Work Text:
Shen Yuan was beginning to regret his largely sedentary lifestyle. Just half an hour of walking had already left his body aching. And when he stretched, his bones protested, loudly.
“Shizun?” Luo Binghe asked, concerned, “Do you need anything from my emergency kit? I have Salonpas, Tiger Balm, and White Flower Oil, and— ”
Shen Yuan stopped Luo Binghe before he could empty his backpack right there on the street to search for whatever medication Shen Yuan needed.
Straightening back up, Shen Yuan said, reassuringly, “There’s no need to worry yourself so much, Binghe. This master just needed a short break, is all.”
“If Shizun says so,” Luo Binghe replied, quickly repacking his things into his bag.
Shen Yuan quietly marveled at the sheer amount of stuff Luo Binghe could fit in his schoolbag. But, well, Luo Binghe was an Esper, and, based on what Shen Yuan had witnessed, Luo Binghe’s abilities were limitless. Turning his schoolbag into a qiankun pouch right out of a xianxia novel was probably a small matter.
And, come to think of it, Shen Yuan felt a tiny pang of guilt, dragging Luo Binghe along with him for work. This kid should be enjoying the springtime of his youth! With a face like that, Shen Yuan was sure Luo Binghe would be one of those irritating guys at school who had girls constantly fawning over them.
You should be out there stealing hearts and breaking them, Luo Binghe! Shen Yuan, cried, lamenting the loss of potential, Not out here with an old man like me!
That said, Shen Yuan never protested too much if Luo Binghe chose to be at Shen Yuan’s beck and call, instead of with his peers. Luo Binghe was good insurance if Shen Yuan was ever called to consult on a very real case of “spiritual trouble”.
If Shen Yuan had a choice, he would have long been out of this business of spirits and such, but, that damned Airplane had saddled him with the business and disappeared to who-knew-where.
Well, Shen Yuan, thought, it was at least something to do.
He had simply been a “metaphysical consultant” at first, which, made the shoddy feng shui advice he was giving sound a lot more legit, before his involvement with the supernatural, though, he supposed, ghosts and hopping vampires and demons fell under the broad category of “metaphysics” as well.
Luckily for Shen Yuan, just as he was expanding his area of expertise, he met Luo Binghe. Luo Binghe had truly been a windfall for the business, especially with his abilities.
When before, Shen Yuan had to coast on pure bullshit, the guides on folk magic he had pirated off the net, and the fact that most of the supernatural events he had to deal with were fake, with Luo Binghe around, Shen Yuan could take on work with a lot more confidence.
That had been three years ago.
Ever since then, Luo Binghe had followed him like a second shadow. When Luo Binghe was younger, he would have trouble keeping pace with Shen Yuan, but, now, at sixteen, Luo Binghe walked confidently next to Shen Yuan. That habit of calling Shen Yuan “Shizun” never changed, however. Well, considering Luo Binghe was perfect in every other regard except this, Shen Yuan could deal with a harmless little eccentricity like this.
It was a good thing as well that Luo Binghe had stayed so enthusiastic about this field of work even after three years. Shen Yuan knew that kids could lose and gain new interests easily, but, surprisingly Luo Binghe kept working for him.
Sneaking a peak at Luo Binghe’s pleasant expression even today, Shen Yuan did again feel a bit guilty, especially if he was leading Luo Binghe to believe that this was a viable career path. Shen Yuan had always intended to have a serious chat with Luo Binghe, but, he always had a reason to put it off. He would definitely do it… one day, not today, thought, since Shen Yuan still needed Luo Binghe’s help.
Strangely enough, today’s job had come through an acquaintance of Shen Yuan’s parents. Now, Shen Yuan’s parents didn’t care for Shen Yuan’s choice of career, but, they didn’t want to see his business fail either.
And that was how Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe ended up at an old abandoned apartment building for the day.
Apparently, all attempts to demolish and renovate the building had been thwarted by what their client described as “malicious spirits”.
Since this person was an acquaintance of his parents, Shen Yuan had hoped the building wasn’t actually haunted. But, when faced with the actual thing, Shen Yuan could only think that if there was one building that was definitely haunted, it was this one.
