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Life as an incubus wasn't so bad. Well, what Shen Yuan considered living as an incubus was anything but the real thing, but it wasn't so bad!

Concubi society, even Hell itself, was complex in a way that made Shen Yuan's head spin. His answer was simple, he left Hell (for other reasons as well, but the system took the cake) and hasn't been back since. Where he used to find pleasure in beasts, bestiaries, and natural flora, he instead now found in mortal things like novels, food, and being an absolute terror on social media sites and forums.

The only thing that sucked about not living in Hell was the fact that he was an incubus. Like any concubi, he feeds and thrives on sex and sexual actions. Finding people who got it was more or less just a feeding was rare but not as rare as it was in the human realm. It's not that he didn't find it enjoyable or anything, but he wasn't as crazy about it as others were. Sex was just the meal you had to make, and he really wasn't into heavy foods like others were, he had no use for things like whips and chains, akin to only the rarest of steak. There was no alluring option of delivery, which would just be the casual quick fuck for survival needs. Instead all there was anymore was the alluring option of reading stallion novels all night, which felt like it should be the table of sweets your mom kept scolding you for touching, but in reality, was what eating a granola bar for dinner feels like.

Somewhere down the line, he ran into some luck. It wasn't exactly ideal, but it was luck. He met a friend through his online trolling and stallion novel reading. (Pen name Peerless Cucumber was infamous throughout the boards, and, good! As it should be!) Said friend eventually became his roommate to share his hellish troubles of mortal money. Shang Qinghua, otherwise known as Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky, a hack author that was only good at writing papapa that felt like it was written by a virgin. His character depth and world-building were much, much better than the stallion aspect of the stallion novel. Then when for their first actual meet up they sat down at some coffee shop, finally face to face, it made sense.

Shang Qinghua was brimming with lust energy like he was lust itself. So naturally, asked him about lust cults. Shen Yuan still remembers how hysterically he laughed when he made Shang Qinghua show him his cult tattoo. No wonder this man couldn't write a top for shit. The man was a succubus.

The other man had also abandoned Hell and Lust for the sake of mortal joy. He had also run into the same issue as Shen Yuan, humans were not as emotionally detached and insatiable as a concubi from hell. Casual flings were hard, and one night stands were harder, and concubi from other cults were much harder to contact without an abundance of energy. While Shen Yuan had no real problem with finding a match when he needed to on Tinder or Bumble, Shang Qinghua claimed he had no such luck.

Shen Yuan silently thinks it's because the man is almost as picky about fucking as humans are. It's always, "You're too sloppy!" "Not hard enough!" "What are you, a succubus?"! You fuck like my "stallion protagonists!" Shen Yuan doesn't suck that bad!

Despite Shang Qinghua's complaints, the two had a sort of silent agreement between them. Using each other as a means of sustenance, and really, that's all there was to it. Shen Yuan has never been into any sort of concubi (and no, it's not because he's not an Incubus. No matter how many times Shand Qinghua rolls his eyes will change that), and Shang Qinghua won't hesitate to claim that Shen Yuan is only just passable for his needs. The only real desire between the two is Shen Yuan's desire to strangle his (best) friend. It was purely transactional friends with benefits.

One nearing its end.

Shen Yuan paused his game to give his friend a skeptical look. "How did you learn anything about any sort of party?"

"I know demons!"

Shen Yuan raises one of his eyebrows in disbelief.

"I… fine! Some of my commenters are demons and know I'm a demon and asked me about it. So I asked some other demon commenters and got invited."

Shen Yuan unpauses his game, no longer deeply invested in the idea of a demon party. "Sounds boring. Why would any demon host a party in the human realm?"

Now he can feel Shang Qinghua burning a hole into the side of his skull. "You just can't be serious right now. Are you even listening to me?"

"Preposterous. When am I ever listening to you?"

Shang Qinghua brings a hand to the controller in Shen Yuan's and presses three buttons simultaneously before he gets his hand smacked away. All it did was serve to throw the item Shen Yuan had just gotten, on the floor. He picks it up without any fuss, and it makes Shang Qinghua cross his arms in annoyance. "It was like some bet between demons. That in a pool of demons and humans, Lust bet more concubi would go home with humans than demons. Then Pride got all involved and now it's like this big party in the human realm."

"Concubi cult?"

"Yeah."

"I still don't get why you want to go. Why you think I’d want to go."

"More chances to meet someone like us, who lives among mortals! And, I need a good dick bro." Shen Yuan gives Shang Qinghua a side-eye. "Bro, I'm serious. You chose wrong, you are not an Incubus." Shen Yuan does not respond to that.

To give a quick rundown on Concubi culture, Hell was composed of seven territories, Shen Yuan being an incubus, he hailed from Lust. Since the territory was primarily concubi with the occasional off-demon, concubi had split themselves into three cults. Succubi, Incubi, and Concubi. In easier terms, bottoms, tops, verses. Since concubi were the middle ground, it was the general way to refer to the populace. In Lust, it became a right of passage to join one cult and get your powers to become stronger, the only thing being that after you join one, your powers primarily come from doing that act. If you do anything else, like top as a succubus, your powers are stripped for breaking cult laws. Then you can't collect Lust energy, and since concubi are beings of pure lust, you either turn into a human with a short life ahead or a very close death date due to lack of energy collection. Shen Yuan used to believe he would be with women all his immortal life, so he became an incubus without a second thought. However, being immortal and sex-dependent gradually shifted him into bisexuality.

After a period of intense staring from Shang Qinghua, Shen Yuan flips him off. "Why do I have to go? Fill me in on that part again?"

"Because maybe you'll meet a nice guy—"

"—Sounds like someone's projecting their desires onto me—"

"—Fine! Fine. Maybe you'll meet a nice person from Envy, maybe even a pure envy girl."

Shen Yuan pauses in thought for a moment. Envy was your water-based level, the only place you'd go to see water in hell. Hell worked weirdly… demons of each and every type were a little bit uncommon in any territory you visited, mainly because of being of "pure sin". Every demon resided in a certain place of hell to receive their power from that particular sin, however, beings of pure sin had no choice. They were made purely from that sin that their demonic form had taken. Since concubi were beings of pure lust, even if Shen Yuan had tried to up and move to Sloth, he would still rely on lust for his energy. It was just his biology. Pure envy beings were typically sirens, half-fish creatures who yearned for a real pair of human legs to experience the rest of the world and the underground. And well… Being with a mermaid doesn't sound all too bad.

"Hello? Earth to Shen Yuan?"

"Yeah. I'll go."

"Please bro, don't make me go alone– wait, what?"

"I'll go. Hopefully, I speed the process of you finding a boyfriend, you're terribly bratty in bed."

"Your technique is what inspires me to write more stallion novels."

Shen Yuan pauses his game before he throws the controller square in his friend's face.

When the day of the party comes, Shen Yuan becomes even more aware of just how long it's been since he's interacted with another demon. He was fully prepared to go to this party in a t-shirt, sweatpants, and a zip-up hoodie until Shang Qinghua kicked him in the back of the knee. He got forced into a green button-up Shang Qinghua had the foresight to buy. Forcing him to roll the sleeves up, and then sticking him in the tightest pair of black skinny jeans from his closet. He was definitely thankful for his friend when they arrived at the place Shang Qinghua totally did not have a hard time finding.

He would've been torn apart! There were people here who were wearing almost nothing! And it was just normal!! He forgot how much he hated demon culture!

"What are we even doing here again?" Shen Yuan breathes out as they walk into what could only rightfully be called a mansion. Bodies pressed against each other in low lighting to shitty music in a mansion.

"Mingling."

Yeah, no. "I'm going to get a drink."

Shang Qinghua gives him a sort of betrayed look that Shen Yuan ignores in favor of pushing his way through a sea of bodies in the way of the kitchen. Really, though, he doesn't need it. Desire is so strong in the air that he could just get drunk off that. He still wants the bitter taste anyway.

When he finally pushes his way through to the kitchen he's delighted his guess was correct. Beer coolers filled the islands and floors. He doesn't even look as he pulls one out and he chugs it back. It tastes like yanjin. He won't get drunk off of it, but it's enough to cloud his mind with Greed energy for a bit.

Not enough to keep him from the realization he abandoned Shang Qinghua and that people are staring at him. It's mainly succubus girls, giving him the look like they were going to devour him alive for fun. One points at him and giggle to their friends. A shiver runs down his spine, so he grabs and throws back one more can. He thus decides to go and find his friend that he threw to the wind before he gets eaten alive by some demon he would piss off or who thinks he would be a good purse dog. (He remembers a succubus who said that to him back before he entered his cult, and… man… the thought is still terrifying.)

After avoiding several concubi and succubi who catcall him like he's some woman on a dark street, he finds the room he’s been looking for. On a long deep red couch, there's a cluster of what looks like ten concubi crowding someone, then another couch next to the cluster is a bored-looking man that's staring holes into Shang Qinghua.

Shang Qinghua notices his entrance immediately. He opens his mouth to say something, but he's beaten to it by one of the undoubtedly succubi running over and grabbing Shen Yuan's arm and begins tugging him towards the red couch. "You must be here to help. Good luck, he's a tough nut to crack."

Before he can even get a word out after being tugged along, he's thrust into the cluster and lands straight into a succubus who clicks her tongue and shoves him forward again. The second shove has him falling directly into someone's lap. He looks up, ready to sputter out some useless apology but his voice gets caught on red eyes glaring down at him.

The chatter all around him stops. "What do you think you're doing?" Wow. Shen Yuan is so certain he was just pushed on Asmodeus himself. Partly due to the wave of sin energy he is being crushed under. He can't tell what it is, it's too immense and headache-inducing to even try to decipher. As well as the deep, alluring voice that fit such an ethereal, breathtaking beauty of a man

"I– I got pushed. Sorry." He bows his head and refuses to move. Stuck in place by red eyes he can feel on the nape of his neck.

"And yet you do not move." Fingers wrap themselves under his chin and lift his head up. Red eyes bore into him with such intensity that Shen Yuan wonders if he was going to get exploded by them. "It does not bode well to lie to me, little succubus."

