Chapter Text
He almost feels bad for how stern he was with Binghe. Almost . If you asked him, Liu Qingge would say the only reason Binghe won out over Xin Mo was because of his training in restraint and control. He knows it isn’t true, but that’s what he would say. He gets the impression that things could have gone worse, like a mountain almost being dropped on them or something extreme like that. The emotional meltdown Binghe went through was distressing at best and emotionally taxing at worst, but it was over with. For a man who confessed he considered merging the realms, Binghe blinked awake just as normally as he did any other day.
To Binghe’s credit, it wasn’t even his fault that things got crazier. Yes, he caused a lot of drama and emotional damage, but he was back to himself again, his control over Xin Mo impressive in such a short amount of time. The portal opening in Liu Qingge’s walkways was the first red flag. Binghe didn’t use Xin Mo for portals much anymore unless it was an absolute emergency. The Binghe that stepped through was definitely not his. He was all fury and instability that leaves Liu Qingge regretting thinking that maybe his Binghe was crazy. His Binghe isn’t dangerous like this one. Hell, they’d destroyed at least 4 walkways as he lead the other man out to the training fields.
Everything was rather fuzzy, if Qingge is honest, he was still recovering from the whole ‘destroying the worlds’ thing they went through. He does distinctly remember not being able to fend off the demon and therefore having to rely on his reflexes to keep himself alive until his Binghe mercifully showed up. Even if he was doing well, the warlord would have ignored the strange monologue the demon gave them. Something about being cared for and Binghe being lucky. Somehow, Liu Qingge didn’t feel lucky himself. He wonders why.
The passing exchange was as frantic as he’d expected, a demon meeting his match and a stolen disciple finding his home being trespassed on. Some barbs are traded between them, Binghe says something about being better because he actually trained instead of ‘sticking his pillar into anything with a pulse’, which does nothing to lighten the mood. It’s only when the other man is gone that Binghe finally turns to face him.
“Binghe is sorry shishu had to see that version of him.” he says in that infuriatingly soft voice as he helps his shishu up, using his ridiculous strength to hoist the man to his feet as the absurdity of the situation finally hits the peak lord. That was… another Binghe. An unhinged Binghe who emanated danger and selfishness, so unlike his own Binghe. Even - Even after seeing his own Binghe on the battlefield, he could always see that twinge of emotion in him. Even with Binghe’s face carefully schooled right now, he can see the tiny pinch between his brows, the tension in his jaw.
“That wasn’t Binghe.” he says back easily. Maybe it’s because it’s true. What wasn’t his Binghe. The demon smiles slightly at him and looks him over for injuries. “I would never raise a monster.” he has to open his big mouth again. He hates seeing his disciple so upset, maybe that’s why? Otherwise he doesn’t know why in the hell he would say something like that. Those beautiful eyes light up at him and Binghe grins widely in response. Right, that was a mistake. He’s- and there’s the puppy eyes. Binghe looks at him imploringly as he comes closer, those big sparkly eyes practically shooting to kill.
“Shishu…” At least things feel exceedingly normal again. Binghe is still a puppy and Liu Qingge is remarkably tired, just like they always have been.