Chapter Text
To say that Luo Binghe has become a complete softie would be totally accurate. In so many years of Shen Qingqiu’s life, he hasn’t seen Luo Binghe smiled so tenderly at others beside himself. The first time he saw it, the effect was akin to lightning striking through the skies, a meteorite suddenly mere metres away from flattening him, them, and all of humankind – that kind of dramatic scene.
But to say that Luo Binghe has become stupid because of one or two children… That would be missing the mark entirely.
“Shizun.”
Soft and tender his call is, the first thing Shen Qingqiu sees when he parts his eyes is a hand reaching out gingerly to him.
Luo Binghe stands before him, back hunched over to get to his height. The four walls surrounding them are not longer the same spacious bamboo walls Shen Qingqiu had drifted off to sleep seeing. Wooden and cramp, it would be what one would expect from a 1-star rating inn. Although very uncomfortable to sleep in, and the grass outside would probably make a better bed, you could probably get away with one or two knacks in the neck if you were just staying for a single day.
“Binghe,” Shen Qingqiu quietly calls out. He allows himself to be pulled to his feet. He sighs. “Must you insist on doing this every time?”
“Of course. Shizun’s safety is at stake. If another disciple turns out to be a child sent by the villages outside… This disciple wouldn’t be able to live with his mistake.” Luo Binghe answers, as if stating just another fact.
Shen Qingqiu lets out another soft exhale.
It’s no wonder too, that this stallion protagonist of his would be so guarded towards these children. Although his heart is soft, Luo Binghe is not so easy to deceive. The first time a child had come up the mountains in search for them for such a reason, they had had to relocate to a separate mountain to get away from the villagers. Luo Binghe had spent a good hour or so thereafter apologizing to Shen Qingqiu, even though all Shen Qingqiu had really wanted to say is You don’t have to apologize, really! It’s not as if I ever cared about what happened to those little rascals. Why don’t you just stop taking them in like stray cats after this?
But as expected, he couldn’t say that to the kind-hearted protagonist’s teary eyes. (Damn it, you’re playing right into his hands again, Shen Qingqiu!)
It had been something of a necessity after that to custom-check every child that step through their doors thereafter.
Shen Qingqiu absently lifts his head. There is a child standing before two other adults, his cherub features and long hair held up by a red ribbon. Even a blind could tell it’s Wei Wuxian with his parents – Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze.
His heart flops with dread.
It’s a fact, that all dreams show the deepest, most impactful memories of a human being, peeling away masks to reveal their most honest selves. Just like the Dream Demon did those years ago, Luo Binghe himself makes use of those same skills to summon the most impactful memories of the children. For most, such as Xiao Xingchen, they typically contain no more than a few frames of memories showing the happier times when their family was still whole. The younger the child, the shorter the memory. But for Wei Wuxian, who’s the oldest they’ve had, and whose status as THE protagonist is practically a golden label of ‘Disaster in the making’, it’s not hard to deduce his dreams would be quite a bit different from the rest.
Shen Qingqiu parts his mouth, just ready to beg, ‘Binghe ah Binghe, could you please spare this old man of a trip down the memory lane? Wei Wuxian is innocent! He is Pure White! He is THE protagonist, and of a novel higher-rated than yours at that! Let’s quickly leaveleaveleave this place!’
But before he even managed to say a thing, the woman before them places a hand on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder.
“A-Xian,” Cangse smiles. “Your father will be leaving with me for a while. Even though the people here are grumpy jerks, remember what to do if they come near you.”
Cangse retracts her hand, curling it into fists. That is,
“Kick their asses silly if they lay a hand on you! Aim your feet at their family treasure if they are men, and pull and scratch on their scalps if they are women! This is the Wei family’s safety measure if anyone comes close!” Cangse harrumphs, chest puffing up, full of pride.
Shen Qingqiu feels ready to bow and kow tow to her.
So many years has passed, but you still haven’t changed in the slightest! Are you asking for a beating, Ni Zhe Xiao Huo Zi (Little Rascal)? This old man is so relieved he let you go back then.