What! Asmodeus or not! Can't he tell he's an incubus?! He knows for a fact his tattoo for joining is on the back of his neck! The one he was definitely staring at!

Shen Yuan smacks the hand holding his chin and pushes himself up, barely hearing the gasps from the cluster. "How ridiculous. I am an incubus, thank you very much." He hears an all too familiar-snort.

Right, he's here to make sure Shang Qinghua isn't about to get his heart eaten out. He turns only to get the man on the seat grabbing his wrist.

He gives it a tug but the man stares at him blankly, only tightening his grip. The succubi who pushed him into the crowd pushes his way to the front and bows. "Lord Luo, —" Lord Luo? Oh, fuck did he actually just piss off Asmodeus?! "—please forgive us for this insolent one. Allow us to remove him for you—"

"No."

Shen Yuan feels a shiver run down him at the authoritative tone, and then he is suddenly seated in 'Lord Luo's' lap, the arm that pulled him now loosely around his waist. The man's lips move to his ear, and he can feel hot breath sending shivers down his spine.

"Let's humiliate you for attempting to humiliate me, shall we, Incubus?"

His mind is dead set on the man being Asmodeus. Why else did that sentence make him feel like he was set ablaze? Why else is he now sitting so calmly? This conclusion also confuses the hell out of him. He's usually pretty averse to sexual advances from any sort of concubi. Usually, because they're awful and way too powdery. Maybe Asmodeus differs since the man is Lust, the energy, himself.

"Lord Luo, surely—"

"Surely you heard this one tell you all he had wanted to be left alone?"

The concubi gapes. Someone else steps aside and points to the now visible Shang Qinghua gawking at Shen Yuan. "We merely only followed this succubus, Lord Luo!"

Help me. Shen Yuan mouths.

Still gawking, Shang Qinghua slowly shakes his head. His attention is turned away when a pale gray hand pulls at his cheek.

Shen Yuan is doomed.

"That succubus is tending to Mobei-Jun, and now this one will be tended to by this 'incubus'. Be gone, before this lord cuts out all your tongues."

His brain short circuits. He turns his head to now face the man he is sitting on. Long, fluffy, brown curls are pulled up into a ponytail, which cascades around the man like waterfalls. Red eyes are now focused on him again, under long eyelashes. He flashes Shen Yuan a sinister grin, now exposing his perfect, straight white teeth. Shen Yuan feels like he is going to pass out, only to be reminded he is sitting on this man's lap, being cradled by one of his arms.

This position… Asmodeus himself saying he's going to humiliate Shen Yuan…. There's no way! He would never bottom for this man! He was not meant to, let alone even be this close! This guy is crazy!

"Lord Luo, certainly you are not… for this… incubus!" Someone shrieks from the crowd.

Shen Yuan watches as his red eyes glow increases as his grin drops into a scowl. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Lord Luo raise and flick his free wrist. He turns and he sees a succubi girl choking, with a red aura around her neck. Two others grab her by her underarms and hurriedly take her out. The crowd is quick to follow. When they're gone Lord Luo drops his hand and wraps it around Shen Yuan's waist with the other, giving him a tight squeeze.

He swallows hoping to push this tightness in his throat down. "I… really did get pushed…" he mumbles.

"Still no reason to be so rude to this one, little succubus."

"I am not a succubus." He can feel Lord Luo’s smirk on his neck, where he is 100% of his incubus cult tattoo is located. His grip on Shen Yuan tightens.

"This one's mistake. If this Incubus was not here for this Lord, then who was he here for?"

Shen Yuan wants to ask if 'Lord Luo' can drop the formalities already, but then he remembers once more the man before him is some sort of higher up in the midst of hell, and Shen Yuan is currently in hell. He should probably be picking up the formalities lest he gets the same treatment as the succubus from earlier.

Shen Yuan jerks his thumb in Shang Qinghua's direction. "This one came to make sure his friend wasn't getting eaten." Lord Luo hums in response. Shen Yuan turns to look at him again only to see he's lost in thought, and the arms around his waist become tighter. "Lord Luo does realize the entourage is gone, and there is no reason to humiliate this one anymore, right?" He tries to get up but Lord Luo keeps his hold tight. He gives Shen Yuan a mischievous smile.

"Surely any Incubus would be ashamed of being in this position?" Shen Yuan blinks. With this man underneath? They'd probably be honored! He wouldn't be surprised if there were incubi in the crowd from before, trying to claw their way to this man's bedside. Who cares if they lost some of their powers, or got shunned? They slept with some stupidly hot Lord, they'd have gloating rights!

One's Shen Yuan do not want! He wants to go back to his mortal house tonight, Into Hou's Manor is updating and his favorite husband is getting some more development on his side relationship, which, finally!

"It is precisely because this one is an incubus that he is not humiliated." He quips.

Lord Luo laughs once again. It's almost silvery, it feels like a crime he is hearing this for free. "Because this incubus is on top?" He makes no motion to move.

His fear from earlier is now replaced mainly with annoyance. Whatever this demon is (Asmodeus. He has to be. He's so beautiful! It's no wonder he had that crowd, any concubi would want him! Want to be under him! Want to be him!) he currently seems more set on teasing Shen Yuan than actually hurting him.

At least he's hoping. He turns his head to send his glare home. "Because this lowly one should never lay with a man of your status."

Lord Luo quirks an eyebrow. "Do you even know this one's status?"

"No. But it is definitely higher than this lowly incubus."

Shen Yuan begins to squirm against Lord Luo’s hold, hoping the demon will get uncomfortable and set him free. "Then surely, instead, it would be an honor to lay this Lord down?"

The image of Shen Yuan straddling Lord Luo splayed out underneath him does not make him squirm more. If it does, it's out of the discomfort that pools like fire in his gut when he thinks about it! All of Shang Qinghua's words come back to assault him at full force. He's a subpar incubus, it'd be a waste for this man to do anything with someone who couldn't properly reward his beauty!

"This one… this lowly one is unworthy." He doesn't think it when he brings his hand up to pat the fluffy head of hair like he was some dog. "Lord Luo would certainly do better than this lowly incubus. Lord Luo certainly has a long line of brides already at home with how beautiful and charming he is." It comes out a bit shaky, but he hopes it still sounds sincere enough to make this man set him free.

Lord Luo blinks. "The little incubus thinks this Lord is beautiful?"

Shen Yuan flicks him for the little comment, then places a couple more head pats on his head, this time noticing how soft the curls are under his fingers. "Naturally so. Everyone must think Lord Luo is stunning because it is true."

The reaction he gets from Lord Luo is not one he expected at all. It's a groan, and something hard is poking the small of his back. Shen Yuan looks down, expecting to see a sword hilt or a gun, a stale subway sandwich.

The realization hits him.

Then he smacks his hand down on Lord Luo's chest to push him away. Surprisingly, the demon lets Shen Yuan's waist go, which allows Shen Yuan to stumble away from the chair.

Shen Yuan will not go down the route of figuring out what switching roles will truly do to his powers for some demon lord he just met! Certainly not one who stole a colosseum pillar from heaven and switched it out for his cock!

Lord Luo, now flushed, with his eyes still glowing red, is now looking at Shen Yuan with a confused haze over his eyes and full of what looks like anger and– No. No no no. Shen Yuan does not hesitate to spring up and march right out of those doors. He doesn't even want to think about what just happened there at all, nor does he even want to go back to Shang Qinghua so they can go home together or make sure the man is even alive. Instead, he finds his way back to the kitchen for a fourth beer. Which also turns into a seventh beer, as he sits there stewing in anger.

He was not a succubus! He was an incubus, dammit! He wasn't into concubi! He came here to meet a mermaid! He was the top! No matter how much Shang Qinghua grumbled that he should just top for their encounters instead, in the end, it always has and will be Shen Yuan!

He keeps thinking of Lord Luo's silky hair, his red eyes, and perfect jawline— he cracks open another can and throws it back. He's opening an eighth can when feels hands around his shoulders. When he turns his head, he's looking at a girl with red eyes that bring back the anger in his gut tenfold. "Hey. I think we can help each other out tonight," She purrs in his ear.

From the way his anger seems like it's dwindling and she clings to him, he reasonably deduces she must be a Fallen. Beings of Pure Wrath, born from anger or bloodshed, revenge or murder. Shen Yuan takes a sip of his can. "How so?"

"I'm a Fallen," Shen Yuan revels in being right for a moment. "You're a succubus. The emotions we're experiencing right now are perfect for each other." Her fingers wrap around his chin. The touch is any but gentle, but it still doesn't feel as harsh as it should be. The thought chips into his anger a bit more. Why is he even thinking that?! Where is it coming from?! "I'm Qiu Haitang, what do you say, Mr. Incubus?"

Shen Yuan doesn't really want to. He would rather still be stewing in his anger, or with a mermaid since that was the fantasy he set out with in mind for today, but it's something about how she called him an Incubus that does it for his pride. Plus, he doesn't know if Shang Qinghua's luck will be a hit or a miss, or even if it ends up being a lucky streak. He might have to come back to one of these again and risk seeing Asmodeus, might as well make connections now. He throws back the rest of the beer and matches her gaze. "We'll have to go back to your place."

She lets out a purr that makes Shen Yuan roll his eyes. "It sounds like a plan." She grabs him by the wrist and leads him out of the mansion and into the backyard. Where people all have similar ideas, opening portals and stepping in with a partner. Qiu Haitang finds a secluded corner. Shen Yuan notes that her portal has a soft blue hue to it before he steps in.

The room he finds himself in is dimly lit by candles scattered across whatever surface they could stand on and the blue portal hue. He wonders if he was a random prey or if she was looking the entire time.

The hue of the portal fades and Qiu Haitang pushes him onto the bed.

The whole night is exactly how it is every time. Like eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich where the ratio of the spreads is all screwed up. There's more peanut butter than jelly, so it's not exactly sweet. It's not perfect but it's just food. And it's enough to power him through the month.

Afterward, when the Fallen is dead asleep beside him he still can't help but glare up at the ceiling.

