Work Text:
“Bleghhh…”
“Ew, nasty, bro. Don’t throw up first thing in the morning,” Shang Qinghua mumbled, the sounds of Shen Qingqiu purging his stomach rousing him from his sleep.
“It’s not like I can help it. I feel terrible… Ugh… Blehh…”
“Gross, what would my son say if he saw you like this?”
"You know he would be offering to hold back my hair," Shen Qingqiu retorted.
“Shen Qingqiu, I have something I want to tell you,” Liu Qingge cut in.
Shen Qingqiu hadn’t noticed when he came in. “Shidi, what is it?”
“Put some clothes on,” Liu Qingge ordered, his eyes boring holes into the ground at his feet.
“Huh?” Shen Qingqiu looked down at himself. “What?! Why am I only in my pants? Where are my robes?”
“Wait, you have something written on your back.” Shang Qinghua craned his neck to see from where he was lying prone on the daybed.
“Ah- Ahhh- I have no strength in my body. I can’t remember anything. What happened last night? Hey, Shang Qinghua, what does it say on my back? Read it for me.”
“Let’s see… Overcome Chihoko?”
“Chihoko? Who’s that?” Shen Qingqiu asked.
“Don’t look at me, bro. You know better than I do that I never wrote a character with that name.”
Liu Qingge looked between them in confusion, but for some reason he was unable to look Shen Qingqiu in the eye.
“Hmm… Who would write something so cryptic on my back? Don’t tell me it’s some kind of curse?” Shen Qingqiu jumped up in alarm.
At that moment, Ming Fan and Ning Yingying burst through the door.
“Shizun! Shizun! You have to hear this! This morning, Shixiong and I were going up to visit your bamboo house to drop off some reports, but then we passed by the Rainbow Bridge and saw Mobei Jun and Sha Hualing heading toward Qing Jing Peak! Why would they come to our peak? Did something happen to A-Luo?”
“Ning Yingying, Ming Fan, Shizun is happy to see you both so energetic this early in the morning, but you know you need to knock before you enter your shifu’s residence,” Shen Qingqiu chided, thanking the system that they hadn’t come two minutes earlier and seen him half naked.
They were currently in Shang Qinghua’s home, where Shen Qingqiu had apparently passed out after a night of drinking with the other Peak Lords.
“We’re sorry, Shizun, but we had to make sure you were informed! I know our relationship with the demons has improved, but they still don’t show up here without notice, so we thought that maybe there was some kind of trouble,” Ming Fan explained.
“Where’s that disciple of yours?” Liu Qingge asked.
“Huh? Binghe?” It was odd that Binghe wasn’t by his side when he woke up or that there wasn’t the smell of congee in the house.
“We didn’t see him with Mobei Jun and Sha Hualing. Right, Shixiong?” Ning Yingying said.
“That’s right, Shizun. They were alone,” Ming Fan agreed.
“Shen Qingqiu, you’re planning on leaving the sect with that disciple and joining the demons, aren’t you?” Liu Qingge accused. “Don’t lie because there’s proof. What’s that on your head?”
“What? My head?” Shen Qingqiu reached up, feeling around to see if there was anything. “Huh? This? This isn’t my hair crown?”
“Not that, bro. Your forehead. You’ve got the mark of a heavenly demon.”
“What are you talking about? Let me see,” Shen Qingqiu reached for the hand mirror that was conveniently lying on the floor beside him. “Wait, this is painted on! Why do I have Binghe’s demon mark on me? And why does it look so bad?”
“That’s what I want to know. You better have a good explanation for this,” Liu Qingge said.
“There’s no convincing explanation for having Bingge’s demon mark painted on your forehead. If there was… Is it some kind of kink?” Shang Qinghua wiggled his eyebrows at him.
“You shut up! What are you saying? Don’t wiggle your eyebrows at me!” Shen Qingqiu denied.
“Give us an answer, Shen Qingqiu,” Liu Qingge demanded.