Wei Wuxian is none the wiser as he clenches his fists in that same way and nods, the set of his lips firm,
“Of course! Wei family’s family tradition, I definitely will carry out!”
Bie (Don’t). This master begs of you, Wuxian, please don’t get brainwashed by this Xiao Ya Tou’s (little rascal’s) words!
Little Wei Wuxian stands at a height that is slightly lower than his present self, looking a stark contrast to the muddy child when they picked him up. Whilst he doesn’t look the most pampered child with both his parents being rogue cultivators, he is still nicely filled up with fluffy, cherub cheeks, soft features looking as if he has never suffered a day of hardship.
Although seeing him like this does make Shen Qingqiu’s heart ache for what he would have to go through, he just can’t help but think that Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze have raised this child well.
“Cangse hasn’t changed in the least.” Luo Binghe stands by his side, a comforting presence. With a face that is unreadable, yet appears to hold hints of melancholy, he says, “Even now…”
If she’s aware of their presence, Cangse would have sprung a trap on them now. No, or maybe, she would have pulled her eyelid and stuck out her tongue at them? One could never tell with this unpredictable brat of a child.
In any case, oblivious to her watching master and older martial brother, Cangse laughs heartily, patting Wei Wuxian indulgently on the head.
“Alright! Now, you just stay put until your parents come home, okay?”
“Yes!”
The scene changes. Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze are gone, not a single shadow that remains to be seen of them. It is the same room, the same time, the same dream. And yet, Wei Wuxian is hunched over in the opposite side of the room, bruises littering his pale face, arms wrapped taut around his knees. Shen Qingqiu is alarmed. How did he get these bruises?
“Don’t.” He murmurs, seemingly to himself. A small hand comes up suddenly to smack his own cheek, to both their surprise. “Don’t think silly things. Mother and Father said they would return… They said they would return…”
Just a little, Wei Wuxian curls tighter in on himself. A single silhouette making itself as tiny as possible in the suddenly broad expense of the room. In the faint moonlight that trickled in through the single window, zhe xiao zi (this child) looks incredibly pitiful, yet strong, with his petulant eyes clinging on to hope – no matter how wishful his thinking is. And who could blame him for denying the worst?
Looking at him, Shen Qingqiu can’t help but be reminded of the man standing beside him.
To date, is he still waiting for his parents?
Out of nowhere, a series of harsh ‘THUMP, THUMP, THUMP’ suddenly shakes the door.
Wei Wuxian leaps up, instantly on guard.
“You stupid child, how many more days do you intend on occupying this room?! Isn’t it obvious? Your parents aren’t coming back!” A low voice blares from the opposite side of the door.
Wei Wuxian’s lower lip wobbles. He glares at the door, picking up the nearest object to throw. But even then, he keeps his arms secure around the pouch of items he had gathered from around the room. He inches towards the window.
“I’m not going! Mother and Father will come back!” He calls back to the door. Well said, Wuxian!
“You little bastard…” The voice on the other side of the door spews curses.
“You bastard—”
Shen Qingqiu nimbly lifts a hand to catch onto Luo Binghe’s sleeve, shaking his head ‘no’ when the half-demon takes a step forward with a face full of unbridled rage. Don’t talk about Luo Binghe. On the inside, he’s actually pretty enthusiastic about punishing this man too,
This child is my disciple now. Not even I will hit him, but you dare hit him?
“Forget being pleasant! This time, I’ll show you who’s the master around here!”
There’s a loud ‘THUMP’ against the door, instantly making it shudder on its hinges. Wei Wuxian hastens his pace, pushing open the window with much desperation. Another fell swoop comes against the door. This time, the old rotting wood gives way, a splinter of wood knocked into the centre of the room. Wei Wuxian dares himself to take a glance back at the door. The black face he peeks from that small tear makes him freeze instantly in fear.
What are you looking back for? Hurry up and run already!
Even though the man can’t see it, Shen Qingqiu still puts himself between the two. He doesn’t attack the man. This is Wei Wuxian’s dream world. Any attacks dealt to the beings of his creation would only injure the subconscious mind further.
But Wei Wuxian never needed any protection to get out of there.
“You little scum…!” The man finally is able to knock down the entire door.