If it was so unbelievable that Shen Yuan was an incubus then why had Qiu Haitang come to him at all?! Why was it so pleasurable for her, from what he can assume from her loud moaning throughout?!

He peels himself from her side and opens a portal back home after gathering his stuff, hoping her cold side and his own green-hued portal don't wake her up. The idea of doing this again with her doesn’t sit right with him, so he might as well leave it at that. When he gets home Shang Qinghua's shoes are nowhere to be seen. He shrugs it off as he enters his room and opens up the latest forum for the one stallion novel he'd been reading, Transmigrated into an Alpha?!, and promptly begins responding to comments about them bashing the stallion, hoping to push the incident out of his mind, since sleeping with a fallen hadn't quelled the anger in his lower gut at all.

It's been two weeks since the party. Shen Yuan had happily gone back to his little homebody life when Shang Qinghua burst into his room, on his hands and knees begging.

He heard about a diplomatic party at Pride, being held at Pride Manor. Mainly made for Big Wigs, Lords, high ranking sinners, but in true hell fashion, everyone who can and wants to will crash the party. That now included Shang Qinghu and Shen Yuan.

"Please, bro! If your gay life crisis guy was really a Hell Lord, Mobei-Jun is definitely his assistant! I have to see him again!"

Despite that comment, Shen Yuan agrees to go. Something about Shang Qinghua needing a wingman or an escape plan in case Mobei-Jun tries to bite him again. (Shen Yuan grabbed Shang Qinghua's shoulders when he told him that.

"You're… he tried biting you?!"

"Yeah. I think it's something to do with something in demon culture but I can't remember."

"Do you know if it's at least good or bad?!"

"No, that's why I'm asking you to come to help me if he tries biting me again Cucumber-bro!")

(It was mainly due to Shang Qinghua moaning Mobei-Jun's name in their sustenance exchange. For his friend’s benefit, not because it hurt his pride or anything )

He ends up in the same green button-up he wore to the Lust party, tacking on a white vest and white slacks this time to get the more pompous asshole to look he knows everyone will have. Shang Qinghua gives him a nod of approval before he opens his portal and they arrive. It's not that Shen Yuan has never been to pride, but he's never been to the center of it.

The buildings are massive. They’re all made with pure white quartz. Human mansions pale in comparison to the size of Pride Manor. No wonder people crash this party! He wonders if the Pride Lord has enough sense to lock up all valuables, or if he could make a fortune while Shang Qinghua gets demon-courted or dies or whatever happens to him.

He turns to Shang Qinghua, as they enter the door and step into the sea of demons. "Do you have a plan for finding him here?" Shang Qinghua looks at him blankly. "Do you even know if he's here?!"

"It's diplomatic, if he wasn't just calling himself Lord Luo for his pride, then he'd have to be here with that guy!"

Dread fills Shen Yuan. He completely forgot he had a chance of seeing that asshole from last time. He looks at Shang Qinghua, thinking about protesting this adventure and going back home to catch up on his one stallion novel, Space and Time, but his friend's bright smile has him biting his tongue.

"This party won't suck as much ass as the last one at least. Let's go have fun, maybe we'll even find a charcuterie board!"

"A charcuterie board? Really?"

"Yeah. Cheese is good, bro. You know I'm a slut for cheese."

Shen Yuan rolls his eyes. "Let's go mingle and see if we come across one then," Shen Yuan pauses, looking at some of the grand staircases up the sides that lead to an impressive long hallway. "And while we're at it, let's steal something valuable from a room."

"Oh, we should. I could turn it into a wife plot!"

"And I could turn it into cheese money."

"We'll definitely steal something valuable before we leave."

The two grin at each other.

The first thing the two do is pin down a waiter walking around. They grab a glass of champagne (Shang Qinghua grabs three in total, picking one up and throwing one back like water, then taking two more before the waiter walks away.) and end up just eavesdropping on conversations while they scan the crowd, and wander around when they linger for too long. Shen Yuan hopes Shang Qinghua has been keeping track of where they've been going because Pride Manor was massive. He genuinely has long since lost where they entered, he can’t even recall where they are. He doesn't think they're on the same floor they started on, but he does not remember going up or down any stairs at all.

The two currently stand in what looks like a ballroom, it feels a bit off with all the demons standing around and chatting instead of dancing. The two stand around a white pillar, listening in on the conversation between a chimera and what he is pretty sure is a royal leviathan in a humanoid form about some unobtainable man.

"Seriously, it feels like he's hiding some sort of mate or something. There's no way he's rejected like, what, thousands of proposals?" The leviathan hisses, earning a scoff from the chimera.

"Then again there's no way he has a bride. Rich, handsome, powerful? A demon? How do you not want to play? How would he willingly shackle himself?"

"Yeah, but even succubi aren't even cracking him. An official joining of Envy hasn't cracked him! He should've cracked by now."

"Cucumber-bro." Shang Qinghua gently elbows him.

Shen Yuan looks at him, wondering if he's thinking the same thing as him. Which is, for the record, holy shit it is a royal leviathan! If he could take them home tonight he would be rich! He wonders if he should go for it, he really hasn't used his incubus powers in years to seduce (then again he always had trouble using them anyway) but imagine him! The husband to the Lady of Envy! Instead, he finds his friend captivated by something else. When he follows his gaze, he sees familiar gray skin he can recall pinching Shang Qinghua's cheek.

He's never seen the man fully, but he can understand his friends' obsession with him. He gives the man a quick once over, he really is stunning, but his mind flickers to someone even more so, and searches for the sight of brown fluffy hair around the man before Shang Qinghua is elbowing him again. "Dude. I can't believe it. A Lord flirted with you!"

Shen Yuan sucks his teeth. "Whatever, are you going to go shoot your shot or not?"

"Cucumber-bro. Be honest." Shang Qinghua turns his head, to give Shen a dead serious face. "Do I look ugly today?"

Shen Yuan rolls his eyes. "You're being ridiculous. Just use your succubi charm on him."

Shang Qinghua puffs out his cheeks. "You don't get it."

"And I won't. Well, you have fun with that, I'm going to go find something to steal." Shen Yuan gives him a little push towards the man across the room. Shang Qinghua gives him a look before he puffs his chest out and marches his way through the crowd.

Shen Yuan lingers for a moment, wondering if the leviathan was still hanging around, but decides against it on the idea that the Lord might really be lingering in here too. The unexplainable emotion that swells up in his throat when he thinks of it, is one he needs to go away now.

He flags down a waiter for another glass of champagne before he goes back to wandering Pride Manor, alone.

This time as he wanders he takes the moment to appreciate the interior design. It reminds him a lot of the reverse stallion novel, Into Hou's Manor. He almost wonders if he should've gone for the leviathan everything considered. He feels like this was the universe telling him it's his shot to be in a shitty online stallion novel. Too bad he doesn't know where he is!

He ends up finding a banquet hall. There are a few demons around, most of the ones here are radiating pure gluttony, so he gets why there aren't many around. Gluttony eaters are… interesting, to say the least. Not very appetizing to watch in the slightest. There are a couple of charcuterie boards laying around the long tables in the middle, as well as the recognizable champagne glasses he's been snatching all night. He also notes there's silverware, no doubt expensive silverware laying around. By pride, if he were a braver soul he would've put a couple in his pocket right then in there. Demons are so fickle, however, and he doesn't want to be beheaded for being caught stealing because someone decided to rat on him today of all days.

He ends up focusing on the cupcake tower that's set up on the right. Shen Yuan is a sweet kind of man, and the tower has him drooling. However, he does not want to attempt to take anything off the tower out of pure fear he will be the one who makes it fall. Seriously, who thought towers were a good idea for these? In the end, he stalks closer to the tower cautiously, keeping his eye on it as he weighs the pros and cons of taking one. He ends up debating on it for a while before he decides to risk it. He reaches out his hand to take one off the top—

"What's the little incubus doing at a party like this?" He instinctively recoils his hand, his fingers barely touching the decorative foil on the cupcake. He whips his head to the person now standing behind him, and he has to bite his lip to keep himself from screaming. He could never forget those luscious brown curls and the perfect jawline. Truly the man of that looks like everyone's unobtainable fantasy. "Surely you didn't come to find this Lord and take him up on his offer?"

What offer?! His body is not a pawn!

Lord Luo's smile falters slightly for a moment. "I was merely kidding, little incubus."

"I knew that." Shen Yuan did not know that. "Stop calling me little, I'm like a head shorter than you!"

"Apologies, you never told this one your name."

"Shen Yuan." He snaps through his teeth, only to regret it because maybe he shouldn't have told him his real name. Now Lord Luo could summon him if he decided…

"Shen Yuan…" Lord Luo hums. "Out of curiosity, what is Shen Yuan doing here?"

"My friend came for your assistant, I'm just here as a wingman." Shen Yuan turns his attention back to the cupcake tower. He wilts when he realizes the confidence he had built shattered under the red gaze of the cretin behind him.

"You had no other motives?" When Shen Yuan turns his head to give the man a glare, Lord Luo sends him a wink.

"Impudent!" He spits it out with no real venom.

"That's not a no," Shen Yuan turns his head away from Lord Luo who chuckles at the motion. He's officially done with this man, only still standing here for the cupcake he is currently deciding if it is worth it or not again.

It's silent for a moment before Lord Luo lets out a little laugh, and then suddenly, there's a body pressed up against Shen Yuan's back. He feels heat burning his cheeks as a hand reaches out and plucks a cupcake off the tower with ease. "The tower won't fall, you know. Gluttony magic." Shen Yuan bites his tongue, not trusting himself to say anything coherent as he remembers the heavenly pillar that he had previously sat on that is now pressed up against him. Lord Luo hovers the cupcake in front of him. "Well?"

He stares at it. "Did Lord Luo not take it for himself?"

"No, Lord Luo humbly braved the tower for his incubus to get him a gift."

