wide, hungry eyes, his face very nearly pleading.

In the end, wasn’t it… rather thoughtful of them, actually? To offer him a place in their bed, even just this once, as a favor?

Ah, but they probably didn’t realize…

Shen Yuan cleared his throat. “It’s a very kind offer,” he began. “But… unfortunately, my situation isn’t the sort of thing that can be solved with a single… er, session. In order for my kind to maintain the ability to transform at will, we must dual cultivate with some regularity.”

Luo Binghe’s eyes lit up as if a flame had been kindled in them; his grip tightened around Shen Yuan’s hand. “Oh! But Shizun, that’s—that’s no problem at all! I’d be very happy to dual cultivate as often as you need… or want.”

Shen Yuan’s jaw dropped. He tore his eyes from Luo Binghe’s imploring gaze to gauge Liu Qingge’s reaction to such a bold statement.

But Liu Qingge just nodded brusquely. “I can’t always be here, with Binghe,” he said. “And you two seem… happy together.”

So then… this wasn’t just a one-time thing they were proposing?!

Before Shen Yuan could even begin to formulate a response, Luo Binghe spoke again, his voice gentler than before. “Shizun… this isn’t just about helping with your condition. Even if you didn’t need a cultivation partner, I… I would still want this. If—if Shizun wants it too.” He looked hopeful, but also a bit anxious—his earlier bravado peeling away to reveal raw sincerity.

Shen Yuan stared at him, his chest oddly tight. Luo Binghe’s declaration sounded like… well, not like a marriage proposal, exactly, but certainly like something serious and longterm. Which… maybe that also made sense? Luo Binghe was built for polyamory, after all, and Liu Qingge seemed comfortable with the idea too.

Which just left… Shen Yuan himself. What did he want?

His immediate, kneejerk reaction was to protest that he was straight. He’d always thought of himself that way—a thoroughly boring, garden-variety heterosexual guy. It was true that he’d never met any women he was particularly interested in, but then he hadn’t gotten out much during his first life, and he’d been dragon-shaped for most of his second. Not exactly ideal circumstances for dating!

As for men… well. For some reason, the memory of stumbling upon Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge in the hot springs suddenly sprang to mind. Luo Binghe had been holding Liu Qingge because he’d fainted, but Shen Yuan hadn’t realized that right away. It had looked like they were locked in a passionate embrace! Their faces close together, their naked bodies glistening in the steam… The sight had made Shen Yuan’s stomach do a strange sort of flip, which he’d told himself was just embarrassment. Because surely it wasn’t jealousy? Or… attraction?

Although attraction wouldn’t be so strange, would it? Luo Binghe was the protagonist—anyone would be attracted to him! And Liu Qingge was just as beautiful as his sister, the number one female lead. So the thought of the two of them together… well, surely it wasn’t unusual to find the idea a bit flustering?

“...Shizun?” Luo Binghe prompted, his voice tentative.

Shit, he’d taken too long to answer. Luo Binghe’s expression was tipping from faint anxiety to genuine distress, moisture gathering at the corners of his eyes. “Of course, if Shizun doesn’t feel the same—”

“No!” Shen Yuan blurted out. He really couldn’t bear to see that expression on Luo Binghe’s face.

Luo Binghe froze, his eyes wide.

Shen Yuan cleared his throat hastily. “I mean… well! Who wouldn’t want Binghe?” he huffed.

In a second, Luo Binghe had blinked away his budding tears, a look of wonder spreading across his face like a sunrise. His excitement was surely premature, though—Shen Yuan had no idea what he was doing! He’d never had any kind of sex before, let alone gay sex, let alone gay dual cultivation!

Feeling a bit panicked, he turned desperately to Liu Qingge. “You are… truly willing to help?”

Liu Qingge shifted uncomfortably, looking back and forth between the two of them. His jaw flexed. “It won’t exactly be a hardship,” he finally said, his face now redder than the fire-peach they’d eaten.

Luo Binghe’s smile widened, avid and reverent, as he raised Shen Yuan’s hand to his mouth. He pressed a soft kiss to the ridge of his knuckles—only a second of contact, the barest brush of heat against Shen Yuan’s skin, but for some reason it sent a shiver racing down his spine. Maybe it was the dark, expectant look in Luo Binghe’s eyes.

“I’m only sorry, Shizun, that there hasn’t been time to court you properly first,” Luo Binghe said.

“...first?” Shen Yuan echoed faintly.

“Before we dual cultivate,” Luo Binghe clarified. “We only have one night, after all. But I promise to make it up to Shizun, once you can assume your preferred form at will.”

Shen Yuan gulped. “You mean you want to… tonight?” Wasn’t this all moving a bit fast?!

“Not if you don’t want to,” Liu Qingge responded quickly, his expression sincere. “We can wait for the next full moon. Or whenever you’re ready.”

Luo Binghe nodded. “That’s true. Shishu and I have been waiting for Shizun to be able to join us—we can continue to do so, if tonight is too soon.”

Oh. So that’s why they hadn’t slept together yet? Because they’d been waiting for him? For some reason, that made the strange tightness in Shen Yuan’s chest clench even harder. It was really quite sweet of them… to have waited this long already, and to offer to wait longer still.

But it was a bit impractical, wasn’t it? Liu Qingge was a Peak Lord—now that he was fully healed, he surely had better things to do than hang around in the demon realm, waiting for Shen Yuan to work up his nerve. And it didn’t seem fair to ask Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge to wait any longer to consummate their own relationship either. There was only so much mutual pining one could endure! Shen Yuan supposed he could encourage them to go ahead without him, but… for some reason, that thought left a slightly sour taste in his mouth.

If he was really going to do this… why put it off?

Shen Yuan took a deep breath. “Tonight is… tonight is fine,” he said.

Luo Binghe gasped in elation and threw himself off of his stool, landing practically in Shen Yuan’s lap, then flung his arms around him and buried his head in Shen Yuan’s chest. Unfortunately, due to the scandalously low neckline of Shen Yuan’s demonic robes, this put Luo Binghe’s nose in perilous proximity to one of his nipples; Shen Yuan immediately sank a hand into his hair and tugged him up by the curls. Although he tried to be gentle, Luo Binghe gasped again, sharper this time.

He blinked up at Shen Yuan, wide-eyed, their faces inches apart. “May I… may I kiss you?” he asked breathlessly.

Shen Yuan’s head nodded without any conscious input from his brain, and then Luo Binghe was climbing into his lap and pressing their mouths together.

The kiss was… all consuming. Clearly Luo Binghe had at least gotten some practice in with Liu Qingge, because he kissed like he expected to be graded on the outcome and was determined to earn full marks. His lips were teasing and plundering by turns, his tongue a slick invasion that Shen Yuan was helpless to resist. Shen Yuan clutched at his waist, holding on for dear life.

As the kiss deepened, hunger opened like a pit in Shen Yuan’s stomach. He’d experienced a few kisses in his first life, but they’d never made him feel anything like this. Was it because he was a demon now, governed by passion and instinct? Or was it just because it was Luo Binghe? Either way, the warm press of his body, the strong thighs straddling Shen Yuan’s hips, the taste of his skin—it was utterly overwhelming, and Shen Yuan wanted more. He pulled Luo Binghe closer and sank his teeth into the plush give of his lower lip. Luo Binghe groaned, his mouth opening wider in invitation, and for one second Shen Yuan very nearly bit down harder—

—before he remembered, and gentled the bite just in time, resisting the instinct to break the skin and risk a mouthful of blood mites.

Surprised by his sudden loss of control, he broke the kiss and pulled back. Luo Binghe’s lips were red and glistening, the lower one puffy where Shen Yuan had bit it. Shen Yuan’s glasses were askew, slipping down his nose. That had been a close call! Not that he thought Luo Binghe would ever weaponize his blood against him—but he hadn’t yet taught Luo Binghe everything that it could do, and he certainly shouldn’t be sampling it without permission!

“Huh,” Liu Qingge said from beside them. “Maybe it is a demon thing.”

Shen Yuan turned to him in confusion. “A demon thing?”

“The biting,” Liu Qingge clarified. His eyes were dark in the moonlight, fixed intently on them.