The building was old, decrepit, and loomed, despite the pleasant weather and the still-abundant sunlight.
As they approached the building, Shen Yuan said, “Stick as closely to me as you can, Binghe.”
“Of course, Shizun!” Luo Binghe replied, very much pleased.
This kid could be really strange at times, Shen Yuan thought. Instead of dreading the work ahead like any moody teenager, why did it seem like Luo Binghe’s spirits were soaring even higher?
And, seeing Luo Binghe’s cheerful expression, Shen Yuan really wanted to pet Luo Binghe’s cute little head— wait, Luo Binghe was a teenager now! Shen Yuan quickly quashed that impulse. Giving head-pats to a teenage boy and in public as well, that was really unacceptable!
Instead, Shen Yuan settled for gripping Luo Binghe’s shoulder firmly, as was proper, before delivering some words of encouragement to (himself and) Luo Binghe.
And then, together, they entered the abandoned apartment building.
In Shen Yuan’s opinion, the building really deserved its wretched reputation, especially considering that there wasn’t an elevator and only flights upon flights of stairs.
If this building really was haunted, Shen Yuan complained to himself, the spirits should at least try to be more hospitable to would-be visitors and greet them on the ground floor!
Shen Yuan’s legs were aching and he was trying not to pant and wheeze too obviously in front of Luo Binghe, but, this experience was testing his limits!
They were already three stories up with no sign of the supernatural.
Although, from what they had seen so far, this place would definitely be a good setting for a horror movie.
The place was decades-old, with tightly packed housing units on each floor, barely any lighting, and was covered in dust and debris. Not every unit had been cleared out completely, leaving old traces of the people who used to live there. The decrepit and dirt-caked figures of deities that had been left on some altars were a nice touch. If their eyes suddenly started glowing or if their expressions seemed to change (or did they?!), they would have added to the atmosphere.
Fortunately for Shen Yuan, they did not.
In the hypothetical movie that could take place here, Shen Yuan could picture an attractive group of friends making that foolish, but plot-necessary decision to explore the place separately.
Thankfully for Shen Yuan, Luo Binghe was so intensely sticky, that even if Shen Yuan had a lapse in judgment and asked to split up, Luo Binghe would still stay by his side.
Speaking of Luo Binghe, since Luo Binghe had sensed nothing throughout the three floors they had explored together, they had no choice but to trudge forward.
As they approached the stairs leading to the fourth floor, Shen Yuan thought that there was probably no better floor to encounter a spirit and he hoped as much. He had absolutely no intention of climbing to the tenth floor!
Even if they did run into the final boss on the next level, there were few entities that matched Luo Binghe in strength.
So, with an inflated sense of confidence, Shen Yuan strode up the stairs, and was halfway to the next floor, when he realised that the second pair of footsteps that was supposed to come after his was conspicuously absent.
Maybe Luo Binghe had gotten tired, Shen Yuan reasoned. Maybe Luo Binghe was using his powers to float. If Shen Yuan had that privilege, he would definitely abuse it and never walk anywhere again.
Trying to remain calm, Shen Yuan turned around, slowly, despite knowing that, in these scenarios there was never anything good behind the person doing the turning.
As expected, there was absolutely nothing good behind him.
Luo Binghe was gone. As were the stairs that he had climbed before this.
A thick, oppressive darkness had swallowed up all the space behind him.
And the air around him was cooling sharply.
From experience, Shen Yuan knew that something was definitely on its way, and in a burst of adrenaline, Shen Yuan started to run up the stairs, taking two steps at a time, each previous step melting away into the encroaching darkness behind him.
With athletic ability he didn’t know he had, Shen Yuan leapt over the last three steps, and, somehow, managed to land safely on the fourth floor of the building.
Congratulating himself, Shen Yuan felt the atmosphere around him grow even colder.
The floor beneath him warped, and a ghostly, disembodied hand tried to grab his ankle.
It really was amazing what adrenaline could do, as he somehow managed to jump out of the hand’s grasp.
Maybe Luo Binghe’s exceptional abilities were rubbing off on him, Shen Yuan thought, as he dodged another hand gracefully.