Shen Yuan feels like he's been set on fire. He would actually like to be set on fire, instead of standing here at the moment. By gluttony and lust, Asmodeus for sure! Why else is he pressing against Shen Yuan for no reason?! Why else would it be working so well?! Shen Yuan regains his thought from the fire going on in his mind, and he opens his palms to accept the cupcake from Lord Luo. The Lord drops it like it was useless to him, as Shen Yuan cusps it like it's precious. He turns to face the man, who is giving Shen Yuan a soft smile. He doesn't feel any guilt as if distorts into a show of teeth when he elbows the man in the side. Lord Luo takes a step back, and before Shen Yuan can analyze the man's reaction he's taken off and out of the banquet hall, cupcake still in hand.

His Incubus?! Why was that man so close?! BRAVED THE TOWER?! He's not going back in there at all. There will be better things to steal than silverware, he decides. At least he got a cupcake out of it!

He looks down at the light green frosting, perfectly swirled up with little black beads decorating it. Even if this tastes like heaven he is not going back to that room, not if Lord Luo is there, is around here somewhere. But he can already tell this will be a bomb-ass cupcake and he's going to wish he had more.

Shen Yuan's mission can wait, he needs good scenery to go with his cupcake for a perfect experience.

He glances over at a staircase in the corner, he's still cradling the cupcake as he zooms up it, remembering he just elbowed a high-ranking member of Hell. No one ever goes upstairs at parties, it's the unspoken rule of parties. One he has to break to save his life! After a couple of twists and turns he ends up finding a room empty aside from the walls of monster heads, with a bench in the center. He takes a seat and observes some of them with awe. The only thing he truly misses about hell are cute abominations that come from god knows where. Like the very obvious scorpion-spider mix that is currently staring him down as he gently peels off the cupcakes foil. Why does anyone need those two things mixed? Why does anyone want those two things mixed? He loves it either way.

He takes one look at it before he bites into the dessert in front of him. He holds back a moan, it is a bomb-ass cupcake. Green tea, the flavor is ever so gentle that doesn't take away from the subtleness of the vanilla mixed in. Buttercream icing has been handled with care, with the beads not being crunchy but instead melting perfectly in his mouth to give it just the little kick of sweetness needed. It's so good. He takes another bite and flips off the scorpider that he decides is jealous that it can't experience the heaven he is currently eating.

"Have you had a bad experience with scorpiders?" He nearly chokes as he whips his head around to look at the new voice.

It is thankfully not Lord Luo. A man who stands slightly shorter than the Lord, with long black hair in a high ponytail, a beauty mark just under his left eye, and sharp silver eyes that seem to glow in the dark. Ah fuck, not another one! He stares at the man for a second and shoves the rest of the cupcake in his mouth. At least he will die happy with the cupcake. The man frowns and moves out from the doorframe to venture into the room.

"I've never seen half of these before, I'd like to fight any of these sometimes." He walks over to the scorpider and touches its head, and Shen Yuan wonders for a moment if he's a basket case. He definitely isn't as formal as the other Hell officials he met, assuming he is one. (Shen Yuan has also only met one…) "Why are you here? Is this your trophy room?"

"No. I'm just a fellow beast connoisseur!"

"Hm… beast connoisseur? That has a nice ring to it." The man then sits down next to Shen Yuan on the bench.

He takes a moment to study the unbelievable beauty next to him. If it weren't for Lord Luo, he'd believe this man is Asmodeus himself! Shen Yuan also notices this man strangely does not emit any sin energy. He wonders if he's a human that snuck in.

The man is looking ahead with a serious expression when he speaks. "So what's your best kill?"

"Kill?!"

"Yeah. We're beast connoisseurs, are we not?" The man blinks. "I'll start. The old leviathan, the great ruler of envy. I went too far in the duel and cut his head clean off. Thankfully I didn't inherit envy due to my status."

"Your status?! The old leviathan lord?!"

"Oh. I never introduced myself." He turns his head to Shen Yuan, without any trace of a smile or bright happy behavior. Shen Yuan shivers, this man truly is a basket case. "Liu Qingge, War."

WAR?!

One of the four horsemen of the apocalypse looks this pretty?! Scratch that, a four-horseman of the apocalypse is sitting next to him! Shen Yuan laughs nervously. "Oh. I'm Shen Yuan. I've never actually killed anything. I just like to study." He almost feels like slamming his head against the wall. He can't believe he gave his real name out twice! To the second power-hungry demon he just met!

Liu Qingge hums. "You should. There's nothing like a good fight." Liu Qingge points over to a fae hung up by her wings. "What about something you'd like to fight? I think a fae would be my second choice."

"Second choice? Why a fae?" Liu Qingge turns his attention to Shen Yuan with a nonchalant smirk. He opens his mouth to answer, but Shen Yuan ends up cutting him off instead. "Wait?! Who's your first choice?!"

Liu Qingge clicks his tongue. "To fight the new Wrath Lord."

"New Wrath Lord? You want to fight the lord of Wrath?!" Shen Yuan is pretty sure a Lord outranks a Horsemen in terms of strength.

"Yeah. On top of all that has happened, he keeps refusing my duel requests."

"All that happened?"

Liu Qingge gives Shen Yuan a blank stare. "Aren't you from Wrath? Shouldn't you know this?"

"I'm… an incubus?"

A moment of silence passes. "Oh well. Surely you know the old Lord of Wrath was Conquest, right?"

"It's not anymore?"

"No! It's that guy’s stupid son who got lucky in a battle or something. I've never been able to beat Conquest in a fight, and now he's dethroned. By his random offspring or so he claims, who is currently refusing to see me for a duel. I need to see how strong this kid is." Liu Qingge folds his arms. "Especially since he killed Conquest. The Horsemen have no clue how to go ahead with finding the next Conquest."

"You don't know?"

"No Horseman has ever died before."

"Have you considered asking the new Lord about retrieving his body and attempting to revive Conquest?"

Liu Qingge looks at Shen Yuan like he's stupid. "I would if I didn't keep getting kicked out when I step foot onto his territory."

"Even if you've set up a diplomatic meeting?" Liu Qingge freezes. It's Shen Yuan's turn to look at the man like he's stupid. "You haven't thought of that, have you?" Liu Qingge does not respond. If this man truly is war… then… "You've been storming his castle this entire time attempting to fight, haven't you?"

"A real man would come down and fight me." Fight first and talk later seems on brand for War, so Shen Yuan doesn't get where the shock at this stupidity comes from. "I haven't seen him here tonight either, but I saw his assistant. I think he's actively avoiding me."

I would too!!! "Why, don't tell me you try and duel him if you saw him tonight?" Shen Yuan teases.

Liu Qingge looks ahead at the scorpider.

Shen Yuan wonders how he seems to attract psychopaths in the demon realm. (This is only the second one, but still!) "Have you been looking for him this entire night so you could fight him in pride manor?"

"I could've sworn I saw him somewhere around here earlier. Then I saw you and almost thought you were him shape-shifting."

"I'm surprised you didn't try and fight me immediately." Shen Yuan lets out a small laugh.

Liu Qingge does not turn his attention away from the scorpider. "I couldn't believe all the rare beasts when I first saw the room closer. I stopped to think about what it would be like to fight some of them, and then decided to see if I could catch you, or him, off guard."

Shen Yuan turns his attention to the grotesque creature that hangs above them like a chandelier. "Well, I can't tell you about the Fae, I can probably tell you the one above us was hell to capture. It's a wrath worm, these things are notorious for destruction."

"I thought you haven't killed before. Instead, are you a brawler?"

"Nah, I used to read a lot about beasts. I also used to travel around just to study them, until I joined my cult."

Liu Qingge turns his attention back to Shen Yuan. "Tell me about them, and where I can go to kill one."

Shen Yuan grins. "If you tell me more about them afterward, gladly!"

The two end up talking about the different monsters and beasts all strung about the room. Liu Qingge shares the ones he's fought before, that alone taking up at least an hour, and he shares anything Shen Yuan wants to know about them. In return, Shen Yuan gives him advice on beasts he's studied up on and weak points so Liu Qingge can defeat them. It's a peaceful, calming conversation that makes Shen Yuan forget where he is. Until he hears voices out from the door. Shen Yuan ends up stopping as he explains a chimera's weak spot when a group of young Fallen find their way into the trophy room.

They take one look at the horseman across from Shen Yuan then point and laugh. "Look, the tiny War Horse came crying to a succubus! No wonder you can't beat the Lord of War, weak ass horseman."

By the time Shen Yuan blinks, Liu Qingge has already shot out and pulled out his sword from god knows where. "I accept your challenge."

"What?" One of the kids stops mid-laugh to realize Liu Qingge is charging at them with a sword. He watches as they run off with awe. Having talked to the horseman for at least an hour, he wouldn't be surprised if Liu Qingge actually did take that sentence as a challenge instead of the not-so-veiled mockery that it was.

He hopes Liu Qingge takes off one of their arms, remembering how they called him a succubus.

He blinks over at the trophies of dead creatures and sighs. So much for thinking of sticking a fire-sea bunny or something into his pocket, unless Liu Qingge outs him or gets accused himself. He takes leave of the trophy room and begins to wander around Pride Manor aimlessly once more.

He thinks of Shang Qinghua for a moment, wondering if his friend is okay, but gets distracted as he ends up finding a hallway with no one walking down it. The walls are red and adorned with paintings. Out of pure curiosity, he walks down the hallway. Each of the paintings are labeled as Lord of some territory, and the years they reigned, or historical moments like the founding of the concubi cults or everyone's favorite, the Greed banquets. None of them look like they would be of much importance, he takes note of each of them as he walks down the hall. None of them are for the current reign either, at least so far. None of them seem out of place either. He's secretly hoping one of them has some vault or hidden door for something valuable. Because when he first saw a hallway of paintings, that was (unfortunately) his first thought. A family jewel or a hidden safe behind Grandma's old painting of her in her prime, in this ridiculously large manor?! That would be cool! And he hopes really, really likely.

As he walks on he finds a portrait, unlike the others. A woman head to toe in white, asleep on a bed between a pair of bloody angel wings as a shadowy figure looms over her. He glances at the title, The Murder of Empress Xinyan. Dated only a couple of years back. Has something so cool looking happened in his years in the mortal realm?