Luo Binghe twisted in Shen Yuan’s lap, still astride him, and leaned toward Liu Qingge with a rakish grin. “Maybe so. But Shishu… are you sure you don’t like it? At least a little bit?”

Liu Qingge’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t pull back when Luo Binghe leaned in to capture his mouth in a kiss—mere inches from Shen Yuan’s nose. Wide-eyed, Shen Yuan could only stare as Liu Qingge’s lips parted, as Luo Binghe nipped at him gently before pressing their tongues together.

…Was it just him, or was the night starting to feel a bit warm?!

Shen Yuan cleared his throat loudly. “Ahem! Perhaps—perhaps we should take this inside?”

They retired to Luo Binghe’s bedroom. The human-sized bed in Shen Yuan’s own chamber was unusable, and his nest was… well, actually a part of him rather liked the idea of bringing them both back there. But he squashed the thought before it could grow teeth. Luo Binghe’s bed would surely be more comfortable for everyone!

Liu Qingge sat at the end of the mattress, straight-backed, face still faintly flushed. His shoulders were stiff, his face set as though he was preparing for battle.

Luo Binghe, by contrast, looked almost unbearably eager. He lit the room’s lamps with a spark of qi, then turned to Shen Yuan and caught his hands between his own. “So, Shishu… what do we do?” he asked, his dark eyes shining.

Liu Qingge cleared his throat. “You need to share your qi,” he said, his voice a bit rough. “But—slowly. It has to be gradual, or the shock of the admixture could be damaging. Skin contact—as much as possible—will help.”

Luo Binghe glanced between them, then brought his hands to the knot of Shen Yuan’s belt. “Then… may I?”

Shen Yuan’s mouth felt very dry. He nodded stiffly, then watched in a daze as Luo Binghe’s deft fingers tugged loose the knot and helped him shrug out of his upper layers. Bare to the waist, he shivered as Luo Binghe drank him in, eyes roving hungrily over Shen Yuan’s body. Slowly, Luo Binghe raised a hand and laid it flat against Shen Yuan’s chest, over his heart; his palm was broad, and hot. Then he dragged it downward, tracing a slow and deliberate trail from Shen Yuan’s collarbone to his navel, demonic qi trailing in its wake. The energy sank into Shen Yuan’s skin, seeping into his meridians like water into dry earth. He shuddered, mesmerized by the surreal sight of Luo Binghe’s hands on him.

Luo Binghe continued to explore, as if trying to map every inch of Shen Yuan’s torso: the slope of his shoulders, the cut of his ribs, the sensitive hollow just beneath his sternum. Where he touched, warmth lingered. Where he lingered, his qi pulsed, coaxing Shen Yuan’s own to rise and meet it. Then he leaned in to kiss Shen Yuan again, his mouth sweet and demanding. “Like this, Shishu?” he murmured against Shen Yuan’s lips. “Am I doing it right?”

From the bed, Liu Qingge’s voice came, steady as ever: “Mn. But he needs to reciprocate.”

Ah… right. Shen Yuan was just standing here, letting Luo Binghe do all the work! That wouldn’t do. Heart racing, he pressed his lips to Luo Binghe’s again and tentatively slid a hand into the plunging neckline of his robes. His fingers met an expanse of warm skin, a scattering of curly hair, the firm nub of a nipple. He felt the hunger from before returning, sharpening, as he traced his way down to the faint trail of hair leading towards Luo Binghe’s lower dantian, channeling qi as he went.

Luo Binghe gasped against his mouth, his hips giving an involuntary twitch. His own hand slipped lower, and brushed against the base of Shen Yuan’s tail, where it protruded from the cut of his trousers. The sensation was startling, electric—the appendage lashed reflexively, and an embarrassing, breathy noise tore out of Shen Yuan’s throat. He broke the kiss, pulling back. Was his tail some sort of… erogenous zone?!

Luo Binghe grinned, clearly delighted. “Shizun… does it feel good when I touch you there?”

Shen Yuan could feel himself flushing. “It’s… not bad.” He cleared his throat, desperate to redirect, and fixed Luo Binghe with what he hoped was a stern look. “Why are you still dressed? Didn’t your Shishu say skin contact was important?” He tugged sharply at Luo Binghe’s lapels. “Take these off and come to bed.”

Luo Binghe’s whole body went taut, his pupils dilating. “Yes, Shizun!” he said, all but tearing his upper layers off as he scrambled to follow.

Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe quickly settled themselves on the bed near the headboard, and Liu Qingge turned to face them, sitting cross-legged. Luo Binghe’s bare chest glowed in the lantern light as he swayed forward to kiss Shen Yuan again, and Shen Yuan braced a hand on one of his broad shoulders. He still couldn’t quite believe this was happening, even though the body pressed against his own was warm, solid, and practically shivering in eagerness.

After a moment, Shen Yuan drew back, his gaze flicking to Liu Qingge. It didn’t quite seem right for him to just be sitting there, reduced to a passive observer. “There’s more to it than just sharing qi, isn’t there?” Shen Yuan asked. He was pretty sure that was the case, even though PIDW had always glossed over the spiritual details to focus on the physical action.

Liu Qingge inclined his head. “You need to take his energy into you, and mix it with your own.”

“I see…” An idea occurred to Shen Yuan. “Then… could you demonstrate with Binghe?”

Luo Binghe lit up, turning eagerly towards Liu Qingge. The poor man’s face had somehow grown ever redder still, but he took a sharp breath and nodded once, then quickly stripped out of his own upper layers and tossed them aside. His body was somewhat leaner than Luo Binghe’s, but honed like steel; the kind of musculature that spoke of decades of discipline. He caught Luo Binghe’s hand and pressed it low against his abdomen, then cut Shen Yuan a sidelong glance and lifted a brow. “You too.”

Shen Yuan started in surprise, then understood. He scooted forward, resting his own hand beside Luo Binghe’s on the taut plane of Liu Qingge’s stomach. “Our demonic qi won’t hurt you?” he asked curiously.

Liu Qingge shook his head. “Not like this.”

At once, Luo Binghe pushed a tendril of qi into Liu Qingge, threading it into his meridians. Liu Qingge’s eyes fluttered closed, a barely perceptible shiver racing over his body. Shen Yuan let his own qi follow, sensing how Liu Qingge caught at Luo Binghe’s energy, intertwining it with his own.

“Fascinating,” Shen Yuan murmured. His fingers flexed faintly against Liu Qingge’s abdomen. “So the goal is to blend them seamlessly?”

Liu Qingge opened his eyes, briefly darting a glance at Shen Yuan before looking away again. “Yes. But the energies won’t fully integrate until… climax. Supposedly.”

“Oh,” Shen Yuan said faintly. Well, that tracked.

Luo Binghe was glancing back and forth between the two of them with bright, attentive eyes. “Can you channel qi through other parts of the body, besides the hands?”

This, Shen Yuan knew. “Yes. The mouth, for example.”

Luo Binghe sat up straighter. “Then we should definitely try that! But… could the two of you demonstrate first? So this disciple can learn from observation?”

Shen Yuan blinked. He and Liu Qingge both stared at Luo Binghe’s hopeful expression, then turned to eye one another.

So, Luo Binghe wanted them to kiss? Shen Yuan swallowed. Well, it made sense, didn’t it? Almost every PIDW threesome had involved some girl-on-girl action, and since he and Liu Qingge were now taking the place of the girls…

“Alright,” Shen Yuan said.

Liu Qingge still looked a bit unsure, but he nodded as well. Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips to Shen Yuan’s. It was… different. Liu Qingge was gentler, much more hesitant than Luo Binghe. Shen Yuan relaxed into the sensation, slowly kissing back.

Then Liu Qingge opened his mouth and released a small pulse of qi.

Shen Yuan gasped, instinctively sucking it in. It felt like drinking down sunshine, warm and invigorating, very different from Luo Binghe’s cool, demonic qi. Shen Yuan made a small, involuntary sound, and his hand tightened against Liu Qingge’s bare skin. At the same time, Luo Binghe’s palm found the small of his back, grounding him. Shen Yuan did his best to mimic what Liu Qingge had done earlier, tugging at that golden stream of energy and weaving it into the darker current of his own.