“Umm… So last night…” Shen Qingqiu searched through his memories, trying to recall what happened, “I came over to discuss… Qing Jing Peak’s budget… And then Zhangmen Shixiong wanted to talk with Shang Shidi about the conference report so he came over… And then Qi Shimei came to complain about some request not being approved, and later Mu Shidi came to ask for more funds for his research… For some reason or other, all the Peak Lords gathered here - well not you, obviously, since you still hadn’t returned from your nighthunt - and then Shang Qinghua- Shang Qinghua! It’s your fault! You’re the one who brought out the wine to distract everyone!” Shen Qingqiu shouted.
- 12 Hours Earlier -
Shen Qingqiu and Shang Qinghua were lounging around the low table, snacking on melon seeds as Shen Qingqiu complained about yet another wife plot he had fallen into, when there was a knock at the door.
“Shang Shidi, may I come in?” came Yue Qingyuan’s voice.
“Shit! What’s he doing here? Did he find out that I lost the report from the conference?” Shang Qinghua whispered loudly, he and Shen Qingqiu quickly fixing their posture to that befitting a Peak Lord.
“It’s a wonder anything gets done around here when you suck at your job. I hope your disciples are more responsible than you.”
“Come in,” Shang Qinghua called out louder after they were sitting properly.
“Xiao Jiu, I didn’t realize you were here,” Yue Qingyuan’s expression relaxed into a soft smile.
“Good evening, Shixiong,” Shen Qingqiu greeted, casually fanning himself.
“Um, what can I help you with, Sect Leader Yue?” Shang Qinghua asked.
“I came to discuss that report we received from the last conference, but I can come back tomorrow since it seems you’re busy.”
“Oh no, don’t mind me,” Shen Qingqiu’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons over his fan, “Please stay. If I remember correctly, this conference is of the utmost importance.”
Shen Qingqiu threw a sly look at Shang Qinghua. It was because of him that he’d gotten coated in the pollen of yet another wife plot flower when he tripped and fell into a bed of Intertwined Lovers Under Golden Stars. He and Binghe hadn’t been able to leave the clearing for a full three days because they had to clear the especially potent “poison" from Shen Qingqiu's system. And after it was finally over, he had to suffer even further humiliation by having to be carried home since his legs and back couldn’t support him after all they had done. He deserved to get at least a little revenge.
“Well then, if Xiao Jiu doesn’t mind me intruding…” Yue Qingyuan came over and sat beside him. “Shang Shidi, about that report-”
“Shang Qinghua! Why did you reject my request for more funds? You know that my Xian Shu Peak has an important event coming up. We have many things to purchase in order to prepare- Oh, Sect Leader, I didn’t realize you were here,” Qi Qingqi stormed in. “Shen Shixiong," she nodded, sitting on his other side.
“Qi Shimei, please, I told you that our sect doesn’t have the funds to buy all your disciples a new set of formal robes and matching accessories,” Shang Qinghua pleaded, putting on an aggrieved expression. “Qing Jing Peak already used what was leftover of the budget for repairs again,” he smirked at Shen Qingqiu.
“Shen Qingqiu! Why is something on your peak always in need of repairs? If you and your disciples properly took care of your belongings, there’d be enough money for the rest of us to buy the things we need for our peaks!” Qi Qingqi angrily turned to Shen Qingqiu.
That damn hack of an author! Throwing him to the wolves!
“It wasn’t my peak’s fault. Talk to Liu Shidi for not disciplining his disciples. If they didn’t come over to cause problems for my disciples almost every other day, we wouldn’t have to ask for repairs so frequently,” Shen Qingqiu huffed. “And it’s not like getting new formal robes is a necessity.”
What do they need to look good for anyways? It’s not like your disciples can steal Binghe away just by putting on a new set of clothing. He only has eyes for this master!
