Chapter Text
Rhythmic pain is pounding in his head. Shen Qingqiu growls without opening his eyes. His last memories are a succession of blurred images. A red spark out of the dark. Eyes narrowed with hatred. A voice. Fight. Swords. A hit.
And then, nothing…
Slowly, Shen Qingqiu becomes aware of the cold biting his skin, the rocky ground on which he lies, and the ropes that twist his arms behind his back. Immortal binding cables, he deduces when he realizes that his body is empty of qi. His pride and arrogance are fragmented, remembering that he was once a helpless child.
He grits his teeth and, with difficulty, sits up. Upon opening his eyes, Shen Qingqiu discovers that he is in a dark cell. Despite the unease beating in his chest, he controls his fear. Xiao Jiu, the slave boy, burned years ago. He is Shen Qingqiu, Qing Jing Peak Lord. He is Shen Qingqiu, Xiu Ya sword. He is Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe's shizun...
Oh, right. Luo Binghe is the reason why he is tied up and dizzy.
Shen Qingqiu hisses, still in pain. But now he is more aware that that rotten smell and the cell inside a cave are demonic signs. Luo Binghe must have locked him in a Demon Realm prison after... defeating him. Right. He was on a mission when he found his lost disciple, now demonic and vengeful. They fought. He lost. And everything went dark.
Stupid beast, you're not supposed to return, he thinks, annoyed. You are a demon, right? Stay in your realm and leave me alone. But now he is in trouble. Luo Binghe looked furious, his voice drenched in resentment, his eyes shining with vengeance. The fact that he has kidnapped him betrays his intentions. Fuck, Shen Qingqiu sighs. That brief fight showed who is more powerful now, however, he considers himself more intelligent. To return to his sect, Shen Qingqiu must leave that cell, retrieve his sword, and cross the Demon Realm without getting lost. But first, he has to get rid of that troublesome immortal binding cables.
Perhaps he is unarmed and abandoned in a filthy cell, but there is always a way. Shen Qingqiu leans his back against the wall and begins to think of a plan. If I can't break the bonds, then I have to trick someone into untying me…
This is Luo Binghe's happiest day since he left the Abyss. Or even happier than before his horrible shizun pushed him to hell. It was a long time since he felt that satisfaction that now runs through his bones. Not when he married Sha Hualing, not when he first slept with a demoness, not when he was crowned king of demons. His happiness has been finding his shizun and seeing his confused expression. Luo Binghe restrained himself from breaking all his bones, ripping out his tongue, and those disdainful eyes. He savored the fight and the moment his former master was defeated.
Luo Binghe hates him. He hates him so much that he didn't hurt him (yet), but tied him up to lock him up in his prison.
Now, shizun is his.
Once, Luo Binghe received all of his hatred. It is only fair that now shizun gives him his pain. The Demon Lord smiles. Two days have passed since he abandoned Shen Qingqiu in his darkest dungeon. He planned to make him suffer silence, loneliness, hunger, helplessness, uncertainty about the future... Just as Luo Binghe suffered in the Abyss. But his impatience corrodes him. And Luo Binghe decides to go down to visit his shizun.
The cell is in the depths of his palace. Luo Binghe walks with impatient steps. Perhaps, if Shen Qingqiu apologizes, he will find another prison. One more distant from common prisoners, which only he can reach. And whose path is shorter.
But today Luo Binghe has chosen the long way instead of cutting short with Xin Mo. Because he is eager to meet Shen Qingqiu and yell at him and hurt him and brag about all that he has achieved... But he also wants his recognition, his apology, his submission…
His heart is pounding and Luo Binghe is still afraid, not knowing what he will find when he opens the door.
The cell is as dark as a monster's mouth. Shen Qingqiu's fair skin and his green clothes shine. It is unfair that such a cruel and rotten person is so beautiful. Although the red ropes that bind him are making him even more delicate and Luo Binghe wonders what it will be like to paint him with blood.
He feels like he's gasping for air when Shen Qingqiu looks at him with wide eyes. No fear or anger, but confusion. His shizun had never looked at him like this and Luo Binghe is starting to get excited.
"Has shizun missed this disciple?" He purrs, entering the cell with confident steps.
"Shizun?" He repeats as he tilts his head. "Disciple? Do we know each other?"
Luo Binghe freezes.
Shen Qingqiu looks at him with an expression too strange. Almost curious. He is pale and there are signs of fatigue on his face, but he is too calm after being locked up for two days.
"Am I your shizun?" Shen Qingqiu speaks in a cautious voice, without his coldness or arrogance, without his pride. It is a soft voice that sounds like someone else's. "And you are my disciple? Excuse me, my head hurts and I'm a bit confused..."
Luo Binghe at that time appreciates that Shen Qingqiu has blood on his temple. Fuck, did I hit him on the head? Ignoring his surprise, Shen Qingqiu continues speaking.
"What's your name?"
"Luo Binghe," he responds out of inertia.
"Oh." And then something unheard happens: Shen Qingqiu smiles AT HIM. "It's a pretty name."
Luo Binghe takes a step back. He's starting to feel scared because that was never part of his plans. Luo Binghe was prepared to face his insults, his poisoned glares, his contempt, not a smile. But there is something else inside his heart: longing.
He wants more.
"Do you know where we are, Luo Binghe?"
Despite all the speeches that he had rehearsed in his dreams, Luo Binghe is lost in words. Shen Qingqiu is finally looking at him. Without hatred or contempt. He looks at him as if he is the only thing that exists in this dark world.
Luo Binghe smirks. He is beginning to love that feeling, more pleasant than anger or frustration.
"Shizun has been caught by the enemy." Luo Binghe kneels in front of him. When he extends an arm, Shen Qingqiu does not shy away and even allows his fingers to caress the bindings. "This disciple has come to rescue you."
Shen Qingqiu bows his head.
"What a pathetic Master I must be if I need to be rescued by my disciple," he mutters. His voice sounds like a kitten's meow and his cheeks are slightly flushed.
This will be fun , Luo Binghe thinks. And he erases all of his plans when he draws his sword and uses it to cut the immortal binding cables. Shen Qingqiu is hurt, tired, and dazed, yet he still tries to get up. Luo Binghe holds him around the waist, encouraging him to lean on him.
"Thanks."
Luo Binghe gently but firmly grasps his shizun before using Xin Mo to create a portal. And they leave the interior of the palace to reach its walls. Although he intends to take advantage of his confusion, he needs his lies to be credible or Shen Qingqiu will be suspicious.
The two leave the harrowing darkness of the prison to reach a red sky with black clouds. In front of them is the most immense palace that exists in the Demon Realm. Shen Qingqiu gasps, clinging to him tighter.
"Where are we?" There is astonishment in his eyes.
"This is my castle, shizun. You are safe now."
"Does my disciple have a castle? You must be an extraordinary person, Luo Binghe."
Something burns in his chest. It is a mixture between satisfaction and happiness, it is a fire that has been chasing him since he was a child and it is finally real.
And Luo Binghe smiles, hungry and eager.
"Let me show you, shizun."
First, he will lead Shen Qingqiu with the healer. And he will make sure that his hateful shizun is gone and he now has this sweeter and nicer shizun.