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Chapter Text

For the first time in his life, the boy that would grow up to be Mobei-Jun has met a person who seems to be genuinely trying his best to help him.

It's a human - an outer disciple of one of the lower peaks of Cang Qiong Mountain sect. A coward, even for a human, defecting from his sect and abandoning his brothers the moment his life is threatened.

Yet twice now the human failed to take the chance to run for his life, instead seemingly trying his meager best to help him heal his body. As the future lord of the north he has met a countless number of cowardly weaklings, but never one so dedicated.

(He'd never admit this, not even to himself- but his heart had almost stopped when he realized he had been lying asleep in an unfamiliar room, with a human cultivator holding him down. A weak one, only a disciple, but for a moment…)

It must be because he's so weak, the boy decides. Because he's weak, cowardly and has no guiding principles in his life, he is shamelessly taking his best chance to attach himself to a powerful protector.

Nevertheless, he must admit that he is indebted to this disciple.

Once he lets him go, the outer disciple immediately leaves him to get back to his sect. What did he even expect?

The outer disciple has the nerve to look shocked when he finds the boy waiting in his room.

The boy had been giving this some thought while waiting. After teasing him for some moment, he hits the disciple just hard enough for him to fall to the ground - both as a threat, and a show of strength.

As long as this human is afraid of him, as long as he is impressed by his power - he would find it beneficial to stay by his side.

Chapter Text

Shang Qinghua has been ousted from his sect. Mobei-Jun can only view this as a good thing: he is now certain that once he truly becomes Mobei-Jun, Shang Qinghua will follow him to the north.

At the moment they’re staying in Luo Binghe’s underground palace. Mobei-Jun tries to make Shang Qinghua's stay comfortable - he gives him a room near the surface, with a lot of space to put his scrolls. He orders for fresh meat to be brought to his room, along with jars of those seeds he likes so much. Shang Qinghua seems happy enough.

Then one day he awakes to the sound of Shang Qinghua's voice begging for his sect to forgive him, to take him back. He follows the voice and is faced with the sight of Shang Qinghua crying at the feet of the War God.

Act pathetic, he remembers. His mood darkens. The War God is a formidable foe - despite being human his strength is considerable, and he is thought to be one of the most handsome men in the human realm. Mobei-Jun knows even Luo Binghe feels threatened by him. He grits his teeth and sets out for battle.

Afterwards Shang Qinghua rushes to his side, face full of dried tears. Mobei-Jun glares down at him without a word until Shang Qinghua cowers and starts arguing that he had no choice, absolutely no choice at all, if he wanted to keep his life so that he may still remain useful to his king.

Mobei-Jun nods, and pats his back a few times. Shang Qinghua winces and complains about his strong hands.

Mobei-Jun walks away from the debris. He can hear Shang Qinghua following him in hurried footsteps, still whining about his sect. His heart is light - the threat has been demolished.

Chapter Text

"If you dare to leave, don’t ever let me see you again!”

All Shang Qinghua does is smile at him and say incomprehensible things, before walking out.

Mobei-Jun looks in despair as his tiny form grows smaller and smaller, until it disappears from his view.

Later, he learns that all his words accomplished was making Shang Qinghua wary of looking at him in the eyes even as they are talking to each other.

You'll lose your hands, he threatens again, because he can't think of anything else to say. Shang Qinghua starts trembling.

Even a dog would learn not to bother anymore, he recalls, and winces internally.

When he was a boy, he thought threats of violence and shows of strength would keep Shang Qinghua by his side. Perhaps it did at first.

But now, all it does is distance them from each other.

Mobei-Jun feels some regret over this.

But what happened has already happened. Now he is left with the consequences.

So what can he do now?

Shang Qinghua had said that he'd "pay him back" for the years of violence - should he simply allow him another chance at doing so?

If Shang Qinghua still resents him so strongly, surely he’d jump at this second chance for revenge.