“Shen Qingqiu! You-”
“Hey, hey, let’s calm down,” Yue Qingyuan interjected. “Qi Shimei, Shen Shidi isn’t to blame for this. We can just ask Shang Shidi to rearrange the allocation of funds so your peak can get everything it needs for the event. I’m sure he will be happy to agree. Isn’t that right, Shang Shidi?” he smiled.
“Um, well, you see-” Shang Qinghua was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Shang Shixiong, may I come in?” Then without waiting for a response, Mu Qingfang opened the door. He paused at the doorstep, surprised by the number of people in the small house. “I didn’t know you had guests,” he said, coming in and closing the door behind himself.
Mu Qingfang took a seat between Shang Qinghua and Qi Qingqi, greeting everyone before turning to Shang Qinghua. “Shang Shixiong, forgive me for coming here unannounced. I know that it takes some time for your peak to approve requests for additional funds, but I’m in need of capital immediately. My disciples and I are on the verge of a breakthrough in our research, but we can’t complete it without purchasing several rare herbs. I believe that this research will lead us to finding a cure for Shen Shixiong’s Without A Cure, so please grant my request.”
Shen Qingqiu stiffened at the mention of his affliction. He hadn’t told anyone that he’d been cured of Without A Cure since the first time Binghe slept together. It was too embarrassing to admit that the cure had been dual cultivation with his disciple. Everyone had just assumed that Binghe had taken over the job of clearing Shen Qingqiu’s meridians every month, and he hadn’t bothered to correct them. Only one person knew about it, and that was because he'd written the cure.
“Shang Shidi, you must approve Mu Shidi’s request!” Yue Qingyuan eagerly urged. “If it can cure Shen Shidi’s affliction, we must spare no expense!”
“I’ve already been cured since a long time ago,” Shen Qingqiu muttered under his breath.
“He was cured of that a long time ago!” Shang Qinghua yelled in aggravation.
“He’s cured?!” The three other Peak Lords whipped their heads towards him.
“Xiao Jiu, is that true? Are you cured of Without A Cure?” Yue Qingyuan asked, tears seeming to gather at the corner of his eyes.
“...Yes…”
“You really are cured? When were you cured? How exactly did it happen? What medicine did you take?” Mu Qingfang excitedly asked.
“Um, well, you see, if you… you know… do… that… with a heavenly demon…” Shen Qingqiu raised his fan to just below his eyes, but the tips of his red ears were left visible.
Just then, there was yet another knock at the door. Shen Qingqiu let out a breath of relief at the distraction as Shang Qinghua sighed and called for the new guest to enter. Wei Qingwei came in with Ku Xing Peak’s Peak Lord. They joined everyone at the small table, receiving a cup of tea, then began to address the reason for their visit. Before they could even finish, Zui Xian Peak’s Peak Lord arrived. Not too long after, the Peak Lords from the other three peaks arrived in quick succession. And just like that, all the Peak Lords of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, excepting Liu Qingge, surrounded Shang Qinghua’s small table in the middle of his home, talking over each other to get their various requests and complaints heard.
Shang Qinghua cried inside, feeling wronged over how no one respected him or how hard his job was. The sect wouldn’t be able to run without him! And he couldn’t just approve everyone’s requests for more money when there wasn’t any to give away! His greatest wish in that moment was to escape all these willful Peak Lords, but unfortunately, because this was his home, he couldn’t just run away. He had to find a way to get them to leave, or at least distract them.
“Um, everyone, I know you all have important things to discuss with me, but it’s rare that we’re all able to gather like this without it being some formal meeting. Why don’t we take this opportunity to have some fun? I’ll bring out some wine for us to all enjoy, so let’s leave the business talks for tomorrow,” Shang Qinghua suggested.
I’ll escape to My King’s palace in the morning before anyone comes to find me and hide out there for a couple weeks until they eventually give up.