He's too entranced by the painting to notice the sound of footsteps echoing down the hall. It's not until he feels a presence behind him that he turns. He wishes it was Liu Qingge who had finally struck down those children and returned for more exciting conversation. Instead, red eyes glow from a painting away and he feels his muscles and joints lock.

The hallway is long, and he thinks for a moment he definitely has a chance to run. Before he can put his plan into motion, he's already being slammed against the wall by his neck. He tries not to note the way Lord Luo has slotted his leg in between Shen Yuan's own.

"The Empress of Wrath, Su Xinyan. She was quite the novelty. Truly a beautiful painting."

"I never knew her." Shen Yuan gasps.

"She only reigned for thirteen years alongside the Wrath Lord before she was murdered within her own palace walls… but for you to be here…. Who are you, really?" He growls.

By lust, why is his voice so deep all of a sudden!!! Wait, by lust?!

"Shen Yuan, an incubus who lives in the human realm." Shen Yuan chokes out. The grip on his throat is tight enough to cause discomfort as he speaks, but not to interrupt his breathing by much.

At least it was until the other man pressed harder. Shen Yuan lets out a choked gasp at the pressure. "Are you colluding with the four horsemen?" Lord Luo presses Shen Yuan's neck harder. He can't breathe anymore. He opens his mouth to try and communicate such, only to realize he can't. "What is your connection to my father?!"

Father?! He blinks, vision a bit hazy from the sin energy he's now being suffocated in. Then Liu Qingge's words come back to him. The Wrath Lord of his era, Conquest, was dethroned by someone claiming to be his offspring. He almost feels like hitting himself at his stupidity. Surely, Asmodeus would be able to tell the difference between an incubus, concubus, or succubus standing in front of them. The women all around him groan about him not taking on an empress, the new knowledge of Empress Xiyan, and the whole circle that he got dragged into makes a bit more sense. He was still trying to find his wife's murderer! He's definitely still on edge, and with all of Hell knowing he's now an eligible bachelor, the stress is tenfold with ladies or possible murderers throwing themselves at him! Not to mention, every time after each encounter with Lord Luo, Shen Yuan felt annoyed or angrier than he really should have. The scene he found himself in now makes more sense with this knowledge. He's also about to pass out, but luckily not die since he's a demon and the only thing that harms any of them is silver and holy water, and in hopes to get Lord Luo to realize he can't respond he hits his chest and tries to push him as hard as he can (which is very weakly) as he gasps for air one more time.

Lord Luo’s grip tightens. The world seems to turn black around the edges like a cutscene fading away to switch to the next scene. Lord Luo's roar echoes into the hallway. "What are you and Liu Qingge planning?!"

Wishing with the last of his strength he could knee him in his colosseum pillar, he settles for squeezing the offending leg stopping him from doing much with his own. And just as it feels like his soul is leaving his body, his neck is freed and Lord Luo moves away from him, the energy in the air finally settles down. His body slides down the wall as he gasps and chokes for air. He looks up at the now definitely confirmed Wrath Lord, whose red eyes are bright as light bulbs, and glaring down at him with no remorse.

"I… just met…. Liu Qingge…" Shen Yuan struggles out. Lord Luo looks down at him unconvinced, and Shen Yuan averts his gaze.

Conversations from earlier today replay in his mind, and everything clicks into place. This man has taken over his father's position and is now the most sought-after bachelor in Hell. If some random lust-filled guy was pushed into his lap and acted all innocent only to be found chatting with the enemy, Shen Yuan would be pissed too! Especially if he was quite literally a ball of rage!

By the time Lord Luo responds, Shen Yuan can breathe again. "You can't expect me to believe you."

He still hasn't regained his composure, remaining crumpled on the floor as he refuses to still meet the man's eyes. "No, I don't expect you to. But it is the truth. I only met Liu Qingge today, but I can tell you I think that man just wants to duel you for fun more than anything. I had no idea you were the Lord of Wrath until you pinned me against the wall. I pieced it together then." Shen Yuan has half a mind to add sass to it, but considering he now knows he's dealing with a Lord who is more than willing to snap in half instead of flirting with him, he decides against it. He tries not to think about how it took Lord Luo this long before snapping already. And the flirting, which he thought was flirting, but maybe it was just a trap? Doesn’t he have a wife?! Why would he flirt with Shen Yuan?!

Lord Luo crouches down beside Shen Yuan. "I can't say I believe in coincidences." Now at eye level, Shen Yuan timidly moves over to look at the man. The look in Lord Luo's eyes is akin to how a bearwolf looks when someone intrudes on its territory. Angry, but scared. Pity begins to accompany the fear that's slowly dissipating from Shen Yuan's body. "I may have been nice before, and given you the benefit of the doubt, but Shen Yuan, I will not—"

"I have no interest in you." Shen Yuan cuts him off. "You're good-looking, but there are no other emotions beyond that! Besides, if I wanted you to suffer, I wouldn't even have to do anything. You sound like you're going to wear yourself down with this goose chase you've done! Plus why would I be wasting my time, the first time I met you would've been the easiest time to strike." Lord Luo's eyes widen, but Shen Yuan can't tell if it's with rage or shock. He doesn’t know if he wants to know either! "I'm only here because my friend likes who he assumed is your assistant, Mobei-Jun, I'm just the wingman. Which was the same thing as last time."

"...Then you're really an incubus?"

Shen Yuan's face distorts into disbelief. "Insolent! Why would I lie about that?! Yes, I'm an incubus!!"

"I… well you seemed really into—"

"I can assure you I was not!"

"You didn't even let me finish—"

"No need! I was not into anything! Why would I lie about that!" Shen Yuan jumps up as he thinks back to their first meeting, the cupcake incident, and the leg from not even ten minutes ago. He glares down at Lord Luo as his face heats up. Lord Luo follows his movement and has been stuck with the same bewildered expression that's been there for a while. "In fact, I plan on staying as an incubus! That fact won't be changing!"

"...You really aren't kidding." It isn't a question anymore. The two stare at each other for a moment, before Lord Luo, shifts uncomfortably. "I'm—"

"SHEN YUAN!" The two whip their head over to where Shang Qinghua is sprinting down the hallway at full speed. He runs into Shen Yuan and the two topple over to the marble floor, Shen Yuan letting out a groan.

"You couldn't have stopped? Or hit a wall instead?"

"There's no time!" His friend scrambles to get up and begins to tug Shen Yuan along with him as fast as he can.

Shen Yuan takes one look at Lord Luo, still on the floor, face still frozen in that pitiful expression as he watches Shang Qinghua pull away the man he truly thought was a succubus. As bitter as he still is about that, he can only send what he hopes looks like a forgiving and warm expression. He hopes Lord Luo finds peace with whatever is troubling him. That whatever plot he thinks Shen Yuan is a part of is just some paranoid idea. The poor man probably just needs a lay, with how touchy he is with Shen Yuan and the idea of a dead wife is any indication.

WHY DID SHEN YUAN JUST THINK THAT?!

Shen Yuan gets up after Shang Qinghua had pulled him around the corner. "What the hell happened?"

"Okay, first off, he did bite me." Shang Qinghua points to the teeth marks on his cheek, ones that are already bruising slightly. "Secondly, I met his uncle! Somehow, I also threatened his uncle after meeting him!"

"Somehow?!"

"He was saying some pretty nasty things! I couldn't help myself, his uncle walked off and then he turned to me with this expression– and then I bolted! I think he was following me! Get me out of here Cucumber-bro I feel like my days are numbered!"

Shen Yuan stares at his friend in disbelief for a moment. Then he moves his hand in the formation to open his portal home, assuming that any questions he has Shang Qinghua will answer once they're back in the mortal realm. The two of them step in without a word, and Shen Yuan closes it behind them immediately as they enter the living room. He wonders for a moment if the Wrath Lord saw him open a portal at all or if he was still sitting in the hallway bewildered. He can’t tell which one he hopes for more.

Shang Qinghua sighs in relief. "Thank you, bro. I hope I didn't interrupt something back there."

"No, I think you saved my hide as well. So all is even I guess."

"Good good. I hope you stole something nice, I could use a good-ass charcuterie board. I have a feeling someone is going to be coming here for my head in a week."

Shen Yuan's expression falls. Fuck!!! He never got to steal anything expensive!!!! Shen Yuan kisses his easy hundred-thousand yuan goodbye.

Then he thinks back to Lord Luo. He wonders if he should start counting his days.

Then he regrets not stealing something even more.

Shang Qinghua didn't take the news of no charcuterie board well.

The two ended up splitting ramen and giving off their account of the Pride Manor party.

Shang Qinghua got to stick next to Mobei-Jun all night, the other man giving him short responses to the small talk and then the biting which occurred when they went into the banquet room. Then Shang Qinghua met Linguang-Jun and cut in on an argument between the two as Mobei-Jun's uncle went on about needing to be proper and not fooling around with scum. Shang Qinghua promptly told the man to fuck off and used his charm to get him to do it as well. Then he ran off.

Shen Yuan couldn't contain his laughter

After telling Shang Qinghua exactly what happened Shang Qinghua was also in disbelief about the lap story from weeks prior.

"You're telling me, the Wrath lord himself put you in his lap and offered you his chrysanthemum?"

"He did not offer me his, he wanted to take mine! Or my life!"

"When did he ever imply that?"

"Why would a Lord offer me his chrysanthemum?"

"Well, Mobei-Jun offered me—"

Shang Qinghua got shut down by Shen Yuan hitting him upside the head. Then Shang Qinghua gave him a very pointed look.

"Were you using your charm?"

"No! Why would I?! What would I gain from it?!"

Shang Qinghua blinked at him a few times as if Shen Yuan could get it from that, then promptly gave up. It’s not like he can use it anyway, Airplane-bro! But Shen Yuan will never admit that to Shang Qinghua.

A week after the party passed and much to both men's horror there was a knock on their door. At first, neither of them emerged from their respective room, neither expecting a package nor meeting anyone. Then it came again, louder, and the two met each other as they peeked outside their room only to meet each other's gaze.

Shang Qinghua quickly pointed at Shen Yuan, then used his other hand to place a finger on his nose. Shen Yuan gaped and flipped him off, then pointed at Shang Qinghua and then the door.