The thought pains him, but he makes the offer anyway.

Chapter Text

As always, Shang Qinghua is quick to adapt - it takes him no time at all to adjust to their new reality. Referring to him as "you", demanding him to perform manual labor. It's like all those years of guarded fear has melted away in an instant.

Or so Mobei-Jun thinks, until he actually tries to feed Shang Qinghua that bowl of handmade noodles he demanded.

Since Mobei-Jun sat him down on that handcart, Shang Qinghua had been acting like a returning war general after a great victory, ordering Mobei-Jun around in a haughty voice as he pulled the cart down to a nearby human village. Mobei-Jun would have rolled his eyes if he were the type to do so. At the same time, he couldn’t help but be relieved.

But when Mobei-Jun walks out of the kitchen of their temporary lodging holding a bowl of noodles, he is met with a quiet, subdued Shang Qinghua.

He puts down the dish. Shang Qinghua blinks down at the bowl before taking his chopsticks.

He slowly picks up a thick piece of boiled flour that is several noodle threads stuck together.

They both stare at it.

A moment ago, Mobei-Jun had been feeling rather proud: hand-pulling long threads of flour amidst hot steam before stewing them in boiling water is not an easy feat for his kind.

Even if Shang Qinghua’s words had been impulsive - or if, like so many times before, he hadn’t meant it - Mobei-Jun was going to honor his words to the best of his abilities. It’d convey to Shang Qinghua a lot of things that he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud.

I'll listen to you better from now on, both the words you say out loud, and the words you swallow inside. I'll listen to the words you take back, the words you throw away.

As you said, I'm more powerful than ever before, and this is what I am using it for. Do you see?

This is what you can get from me - as long as you stay by my side…

Now, as he takes in Shang Qinghua's disturbingly blank face, Mobei-Jun is suddenly reminded that only hours ago Shang Qinghua had shared a table with Luo Binghe's consort. Feasting on the meal that came from Luo Binghe's own hands, as Luo Binghe had said in a cold voice after summoning him to his home. He's starting to suspect they must have eaten noodles.

Shang Qinghua has been the cause of many strong emotions in Mobei-Jun’s otherwise cool head - this time, it’s nervousness.

Mobei-Jun prepares himself for the worst.

Thankfully Shang Qinghua doesn’t outright laugh at him. Instead, his face is still devoid of emotion as he cautiously takes a bite out of the many noodles. Mobei-Jun sits down on the other side and watches.

Shang Qinghua chews mechanically. His mouth starts to wobble, like he's trying to hold something back.

Shang Qinghua's face scrunches as a teardrop falls down the corner of his eye.

In that moment, Mobei-Jun's entire world narrows down to that teardrop.

What is this reaction? Why is he suddenly breaking down? Where did he go wrong, does he still fear him that much -

"Sorry," says Shang Qinghua in a rough voice. He sniffles and wipes his cheek. "Sorry, it's just, god, fuck, I've never - " he winces, startled at his own words. "Sorry!"

Is this Shang Qinghua with his guard down, thinks Mobei-Jun, his heart beating fast. Is this the one who’s hiding behind the mask of a simpering servant, who had shouted all of his grievances at Mobei-Jun and pulled his cheek.

He should acknowledge him, say something back in return.

"It's not good," he offers. Shang Qinghua can tell him what he thinks, he can complain if he wants, Mobei-Jun can take it. Because he’s not spoiled. (he thinks, clenching his fists beneath the table.)

But Shang Qinghua looks panicked.

"No, no! No my king, It's really good! I was just - overwhelmed! It's delicious!"

He then goes on to praise his skills, his newfound strength, everything Mobei-Jun had hoped for him to notice.

“My king It’s just that I’m so honored, I could never have dreamed that one day I'd be having a king personally prepare a meal for me!” he says dramatically, before loudly blowing his nose. “My king is truly gracious!”