Soon, he’d lost himself in the push and pull of Liu Qingge’s qi, their mouths finding an easy rhythm. Only the sudden glide of Luo Binghe’s hand down his spine—and then lower, fingers brushing over the base of his tail and the smooth scales there—jolted him back to awareness.

He shuddered at the sensation, breaking the kiss with Liu Qingge, who looked just as dazed as he felt. Right—that was supposed to be a demonstration for Luo Binghe’s sake. “Did you… catch all that?” he asked, somewhat breathlessly.

Instead of answering, Luo Binghe surged forward and kissed Liu Qingge again, qi sparking eagerly between them; clearly, he had learned the method. His hand never left Shen Yuan, however, stroking over the faint ridges on his tail until Shen Yuan sighed in helpless pleasure and dropped his head onto Luo Binghe’s shoulder to press an open-mouthed kiss there. Luo Binghe shuddered under him, and once again Shen Yuan had to suppress the sudden urge to bite.

A moment later, Luo Binghe turned back to Shen Yuan, catching his lips again, and it wasn’t long before the three of them teetered over, stretching out fully on the bed—Luo Binghe in the middle, Shen Yuan facing him, and Liu Qingge pressed to his back.

Luo Binghe was practically glowing; both metaphorically—with happiness—and literally, with their combined qi. Both Liu Qingge and Shen Yuan drew on his energies in turn, their mouths tracing his skin, their lips coming together and breaking apart. Shen Yuan let instinct guide him, feeding Luo Binghe his own demonic current with every kiss, every touch: along the curve of his throat, the sweep of his shoulders, down the sculpted line of his chest.

Luo Binghe writhed between them, a hard bulge straining at the front of his pants, his voice breaking into a groan. “Ah! Shizun, Shishu—your energies feel incredible. Will you… please touch me?”

He sounded so desperate that Shen Yuan couldn’t bear to deny him. And judging by the way his hands were already moving, neither could Liu Qingge. They both reached for Luo Binghe’s cock at the same time, Shen Yuan taking him in hand while Liu Qingge tugged down his pants.

Luo Binghe made a strangled, punched-out sound, his hips jerking.

Shen Yuan froze, staring down. He’d known Luo Binghe would be big, of course—that went without saying. But knowing it and trying to get his hand around it were two very different things. Thank god his claws were retractable! He managed a tentative stroke, though his brain was already spiraling. How on earth was that supposed to fit inside him?

As if reading his thoughts, Luo Binghe asked, “Shishu… is penetration required?”

Liu Qingge, who’d also been staring down at Luo Binghe’s cock with his mouth slightly open, blinked. “...What?”

“Is penetration necessary for dual cultivation?” Luo Binghe asked again.

Liu Qingge swallowed. “It’s… the most effective method.”

Shen Yuan’s gaze dropped again, trepidation curling in his stomach as he sent up a prayer for his poor chrysanthemum.

But before he could formulate a response, Luo Binghe was already speaking again, his voice breathless with need. “Then I can’t wait to have Shizun inside me. Or Shishu. Or both!” He shifted his hips, pressing back against Liu Qingge even as he thrust into Shen Yuan’s hand.

Shen Yuan’s thoughts screeched to a halt.

Luo Binghe wanted… him inside?

A part of his mind wailed that that simply couldn’t be right. Surely the stallion protagonist didn’t actually want to be topped by any man, let alone two of them? But then… hadn’t Shen Yuan thought earlier that this Luo Binghe was different? Perhaps the young man squirming in his arms really couldn’t be considered a “stallion protagonist” anymore. Perhaps he really did want this.

Just to be sure, he asked, “Binghe, you… want one of us to take you?”

There was no denying the way Luo Binghe’s cock twitched in his grip. “Yes! Yes, Shizun, please!” he gasped.

Well… who could say no to that?

Still, the thought of fucking Luo Binghe was almost more intimidating than the thought of letting Luo Binghe fuck him. What if he did it wrong? What if he hurt Luo Binghe? What if he couldn’t satisfy him? Actually, Shen Yuan thought a bit hysterically, there was no chance in hell of that. Luo Binghe’s stamina was legendary, and Shen Yuan already felt alarmingly close to the edge just from this much. There was no way he could possibly last long enough to give Luo Binghe everything he needed.

But then… maybe he didn’t have to.

Shen Yuan locked eyes with Liu Qingge over Luo Binghe’s shoulder. “You two should go first,” he said.

Liu Qingge froze, staring down at Luo Binghe, who wriggled until he was flat on his back, gazing up at Liu Qingge with flushed cheeks. “Please… would you?” Luo Binghe asked.

Liu Qingge’s expression softened, melting in a way Shen Yuan had never quite seen it do before. “Alright,” he said quietly, reaching to brush a damp curl back from Luo Binghe’s face.

Luo Binghe’s answering smile lit up the room.

Shen Yuan hastily scooted back a little to give them space—and also because, quite frankly, he needed a minute to… compose himself, before it was his turn to… participate. Unfortunately, what he watched unfold next did nothing to calm him; in fact, quite the opposite.

Liu Qingge pressed Luo Binghe down into the mattress, kissing him hungrily. Luo Binghe arched up into his touch shamelessly, hands fumbling to tug off both of their pants. Shen Yuan’s gaze skidded helplessly over the long stretch of Luo Binghe’s legs, the flex of Liu Qingge’s back… wow, that sure was a lot of glistening, naked male skin on display!

Luo Binghe reached blindly for the bedside table and came up with a small glass bottle. “I bought this at the market,” he confessed, flushing as he handed it to Liu Qingge.

Liu Qingge raised a brow but said nothing, simply uncorking it; a sweet, floral scent filled the air as he slicked his fingers. His hand dipped between Luo Binghe’s thighs, then stilled, uncertainty flickering across his face. “I don’t really know how to—”

“Here, like this.” Luo Binghe caught his wrist, guiding him lower. Their hands moved together, though Shen Yuan unfortunately couldn’t see exactly what they were doing. “And then, like this…” The muscles in Luo Binghe’s forearm tensed as he urged Liu Qingge to… slide a finger inside him? Luo Binghe’s mouth dropped open, his hips twitching. Shen Yuan resisted the urge to scoot closer.

“Mm… just like that,” Luo Binghe sighed.

Liu Qingge frowned, concentrating on the movement of his hand. “I thought you hadn’t done this before.”

A wicked little smile curved Luo Binghe’s lips. “Why? Is Shishu jealous?”

Liu Qingge’s only response was to twist his fingers, causing Luo Binghe to yelp, then moan. “Ah! I’m teasing, I’m teasing— I’ve only ever done this by myself.”

Shen Yuan’s brain short-circuited for what felt like the hundredth time that night. Luo Binghe had… done this? He’d fingered himself, alone, in this very bed? Was that why he’d had the bottle of lube already stashed here? The mental image alone was enough to make Shen Yuan’s cock throb in his pants. His tail, he realized, was twitching excitedly, rumpling the bed covers. He took a deep breath and forcibly stilled it.

Luo Binghe tossed his head back. “Shizun, it feels so good,” he moaned, wrapping his legs around Liu Qingge’s hips. “I’m ready—I can take it, please, I’m ready now!”

Liu Qingge frowned, his arm continuing to work steadily. “I don’t think so.”

Luo Binghe groaned. “But I need you, please—”

Shen Yuan snapped out of his daze enough to scowl. He pinched Luo Binghe sharply on the thigh. “Don’t be impatient!”

Luo Binghe jolted, eyes going wide. He shivered, his cock twitching, his breath catching. “...Yes, Shizun,” he gasped.

Liu Qingge gave Shen Yuan a startled look, but his fingers kept working, slow and relentless. Only once Luo Binghe was hitching desperate breaths, his toes curling, his hips working restlessly, did Liu Qingge seem to determine he was ready. He pulled away for a moment to slick his cock, then lined himself up, and with one last searching glance at Shen Yuan, began to press forward.