Shang Qinghua called over a disciple to bring several jars of his stronger wines. They were from his secret stash that he’d drink when he wanted to unwind after stressful meetings with unreasonable Peak Lords or ignorant leaders from other sects, or handling the demon realm’s paperwork that his son forced on him so that he could go off and play with his tsundere wife. But using his wine to get out of listening to complaints and being given more work seemed like a worthy cause for them too.
He poured everyone a cup while his disciple went to fetch some snacks. There were still some grumbling and complaints in the beginning, but after getting some alcohol into their system, everyone was soon adequately distracted. In less than an hour, the Peak Lords had all forgotten the reason they even came over.
“Shen Shixiong, you can’t keep letting that disciple of yours monopolize you. You’re a Peak Lord. You have other disciples to look after too,” Qi Qingqi pointed accusingly at Shen Qingqiu, nearly smacking him in the face.
“That’s right, Shixiong, you should return to your peak more often. Your disciples miss you,” Mu Qingfang agreed from where his head was hanging out the window to feel the cool evening breeze.
“And Liu Shixiong isn't gone for as long on his nighthunts anymore because he wants to be here to find more of your fans to return,” Zui Xian Peak’s Peak Lord chuckled.
“I would come back more if you guys didn’t pick fights with Binghe every time he sets foot in the sect. My white lotus is very sensitive and you keep hurting his feelings!” Shen Qingqiu slammed his cup down indignantly.
Binghe is the protagonist, goddammit! Everyone should be fawning all over him or cowering at his feet. Instead they’re making him cry so I have to console him afterwards, not that I mind.
“What ‘white lotus’? He’s a stallion demon lord! The only reason he didn’t merge the two realms was because you used your ass to convince him otherwise!” Shang Qinghua objected, pouring himself another cup of wine.
“Shut up! It’s all your fault he’s like this!” Shen Qingqiu swung at Shang Qinghua with his fan, but the author dodged by falling onto the ground, spilling wine over the front of his robes.
“My fault?! Bro, you’re the one who raised him to lust after his own shizun!” Shang Qinghua snickered as he stumbled around to the other side of the table to escape further abuse.
“Shen Shixiong! Enough about you and your disciple’s bedroom pursuits. Will you or will you not do your duty as Peak Lord and instruct your disciples?” Qi Qingqi challenged, yanking on his lapels.
“They are managing just fine without me,” Shen Qingqiu pouted, turning his nose up. “Binghe is my husband and as long as he isn’t welcome here, as far as I’m concerned, neither am I,” he said stubbornly.
“Xiao Jiu,” Yue Qingyuan sniffed, grabbing onto his sleeve, “I will allow your disciple to stay, so please don’t leave the sect.”
“Zhangmen Shixiong, what are you talking abo- oof!” Shen Qingqiu exclaimed as he was pushed down.
Mu Qingfang had tripped over the sleeping Wei Qingwei on the ground and slammed into Yue Qingyuan’s back, who had then fallen forward onto Shen Qingqiu, who fell onto his back from the combined weight of the two Peak Lords on top of him. Qi Qingqi was forced to let go of Shen Qingqiu’s robes, but not before pulling on them to expose part of his chest.
“Shizun~ I’ve come to bring you home!” Luo Binghe opened the door to Shang Qinghua’s house, only to freeze in place when he saw the scene before him.
Yue Qingyuan’s hands were on either side of his shizun’s head, caging him in as their bodies pressed together. His husband’s face was flushed and his hair in disarray. His robes were pulled open, the milky expanse of his chest displayed with a dusky pink nipple peeking out.
Luo Binghe released a low growl and was at Shen Qingqiu’s side at once. He pushed Yue Qingyuan away and helped Shen Qingqiu to sit up, turning him around and hugging him to his chest so that he wouldn’t be exposed in front of everyone.
“Binghe! You’re here!” Shen Qingqiu exclaimed, leaning into his husband’s embrace.
“Yes, husband, I’ve come to bring you home,” Luo Binghe said, glaring at Yue Qingyuan.