Mobei-Jun experiences a mixture of emotions.

In truth he’s relieved that Shang Qinghua did not take the chance to criticize him. Shang Qinghua said the exact right words Mobei-Jun wanted to hear, he was still willing to go to such lengths to please him.

Yet he also feels dull disappointment as Shang Qinghua so easily switches back into being a groveling servant, showering him with shallow praises.

Things will change, he tells himself. Shang Qinghua will adapt.

Chapter Text

Shang Qinghua can’t move far with his damaged leg. Mobei-Jun carried him to the dinner table - afterwards, he takes him to the latrine, to the washroom, to the bed.

Shang Qinghua seems to take great delight in having Mobei-Jun assist him through his day, especially when Mobei-Jun agrees to do the laundry.

Mobei-Jun does everything he’s asked to do without a word of argument. This is certainly a much better outcome than the one he’d feared.

If he’s honest, he rather enjoys having Shang Qinghua cling on to him as he moves him from room to room.

It’s not lost on Mobei-Jun that their current situation is reminiscent of their first meeting, in reverse.

Back then, as he watched Shang Qinghua running from one place to another to follow his orders, he had been certain that Shang Qinghua must have great need for him, the future Mobei-Jun, to be helping him in this way.

Now -

Mobei-Jun has only a vague idea of how to do the laundry. He fills a tub with water, throws in the clothes, and steps on them with his bare feet.

He feels Shang Qinghua’s gaze on him and wonders what he’s thinking.

It’s frustrating, he thinks, that Shang Qinghua can say so many words while revealing so little about his actual thoughts.

That night, Mobei-Jun lies next to Shang Qinghua’s sleeping form. The room came with two beds, so he moved one next to the other. Shang Qinghua had tensed when he moved the bed, but after they each lay on their bed he relaxed and soon fell asleep, breathing evenly.

The damaged leg is carefully positioned above folded sheets, as the doctor recommended.

Shang Qinghua wakes up once and asks for water, because obviously he can’t go get it, he says. My king, please, I can’t even move one step! he says, unnecessarily gesturing down at the leg as if Mobei-Jun might have forgotten.

He gratefully gulps down the cup of water Mobei-Jun brings him.

"Thanks, you're the best..." he mumbles incoherently before falling asleep again, content.

Mobei-Jun stays awake and looks at the sleeping form.

Shang Qinghua looks deceptively innocent when he sleeps. His face looks like a fool, with his mouth slightly open. His relaxed, open hands make him look defenseless.

The damaged leg is the only part of him that looks what it is - thinned by malnourishment, wrapped in an excessive amount of bandage, it looks exactly as fragile as it currently is.

Shang Qinghua's cultivation may be low compared to other Peak Lords, but he is still a cultivator. In time, the leg will heal with no lasting damage.

But what if it doesn't, he thinks suddenly.

What if it stays this way.

What if Shang Qinghua always asks Mobei-Jun to move him from room to room. What if he has to keep calling for Mobei-Jun, to raise his arm expectantly to be lifted, or to whine pitifully at him to bring food and drinks.

What if Shang Qinghua needs him to be around, every day.

What if whenever Mobei-Jun returns, Shang Qinghua will be there where he left him, grateful to see him.

What if he can make sure that Shang Qinghua never leaves him, ever again.

What if Shang Qinghua can’t -

Shang Qinghua shifts in his sleep, murmuring something. The damaged leg brushes against the sheets. He makes a pained noise, his face wrinkling.

At once, Mobei-Jun's inane thoughts come to a halt.

The sound is unpleasantly familiar. Shang Qinghua’s voice rings in his head once again.

The ribs I’ve broken could build another Maigu ridge.

Even a dog would learn not to bother anymore!

Mobei-Jun reaches towards the edge of the sheets and flips it away from the leg.

Taking care to not touch, he surrounds the bandaged area with ice. Even for humans, coldness is supposed to help with injury - it numbs the pain, Shang Qinghua had said.