Shen Yuan held his breath as he watched their bodies come together. Liu Qingge braced himself over Luo Binghe, his movements slow and careful. Luo Binghe gasped, clinging to him, every line of his body trembling. “Shishu—Ah!—Keep going—”

Liu Qingge just groaned, his face tight.

“Don’t rush,” Shen Yuan admonished. Unable to stop himself, his hand reached out to smooth over Luo Binghe’s hip, trying to coax him to relax.

Luo Binghe turned to look at Shen Yuan. “It feels—it’s so much,” he moaned. “I’m so full.”

“You’re doing very well,” Shen Yuan soothed, running a hand through his hair. “Just breathe.”

Liu Qingge glanced at Shen Yuan, his face oddly soft, then back down at Luo Binghe. He was holding his body almost entirely still. “Take your time,” he said. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

Luo Binghe took a deep breath, then nodded. After a few moments, he seemed a bit calmer, and Liu Qingge finally began to move—just a gentle rocking of his hips. His entire focus was trained on Luo Binghe, his lips slightly parted as he watched pleasure wash across Luo Binghe’s face. Shen Yuan was equally spellbound; by the arch of Luo Binghe’s spine, the soft gasps that fell from his mouth, the way his hands tightened on Liu Qingge’s back as Liu Qingge gradually increased the pace.

Suddenly, Luo Binghe cried out. “Ah—yes! There, right there—yes, Shishu—” His hand shot out, fumbling blindly until it found Shen Yuan’s. He gripped tight, hot and trembling; Shen Yuan blinked, startled, before curling his fingers around Luo Binghe’s.

Connected once again by touch, he felt it now—the way Liu Qingge was pressing his qi into Luo Binghe with every thrust, bright and inexhaustible. Luo Binghe’s own energies surged in response, ebbing and flowing, but always drawing back into Liu Qingge’s body like the tide rushing in. Some of their mixed qi even overflowed into Shen Yuan, sparking up his arm until his chest felt tight.

He realized dimly that his tail had wound itself around Luo Binghe’s ankle, entirely without his noticing.

Luo Binghe kicked and twitched in its grasp, his skin smooth and hot against Shen Yuan’s scales. “Shizun, can you feel it?” he panted. “Shishu’s energy inside me? It’s incredible, almost as good as his—Ah!—as his cock.”

Liu Qingge groaned, his hips moving faster—whether spurred on by the shameless words spilling out of Luo Binghe’s mouth, or in an effort to overwhelm him into silence, it wasn’t clear. Underneath him, Luo Binghe trembled, a whimpering gasp escaping him with every snap of Liu Qingge’s hips. Liu Qingge’s face was tight with effort, but Shen Yuan doubted he would last much longer—who could, with Luo Binghe writhing under them like that? Liu Qingge was doubtless on the brink of coming, and then… then it would be Shen Yuan’s turn to step in, to make sure Luo Binghe got across the finish line. Although the prospect was intimidating, he was ready to assist—

But then—

Luo Binghe’s thighs suddenly clamped tight around Liu Qingge’s hips. His grip on Shen Yuan’s hand turned bruising as a cry tore from his throat. His qi flared, and Liu Qingge groaned raggedly, his own energies surging in response. His thrusts stuttered for a moment, then stilled, as he buried himself in Luo Binghe one final time. Then quiet descended. As they clung to each other, sweaty and trembling, Shen Yuan could only stare in shock.

Had… had Luo Binghe really just come? Already? Without even so much as a single hand on his cock?

What had happened to that legendary stamina?!

Slowly, gently, Liu Qingge disengaged their bodies. But Luo Binghe didn’t let him get far—he wrapped his arms around Liu Qingge, pulling him in for a lingering kiss. “That was incredible,” he murmured. His face was flushed, his eyes starry, his thighs still shaking. His ridiculous, oversize cock was slowly softening, his belly spattered and sticky.

He looked so… happy. Beautiful, besotted, and utterly satisfied. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but think of his counterpart—the Luo Binghe of Proud Immortal Demon Way, who could coolly fuck his way through a whole string of women without losing his composure. He had to wonder: had that version of Luo Binghe even enjoyed all that sex?

Liu Qingge looked equally pleased, in his own subtler way. He made a noise of agreement, his face soft, pressing a series of gentle kisses to Luo Binghe’s lips, his cheeks, the curve of his jaw. Then he flopped down onto the mattress, watching with half-lidded eyes as Luo Binghe turned to Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan’s tail was, somehow, still wrapped around Luo Binghe’s ankle. Luo Binghe ran his hand up it, trailing from the slender tip to where it merged with Shen Yuan’s body, his touch light but electrifying.

“Did Shizun enjoy watching?” he asked.

What an utterly ridiculous question! Who in their right mind wouldn’t have enjoyed that? Shen Yuan swallowed and nodded. “If Binghe is satisfied, you and I don’t have to—”

But Luo Binghe immediately crowded up against him. “I want to!”

“Alright.” With Luo Binghe so close, it seemed only natural to lean in and kiss him again. Luo Binghe’s lips were soft but eager, his hand rubbing at the base of Shen Yuan’s tail before tugging at the ties of his pants. “May I?”

Shen Yuan nodded, and Luo Binghe helped him pull them off. Then, fully naked, he experienced a moment of sudden anxiety as both Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge’s gazes swept over him; his body was different from theirs, after all, his horns and tail marking him as more obviously demonic.

Luo Binghe was staring with particular interest at Shen Yuan’s cock—which was still hard, almost painfully so. “Ah, it looks human,” Luo Binghe said.

“What else would it look like?!” Shen Yuan demanded.

Luo Binghe cocked his head. “Shizun retains some of his draconic features in this form. So I wondered…”

“Wondered what?” Shen Yuan asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Well, some reptiles have two—”

Shen Yuan choked. “Two?! Absolutely not!”

At least, not in this form. As for his dragon form… well, that wasn’t relevant right now!

“It’s alright,” Luo Binghe said, reaching out to take Shen Yuan in hand, his gaze molten. “Shizun is perfect, just like this.”

Shen Yuan opened his mouth—to scold him for talking such nonsense—but all that came out was a shaky gasp, because Luo Binghe had begun to stroke him.

No one had ever touched him like this before. It was overwhelming; the hot, steady glide of Luo Binghe’s palm, the intensity of his gaze. Liu Qingge, still looking thoroughly satisfied, watched them with dark, appreciative eyes. As though all that weren’t enough, Luo Binghe’s free hand soon returned to Shen Yuan’s tail, feeling out the place where scales met skin. Then it slipped lower, tracing the cleft of his ass.

Shen Yuan choked back a moan. If Luo Binghe kept this up, he was not going to last. Something had to be done!

He caught both of Luo Binghe’s wrists in his hands, dragging his tail up along Luo Binghe’s thigh before looping it firmly around his waist. Then, summoning his strength, he flipped them both over in one smooth motion. Luo Binghe landed on his back with a startled gasp, wrists pinned against the mattress on either side of his head, Shen Yuan straddling him.

Luo Binghe groaned, the noise edging into a whine, and wiggled performatively under Shen Yuan, his cock bobbing against his stomach, rapidly hardening again. “Yes, Shizun!” he exhaled. “Move me however you like—use me, fuck me—”

Shen Yuan bit down on a groan, fighting to maintain his composure. That kind of talk was not helping, damn it! He unwound his tail from Luo Binghe’s torso and adjusted his position, sliding back so that he was nestled between Luo Binghe’s spread thighs. At the same time, he ran his hands down Luo Binghe’s chest, feeding strands of qi into him as he went. “We need to establish the energy exchange first,” he reminded him.

Luo Binghe arched up into the touch, his breath catching. “Then hurry, Shizun,” he begged. “Fill me all the way up.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Shen Yuan huffed; he could only imagine how red his face must be. He pressed another pulse of demonic qi into Luo Binghe for emphasis, and Luo Binghe moaned for it as if Shen Yuan had stroked his cock instead.

From the side, Liu Qingge shifted closer. He laid a steadying hand on Luo Binghe’s hip, thumb brushing circles into his skin, and gave Shen Yuan a brief nod—permission, or perhaps reassurance.