“Hey, Binghe~” Shen Qingqiu wriggled, trying to free himself from his disciple’s arms.
“Yes, Shizun?” Luo Binghe held on tighter.
“Stop looking at Zhangmen Shixiong, look at me instead,” Shen Qingqiu pouted.
“I already am,” Luo Binghe pulled back to look at his shizun, a fond smile gracing his features.
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Ok, then… do it with me,” Shen Qingqiu coyly ordered.
“Do what?” Luo Binghe tilted his head to the side in confusion, amused by his shizun’s drunken behavior.
“You know! The thing we do when we drink!” Shen Qingqiu shouted, startling the sleeping Wei Qingwei from his slumber.
“Shi- Shizun?!” Luo Binghe flustered. “We can’t do that here! Everyone is watching!” His face burned just imagining doing it in front of all the Peak Lords.
“Let them watch! They can be jealous of my husband’s skills! I want my husband to do it with me!” Shen Qingqiu threw a tantrum.
“Shizun, I didn’t know you felt that way,” Luo Binghe’s cheeks warmed at the flattery.
“Of course I do. I feel the best when Binghe does it with me,” Shen Qingqiu said as if it was a matter of course.
“Then, if that’s what Shizun wants, this husband will gladly do it with him.”
Luo Binghe removed his outer robes and started to untie his sash while Shen Qingqiu turned to lay on his stomach.
“Bro!”
“Shen Shixiong!”
“Xiao Jiu!”
Simultaneous shouts of protests immediately arose.
“Shen Qingqiu! What do you think you’re doing with all of us here?!” Qi Qingqi shouted, scandalized by her shixiong’s actions. “Have you no shame?!”
“What shame?! I’m allowed to get a massage from my husband!” Shen Qingqiu yelled back.
“..........”
Luo Binghe froze. “…Shizun… wants a massage…?”
“Of course! My waist is so sore because of those flowers we encountered the other day,” Shen Qingqiu complained.
“This disciple understands. I will… give you a massage.”
“Many thanks, Binghe,” Shen Qingqiu sighed as Binghe’s large hands got to work unknotting the kinks in his lower back.
“..........”
“Shen Shixiong… What are you doing?” Qi Qingqi asked expressionlessly.
“I’m getting a massage from my husband. Can’t you see?” Shen Qingqiu answered, blissfully relaxing into the floor. “My Binghe always gives the best massages.” He wanted to pat his little bun on the head, but his body felt like jelly under Binghe’s skilled hands. “This master doesn’t know what he would do without you.”
“Shizun~” Luo Binghe started tearing up.
“Call me husband. I beat your harem and married you so you should acknowledge me as your husband.” Shen Qingqiu sighed, “I can’t believe you chose this old master over the countless beauties fawning for your attention.”
“Harem? Husband is mistaken. No one has ever looked at this lowly one in that way. And even if they had, there is no one as beautiful as Shizun,” Luo Binghe stated truthfully, continuing to rub his shizun’s back.
“Talking nonsense,” Shen Qingqiu dismissed. “What about Ning Yingying? Liu Mingyuan? Sha Hualing? There are so many, don’t make me list them all.”
Luo Binghe didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry. “Ning Shijie is my shijie. She is like a sister to me. And I’ve only ever had one conversation with Liu Shijie. Believe your disciple, Shizun, she isn’t interested in me. And how could Sha Hualing like this one? She tried to hurt Shizun in the past, so of course she could never vie for my attention,” he patiently explained, shaking his head at how active his shizun’s imagination was. It had caused many misunderstandings over the course of their relationship, but Luo Binghe still loved this part of his husband.
“Don’t bring my disciple into this! She has never had anything to do with your disciple!” Qi Qingqi snapped.
“What do you know? They were going to get married!” Shen Qingqiu argued back.
“Shizun! This one could never marry Liu Shijie!” Luo Binghe protested vehemently, suddenly horrified at just how wild his shizun’s imagination could be. “Your Binghe has only ever had eyes for one person and that person is you, Shizun!” he declared.