In his sleep, Shang Qinghua sighes.

Just five days later, the leg is fixed enough that Shang Qinghua is able to move around a little, albeit mostly by jumping on the other foot.

He still demands Mobei-Jun pick him up every time he wants to go to a different place, loudly whining until he is picked up, holding on tight with both hands until he is let down. Mobei-Jun complies without a word.

After a few more days the leg is so completely healed that neither of them have any excuse to keep the routine going. Mobei-Jun's heart is surprisingly light when he lets it go - perhaps because Shang Qinghua also seems to be a little bit regretful that it's ending so soon.

Chapter Text

The last time he saw Luo Binghe and his consort together was when he was summoned and coldly ordered to “take care of Shang-shishu”.

Mobei-Jun is shocked to discover that since then, they have gotten married in private.

“I know, right? Who’d have guessed?” says Shang Qinghua, delighted to have surprised him. He has been using more and more of his ‘hometown expressions’ these days.

They’re in Shang Qinghua’s house at his peak. Once, Mobei-Jun would be lazily laid down on Shang Qinghua’s bed, and Shang Qinghua would be reading him his report, trying to stay out of his reach, occasionally glancing at the bed reproachfully.

Now they’re both sitting down in the room facing the inner garden, sharing a drink. The one thing that didn’t change is Shang Qinghua’s excitement to share gossip.

“This is Luo Binghe we’re talking about, you’d think he’d have done it the moment he snatched him, right? It’s not like it’s difficult to get married here. I suppose Shen Qingqiu was standing his ground, until now.”

Mobei-Jun is, in fact, surprised for a different reason.

Not too long ago, on one of the rare occasions Luo Binghe was in his palace after he had successfully managed to, as Shang Qinghua put it, ‘snatch’ the Qing Jing Peak Lord - an ambitious group of demons had come forward to his majesty with a grand plan for a royal wedding.

Even Mobei-Jun was taken aback at the depth of Luo Binghe’s cold rage.

Afterwards, he’d made everyone in the room swear an oath to never tell anyone about what happened, nor ever hint at anything about a royal marriage to Shen Qingqiu himself or anyone else (he had said, meeting Mobei-Jun’s eyes).

Mobei-Jun considers the scope of this oath.

“He didn’t seem that eager about it,” he says vaguely.

Shang Qinghua looks surprised. “What, really? No way, I would have thought… I guess everything really is different now.”

He takes another sip from his cup and mutters, “Guess he took after dad, this time... I wonder what made him change his mind...”

Mobei-Jun doesn’t know Tianlang-Jun well enough to comment one way or the other, so he doesn't say anything. Shang Qinghua doesn't seem to need his input, anyway. He seems like he's mulling over something.

A few sips later, Shang Qinghua glances at him sideways and asks, "My king, what about you? What do you think about marriage?"

Truthfully, Mobei-Jun hasn’t given it much thought. He has little interest in interpersonal relationships.

When he did think about it, it felt unpleasant - sharing his life with a stranger, having a well-known weakness in his life. He has no urge to take part in a drama as his father and uncle did, either.

He has vague plans to secure an heir by other means. He's still young, it's not an urgent priority in his life.

But the fact that it's Shang Qinghua asking the question makes him see the issue from an entirely different angle.

For the first time, Mobei-Jun thinks: I could.

With Shang Qinghua, he could.

They’re no longer a king and his human spy - that hasn't been Shang Qinghua's role for a while now. He's serving some other role that he can't put into words, something more personal.

So - why not name it... 'Bride'?

Shang Qinghua already is his well-known ‘weakness’. When he defected and began living in the demon realm, he had been so nervous about other demons that Mobei-Jun took the time to personally explain a few things to the staff. By now, he suspects everyone in the realm has heard about the northern lord's pet human cultivator - so, no changes there.