Shen Yuan swallowed hard. His body wanted nothing more than to give in and take Luo Binghe exactly the way he was begging for—but he was still worried about accidentally hurting him. He reached between Luo Binghe’s legs and found the furl of his opening, slick with the lubricant and Liu Qingge’s spend. His finger slipped in almost by accident, and Luo Binghe made a tight, frustrated noise.

“I’m ready,” he groaned. “Shizun, please. Shishu already prepared me for you—I can take it!” He rocked his hips upward, shamelessly grinding against Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan dug his fingers into the curve of Luo Binghe’s hip. “Fine. But… stay still and let me set the pace,” he said. Maybe that way he’d at least have some hope of lasting!

“Yes!” Luo Binghe gasped, his eyes wet and shining. “Yes, Shizun—anything you want—”

Shen Yuan turned to Liu Qingge, nodding at the bottle of lubricant. “Could you—?”

He’d meant for Liu Qingge to hand it to him, but he must not have been clear—or perhaps Liu Qingge simply saw that his hand was still occupied inside of Luo Binghe—because Liu Qingge tipped the oil over his own hand and then reached down to slick Shen Yuan’s cock himself. His touch was firm and businesslike, but it felt so good that Shen Yuan made a rather embarrassing wheezing noise.

Luo Binghe clenched eagerly around his finger, eyes wide as he watched them. Then Liu Qingge withdrew, and the moment was at hand; Shen Yuan removed his finger, took a deep breath, then lined himself up and slowly pushed in.

The feeling of it was—indescribable! If he’d thought their hands felt good, then this was something else entirely. Luo Binghe was so hot, so tight—and yet Shen Yuan slipped inside easily, a smooth and sumptuous glide. Far more arresting than the pure physical sensations, however, was Luo Binghe himself. He gasped and quivered, his mouth falling open; his body arched up off the mattress; he clutched at Shen Yuan like a man drowning.

“Shizun!” he cried, seeming unable to get anything else out.

Once he was fully sheathed, Shen Yuan paused for a moment to catch his breath. As their bodies had joined, so had their qi—Luo Binghe’s energy surging up eagerly to meet his own, coiling and mixing together as if such a thing were already second-nature. Luo Binghe held himself still, dutifully trying to follow Shen Yuan’s command, although his eyes were wide and desperate. Staring down at him, Shen Yuan suffered a strange moment of vertigo. How could this be happening? How had he, Shen Yuan, wound up with his cock buried to the hilt inside the protagonist?

Then Luo Binghe smiled up at him, and the moment passed. This wasn’t the protagonist of Proud Immortal Demon Way—not really. It was just his Binghe, looking up at him with such trust and longing that Shen Yuan couldn’t help but want to give him everything and anything he asked for.

He wanted to make Luo Binghe feel good.

So Shen Yuan began to move his hips; tentatively at first, and then with growing confidence as Luo Binghe moaned encouragingly. True to his promise, he allowed Shen Yuan to set the pace, clinging with arms, legs, and qi but making no attempts to speed their movements.

“Shizun,” he panted, his voice high and breathless. “It’s so good—so so good, please don’t stop—”

Shen Yuan leaned down to silence him with a press of his mouth, muffling Luo Binghe’s moans against his lips. Their qi continued to mix, rushing in and pulling back like lapping waves, matching the rhythm of their bodies. As Shen Yuan moved, he could feel Liu Qingge’s eyes on them. He would have expected to feel embarrassed to have an audience for such an intimate act, but instead Liu Qingge’s presence just felt… reassuring. Grounding. If anything, Shen Yuan sort of wished that he would come closer again.

But he couldn’t spare much focus for Liu Qingge because Luo Binghe was becoming increasingly worked up, his cries getting louder, his words losing their coherency. “Shizun… please… harder,” he groaned shamelessly.

In an effort to fulfill his request, Shen Yuan sat back on his heels, gripping Luo Binghe by the waist, and really put his back into it. He must have hit a good angle, because Luo Binghe cried out, legs spasming around Shen Yuan’s hips, his back arching beautifully. His cock bounced heavily against his own stomach with every sharp thrust, red and dripping. It really looked like it could use some attention, but Shen Yuan’s hands were busy pinning Luo Binghe in his lap…

Shen Yuan’s tail—almost without thought—snaked around Liu Qingge’s waist and pulled, tugging him closer.

Liu Qingge made a startled noise, but didn’t resist. He allowed Shen Yuan to reel him in, and then, as if sensing Shen Yuan’s intention, took Luo Binghe’s straining cock in hand and began to stroke it in time with the movement of Shen Yuan’s hips. Luo Binghe cried out again, almost a wail.

He must surely be getting close… but Shen Yuan was too, caught in the sweet vise of Luo Binghe’s body and utterly overwhelmed by the sensation of their coiling, melding qi. He could feel his rhythm faltering as pleasure gathered in his lower dantian like water reaching a boiling point. Gritting his teeth, he held on, trying frantically to think of anything else he could do to help Luo Binghe reach the same fever pitch of sensation. Liu Qingge’s hand was already flying over his cock—

Then, the thought hit him: Luo Binghe had asked, earlier, to see them kiss. Maybe if they did so again, it could help to push him over the edge?

Turning, Shen Yuan pressed his mouth to Liu Qingge’s. It was awkward at first—the angle was odd, and Liu Qingge seemed startled by the sudden contact. But instead of pulling away, he groaned and grabbed one of Shen Yuan’s horns, gently but firmly tugging him into a better alignment. Then his lips parted, and he kissed Shen Yuan back with heat.

Below them, Luo Binghe gasped. “Yes! Oh—the two of you together—you’re so—I can’t—”

Shen Yuan felt it before he saw it: Luo Binghe shuddered, his body clenching rhythmically around Shen Yuan’s cock, his qi flooding Shen Yuan’s meridians like a tsunami. Shen Yuan’s own qi flared to meet it, and for a sudden, aching moment their energies merged so completely that they were inseparable, indistinguishable. Pleasure suffused Luo Binghe’s face, rendering his features even more shockingly beautiful.

That sight—and the feeling of their qi merging—pulled Shen Yuan inexorably into his own climax. Pleasure unspooled in a wild rush; his fingers dug into Luo Binghe’s hips, his cock spurting, buried as deep as it could go; his head tipped against Liu Qingge’s shoulder. Lost in sensation, he bit down, tasting salt and a hint of iron. Liu Qingge shuddered against him but stayed put, the movement of his hand slowing as he eased Luo Binghe through the aftershocks of orgasm.

There was a moment of quiet, as Shen Yuan gradually came back to himself. Underneath him, Luo Binghe was a vision of post-coital bliss, beaming and sweaty, his breaths gradually slowing. “Shizun!” he panted. “Do you feel… any different?”

It took a moment for Shen Yuan to realize why he was asking. Then he remembered: the ostensible reason for all of this was to give him the cultivation boost necessary to maintain his humanoid form. He closed his eyes, taking stock. He did feel a bit different, he decided. His body was buzzing with qi—Luo Binghe’s, his own, and even some of Liu Qingge’s spiritual energy as well. It felt… really, really good.

“I… do,” he said. He turned to Liu Qingge, to thank him for his help with everything—then frowned. There was a red mark on Liu Qingge’s shoulder, pinpricks of blood standing up where Shen Yuan had bitten him. “Oh!” Shen Yuan exclaimed. “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

Liu Qingge’s eyes were hazy. “It’s fine,” he said, blinking sleepily. “Doesn’t really hurt. But I feel… I feel…” He swayed, then collapsed beside them on the bed, his eyes falling closed.

“Shishu?!” Luo Binghe cried.

Shen Yuan pulled out of Luo Binghe, as quickly as he could while still being gentle, and took Liu Qingge’s wrist to check his qi and pulse. Both seemed fine, but Liu Qingge was completely unresponsive, breathing slowly and evenly as if in deep sleep. Why was he…?

Shen Yuan’s gaze returned to the bite mark on his shoulder, and suddenly, he understood.

“Fuck!” he exclaimed.

“What is it? What happened?” Luo Binghe demanded.

“It’s… my bite. It’s venomous." In the heat of the moment, Shen Yuan had completely forgotten.