“It’s ok if you don’t know, Binghe,” Shen Qingqiu comforted, reaching behind himself to pat Binghe’s hand on his back. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Shizun!” Luo Binghe felt wronged.
“Hush now, Binghe, it’s okay because I was the one to marry you this time,” Shen Qingqiu rolled over and sat up, taking his husband’s left hand and playing with his fingers. “I should really put a ring on you. How else will everyone know that you’re taken?” he muttered to himself.
“Does Shizun want to give this one a ring?”
“Obviously! We’re married so of course we have to have wedding rings!”
“Shizun!” Luo Binghe pounced on Shen Qingqiu, hugging him around the shoulders. “Don’t worry about it, this husband will buy matching rings for us to wear!”
“But the shops aren’t open right now. What should we do?” Shen Qingqiu considered as he hugged Binghe back. “Oh, I know!” He roughly pushed Binghe away and turned to order, “Shang Qinghua, bring me some red ink, a brush, and a hand mirror!”
“Why me?” Shang Qinghua whined from where he was now perched on the daybed.
“You know why. Now hurry up before I tell Mobei Jun about what you’re hiding under your-”
“I got it! I got it! Don’t say any more!” Shang Qinghua knocked over a stack of papers in his rush to get everything but he didn’t seem to notice. Running back, he dumped his haul in front of Shen Qingqiu. “Here, bro. Now you can’t say a word to My King.”
“Shizun, what are you doing?” Luo Binghe asked curiously.
After grinding the ink stone and mixing it with wine - there was no water at hand - Shen Qingqiu picked up the brush with one hand and held the mirror in the other. “Binghe, don’t move. I need to see clearly if I want it to look the same.”
Shen Qingqiu’s eyebrows scrunched together in concentration as he looked back and forth between his husband’s forehead and his own reflection in the mirror, careful to keep his hands steady. Luo Binghe’s eyes started to water as he quickly realized what his husband was attempting to do.
A few minutes later, pleased with his work, Shen Qingqiu happily exclaimed, “There! Now we match!”
Intoxicated as Shen Qingqiu was, his lines were shaky and uneven and his drawing looked almost nothing like Luo Binghe’s mark, but he was touched all the same. Tears streamed down his cheeks at his husband’s blatant act of love. With his thin face, such flagrant displays were few and far between, so Luo Binghe savored this moment to the fullest.
“Shizun! I love you!” Luo Binghe shouted, pushing his husband to the floor and pressing their lips together in a passionate kiss.
“I love you too, Binghe!” Shen Qingqiu laughed giddily, his face breaking out into a bright grin. “Let’s always stay together!”
“Yes, Shizun!” Luo Binghe cheerfully agreed, overcome with joy at the knowledge that he was loved by his husband.
“But Binghe, move off me a little. My legs are bending in a direction they shouldn’t,” Shen Qingqiu said, pushing him away.
“This disciple is sorry, Shizun!” Luo Binghe scrambled off, helping his husband sit up.
“Bro, you need to work on your flexibility. Don’t you know all the fun you’re missing out on because your body’s so stiff?” Shang Qinghua said around his wine.
“It’s not like Binghe is flexible either so it’s fine,” Shen Qingqiu humphed. “And don’t drink all the wine! Leave some for the rest of us!”
“Hey!” Shang Qinghua protested when Shen Qingqiu stole his cup.
Seeing that his husband was about to share an indirect kiss with the rat, Luo Binghe quickly lifted it out of his hands and poured him a new cup. “Here, Shizun, drink this.”
“Thank you, Binghe.” Shen Qingqiu went to pat his head but missed and hit his cheek instead. Not phased in the least, Luo Binghe just smiled and let his shizun touch him as he liked. “See, my Binghe knows how to treat this master right,” Shen Qingqiu bragged.