Shang Qinghua, as always, had soon adapted to his new circumstances and began to brave taking walks by himself, 'seeing the sights' - before he moved back to his peak, he had progressed to interfering with some of the staff, trying in vain to talk them into a different work structure.

He imagines Shang Qinghua would enjoy the opportunity to lord over the demons that once terrorized him.

A permanent position as the second highest person in his land - isn’t that a gracious offer?

Cang Qiong Mountain, too, will find it hard to deny the union when one of their most prominent Peak Lords already set a precedent.

If they are to be tied by marriage -

Humans take bonds of matrimony very seriously, don’t they? It is not in their custom to steal brides. As far as he knows, most humans, once they are married, stay with their spouse - until the end of their lives.

So, Mobei-Jun asks back at Shang Qinghua: "What about you?"

Shang Qinghua doesn't give an immediate answer. They're both in a thoughtful mood today.

Eventually Shang Qinghua says, "I really don't think it's for me."

"...that is my feeling as well," says Mobei-Jun, suddenly understanding Luo Binghe a lot better than he ever wanted to.

He takes a long sip and lets the idea go.

“Huh,” says Shang Qinghua. “Figures… I’m glad at least one of us found someone worth the risk.”

He thoughtfully chews on a seed, looking up at the night sky. Mobei-Jun looks at him, amused by the thought of Shang Qinghua considering himself to be on the same boat as him and Luo Binghe.

After a while, Shang Qinghua hesitantly says, "Can I ask you something?"

"You're already asking," says Mobei-Jun. “Go ahead.”

"Do you think we're friends?"

What is this, thinks Mobei-Jun. If anyone else had heard him they’d have been shocked at the insolence.

But he doesn’t want to break this peculiar mood they’re having, so first he gives it some thought.

Friends.

He had never thought to apply the concept to himself. Even from childhood, he thought himself to be above such things.

He must have been silent for too long: Shang Qinghua chickens out. "...my king, please forget what I said! Wow, this bottle is stronger than I thought -"

"Be quiet, let me think," says Mobei-Jun, annoyed.

After a beat, he concludes, "Yes, I do, I consider you to be my... friend."

"We are, right?" says Shang Qinghua. He starts grinning stupidly.

Chapter Text

Luo Binghe's consort is pregnant. When Shang Qinghua heard, he excused himself, went into a room, then laughed so hard that he might as well have not bothered closing the door.

Luo Binghe is besides himself with equal parts delight and fright. According to him, Shen Qingqiu is extremely frail - another notion that makes Shang Qinghua laugh to himself, but from Mobei-Jun’s old memory of trading blows with the man, it doesn’t seem unreasonable - and apparently suffered from a near-fatal sickness for years before Luo Binghe cured him. As of now he is strictly homebound for the next ten months. So is Luo Binghe, for that matter.

Sha Hualing is the first to visit the two for a report. Afterwards she rants in disgust about how Junshang was messaging his consort’s feet while she was reporting.

Mobei-Jun is next.

Shang Qinghua is hard at work on his peak when Mobei-Jun visits him on the way. He laughs when he hears the story, saying something about dog food, and asks him to take a letter and a few other items to the Qing Jing Peak Lord.

“That’s going to be Shen-shixiong’s life for the next ten months, my king, isn’t that amazing?” he says, writing in that incomprehensible language he uses with Shen Qingqiu.
“That and the rest of his life, I guess… I bet his kids are filial… probably take turns to give him massages…”

He sighs.

“What a life that would be…”

These words ring inside Mobei-Jun’s head, during the brief time it takes for him to move from An Ding Peak to Luo Binghe’s home.

He had never thought much about having children. It was just something he’ll have to do, one day, like his father did before him. He had neither positive nor negative feelings about it.

Like most things in his life, once he applies Shang Qinghua to the scenario, he finds himself suddenly having intense feelings about it.