Luo Binghe’s eyes went wide. “Will he be alright?!” he asked, turning to worriedly stroke Liu Qingge’s face.

“He… he’ll be fine,” Shen Yuan said. “The venom doesn’t have lasting effects. He’ll probably just sleep soundly for a few hours.” He wouldn’t blame Liu Qingge if he was pretty pissed when he woke up, though. What an idiotic thing to have done!

Luo Binghe’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Oh. Alright.” He cast a sidelong look at Shen Yuan. “So what Shizun is saying is… it felt so good that he forgot to be careful?”

Shen Yuan gave him a narrow look. “Of course it felt good. But I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”

Luo Binghe looked back down at Liu Qingge’s slack, peaceful face, his own expression soft and thoughtful. “Mn. Shishu is rather biteable though, isn’t he?”

Shen Yuan groaned, dragging a hand over his face. Luo Binghe was… not wrong. But that was no excuse! Stupid demonic instincts. He’d have to be more careful next time—

…If there was a next time. Would Liu Qingge even want to do this again? Shen Yuan couldn’t be sure, especially now. He sighed, and began tugging the blankets up over them. “We’ll just have to let him sleep it off,” he said.

“Alright,” Luo Binghe agreed. He snuggled up contentedly against Liu Qingge, looking deeply pleased despite the less-than-perfect end to their lovemaking.

Shen Yuan curled up against Liu Qingge’s other side. The War God looked so uncharacteristically peaceful like this—mouth slack, hair mussed, his body lax against the sheets. It made Shen Yuan feel a bit… protective. Before he could overthink it, he curled one arm carefully over Liu Qingge’s shoulders, mindful of the bite mark. His tail wound its way between Liu Qingge’s and Luo Binghe’s legs.

Luo Binghe burrowed closer, slinging an arm over both of them, caging them in with possessive tenderness. It was warm, nestled together like this—the deep, reptilian part of Shen Yuan’s brain hummed in satisfaction. Their mixed qi gently circulated through his meridians, leaving him replete and increasingly drowsy. Across Liu Qingge’s chest, Luo Binghe’s eyes drifted shut, his breathing evening out. His grip remained firm, though, as if he feared either of them might vanish if he let go.

Shen Yuan stared into the dimness of the room for a while longer. He wasn’t sure what would come next for the three of them… but for now, this was pretty nice. Accidental poisoning notwithstanding.

With a final sigh, he let his eyes fall closed.

Luo Binghe was rudely awakened by a booming series of bangs, echoing through the palace like the beat of a war drum.

He jolted upright at the same moment Shen Yuan did, both of them blinking blearily in the pale wash of dawn. The first rays of sunlight had crept across the bedclothes, haloing Shen Yuan’s rumpled hair. Luo Binghe sucked in a breath, his heart giving a wild, joyous leap. It had worked! Shen Yuan hadn’t slipped back into his dragon form with the sunrise.

Between them, Liu Qingge remained utterly dead to the world, breathing evenly.

Another crash reverberated through the halls. Luo Binghe winced; it sounded like someone was hammering on the massive iron knocker at the outer gates. He and Shen Yuan exchanged a look—half alarm, half annoyance.

“Another challenger for Shishu?” Luo Binghe muttered.

Shen Yuan dragged a hand down his face with a sigh. “Maybe. Let’s go see what they want.”

They both scrambled out of bed, hastily pulling on last night’s robes. Liu Qingge didn’t so much as stir, even when Luo Binghe brushed a lock of hair out of his face and laid a quick kiss on his cheek. They left him tucked safely in the blankets, and hurried out.

In the main courtyard, the morning air was brisk. Shen Yuan strode across the flagstones, Luo Binghe quickening his pace to keep up. When they reached the towering gates, Shen Yuan planted his hands against the iron doors and flung them wide, an irritable crease between his brows—

And then his expression went blank.

Luo Binghe’s steps faltered as he came up beside him and saw why. Three figures stood framed in the morning light; three faces that Luo Binghe had thought he might never see again. Shen Qingqiu, Yue Qingyuan, and Shang Qinghua.

The cultivators of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect had come for them.

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes went wide the instant they landed on Luo Binghe. His fingers snapped into a sword seal, Xiu Ya leaping from its sheath to hang in the air beside him. Luo Binghe’s throat went dry. The last time he had seen this man—on whom he had once pinned all of his hopes and dreams, only to have them ground into dust—he’d been looking down the edge of that very blade.

“Where is he?” Shen Qingqiu demanded, his voice as sharp as steel.

There was no mistaking who he meant. “Liu-Shishu is resting,” Luo Binghe said carefully, forcing the words out past the lump in his throat.

Shen Qingqiu’s face sharpened in suspicion, but it was Yue Qingyuan who spoke. Unlike Shen Qingqiu, he hadn’t yet drawn his sword—but his hand hovered near its hilt. “Then… he’s alive?”

Behind them, Shang Qinghua watched silently, his eyes darting back and forth between Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan, something confused and calculating in his gaze.

“Yes,” Shen Yuan said calmly, stepping forward. “Liu Qingge is alive and well.”

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes narrowed to slits. “If that’s so, then bring him out.”

“Ah, I don’t think—” Shen Yuan began.

“Shishu is still sleeping,” Luo Binghe interrupted, his chest tight.

“... Sleeping,” Yue Qingyuan repeated, his brow furrowing. “We had heard he was captured.”

“Not at all!” Shen Yuan said quickly. “Liu Qingge is just… visiting us.”

“Shishu came here looking for me,” Luo Binghe added. “But he was injured in a fight with some other demonic creatures. He’s been recuperating.”

Yue Qingyuan’s eyes lingered on him, his expression doubtful. Shang Qinghua, meanwhile, was now staring fixedly at Shen Yuan, as if trying to decipher a particularly strange riddle.

Shen Qingqiu turned on Luo Binghe like a striking snake. “How dare you still call him Shishu, beast?!”

At that, Shen Yuan’s eyes went flat and dark. His demonic qi flared as he stepped forward, his gaze locked on Shen Qingqiu. “Don’t speak to Binghe like that,” he said coldly.

Shen Qingqiu sneered, drawing himself up taller. “I’ll speak to demon scum however I like.”

Dark fury washed across Shen Yuan’s face, his qi pulsing; Luo Binghe had never seen him look so angry. “If anyone here is scum,” Shen Yuan hissed, “surely it would be the man who abused and attempted to murder an innocent boy.”

Yue Qingyuan’s brow creased further at the word ‘murder’, but he said nothing. Shen Qingqiu’s face remained as cold as ice. “I’m not here to debate ethics with demons. We came to find Liu Qingge. Now hand him over,” he snapped.

“No,” Shen Yuan spat, looking positively murderous.

Shen Qingqiu’s lip curled, and he shifted his stance, as if in preparation to strike. Shang Qinghua stumbled a half-step back, starting to look a bit nervous. Luo Binghe strode forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Shen Yuan, his heart beating fast. He let his own qi flare, and felt the zuiyin on his forehead blaze to life, knowing his eyes were probably flashing a matching red.

Yue Qingyuan’s head snapped toward him. As his gaze locked onto Luo Binghe’s zuiyin, his hand dropped to the hilt of his sword. “You didn’t tell me he was a Heavenly Demon,” he said to Shen Qingqiu.

Shen Qingqiu blinked, his hand faltering mid-seal. “He’s a what?”

Yue Qingyuan’s face had gone hard. “Qingqiu-Shidi, step back,” he said, his voice flat and authoritative, his eyes not leaving Luo Binghe.

Shen Qingqiu turned his glare on Yue Qingyuan. “Why should I—”

Yue Qingyuan’s fingers twitched, and the sword at his hip leapt a single cun from its sheath.

Light erupted, a blinding radiance spilling out into the courtyard, drowning every shadow. Spiritual qi of an intensity Luo Binghe had never before seen poured from that tiny sliver of exposed steel, crashing over them; the air itself seemed to buckle beneath its weight.

Everyone flinched. Even Shen Qingqiu staggered, staring at Yue Qingyuan as if seeing him for the first time.