Shang Qinghua ignored his friend. “Bingge, my son, you need to help improve your master’s flexibility. Trust your father, you’ll have a lot more fun if you do,” he advised.
“What father? Who is your son?” Luo Binghe glowered threateningly.
“Speaking of flexibility, no one is more flexible than them,” Shen Qingqiu giggled.
“Them?” Luo Binghe paused his hand that was about to hit Shang Qinghua. “Who are they?”
His shizun rarely talked about himself, and Luo Binghe was fine with that, really! But anytime his husband let slip even the smallest tidbit of information about his past, Luo Binghe made sure to commit it to memory. And he had never spoken about a them.
“It’s… Shaaa~ Chihoko!”
“Sha… Chihoko…?” Luo Binghe repeated, all inflection gone from his tone.
“Mn, no one shines brighter than them in terms of flexibility.”
Luo Binghe didn’t care what kind of past his shizun had. He loved his husband regardless! But he had heard the kind of rumors people used to say about him in the past. After learning about his shizun’s true intentions, Luo Binghe assumed that they had all been lies. But was there some truth to a few of the rumors…?
“Do those Chihoko really shine that brightly?” Luo Binghe asked, suddenly afraid that these Chihoko still had control over his shizun’s heart.
“Well yeah, they’re golden and shiny.”
“Tch…” So his husband thought of them fondly. “So much that Shizun can’t forget them?”
“Mmn, yeah, you’ll never forget them after seeing them once,” Shen Qingqiu agreed. “They sit on top of the palace continuously holding a reverse shrimp pose. Isn’t that amazing?!”
It was like an arrow ripped through Luo Binghe’s heart. He hadn’t realized that there were other people who held such an important position in his shizun’s heart. What kind of people - or possibly demons? - sat on top of a palace posing all day?
“I see…” Luo Binghe’s eyes fell to the floor, suddenly losing his confidence. He may have his shizun’s love now, but who knew when these Chihoko would come back to steal his husband away?
“Huh? Are you sad?” Shen Qingqiu asked, oblivious to the havoc his offhand comments were wreaking inside his disciple.
“Not really. I’m not sad,” Luo Binghe shook his head but refused to lift his eyes.
“You are sad! Come, tell this master what caused his Binghe to feel this way,” Shen Qingqiu coaxed, gently patting his husband’s back. “I won’t let anyone bully my- oof!”
Luo Binghe couldn’t handle having even more rivals for his shizun’s affections, and ones who his husband already had in his heart. He tore off his shizun’s robes and grabbed the brush that had been left lying in the wet ink.
O-V-E-R-C-O-M-E C-H-I-H-O-K-O
“Huh? What are you writing on my back, Binghe?” Shen Qingqiu asked, eyes spinning from the sudden change in position. “Hey~ Binghe? Stop it, that tickles,” he laughed.
Luo Binghe was angry but not at his shizun. He could never be upset with him. He was angry at himself for not being enough to satisfy his husband. He needed to do better. He would do better.
Sha… Chihoko… Chihoko… Who the hell are they?! Is being flexible so great?! Ah, no, it doesn’t matter who Chihoko are. It's because of his past that Shizun is who he is now. I just need to become better so that Shizun won’t look at anyone else!
- End of Flashback -
“Shizun… You gave me so much. You showed me kindness when no one would give me a second glance. You protected me when everyone thought me like a monster. The smile you try to hide behind your fan or the pleased sound you make when you eat the food I make never fail to make my heart beat faster for you. You brought compassion and love into my world,” Luo Binghe reflected on everything his shizun had given to him. “I can’t let anyone take you away. What other people can do, I will do it better,” he vowed to himself. “Now it’s my turn to return what I’ve been given.”
Luo Binghe saw his shizun running up the hill to the bamboo house. It was time. He could do it.
“Shizun, I’ll show you. I can do it too… Reverse shrimp!” Binghe shouted, stripping his robes and posing.