A child. If he wants a child…

Shang Qinghua hadn’t liked the idea of marriage, and he had moved back to An Ding Peak the moment he could. Mobei-Jun is willing to negotiate on that. He has a lot he can offer, if Shang Qinghua wants a child.

He would, of course, demand more than foot massages. Mobei-Jun has no doubt that the moment he has a good excuse, Shang Qinghua would demand to be indulged and pampered - rightly so, if he is bearing the king’s heir.

Which the child would be - he’ll make sure of it. Luo Binghe will be on his side, since he himself is half human.

Mobei-Jun had never felt an urge to form a family. In truth, ever since childhood he had found what little family he had to be extremely tiring, if not abhorrent.

But, if Shang Qinghua wants it…

Humans consider blood to be the strongest adhesive. ‘Thicker than water’, they say.

A permanent, unbreakable bond.

Shen Qingqiu, when he receives the letter, glances at the cover before standing gracefully, excusing himself, and taking the letter to a different room.

He comes out a moment later without having made a single sound. Mobei-Jun makes a mental note to tease Shang Qinghua.

“...Regrettably I have no time to write back. Please tell Shang-shidi that his words of encouragement are very much appreciated,” says Shen Qingqiu just before Luo Binghe enters the room with a table full of food. For the rest of the meeting Mobei-Jun is subjected to the sight of his Junshang lovingly spoonfeeding congee to his consort.

Naturally Mobei-Jun stops by An Ding Peak again on his way home.

Shang Qinghua is still working. When Mobei-Jun tells him of Shen Qingqiu actually managing to be discreet, he reproachfully says, "Maybe it's your walls that's too thin!"
When he hears Shen Qingqiu's message, he laughs.

Mobei-Jun, as nonchalantly as he can manage, asks, “What did you write on the letter?”

Unlike Shen Qingqiu, these days Shang Qinghua has no qualms about sharing lines from his transmissions with Shen Qingqiu. Sometimes he seems like he was waiting to be asked.

This seems to be one of these times: Shang Qinghua says in a light voice, “Oh, I just sent my condolences for the fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

He glances at Mobei-Jun and almost falls off his chair at the look on his face.

“My king! It’s okay! I told you, that’s just how we talk! Besides, all the gifts I sent are really good -”

“Luo Binghe would understand that, would he?,” says Mobei-Jun, feeling petulant.

Shang Qinghua pales. “Was Shen Qingqiu that angry?”

“Hm,” Mobei-Jun says neutrally. “You think Shen Qingqiu would be unhappy?”

Shang Qinghua flails. “No, no, no! That’s not what I meant! I just think it’s a lot of responsibility, being a dad, you know? It’s hard to do a good job, it’s a lot of weight - probably more so if you’re also the mom, ha... ”

“You don’t wish to have children yourself, I take it,” says Mobei-Jun.

“...Well, no, my king,” says Shang Qinghua. “I think I’ve had enough of being a dad to know it’s not my job - you know, figuratively.”

Just like that, Mobei-Jun again loses all interest in the subject of children. It feels meaningless if it’s not with Shang Qinghua.

But now that he’s given this some thought, he can’t stand the thought of having someone else bear his child. It feels like a betrayal to Shang Qinghua.

Shang Qinghua looks surprisingly dismayed when Mobei-Jun tells him, almost panicked.

“Is this my fault? I mean, because of what I said?” he says, his brown eyes looking up at him in distress. “My king! You’re not like me! You - you’d be a good father for any child, please forgive my insolence for saying this but you’d be a much better father then your own! No one knows that better than I do! You’re loyal, you’re dependable, you take good care of your people…”

“So do you,” Mobei-Jun shoots back, conveniently ignoring the previous two points. An Ding disciples these days seem much better organized then when he as a young boy had taken down a cartful of them in seconds, so Shang Qinghua has to be a better caretaker than his predecessor.

It occurs to him Shang Qinghua must have been also talking about his peak, so he adds, “Figuratively, you’re a good father.”