Shen Yuan’s face went pale, his hands balling into fists, his claws extended. Fear flashed in his eyes, demonic qi coiling up his arms. “Wait!” he shouted. “There’s no need to—”

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut in. “Hey!”

Luo Binghe’s head whipped up. On a balcony above, Liu Qingge stood, barefoot and shirtless, tugging a robe around his shoulders. He was glaring down at the tableau below in exasperation.

Everyone froze.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, Cheng Luan materialized in Liu Qingge’s hand. He stepped onto the blade and descended in a single, effortless sweep, landing between the demons and cultivators in a rush of air. “Stop it, all of you,” he snapped.

Relief washed across Yue Qingyuan’s face. “Liu-Shidi! You are alive.”

“Of course I am,” Liu Qingge said, frowning. His gaze flicked pointedly down to Yue Qingyuan’s partially unsheathed sword.

At once, Yue Qingyuan cleared his throat and slid the blade home, cutting off its radiating power with a quiet snick. His face looked a bit pale and drawn, but he smiled sincerely at Liu Qingge. “I’m glad. And you are… well?”

Liu Qingge crossed his arms. His hair was loose around his shoulders, his face somewhat flushed. In his haste to intervene, he hadn’t bothered to tie his robe properly—it was slipping down one shoulder, exposing the bite mark that Shen Yuan had left last night.

“I’m fine,” he said.

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes darted between him, Shen Yuan, and Luo Binghe incredulously. “Did you… debase yourself with these creatures?!” he finally demanded.

Liu Qingge stiffened, his face turning a deeper red. “A man who frequents brothels has no room to judge!” he snapped. But he didn’t deny it; Luo Binghe’s heart leapt.

Shen Qingqiu’s face twisted, as though preparing to spit out a retort, but Yue Qingyuan cut in. “Liu-Shidi, Qingqiu-Shidi… please. Let’s not quarrel,” he said, looking mildly pained. To Liu Qingge, he continued, “Might you introduce us to your… companion?”

Liu Qingge nodded. “This is Shen Yuan. Neither he nor Luo Binghe are a threat—to myself, to Cang Qiong, or to the human realm.”

Yue Qingyuan held his gaze for a moment, then nodded and turned to Shen Yuan. “This one is Yue Qingyuan, Sect Leader of Cang Qiong Mountain.” He gestured at the other two Peak Lords. “These are my martial siblings, Shen Qingqiu and Shang Qinghua. We apologize for disturbing you, but we were concerned for Liu-Shidi’s safety.”

Behind him, Shen Qingqiu gave an inelegant snort and rolled his eyes contemptuously. “Speak for yourself. I only came because you dragged me here.”

Liu Qingge turned to glare at Shen Qingqiu again. “Did you really try to kill Binghe?” he asked abruptly.

There was a moment of silence. Shen Qingqiu’s face tightened, his nostrils flaring. For a long moment, he didn’t answer. “The boy is a demon,” he finally spat out. “Which I discovered in the midst of a demonic attack. What would you have done, in my place?”

“I would have given him a chance to explain himself,” Liu Qingge said immediately. “Binghe has always been honorable.”

Luo Binghe sucked in a breath, feeling the knot that had lived in his chest for so long suddenly begin to loosen.

“Then you’re an idiot,” Shen Qingqiu sneered.

Liu Qingge stared back, cool and unflinching. “Maybe. But if you ever try to hurt him again, I’ll kill you.”

For a moment, the two held each other’s gaze, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Finally, Shen Qingqiu scoffed and turned away. “There’s no need for that. I have no interest in seeing either of your pet demons ever again.” He spun on his heel and strode away toward the bridge.

Yue Qingyuan watched him go, then looked back with a weary sigh. “Liu-Shidi… you’ve caused quite a lot of bother.”

Liu Qingge stared back at him evenly. “I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you. But I don’t regret my actions.”

Yue Qingyuan nodded tiredly. “The other Peak Lords will have… concerns.”

“Probably,” Liu Qingge said, shrugging in an unbothered way. “Do you have concerns?”

Yue Qingyuan glanced at Luo Binghe, his eyes lingering on his forehead where his zuiyin was still blazing. “Some,” he said mildly. “But… I trust Shidi not to do anything that would endanger the sect.”

“Good,” Liu Qingge said. “I won’t.”

Yue Qingyuan just sighed again. “Then, will I see you at Cang Qiong again soon?”

“You will.”

“Alright. Until then.” Yue Qingyuan gave each of them a small nod. His gaze lingered on Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe for a moment longer, looking faintly troubled. But he said nothing else, turning to follow Shen Qingqiu.

As they readied their swords for flight, Yue Qingyuan’s still in its sheath, Shen Qingqiu turned to the sect leader with a poisonous little smile on his face. They were still close enough to overhear. “Now that that’s sorted, I have a question for you,” Shen Qingqiu said.

Yue Qingyuan’s shoulders stiffened. “You do?”

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. Zhangmen-Shixiong, what the fuck is wrong with your sword?”

Yue Qingyuan blanched. “That’s…” He glanced back at the others, still watching them. “Let’s… discuss this later?”

“Fine. We will most definitely do that,” Shen Qingqiu said, his tone promising that the conversation would be far from pleasant. He turned back to Shang Qinghua impatiently. “Are you coming?”

“Uh… yeah,” Shang Qinghua said. “I just want to talk to Liu-Shidi for a moment. You two go ahead, I’ll catch up.”

Shen Qingqiu snorted but said nothing more, stepping onto Xiu Ya and taking to the skies. Yue Qingyuan followed more slowly, trepidation in every line of his body. As he watched them fly away, Luo Binghe heaved a sigh of relief, feeling as though a weight were lifting off of his chest. He would be perfectly happy if he never saw either of them ever again.

When he turned his attention back to the others, he found Liu Qingge frowning at Shang Qinghua. “What do you want?” Liu Qingge asked. “In fact—why are you even here?”

Shang Qinghua shifted nervously from foot to foot. “I came because… I wanted to know what the hell is going on.” His eyes darted from Liu Qingge to Luo Binghe, then fixed on Shen Yuan. They narrowed. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the one messing with things.”

Shen Yuan went very still, his face carefully blank. “Messing with things?”

He and Shang Qinghua locked eyes, neither of them moving. Finally Shang Qinghua spoke again. “Do the words ‘Proud Immortal Demon Way’ mean anything to you?”

Something strange flickered across Shen Yuan’s face, before he shuttered it away. For a split second, his gaze darted to Luo Binghe.

Shang Qinghua’s eyes lit up. “You do know it! You’ve read it, haven’t you?”

Proud Immortal Demon Way… Luo Binghe had never heard those words before. Was it a book? A book about demons? But why was Shang Qinghua asking Shen Yuan about it?

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Shen Yuan said evenly.

Luo Binghe was pretty certain that was a lie, but Shang Qinghua didn’t call Shen Yuan on it, or ask any further questions. He just glanced at Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe again, a smirk briefly flashing across his face. “Hm. Well done,” he said to Shen Yuan, raising an eyebrow.

Shen Yuan sputtered, his face going red.

Shang Qinghua turned to Liu Qingge. “I’ll see you back at the sect, Liu-Shidi.”

Liu Qingge nodded, although he looked just as confused by Shang Qinghua’s behavior as Luo Binghe was. The three of them then watched in silence as Shang Qinghua mounted his sword and flew off to join the other cultivators.

“Shizun, what was all that about?” Luo Binghe asked, once all three had disappeared from view.

Shen Yuan cleared his throat. “I have no idea. What a strange man!”

Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe exchanged a look. Before they could say anything else, however, Shen Yuan turned to Liu Qingge with a sheepish look on his face, his eyes darting to the bite mark. “Are you… feeling alright?” he asked cautiously. “I’m so sorry, I should have been more careful—”

Liu Qingge huffed. “It’s fine—I’m fine. Just… try not to do it again, next time.”

Shen Yuan blinked. Then a small, hopeful smile began to form on his face. “Next time?”

Liu Qingge cleared his throat, his gaze darting away. “Sure.”

Shen Yuan’s smile widened. Seeing it, Liu Qingge’s blush deepened. He turned to stride back into the courtyard, and Shen Yuan followed.