The other man shook his head. He dragged his thumb across his neck and then pointed to himself. Then pointed to Shen Yuan then the door.

The knocking ran through their apartment once more.

Shen Yuan shook his head. Then he slowly began retreating back into his room.

"Cucumber-bro!" Shang Qinghua whisper-yelled and he stopped pulling back. "You go answer that door and tell them I'm dead!"

"No way! What if it's for me, or I'm killed for being an accomplice!" He whisper-yelled back. "Answer it and die like a man!"

"What if it's for you!"

"I'm manifesting that it's for you, you hack author!"

"Hello?" A knock. "Is anybody home?" Shen Yuan did not recognize that voice. From the way Shang Qinghua raised his eyebrow, he realized he didn't either. But that meant he had lost the fight so he let out a sigh and pushed open his door fully. Shen Yuan watches with a smug grin as Shang Qinghua goes to the door and hesitates before swinging it open.

Shen Yuan can't hear the conversation they have, but he also doesn't dare peek his head out further to try and catch what's happening. After a couple of minutes, the front door closes, and Shen Yuan swings around the corner to see Shang Qinghua holding a pale red letter in his hand. "We are cordially invited to Luo Binghe’s first official Wrath hunt."

"...We were invited to Wrath?" Shen Yuan gapes.

"Nevermind that… Cucumber-bro, how did they get our address?!" Shang Qinghua waves the letter around frantically.

Shen Yuan plucks it out of his hands with ease as he rolls his eyes. He won't voice it, but he's surprised they lasted as long as they did. Lord Luo could've easily summoned him with his real name, or reverse summoned himself into their home. The portal from yesterday was still fairly open so Mobei-Jun or the Lord could have caught up and got the location. Shang Qinghua's "friend" sold them out. He decides to stop thinking of the possibilities and read the letter.

Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua, you are cordially invited to

Lord Luo Binghe's first official Wrath Hunt under his reign ….

Luo Binghe. That's the first time he's heard the Lord's full name, and it fills him with some indescribable feeling at the back of his throat. He looks up to meet Shang Qinghua's mortified gaze. Shang Qinghua then starts pacing across their living room. "Cucumber-bro, what are we going to do?!"

The Wrath Hunt was a collection of demons gathered in the old battlefields of wrath to hunt down monsters and creatures for kill count and to blow off some rage. What started as a thing for Fallen to use in efforts to "get rid of a majority of their anger" turned into a rich party for any demon's amusement. Anyone could show up, and even if they couldn't or weren’t supposed to they would show up anyway.

Being invited was their way of threatening them into coming. Luo Binghe and Mobei-Jun are expecting them to go, and they know where they live! This was the same tactics succubi used back in hell, to ensure a target had the chance to come willingly before the succubi threw their charm on and went to them. Or, the only other thought that crossed Shen Yuan's mind was the idea of the sacrifice. The Hunt started off with a random demon being thrown into the pit to open the monster box of whatever was captured that year, and well, even Liu Qingge would have a hard time with how many got captured coming at him at once.

"We're going to have to go."

"What do you mean, go?!"

"Airplane-bro, deep breaths." Shang Qinghua freezes in place. "They know where we live. We go or we don't go. If we go we can steal something expensive and move. Dip before the hunt."

"Wasn't that your plan last time?!"

He thinks of the ladies from Pride Manor who were trying to become the Empress of Wrath, or Liu Qingge, people who will show up to this event just for Luo Binghe alone. Even if they are expected guests, surely the two would be too busy with diplomats and the hunt all at once?

Shen Yuan frowns. "We go or they come here. I'd like my Mafia Demon Black figures to be standing if I make it out of this alive."

"Oh god." Shang Qinghua lets out a cry. "We're going to die!"

He looks down at the paper, eyeing the date in pitch black at the bottom. "We have two days to say our goodbyes."

While Shang Qinghua has his freak out over never being able to eat noodles or write again, Shen Yuan disappears back into his room. If he has two days left, he can't waste any more time! He has three novels to catch up on before his unseemly death!

The offending day arrives Shen Yuan is not caught up on any of his novels at all. In fact, he started a new one and went to war on the forums, defending the only good wife and obvious choice for the shitty harem! (And he will die on that hill. (He guesses he is going to die on that hill. Haha.)) In the end, Shen Yuan is putting his (only nice shirt) green button-up back on as he tries to think of how to not die here.

Surely, if worse comes to worst, Luo Binghe thought he was a succubus, maybe he can use that to his advantage? He slaps himself. He is not a succubus! Not living in Lust be damned, he's an incubus and he will remain as such! He's not gonna seduce the Lord only to end up under him in the end!! Especially not one with a dead wife! He would rather eat sand!

He forces himself out of his room to see Shang Qinghua pacing back and forth in the living room. It seems Shang Qinghua had the thoughts Shen Yuan did. The man has thrown away his pride and put on a sparkly black dress. The two make eye contact, and Shang Qinghua stops pacing and stiffens.

"If you say anything—"

"You look good, bro." Shen Yuan says instead.

Shang Qinghua flips him off. "When I save my own hide, you'll really mean it next time you say it!"

"I did really mean it when I said it!"

"Just open your damn portal!"

Wrath isn't as extravagant as Pride. The Manor here looks like a nice suburban house in comparison. Where Pride Manor is pearly white and pristine with an air of high society, Wrath Manor is black with red and gold accents that feel like some underground fight club. As the two walked in it still felt grand compared to their shitty two-bedroom apartment loft. The room is filled with demons, and the Wrath sin energy in here is enough to fuel a ten-paragraph comment in the forums alone.

Shen Yuan turns over to Shang Qinghua, who is putting on a look of (false) confidence as he stares out into the crowd. "No matter what you're not going to leave me, are you?"

"No way Cucumber-bro. We're in this together, we'll go out together." A little voice tells him, as he stares at the black dress hugging his friend's curves, that if it comes down to life or death Shang Qinghua will bust out the succubus charm like he's obviously been planning, and start begging for his life like some shitty novel plot. The sentiment of the lie is still enough to make Shen Yuan take a step forward.

He wonders for a moment if Wrath would have its own trophy room before he shakes the thought out of his head. He needs enough money to save his stallion collection! He's walking out of this manor alive and rich, even if it is just silverware stuffed in his pockets and shoes!

The two barely end up at the end of the entrance hallway before gray skin flashes into his view and suddenly Shang Qinghua is no longer beside him. He barely hears his friend cry out his last will as he stands there in shock.

What the fuck just happened?!

He wonders briefly if he should attempt to go and rescue Shang Qinghua, before shaking his head and deciding it's every man for himself. Shang Qinghua has his sparkly dress, he’ll be fine! Once he fully reaches the end of the entrance hallway he takes a look at the left empty hallway and the right where he can hear voices cheering. He swerves left, wondering once again if there would be a trophy room like in pride. Not just for the purpose of beasts, but fae wings would sell for a lot, or even a sword he just hiked off the wall and ran with.

He ends up going in and out of a couple of rooms at the start. Most of them are completely empty save for the windows that are still on the wall. The few that don't have wrestling matches going on that Shen Yuan can't be bothered to be interested in any longer than a second. He traverses to the second floor, and he's getting the same treatment. He wonders if maybe he should just sell one of his figures until he finally finds a room. Robes line the walls, all hung up with intricate designs sewn into hems. Robes fit for a Lord. And Liu Qingge, throwing them around with a scowl.

Shen Yuan grins. "Are you winning?"

Liu Qingge snaps his body towards Shen Yuan, and the scowl neutralizes itself into a blank stare. "No."

"What are you even doing?"

"I'm trying to piss the Wrath Lord off and get him to fight me."

Shen Yuan can't help but laugh. "So you're trashing his robe room?"

"Yes."

"I see, I see. I'll leave you to it." As he turns to leave, Liu Qingge rushes over and grabs his wrist. Shen Yuan turns back to see the man holding out a talisman with his other hand.

"Your… insight was really good for killing a hell worm. Next time I go on a hunt I might call you along. To help. And to study."

Shen Yuan takes the talisman. No way, how cool! Beast hunting with The Horseman of War! Before he can even say thank you Liu Qingge is running out of the room, no doubt still on the lookout for Luo Binghe. He looks back down at the talisman in awe. Summons to War, it says in Latin. He stares at it for a bit too long, as he is about to leave he ends up hearing voices outside and instinctively presses himself to a wall and shoves the talisman into his pocket.

"Lord Luo, surely you could use this one to warm your bed tonight? Only for the night, it would bring this humble one—"

"No. Absolutely not. Like this lord has told the rest of you, get lost."

Shen Yuan freezes.

"But surely this lord knows this siren is genuine. I am not some honey pot sent for your throne."

He blinks for a moment, fear of being found and killed for fun or for stealing leaves his body when he realizes he's essentially eavesdropping on what sounds like a borderline stallion novel scene. The girl even dropped formalities!

"This Lord does not care. He wishes for no one to warm his bed, now if this siren would kindly remove herself from this Lord's presence." Luo Binghe growls.

"Could Lord Luo at least be so kind as to leave this one with something? A kiss, maybe even a mark? So this siren isn't ridiculed by her sisters anymore, maybe even warding others off this lord?"

"No."

Shen Yuan lets out a groan. Someone really ought to give this stallion a push, or else he'll end up without a harem or never get over the death of his first wife! The sound of a shriek has him remembering he isn't just watching some donghua, that was a real conversation.

The sound of a blade being unsheathed is faster than the sight of Luo Binghe rounding the corner and pointing the sharp tip at his neck. When the two make eye contact, they both lock up. Luo Binghe takes a shallow breath in. "Shen Yuan."

Fear finds itself back in his veins rather quickly. "Lord Luo—"

"Silent." Luo Binghe cuts the siren off. "This lord must deal with this now, and deal with it alone. Leave before you are dealt with accordingly for wasting this Lord's time." Red eyes never leave Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan then remembers the swift disposal of Shang Qinghua. He is going to die!!!

"Shen Yuan." Luo Binghe says again. Shen Yuan keeps his mouth shut, afraid he's going to say something to make it worse for himself. Luo Binghe fills the silence. "I didn't… this lord didn't think you would come."