However, Shen Yuan didn’t possess Luo Binghe’s fortune, as Shen Yuan soon found himself trying to outrun a sea of floating hands trying to drag him into the unknown.
The corridor he was running down seemed endless, and Shen Yuan knew he was in deep shit.
One of the hands took advantage of a moment of weakness, and, Shen Yuan soon found himself on his hands and knees, with the thing gripping tightly onto his ankle and pulling.
Shen Yuan tried to kick it off, but, the other spirits descended, gripping onto his legs.
“Fuck!” was the only thing Shen Yuan could say. Where did Luo Binghe go? And when he really needed Luo Binghe’s help too!
No, no, Shen Yuan reasoned with himself, he had managed to get through crises on his own before Luo Binghe arrived as well. Granted, they were never as bad as this, but, there was still something he could do.
Reaching inside the jacket of his suit, Shen Yuan pulled out a ziploc full of salt from the right pocket.
As he yanked the plastic bag open, he could only think that he needed to find a better way to store his salt, unless he wanted to get into trouble with the authorities again. He knew the optics of this needed work, but, he had just been putting this off, like so many other things in his life. If he survived this, he was definitely (maybe) going to make a to-do list!
Shen Yuan tossed the bag of salt into the mass of limbs that was trying to draw him in.
The moment the salt came into contact and dispersed into the group of ghostly hands, they shuddered and dispersed, granting Shen Yuan a moment of relief—
—before they reformed and multiplied, each limb twitching and twisting and completely agitated.
Shen Yuan’s mind was filled with swears as countless hands descended on him. He would have swore out loud, but one hand had pressed itself over his mouth.
Shen Yuan struggled as the hands multiplied and tried to hold him down. They had a good grip on his legs and were trying to rip off his coat, but this was no problem! Shen Yuan had to reassure himself.
He tried to reach for his other jacket pocket, where he had a bottle of blessed water from a temple. But before he could open it, the hands had him pinned. They pulled his jacket off and flung it away, and a pair wrapped themselves tight around his neck!
Soon, Shen Yuan was gasping for air.
But, the moment Shen Yuan thought he was about to die, he heard several blasts from somewhere above him. And, before long, he felt a purifying psychic force working its way downwards.
Ah, Shen Yuan thought, as he shook off some of the fading spirits clinging onto him, Luo Binghe must have been fighting the boss all this time.
Shen Yuan didn’t have to wait long for Luo Binghe to appear.
With a loud exclamation of “Shizun!”, Luo Binghe landed right in front of Shen Yuan, Luo Binghe’s aura alone disintegrating what few spirits remained.
Shen Yuan coughed and slowly stood up, dusting his clothes.
Luo Binghe, who had been hurrying to his side, suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.
Rubbing his sore throat, Shen Yuan croaked out, “What’s wrong, Binghe?”
Luo Binghe’s face was alternating between being pale and a deep red.
Shen Yuan looked down at himself. So, he was a little disheveled. His suit jacket was gone and some of his buttons were missing. There were probably hand-prints around his throat and, it seemed, on his arms and wrists…
Wait, so his chest was exposed and he looked a bit beaten up! Why was Luo Binghe acting like he had seen something he shouldn’t see! Whatever Shen Yuan had, Luo Binghe had too! So, why did Shen Yuan feel like Luo Binghe had caught a peek of a girl he liked in a compromising position?
Eventually, Luo Binghe said, in a quiet voice, “It’s nothing, Shizun.”
Turning away, Luo Binghe looked through his backpack and pulled out a jacket for Shen Yuan.
“Please wear this, Shizun,” said Luo Binghe, “Otherwise Shizun might catch a cold.”
Sighing, Shen Yuan took the jacket and covered himself with it. It belonged to Luo Binghe, and, Shen Yuan observed, Luo Binghe's shoulders were already slightly broader than Shen Yuan’s by now.
“Thank you Binghe,” Shen Yuan said, “You’ve done a good job again today. This teacher will treat you to a nice meal.”
Luo Binghe’s earlier awkwardness dissipated entirely, and, since they were alone together, Shen Yuan reached over and pet Luo Binghe on the head.