Jolted back into motion by the shock of it, with trembling knees, Wei Wuxian swivels around and launches the projectile he had clenched his hands over this whole time.
It’s for but a fraction of a second, but as the item bounces off the innkeeper’s ugly face, Shen Qingqiu, as well as everyone else in the room, sees it.
It’s a piece of green jade, genuine and priceless. How a child procured such a thing… Does it really need to be asked? His parents must have slaved and refrained from many a meal to purchase such a gem for their child, as insurance should they ever fail to return. And yet he has tossed it! As to why it’s a piece of green jade as compared to other priceless pieces… Shen Qingqiu doesn’t even need to check with the system to know it’s a product of him and Luo Binghe replacing BaoShan SanRen.
Cangse ah Cangse… If you really liked us so much, couldn’t you have played a little less pranks on this master back then? Just look! Even your adopted-mother seems ready to cry!
Luo Binghe’s eyes are wider than the size of dinner plates, breathless at the obvious show of sentiment from Cangse Sanren. Maybe it’s because of age. These days, he’s worse than a maiden when it comes to such things.
Wei Wuxian narrows his eyes, loss evident in every shallow breaths taken. Yet, as the innkeeper drops to his knees and scrambles to close his palms around it, he doesn’t spare a moment to be sentimental.
Wei Wuxian drops out of the window without ever looking back.
-
Young as he is, Wei Wuxian wanders that street for days on end, waiting for Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze to return.
It’s evident to anyone from just one look that he could have easily surrendered the piece of green jade the first time the innkeeper came around and lived an easier life of bliss. He could have escaped those bruises, which he must have obtained from kneeing the innkeeper’s balls via the Wei Family’s tradition (fufu), lived peacefully for a couple more days. And yet, he didn’t. Why is that so?
Other than the sentimentality clinging onto his parents’ gift and an astute eye keeping track of the innkeeper’s character, what else could it be?
This child is filial at heart yet intelligent enough to not have been deceived. Is there any more that needs to be said?
Shen Qingqiu watches with a carefully blank face the first time Wei Wuxian’s tummy growls painful enough for him to crawl to the nearest trash area.
Wei Wuxian pants, vision dizzy, the bag parted before him filled with a foul smell that comes out. For a moment, he presses a hand to his mouth to keep himself from retching. And yet, he still reaches his hand in to pull out the half-eaten piece of meat bun another child had tossed in. He crams it into his mouth, scarfing it down with his stomach growling half-hearted thanks.
Shen Qingqiu wants so badly to scream with outrage at the heavens.
In all of his immortal life, he has never directed his true rage at any besides our useless Airplane-Shooting-Towards-The-Sky or the troll system that’s in his head – or, maybe one or two half-hearted gestures at Luo Binghe when he’s being more of a clingy nuisance than even a maiden in love – but at this moment, he wants so badly to say it:
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu! If you’re ever transmigrated, I am settling a debt with you!
To put your own protagonist through all this without even writing more than a single paragraph on it, do you still have any shame to face him? Ah?!
Such a masterful piece of background story, it’s no wonder Airplane-Shooting-Towards-The-Sky has essentially spun a popular fanfiction out of your story.
Unable to help himself, Shen Qingqiu turns to peek at Luo Binghe’s expression as he looks on.
With a face full of thunderous darkness, storm clouds floating in the distance, Luo Binghe plays the role of the audience with him. He looks split between surging forward to push this Wei Wuxian behind his back, proclaiming in that heart-throbbing manner Airplane-Bro has spent over two million words describing, “I’ll protect you! Just stay with me forever!” – or, you could also say he looks a second away from busting out of this dream to chase down the innkeeper who had tormented Wei Wuxian so. Very intimidating.
Should Shen Qingqiu still be under the delusion that his disciple wants his life, he would certainly be a million miles away. But fortunately, that is not the case.
Shen Qingqiu fans his disciple’s rage away from his face scrupulously. He watches through distant yet attentive as Wei Wuxian shudders cold in the alleyway, drifting off to a restless sleep that’s quickly interrupted by starving mongrels taking him as weak prey. Wei Wuxian wakes to a sharp explosion of pain, crying out as he beat away the mongrels.