“What? I - but you don’t - “ Shang Qinghua flails, before abruptly changing the subject.

Mobei-Jun thinks that’d be it, unless Shang Qinghua changes his mind. But later in the same day, Shang Qinghua runs up to him, signalling he wants to talk in private.

“My king! I just want to say, that - that I support your decision!” Shang Qinghua says with a serious expression. “I think history will judge you unfairly, so we should -”

“What are you talking about?” interrupts Mobei-Jun.

“About what you said earlier? You said you didn’t want to have an heir,” says Shang Qinghua. “I, I think it’d be a great loss if one day there is no longer a Mobei-Jun ruling this land, but if that’s your decision then I’ll support it! You could have another title, ‘The Last of the Mobei-Juns’ -”

“Shang Qinghua,” Mobei-Jun interrupts again. “There are others in the line.”

He has other relatives, deep in the north. None of them are direct descendants, of course, but they're close enough that if the current Mobei-Jun finds them acceptable, the power could be passed on.

“...Right!” says Shang Qinghua. “Right, I, er, that’s true.”

Amazingly, he starts flushing. Mobei-Jun looks down with interest. It’s usually near impossible to make Shang Qinghua blush with embarrassment.

“‘The Last of the Mobei-Juns’.”

“My king! Be kind! Everyone makes mistakes!” says Shang Qinghua, still blushing.
“Besides - besides, it’s because when I think, ‘Mobei-Jun’, you’re the only one that comes to mind, because of how much I admire my king -”

“You admire me so much you thought I’d be judged by history,” says Mobei-Jun.

“Unfairly judged!”

Later, Shang Qinghua asks him, “My king, is it because of what I said? Do you think you won’t be a good father? I mean - it’s fine if you don’t want to be! But, look at everything you’ve done since the inheritance, haven’t you more than proven yourself? If that’s the only reason -”

“Haven’t you?” Mobei-Jun asks back.

“Well, no.”

“My answer is the same.”

“But I’m trying,” adds Shang Qinghua. “Anyway, my king, I’ll always support you whatever you choose to do.”

Chapter Text

Mobei-Jun slowly wakes up from a deep sleep.

“You can’t do this to me now,” he hears someone say. It sounds like Shang Qinghua.

Why is he angry at me, wonders Mobei-Jun, slightly annoyed. What did I do?

He can’t focus. He feels faint. What happened?

He feels spiritual energy being poured into his body. It should clash with his own energy, but somehow it just keeps pouring in without resistance.

Shang Qinghua says, “Do you even want me to keep that stupid oath?”

Mobei-Jun suddenly feels wide awake.

He tries to look at Shang Qinghua, speak to him, but finds that he can’t. He can’t even open his eyes.

“You have to do your part, my king. You can't just go somewhere I can't follow, you can’t just leave me alone in this world, you’re the only reason I’m even here, do you even know what I gave up?”

He’s crying, Mobei-Jun realizes.

Shang Qinghua usually cries for show. It’s unsettling to hear him speak evenly while crying.

"If you die on me now I'm going to kill you," Shang Qinghua says. It strikes Mobei-Jun as the type of statement that he himself might have made, years ago. He wants to laugh but finds that he can't.

I’m here. I'm fine. Whatever you're doing is working.

Then he falls into darkness again.

Mobei-Jun opens his eyes.

He feels lost, for a moment. He's lying in bed in an unfamiliar room.

Next to him, Shang Qinghua lies asleep, his mouth half open. He looks like he was attending to Mobei-Jun until he collapsed.

Mobei-Jun looks at the sleeping form and thinks about another morning he woke up in a strange room, many, many years ago.

After a while, Shang Qinghua shifts, before opening his eyes with a gasp, suddenly awake.

"My king! How do you feel?"

Just like those early days, Shang Qinghua looks afraid - afraid for him, this time.