“Whaaaat?!! Binghe!!” Shen Qingqiu yelled, shocked at the scene before him.
“What do you think, Shizun?” Luo Binghe proudly showed off the flexibility he’d been working all night to achieve.
“What do I think?! What are you doing?!! Why are you posing like a reverse shrimp on top of my bamboo house?! You’ve gone far beyond my expectations!”
“Who is better, me or Chihoko?” Binghe shouted.
“Who’s Chihoko?” Shen Qingqiu shouted back, confused by what his husband could possibly be thinking about. “I wouldn’t find anyone better than Binghe even if I searched all three realms!”
“Am I shining?”
“You’re too dazzling!” Shen Qingqiu’s face might have been thin, but at this point he would say almost anything to convince his husband to come down. “So hurry and put on some clothes!”
“You were surprised, right?”
I’ll bet Shizun never thought I could be this flexible.
“Well yeah, of course,” Shen Qingqiu let out a sigh of relief, as it looked as though Binghe was finally willing to listen to him. “Hey, Binghe, it’s dangerous so hurry and come down.”
“Let’s do it together, Shizun,” Binghe offered his hand out to Shen Qingqiu.
“What??” Shen Qingqiu gaped, disbelieving. “I don’t want to.”
“The view is beautiful from up here. Look!”
“W- wh- no. There’s no time. If we don’t hurry, other people will arrive and see you like this,” Shen Qingqiu tried to persuade. He had to get his impossible disciple to come down before anybody saw him.
“Shizun, they’ve already arrived a long time ago.”
“What?” Shen Qingqiu looked around and saw the faces of his fellow Peak Lords, several disciples, and even some of Binghe’s subordinates, all pointing and staring at his disciple with looks of either shock or amusement.
“Hurry~!” Luo Binghe called.
Shen Qingqiu flew up, preparing to forcibly drag Binghe off the roof if he wasn’t going to come down himself. But then he saw his husband’s expression, his smile radiating happiness at the misunderstanding that he had come up to join him. It tugged at something inside Shen Qingqiu and his heart softened.
“Ah- mn- ugh- uhh-” Shen Qingqiu wrestled with himself. “FINE!” he shouted, giving in and posing as his ridiculous husband had. He kept his robes on so only his ankles were exposed when gravity pulled his pant legs down.
“Shizun! I love you~!” Binghe cheered in delight, lying on his stomach and lifting his legs once more.
“Oh! Shizun is posing now too!” Ning Yingying exclaimed. “Shizun, good luck!” she shouted. Then into a communication talisman, she spoke, “Mingyan, there’s something you’ll be interested in happening on Qing Jing Peak right now. Come quickly!”
“Hmph! Shameless!” Liu Qingge dismissed, turning his head to avoid looking at the scene before him, the tips of his ears flaming.
“Wow, Mobei, isn’t that hilarious?” Sha Hualing snickered.
“Mn. I want to do this with Qinghua.”
“Hahahaha!”
“I can’t let the other disciples see this. I have to keep them away,” Ming Fan muttered to himself, quickly running down the hill to prevent anyone else from coming up.
“Shen Qingqiu, what are you doing?” Qi Qingqi gasped, scandalized by the display her shixiong and his naked disciple were putting on for the entire sect to see.
“I should check on Shen Qingqiu when he comes down. He must have come into contact with some kind of poison or curse that affects the mind for him to agree to do something like this,” Mu Qingfang said to himself.
“This is your fault, Cucumber-bro, you raised him into this. I never wrote a scene like this,” Shang Qinghua shook his head, shoulders shaking with unrestrained laughter.
Shidi…… I’m glad you’re happy now, Yue Qingyuan thought to himself, his smile tight.
“Congratulations on getting remarried!” Ning Yingying shouted up at her shizun and shidi, Liu Mingyan now by her side. Then, “Everyone!” she shouted off the edge of the peak, announcing to the sect, “Shizun and A-Luo got remarried!”