“Where is Wuxian?” Shen Qingqiu questions.
Typically, the dreamer whose dream has been infiltrated would be there to be tormented. It is the original point, for the dreamer to claw apart his own physique with his bare hands.
But for their own safety, the children they custom-check are always put into a dream within a dream. If not for that, they would usually wake up to find themselves at a point of time which most resembles their current reality. In that manner, it is very similar to Shen Qingqiu’s dream of that lantern-lit street those years ago, when he had just escaped Huan Hua Palace and didn’t realize he had tired himself to sleep.
Luo Binghe looks at him, as if jolting awake from a dream. He shakes his head side to side.
“We’ve still got a bit more to go.” He answers, hands curling into fists.
Shen Qingqiu silently accepts his answer for what it is, turning back to the scene of Wei Wuxian beating back the barking dogs with a stick. He shrieks back at them with a face that’s equal parts fear and bravery,
“This is my bed! Get lost! You can’t have it! It’s mine!”
Said ‘bed’ in question is a big basket which some family has left out by mistake. Smelling faintly of loquats, whilst being tall enough to fend the wind, it’s no wonder why it’s a cause for dispute between these wild dogs and Wei Wuxian. But then again, Shen Qingqiu inwardly swallows another swell of concern. Not even Liu Qingge would be able to speak against Wei Wuxian’s presence if he sees this pitiful sight.
“Shizun,” Luo Binghe calls out in a wavering voice, suddenly demure and meek again.
He looks repentant when Shen Qingqiu swivels to look at him. Eyes full of guilt and equal parts rage not at anyone, but himself.
“Shizun,” Luo Binghe steadies his own breathing. “Do you think we did the wrong thing, to not keep in touch with my shidi and shimei? If… If we had still been receiving letters from Cangse at this point of time, we could have come much earlier to help Wei-shidi. A-And Wei-shidi wouldn’t have to—”
He’s silenced by a firm tap to the triceps with a fan.
Shen Qingqiu meets his gaze evenly, shaking his head lightly.
“It was Cangse’s decision to stop corresponding with us before Wuxian was born. There is no need for you to take the blame.”
Right? Right! Because just saying these words is enough to make him flush with shame on the inside.
Aiya, Wo Zhe Ge Ren (This person I am)… How can I have such a Hou Lian Pi (Thick-face) ah?
The one who named Cangse ‘Cangse’… wasn’t it me? This old geezer… I really should have realized something was wrong when I took in ‘Xiao Xingchen’. Huo Gai (You deserve it)! Gai Da (Ought to be beaten)! But no matter what, just don’t send Lan Wangji after me, honourable Wei Gong-Zi! Because the one who’s most clearly the villain here is Mo Xiang Tong Xiu-Ju-Ju (Writer)!
If he had known this might happen earlier, he would have interrogated the System before this happened. So, Luo Binghe, you really don’t have to carry such a burden. Really. Because this time, the one who holds all responsibility again is me, your Shizun!
Luo Binghe doesn’t look any less guilty even though he seems to regain himself with Shen Qingqiu’s logic.
He gazes at Wei Wuxian’s tiny frame as the child bends over for the third time, retching his guts out after choosing the wrong scrap to eat.
Something hardens in his eyes.
Luo Binghe reaches over and brushes down the back of the small child, even though he knows they are both phantoms in this world.
“Tomorrow,” Luo Binghe firmly says. Shen Qingqiu looks up. “This humble disciple seeks your permission to go down the mountain tomorrow. I will recover the heirloom Cangse gave Wei-shidi in my shimei’s stead.”
Eh. What are you going to do? I’ll have you know, this old man doesn’t care if you cut off the area between this innkeeper’s thighs, but it’s going to draw attention if someone suddenly dies!
In that instance, there is a cry of that same bastardly man.
As if stealing Wei Wuxian’s pendant isn’t enough, he is determined to chase the boy away from his street, not feeling safe in the knowledge that the boy could divulge the truth to the other residents in the village at any time. And how ridiculous it is, too! Who would honestly believe the words of a boy of some travellers over their one of their own? This scumbag is so full of paranoia, Shen Qingqiu feels tempted to hand him over to Qi Qingqi for a good disciplining session.