"Fine," says Mobei-Jun.

“Do you feel hot? Can you feel your whole body? Can you move your toes?”

No, yes, and yes.

“Oh thank god,” says Shang Qinghua. He looks like he’s about to collapse again.

Mobei-Jun moves closer to the wall. Shang Qinghua doesn’t take the hint, so he taps the empty space. Shang Qinghua finally gets it and crawls back onto the bed.

Almost immediately, he falls asleep. Mobei-Jun watches him until he, too, falls back asleep.

“I can’t believe we almost got wiped out by undead swamp ghosts,” complains Shang Qinghua.

They are sitting side by side drinking tea, having just finished the complimentary breakfast from the inn. Everything was cold by the time they woke up the second time, which suited Mobei-Jun just fine.

Shang Qinghua continues, "They're supposed to be early encounters… someone's supposed to have taken care of them a long time ago! What is Bai Zhan doing? You'd think with all that travel costs, they'd have cleaned up half the realm by now..."

Mobei-Jun isn't surprised that a creature that almost exclusively consumes demonic energy wasn't Cang Qiong Mountain's priority. Shang Qinghua just likes complaining about Bai Zhan’s expenses.

“Undead ghosts… my king, we can never let Shen Qingqiu know about this,” mutters Shang Qinghua. His face darkens. “No.. no, he’s going to be unbearable… My king, let’s take this to our graves, all right? Tell me you won’t tell anyone.”

“I promise,” says Mobei-Jun.

“Thanks,” says Shang Qinghua. He sighs.

“Shang Qinghua,” calls Mobei-Jun.

“Yes?” says Shang Qinghua, looking up at him with tired eyes.

Mobei-Jun looks into his eyes for a moment, then leans down and kisses him.

“...” says Shang Qinghua. He looks stunned, opening and closing his mouth like a dying fish.

Mobei-Jun is treated to the rare sight of Shang Qinghua completely lost for words.

It doesn’t last long.

“BL?!” says Shang Qinghua.

After what feels like eternity, he says, “Those were flags??”

“They were undead swamp ghosts,” Mobei-Jun says. The elation that was filling his heart is slowly being replaced by queasiness. Shang Qinghua hasn't said anything he could understand.

Just when he’s about to lose patience, Shang Qinghua, who had been staring blankly at empty space in shock, snaps his head towards Mobei-Jun.

“My king! You like me?”

“...What do you think,” bites out Mobei-Jun.

“What the fuck,” says Shang Qinghua, looking delighted. “That’s so cute! You were tsundere the whole time?!”

Unfortunately Shang Qinghua looking delighted tells him nothing. Mobei-Jun can’t stand it anymore and outright asks him.

“What is your answer?”

Shang Qinghua looks panicked at the direct question. Mobei-Jun’s heart sinks.

But then Shang Qinghua meets his eyes and says without a hint of a smile, “My king… I’ll accept your feelings!”

Mobei-Jun figures this is the best he can hope for at the moment - but it's fine, he already got the answer he needed the most, earlier.

The next day, Shang Qinghua says he’ll bring back actual medicine from Qian Cao Peak- or, failing that, the best alternatives he can scrap from An Ding Peak's storage.

"Look, I'm going to return as quickly as I can, but I could be gone for a while. You have to keep laying low, okay? You're not fully back yet," says Shang Qinghua, looking nervous. "Please, please stay here, my king, I'm going to be back soon."

Mobei-Jun nods.

Before leaving, Shang Qinghua turns to face him, looking determined. He takes a deep breath, holds Mobei-Jun's face and pulls it down, and kisses him.

Some time later, Shang Qinghua, blushing, repeats everything he said earlier, before departing for real.

Mobei-Jun looks at Shang Qinghua's tiny form growing smaller and smaller, until it disappears.

Then he goes into the kitchen to look for a pan, because Shang Qinghua would need something to eat, when he comes back.