I don't think I had much of a choice! You know where I live!! Then he remembers the robes thrown all over the place. Oh god, He hopes Luo Binghe gives him a chance to explain!

"...How is Yuan-ge liking this Lord's manor so far?"

Yuan-ge?! Luo Binghe looks at him expectantly. "Uh, ah... it's nice?"

"Would Yuan-ge like a tour?"

And really, how is he supposed to say no? With Luo Binghe's sword still being pointed at his neck. He eyes it, only for Luo Binghe to drop it afterward with a face full of guilt. "Sorry." Sorry?! Shen Yuan blinks, wondering if the man in front of him got replaced by someone else since he last saw him. "As an apology for how I've treated Yuan-ge in our past two encounters. Being a new Lord has this one wondering who he can really be close to, as it seems like everyone is out to use him for status and riches. It really is stressful."

Oh.

Maybe that's why Luo Binghe thought he was a succubus at first glance. He was surrounded by them, all probably vying for the throne. It clicks in his head, so he doesn't dare question it further. He decides to give Luo Binghe the benefit of his doubt.

"Just drop the formalities, there's no need." He thinks back to their last encounter and shakes his head, deciding he doesn't want to think about their last encounter at all, ever again. Really, this man is a widower! Relax, Shen Yuan. …Relax over what?! "I'd love a tour."

Luo Binghe smiles at his words. So brightly that Shen Yuan feels like he should be wearing sunglasses to stare at the man. "Thanking Yuan-ge." Really, all it takes is telling a man you don't want to steal his throne for him to be nice to you? "Is there anywhere specific you'd like to see?" Shen Yuan shakes his head. "Let's start with the trophy room."

Luo Binghe holds out his hand, staring expectantly at Shen Yuan. He looks down at Luo Binghe's hand and back to the red eyes, which only shine with determination. Shen Yuan really should just walk away with how this man is reacting, is he really so lonely that he finds solace in Shen Yuan, the only person he has (probably) decided isn’t going to off him in his sleep? Then again, he wonders if this is the Wrath Lord's usual way of diplomacy. He reluctantly takes the man's hand and isn't shocked when it feels like he's touching lava with how hot it is. "Let's go."

Luo Binghe smiles wider and gives a little bow to Shen Yuan before leading him away. Shen Yuan untenses his shoulders, thankful the man's eyes never left him to see black and red strewn across the floor. It feels odd, he still half expects Luo Binghe to turn to him and call him little again (which he does not want at all.), but the man's personality truly did a 180 turn. He wonders vaguely if his little sympathy speech did anything to help, but it's long thrown away when they arrive at the trophy room.

It's grander than the one in Pride Manor. Considering it's Wrath, he shouldn't be surprised. He still ends up gushing over the different were-creature heads hung up on the wall.

"Have you ever seen one before?" Shen Yuan turns to Luo Binghe as he points towards a werewhal head that's stuck between its human form and narwhal form.

"Mm. I've killed most of the things that are in here." That fast?! "When I was thought to be just a Fallen, I often would participate in random hunts to see if I could direct that anger anywhere."

"You're not just a Fallen?" Shen Yuan blinks. Then again, he never felt pure sin that time when he was in his lap. Why does he keep thinking of that!! He mentally slaps himself.

"No." Luo Binghe looks at the werewhal, then back to the incubus in front of him. "Well, yes. But not in the wrath sense."

"Like… the heavenly kind?!"

Luo Binghe nods. "My mom was an angel, and my father well, as you know already, was Conquest." Shen Yuan gasps, truly a stallion in the making!

"So you're a half-breed then?"

"Yeah. I'm surprised you didn't know, it's all that hell has ever talked about since I made it to the throne. Since her death, as well."

So cool! But also, wow, so sad! "No wonder you're so sought after…" Shen Yuan mumbles.

Luo Binghe gives him a look Shen Yuan can't decipher in time, as the man instead gives him a strained smile. "No, that would be the vacancy of an Empress by my side."

"It can be both."

Luo Binghe laughs. "I guess it can."

"Do you not have any plans for a replacement Empress?"

Luo Binghe raises a brow. "Replacement? I haven't taken an Empress yet."

"Su Xiyan?"

"....Was my mother." Oh. Shen Yuan has gravely misread a situation. Luo Binghe gives him a grin. "Why? Did you want the spot? Were you worried you couldn't surpass an angel?"

"Presumptuous! Absolutely not! I was... I was just curious!"

"Mmm. I just haven't found anyone I've liked enough yet, I guess." Luo Binghe shrugs.

How stallion like! Shen Yuan's heart aches for him at the sentiment. "You'll find someone eventually, you're quite the catch!" Shen Yuan gives the man a thumbs up.

Luo Binghe's eyes cloud over for a second before he holds out his hand with a smile. "Well, there's more of Wrath manor to see, shall we?"

He doesn't hesitate to take Luo Binghe's hand again, despite how very well he could stay in that room and be entranced for decades Luo Binghe had let him. Luo Binghe leads him through hallways as they pass rooms, and Shen Yuan can't help but wonder why they aren't going through those until they make it to Wrath Manors banquet hall. It's relatively empty, save for the sweets that line the tables and a few gluttons wandering around. "Is no one hungry?" Shen Yuan jokes.

"Most prefer to be outside in the fields preparing and taking out the competition." Luo Binghe responds as he leads Shen Yuan over to one of the tables. "I recall Yuan-ge liking sweets."

Shen Yuan lets out an affirmative hum as his eyes scan the table. Tiny cakes, cookies, muffins, but most importantly the cupcake towers that he can't help but eye. Black frosting with little dots of soft green, familiar but in a way Shen Yuan can't quite recall. He picks one up, delicately takes the foil off, and takes a bite of it. If the other cupcake tasted like heaven, it had fallen from grace compared to this one. It wasn't green tea, but it was good in a way that he could only think of as comical stallion cooking. Nothing would ever taste this good again.

"Is it to Yuan-ge's liking?" Luo Binghe's eyes are hard-trained on Shen Yuan.

"This is the best thing I've ever tasted. Give the baker a raise. Give him my soul."

Luo Binghe blinks, then smiles brighter than the hottest lava in any volcano. "I'll be sure to let him know." Then he picks up a little cake and hands it to Shen Yuan with a smile. "You should try this as well." Oh yes, he would!

Anytime Shen Yuan finishes a pastry, Luo Binghe has a second one lined up for him to try afterward. Each one tastes like it was specifically crafted by the gods, and he'd ask Luo Binghe if he stole a god's recipe if he wasn't being kept silent by the line of baked goods he keeps being told he has to try. He's trying a wonderful piece of tiramisu when he hears a voice from beside them.

"I wish Lord Luo would feed me baked goods." The two turn their heads and Shen Yuan nearly chokes. It's the royal leviathan he remembers seeing from that one day, complaining around the pillar near him and Shang Qinghua, glaring up at Luo Binghe. When his eyes flicker to Luo Binghe, he's surprised to see she's getting the same glare back. "I didn't realize Lord Luo had a wife."

"Who?" Shen Yuan garbles out over the piece of tiramisu.

The leviathan simply rolls her eyes. "I can imagine why the Lord would hide it, it can't be easy married to a succubus." Shen Yuan chokes again.

What's up with everyone thinking he's a succubus?! He's an incubus, goddammit! Luo Binghe sets the sweets down and gives Shen Yuan a warm smile. "The company here isn't the best, let's continue elsewhere Yuan-ge."

The leviathan narrows her eyes, then spins on her heels and marches away. Luo Binghe gives her a look of disdain, then his gaze flickers over to Shen Yuan and he's smiling all over again. "Shall we?" He holds out his hand again.

He ends up taking two cupcakes for the road as Binghe offers to take him elsewhere. He's scarfing down a cupcake when Binghe brings them to more secluded parts of the manor. The chit-chat is just Binghe offering up some stories of his time here and there before he became the lord. Shen Yuan offers nothing but praise in response. Eventually, they read a room in full black marble, with a throne made of swords that are splattered with blood.

"Your throne room has some interesting designs." Shen Yuan mumbles out.

Luo Binghe chuckles. "That is where I killed my Father."

Huh!

Luo Binghe gestures to the throne. Shen Yuan steps forward to inspect mainly the swords, all still shining and in different sizes and shapes. There's notably one sword sticking out in the middle, bright white and glowing. "The throne is made from past swords of either Lords or great warriors. My father's sword is the one glowing."

Shen Yuan hums. His eyes fall on a patch of blood staining said glowing sword. "Why… Did you kill your Father?"

He turns to see a strained smile on Luo Binghe's face. "After my mom died we went from a loving family to just strangers related by blood and by title. I used to go around and beat up whoever and whatever I wanted to get rid of the anger, and he pretended not to know me until it came to official business. I became bored, after becoming skilled, and realized the next step was becoming a Lord. In the end, it's nothing more than just how the system works."

Shen Yuan's heart feels like it's being squeezed like a rag. He can't stop himself from pulling Luo Binghe into a hug. It's a short one because he quickly realizes who he's hugging. Luo Binghe looks at him with wide eyes as he gets pushed away. "Sorry— I just. Hell isn't easy for everyone but… you've been through a lot." Shen Yuan splutters out.

Luo Binghe blinks, then his face softens. "At least now I have the power to change what I want."

He reminds him way too much of the MC from Mafia Demon Black! Powerful but utterly alone and— "But are you happy?" It falls from Shen Yuan's mouth before he can stop it.

Luo Binghe looks at Shen Yuan in shock again.

"You do deserve happiness."

A loud bell tolls three times.

Luo Binghe shakes his head. "It would appear that I must start the hunt." The lord quickly regains his composure. "Is Yuan-ge participating?"

Ah, very good! They're pretending that never happened. "No! Definitely no, I'm not a fighter."

Luo Binghe hums. "I'll have someone escort you to the best seat in the house to watch, then."

"You're not going to come?"

"I'll be fighting for Yuan-ge's entertainment." Luo Binghe grins.