“Scram!” Hisses the man as he brings hauls the couple of guard dogs he had borrowed from his neighbours. “Leave this village this instance! Don’t you dare impede on our business any further!”
A case of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Shen Qingqiu lightly scrunches his nose behind his fan. This man really is despicable …not that Shen Qingqiu should judge, of course.
Wei Wuxian rasps for breath and runs the fastest he could to escape the mongrels. But even then, he cries out when the fastest pup manages to sink its teeth into his arms, wailing as he shakes it away.
“I’ll make him prefer death to living.” Luo Binghe promises, dark eyes simmering red. A smile curls his lips. “But I won’t actually kill him, Shizun. So please don’t worry!”
What are you saying with that murderous look on your face? Only the dead would believe you, okay?!
Ke Shi Ma (But well)…
“Do as you wish.” Shen Qingqiu uncaringly says. He has it coming for him.
But even in dreams, the innkeeper seems fully intent on adding on the number of sentences he now has. When a couple of the other villagers come over to chide him for terrorizing a child, this man puts on a fake mask and lies, saying that the child had stolen food from his kitchens even though he had been kind enough to give him a bowl or two already. How ungrateful! How treacherous! Our village don’t need such a child around! Chase him away!
Shen Qingqiu lets out a sigh deep from his chest, shaking his head. Inside, he’s brimming with nothing but pity for this man.
Scum are scums, of course. I feel for you, my man. Afterall, we were both designed to be that canon-fodder existence just present to torment the protagonist to valiant extents. In the end, look where we both end up? Or more precisely, where he would end up.
Shen Qingqiu unwaveringly turns his back to the man who had tormented Wei Wuxian so much, more focused on the next scene.
In the cold winter clouds that have gathered above a village far too familiar, a child remains trapped in sleep, shuddering cold in the alleyway he was in.
Luo Binghe, as if recognizing this scene, takes a step forward. Snow crunches beneath his feet. Shen Qingqiu was still thinking that this might have been how Luo Binghe found Wei Wuxian initially, when his sharp ears pick up on the noises behind him:
A young child – Dream-Wuxian – has bumped into the red and black-robed Luo Binghe. He meekly chimes fervent apologies, ducking his head as he tries to get away. It’s on this day, just mere hours prior, that desperation punctuated by the warning sting of winter has finally pushed him to lengths he hadn’t dare taken before. Dream-Binghe, whilst not in the least fazed by the smooth robbing of his wallet, stands watching with a face full of shock at those familiar features.
“…Cangse…!” Dream-Binghe calls out after him.
Dream-Wuxian turns around, grey eyes widening.
The scenario fades to snow white as Luo Binghe gently picks up the still-sleeping Wei Wuxian.
This boy is small in Luo Binghe’s arms, incredibly limp, sleeves pulling up mid-action to reveal several canine marks that must have faded as he grew up. Medicine has been smeared over it. Luo Binghe’s work, no doubt. Luo Binghe cradles the young Wei Wuxian in one arm, gazing almost tenderly at his innocent sleeping face. Shen Qingqiu takes a step forward, quietly flanking Luo Binghe’s side so he could see him properly.
Shen Qingqiu thinks, You must be the most unlucky person in this world, to receive the protagonist halo of such a sadistic writer. You’re going to have to undergo so many more ordeals in the future to attain your ‘HAPPY EVER AFTER’.
Before he stops short and wants to facepalm.
Apparently, I’m just as unfortunate, because it’ll be 2 protagonists I’m there with through the rest of their eventful lives. Two. What am I? A do-M (masochist)?
System: [Congratulations. You have mini-mission: Wei Wuxian Backstory. Wei Wuxian Protagonist Ke Ai Fen: +200]
When did you even issue a mission like this?
If you have no idea, then don’t just go with the flow and pretend this is all planned, okay?
Luo Binghe’s eyes glow red as he gently erases them from this dreamscape.
“It’s time to wake up, Wei-Shidi.”