Chapter Text
The first thing Luo Binghe spotted after falling through the rift, was an enormous palace. It hold a strange resemblance with the one he built back in his world, in the Demon Realm. It seemed familiar, yet different. It was a few times larger and too luxurious for his taste.
Luo Binghe wanted to turn back home faster and see again his Shizun, but without Xin Mo it would take a little more effort than a simple swing of his hand. The other bastard that had his face was now doing who knows what in his world. For a second, his eyes flashed with killing intent. What if his other self attacked or harmed Shizun? No. He must stay optimistic. Shizun was strong and certainly won’t fall for any traps.
He tried to divert his attention from these dark thoughts that kept troubling him. It was more important to understand his situation and find a way back home. There was no time to lose. Luo Binghe decided to first explore the palace, searching for any useful clues.
It was awfully crowded for a home, servants and other girls moving back and forth, from a place to another. When they saw him, everybody bowed and greeted him with a ‘Lord Luo’ or ‘Husband’. A lot of different persons called him ‘husband’. Just how many wives did this guy have? Luo Binghe already counted 24 and they just kept appearing.
“Husband.” A voiced brought him back to reality. It took a few seconds to react because no one called him so intimately before besides his Shizun....who was now alone....and maybe in danger... Luo Binghe, stop! Focus!
“Yes?” He said turning around while raising an eyebrow. His acting skills weren’t so bad as Shizun always claimed....mostly that time when....
“My Husband, are you listening?” Sha Hualing’s voice broke his train of thought once again.
Seeing he finally was paying attention, his subordinate started explaining everything once more.
“In today’s meeting we discussed about the next step in the plan.”
“What plan?” Luo Binghe interrupted her, suddenly having a bad premonition.
“The one that will destroy Cang Qiong Mountain once and for all? Husband, are you feeling alright today?”
“This Lord is fine.” Why would the other want to destroy his Sect? It was true he also didn’t like that place too much now, but it was Shizun’s home.....wasn’t a massacre a little too much? Right! Shizun! This world must also have a Shen Qingqiu! Shizun will certainly be able to help him, advise him what to do.
“Hualing, where is my Shizun?”
The demoness seemed taken aback by the strange question.
“Shen Qingqiu? Wasn’t he locked?”
Locked? What locked? This was too much. If that was the way the other treated Shen Qingqiu, what about his Shizun, would he be alright back in his world?
“Where?”
After Sha Hualing explained the location, glaring suspiciously at him, Luo Binghe walked towards the indicated direction, full of anger.
Entering the cell, Luo Binghe saw a man bounded with heavy iron chains by the wall. Hearing the noise, Shen Qingqiu raised his head and threw a glare full of disgust towards the boy.
“Shi...zun?” Luo Binghe tried calling, forcing himself to remember that this was not his Shizun.
“What do you want now, beast?”
The boy was surprised by the term used. Beast? Yeah, the other certainly was a beast for doing this awful thing to his teacher....and yet-
“I’m not him.” Luo Binghe tried explaining, showing the most innocent face he could muster.
‘I’m not him’ he said. But didn’t he also do something similar to Shizun back in the Water Prison? Wasn’t he also a beast?
Shen Qingqiu was looking at him full of distrust.
“I’m really not him.” Luo Binghe repeated, trying to convince himself that yes, he was different from his other self, even if he had made mistakes.
“What games are you playing now?” Shen Qingqiu said while burning holes through his head.
“No games. I’m not...from this world. The other one....is in my world.”
“This is the most pathetic thing you could invent.”
Luo Binghe decided that further explanation won’t do any good for now. He stepped forward, raising his hand to destroy the chains. Shen Qingqiu didn’t even flinch, just continued to look hatefully at him, as if he was accustomed with abuse and torture. Which in fact was probably true, seeing all the scars on his teacher’s pale skin. He will kill the other Luo Binghe with his own hands as soon as he’ll see his face again if he dares to even lay a finger on his Shizun.
After the chains broke, Shen Qingqiu’s legs seemed to fail him, the man falling to his knees. When Luo Binghe tried to help the other to sit up again, he was pushed away, the prisoner even spitting on his hand. The boy sighed and let him to get up alone.
“He wants to destroy Cang Qiong Mountain.” Luo Binghe explained what he heard earlier. “We should go and talk with Yue Qingyuan.” Maybe the Sect Leader had any artifacts that could help him go back.
“There is no we, beast. I don’t know what strange games are you playing but I don’t need your help. You can just go and perish in hell. And also...never say his name again.” Shen Qingqiu started laughing at first, ending his last sentence through gritted teeth.
Luo Binghe sighed once more. This man was completely different from his Shizun, reminding him of the times before that strange fever, when he was also called ’little beast.’ Although both worlds seemed to be completely opposite, they hold a very terrifying resemblance.