Luo Binghe lingered at the gates for a moment, watching the two of them walk together. Even half-dressed and barefoot, Liu Qingge cut an imposing figure. His shoulders were squared confidently, Cheng Luan glinting in the morning sun—still every inch the War God that Luo Binghe had admired for so long. And yet… he seemed softer now too, with his hair falling loose around his shoulders, a hint of a smile gracing his face as he glanced over at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan was returning that smile—he had to look up to do so, being significantly shorter than Liu Qingge. But he was no less elegant, his loose robes fluttering around his slender silhouette. His tail swished back and forth as they walked, occasionally brushing gently against Liu Qingge’s ankle.

Watching them, Luo Binghe felt a hot, happy feeling bloom open inside his chest, like a plant putting down roots in fertile soil.

Last night had been incredible… and it was only the beginning. Liu Qingge’s words—his promise of a ‘next time’—still echoed in Luo Binghe’s ears. A shiver of excitement ran through him at the thought of more such sweet nights together. But it wasn’t just the new physical part of their relationship that filled him with such happiness; it was also the fact that they had both stood by him—had defended him. Unpleasant though it was to suddenly be faced with his cruel former master and the sect leader that had imprisoned his father, Luo Binghe had felt secure with Shen Yuan and Liu Qingge at his side, steadied by the depths of their care for him.

He still had questions, of course. Why had Shen Yuan visited Qing Jing Peak all those years ago? Did it have something to do with Shang Qinghua, or with that mysterious book he’d mentioned? There were parts of his Shizun that remained shrouded in mystery… but that was alright. Shen Yuan had said that he could stay with him as long as he wanted, and since Luo Binghe wanted nothing more than to remain by his side forever, he felt certain that, in time, he could coax those secrets out.

But for right now, he was far too happy to worry about any of that. As he watched Shen Yuan and Liu Qingge walk together, limned in sunshine, smiles lighting their faces, Luo Binghe truly felt as though he had everything he had ever wanted.

And so, a grin splitting his own face, he hurried to join them, his steps light and his heart lighter.

Back in the courtyard, Shen Yuan climbed a flight of stairs to the parapet and leaned against the stone, looking out over the gorge below. Sunlight kissed the tops of the trees, the dawn sky the pale orange of a ripening apricot. He stretched his arms wide, reveling in the feeling of still being able to do so.

Footsteps followed him up, Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe coming to stand on either side of him.

“Shizun looks happy,” Luo Binghe observed.

Shen Yuan couldn’t help but smile. “I am,” he said honestly. “It’s… nice. To be settled in this form again.” As cool as it was being a dragon, he had missed being human.

“I’m so glad,” Luo Binghe said, beaming. “Now, Shizun can transform back and forth at will, right?”

“That’s right.”

Luo Binghe cocked his head curiously. “Can we see you do it?”

Shen Yuan arched a brow. “Right now? It would shred my robes.”

“Ah. Well… that wouldn’t be so bad,” Luo Binghe said with false innocence.

Liu Qingge swatted Luo Binghe lightly on the arm. “Behave.”

Shen Yuan huffed. Then, more seriously, he said, “Thank you, truly, both of you. I wouldn’t have managed this without your… er, help.”

“It was our pleasure,” Liu Qingge said simply.

“I’ll cultivate with Shizun as often as you want!” Luo Binghe promised eagerly.

“And I would… be glad to assist again,” Liu Qingge added, ears red.

Shen Yuan cleared his throat. “That’s… most generous of both of you. But don’t feel that such things must always be for my sake. The two of you should also… be together, whenever you like. It doesn’t have to hinge on my condition.”

Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe exchanged a soft look. “Alright,” Luo Binghe said, looking inordinately pleased. “But… Shishu, you said you’d go back to Cang Qiong soon?”

Liu Qingge nodded. “I’m still a Peak Lord, with responsibilities in the human realm. But I travel often. I’ll come back to visit, whenever I can. Perhaps the two of you could even join me on nighthunts.”

“Really?” Shen Yuan perked up. “I’d love to see more of the human realm. Now that I’m less… conspicuous, perhaps we could travel together.”

Luo Binghe’s smile turned dazzling. “I’d love that!”

Liu Qingge nodded. “I was also thinking…” His gaze slid away, then returned to Shen Yuan. “I’m not much of a teacher, and the disciples on Bai Zhan have never had any real structure. But you—you’re an excellent teacher. Maybe you could… give them some lessons?”

Shen Yuan blinked in surprise. “You want me to help teach your disciples? Won’t the other Peak Lords… object to that?”

Liu Qingge shrugged. “Probably. But they’ll have to get over it. It wouldn’t need to be a regular thing, anyhow. Even a few lessons would be good practice for the disciples. And… maybe they could learn a bit more about demons, in the process.”

It was… an intriguing idea. Shen Yuan had certainly enjoyed instructing Luo Binghe, and even felt he’d gotten rather good at it. It might be fun to teach a few other students now and then! And if it helped to improve human-demon relations in the long run, well… that wouldn’t be such a bad thing, would it? Especially if he and Luo Binghe really were going to embark on some sort of long-term relationship with Liu Qingge.

And maybe, with time, he might even get the opportunity to seek out Shang Qinghua again. The man was obviously another transmigrator, which was both intriguing and exciting. What had he been up to all this time? Had his experience been similar to Shen Yuan’s, or different? Was he the only other one, or were there more of them? Shen Yuan had an awful lot of questions, and would very much like to meet up to compare notes.

Which might be difficult to do without Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe’s knowledge. But… maybe he didn’t have to do it in secret? The more he thought about it, the more Shen Yuan had begun to hope that maybe someday he could tell them the truth about his origins.

Ah, but that was a problem for another day! For now…

“I suppose we could try a trial lesson with your disciples,” he agreed.

Liu Qingge nodded, looking pleased. Beside him, Luo Binghe was positively beaming.

“What?” Shen Yuan asked.

“I’m just so happy,” Luo Binghe sighed—and leaned in to kiss him.

Shen Yuan startled, then melted into it. The warmth of Luo Binghe’s lips still felt new and dizzying, despite all the kisses they’d shared just last night. He shivered and put his arms around Luo Binghe, holding him close until the world felt steady again.

When Luo Binghe finally drew back, he turned to cup Liu Qingge’s face next and catch him in a kiss as well. Shen Yuan’s breath hitched as he watched their mouths meet, their bodies swaying together, Liu Qingge’s hands fisting in Luo Binghe’s robes. He still kind of couldn’t believe that he was allowed to watch the two most beautiful men in the world do this together. Eventually they pulled apart, and Luo Binghe turned to look at Shen Yuan with heavy-lidded eyes.

“I’m… glad Binghe is happy,” Shen Yuan said softly, his heart feeling suddenly, achingly full.

After all… hadn’t he always wanted that? Hadn’t it, in fact, been his dying wish? Back then, of course, he hadn’t known where the protagonist’s true happiness might lie—and he certainly wouldn’t have guessed that Luo Binghe would one day find it in the arms of his Shishu and a random NPC, both of whom should have died of qi deviations long ago!

But the more he thought about it, the more Shen Yuan had to admit that, as far as ‘happily-ever-afters’ went, this one sounded… pretty damn good.

An impish grin crept over Luo Binghe’s face. “Do you know what else would make me happy?”

“What?”

“If Shizun and Shishu were to kiss again…”

Shen Yuan turned to Liu Qingge. Although his cheeks were red, he met Shen Yuan’s gaze steadily. Then he raised a brow.

Shen Yuan let out a quiet breath of laughter and leaned in. Their kiss was shorter than the previous two—but no less sweet. Shen Yuan felt a shiver run down his spine; when he pulled back, his heart was beating hard and Liu Qingge’s own breath sounded a bit less steady.

Luo Binghe was watching them closely, his smile sharpening into a wolfish curve. “Perhaps, before Shishu leaves, we should try cultivating together at least once more. Just to be certain we’ve mastered the technique.”

Liu Qingge and Shen Yuan both huffed, their faces equally scarlet. But when Luo Binghe reached for them, neither pulled away.

And hand in hand, they let him lead them back into the castle.