"Oh. Fight well then, good luck!" Luo Binghe's grin grows even wider, and Shen Yuan can't help but wonder what it was he said as the man turns away and marches off with determination. Or maybe the Lord was just that excited about a fight. Or to get away from the conversation that never happened.

He feels a tug on his pants, and when he turns and looks down he sees a little imp with a wide smile. "It will be this way, Mister Shen."

"Thank you."

He ends up following the imp up multiple flights of stairs. The imp leads him to a door, and when he steps through he's on a balcony from atop Wrath Manor. Two heads turn to him, and brown eyes light up immediately. "Cucumber-bro! I thought you died!"

Shen Yuan had completely forgotten about Shang Qinghua. "I'm glad to see you're alright, Airplane-bro! You disappeared so suddenly." Shen Yuan goes and stands next to him, on the opposite side of Mobei-Jun, who's giving him the iciest glare he's ever received. He also takes note of the large, fluffy robe that Shang Qinghua is now wrapped in that wasn't there before.

Shang Qinghua leans in to whisper, and Mobei-Jun's scowl only deepens. "It's all good now! I think I get to live. What about you?"

"I'm not too sure yet…" Shen Yuan mumbles.

The bell tolls three more times. When Shen Yuan looks over the balcony, he sees a vast space of gray grass. Littered with monsters and creatures alike, their bones, their bodies, and their beings. They all avoid the pit the size of pride manor in the middle, made and tailored specifically for the hunt. The group ceases their fighting to turn to the edge closest to the house, where Luo Binghe now stands tall with a grin and a box in hand. "This lord is grateful you could all show up to his first official hunt." Shen Yuan blinks. Why does Luo Binghe's voice sound so husky, as he speaks out to his subjects? Commanding and wanting. "For this year's hunt, as it will be this Lord's first, a special kind of sacrifice will be used." The crowd lets out a couple of grumbles. Then, Luo Binghe jumps into the pit himself. "To prove my worth, it will be me." A gasp escapes Shen Yuan. Luo Binghe was really asking for it! As he said before, not even Liu Qingge would battle out of that pit as the sacrifice, unscathed! Although, he bets the man would love to try. "Now let the hunt begin."

He takes the lid off the box and throws it on the ground. An icy blue emits from the box, and creatures begin pouring out of it rapidly. The monster pit fills up in a matter of seconds, completely drowning Luo Binghe from sight. Some of the fighters around the pit stood in shock over what appeared like the Wrath Lord sacrificing himself. Others waste no time in going after any creature that has popped up and began attacking whatever the creature can get its hands on. Although, the same could be said about the fighters as well…

Shen Yuan's eyes remained glued to where Luo Binghe once stood. He's trying to piece together what just happened. Did Luo Binghe not even want to be a Wrath Lord? Did he get forced? Could he not want to take any sort of wife or harem in the end that he decided to end his life? Was this just some stallion novel bullshit he was going to spring out of unharmed? He was half angel after all, the universe cards he was dealt were nice. But could he even survive something like that? It feels like a shame. Even if the man wanted to kill him at first, he felt like they had a good time as he got the tour of Wrath Mansion! He may be free now, but for Luo Binghe to die…! To lose such a mind, beauty, and fighter all in one! Shen Yuan would shed a tear for him. His heart genuinely ached at the thought of the man existing no longer.

He turns to Shang Qinghua, hoping to distract himself from all the thoughts swimming in his head. But Shang Qinghua's asking Mobei-Jun a million different questions about the hunt. He then turns back to the pit with an uneasy feeling in his gut.

The fighting is rather boring, to be honest. People grab at the endless pit of creatures or run after the ones that have made it out and started to run. Others are even battling each other again. He almost thinks about leaving, his enjoyment slightly spoiled, but he sees a familiar tip of a sword pierce through a wriggling hell worm in the middle of the pit. Then, in a scene he knows he's only ever seen in Donghua, Luo Binghe bursts through a cut in the worm.

Shen Yuan blinks. He's covered head to toe in black blood all over his face and clothes, even matted in his hair. He sends calculating eyes around the scene around him, as a giant inferno chick also wriggles its way out of the monster's pit. He turns and dashes towards it, moving so fast that the head of the creature takes a second to slide off and fall with the rest of the corpses on the ground.

Even covered in muck, Luo Binghe looks beautiful. From his hair swaying to just his red eyes that could be seen glowing lightly from all the way where he sat all tied together with his serious face that made him seem somehow agitated and bored at the same time. His swordsmanship, his Demon Lord aura! Truly a stallion protagonist in the modern world. It was truly fortunate hell hadn't lost a man like him.

He doesn't waste time joining the fight with the others. His blade work is something to be reckoned with, by all the creatures and any demons who are feeling brave enough to try and take him down. Luo Binghe seamlessly cuts down more demons than most on the field had killed before he rose from their corpses. He's covered in black blood from head to toe, the only indicator it's him anymore is the red eyes glowing from afar and his skill.

After the endless pit stops being an endless pit, fighting turns into less creature killing and more demon battling. Shen Yuan watches as Luo Binghe cuts a chimera in half for stepping towards him. Then red eyes lock on Shen Yuan, the man finally looking up. Luo Binghe gives him a smile and begins to walk off the battlefield, ignoring the rest of the bloodshed. Somebody does get in his way, from the faraway looks of it a troll. Luo Binghe doesn't hesitate in splitting the demon in half and continuing his trek off the field.

He looks so beautiful. Elegant, almost an angel of death.

The urge to go and meet him and make sure he's okay bubbles violently in Shen Yuan. Luo Binghe has just had it very hard! He doesn't deserve any more pain or trouble!

He eyes Shang Qinghua, luckily he's still engrossed in his conversation. He stands up, overcome with emotions and determination. Shang Qinghua is still talking with Mobei-Jun, so the pair hardly notice Shen Yuan sneaking away.

When he exits he realizes he has no clue where he is within the manor. He tries following the path the imp from earlier took him on, but his mind and feet are on autopilot and he's not paying attention to any of his surroundings.

It works anyway, Luo Binghe still drenched in black blood, is walking up to him. "Sorry to keep Yuan-ge waiting. I see you came down to meet me." Luo Binghe is smiling, as he stops directly in front of him. Did he always stand this close?!

"You fought well." He feels his cheeks heating up, and then he can't help how he instinctively grabs the man's cheeks and inspects him once over. "And recklessly. Where were you in the first half? Hm?"

Luo Binghe looks downward sheepishly. "Apologies. I had planned to be the sacrifice to send a message, so I told him to put strong creatures this year. Mobei-Jun had packed the box tightly this year. I didn't think it was going to bury me…. But Yuan-ge, I fought well because it was in your honor." Shen Yuan looks away, hoping to save himself some face. "Anyway, shall we get back to the tour?"

"Shouldn't you get cleaned up? It must not be comfortable to be covered in blood, not to mention how unsightly it is!"

"Sorry. I couldn't wait to continue the tour. I'll be quick." He looks at Luo Binghe when he hears how the man sounds like someone who was just rejected. He catches a glimpse of the soft eyes past the black tar and guts covering his face, and the pout before the man walks past him entirely. He feels like his heart is being grabbed by a Vulcan and shaken.

The next realization comes with him questioning why he felt the need to meet the other man as Shen Yuan stands alone in Wrath Manor when he realizes oh fuck he is definitely maybe just attracted to Luo Binghe. But!!! He's!!! An incubus!!! And Luo Binghe is definitely no succubus. But, he's also not blind. In fact, any straight man would find Luo Binghe attractive! It wasn't hard, given everything about the man. Dreamy night sky eyes, perfect curly brown hair, an amazing jawline, and peerless skin. Who wouldn't think he's the hottest man alive?! Shen Yuan is definitely overthinking this! It's not like he wants Luo Binghe to fuck him! He thinks back to their first encounter, and their meeting in the hallway.

He freezes in the hallway, overcome by his own thoughts. He wants nothing more than to go home and scream into his pillow until his thoughts and feelings go away. He should find a secluded room to open a portal and do just that, but his heart feels like it's going to body slam him if he leaves Luo Binghe with no explanation. He is left alone to his thoughts.

There's no way he should entertain this thing with Binghe… the man is a stallion, a top in his true nature! Shen Yuan is an incubus, he can only get his energy from topping! But there's no way he could top this man! If he were to bottom, he'd be kicked out of his cult and he'd never be able to consume lust energy again! Although… if he were to die, at least he'd get to experience being under…

"Sorry to keep Yuan-ge waiting." When he turns, Luo Binghe is free from the tar, he looks almost like he was born again. Skin shinning, and hair even fluffier than before. He holds out his hand, and this time Shen Yuan hesitates to take it for different reasons.

"Shouldn't you get back to the hunt? Isn't it still ongoing?" He lays his hand in Luo Binghe's anyway, the bright glowing smile and eyes full of hope too much to take. He notes the firmness of the man's grip and shoves the thought back into the deepest part of his mind. (Really. Why was he even thinking about that?!)

Luo Binghe waves his other hand in dismissal. "The hunt will go on for days. Besides, Yuan-ge is more interesting." He then begins to lead Shen Yuan down the hall. Shen Yuan has no time to process what Luo Binghe said at all.

The walk is short, as Luo Bjnghe pushes them through a set of double doors. Books line the walls, shelves are placed throughout with books. There are books wherever your eyes can reach. Shen Yuan gapes, he never would've expected such a big library from Wrath of all places! (He definitely did not think the Lord and its people were meatheads. But then again, Luo Binghe is so smart there's no way he's a meathead.)

"This is our library, it's not the best but it is better than Sloths. Yuan-ge is allowed to take any books he wants from here at any time."

A thought fills Shen Yuan's brain and exits his mouth just as fast as it came. "Do you have bestiaries?" He reaches his hand into his pocket to make sure he still has the talisman from Liu Qingge.

Luo Binghe smiles. "Yes, come with me."

As Luo Binghe leads Shen Yuan through the library, Shen Yuan's eyes end up wandering over the assortment of books the Lord has in his collection. It's massive. There's even an upstairs, with a spiral staircase, that Luo Binghe is gently leading him up. Imps are scattered throughout the library, carrying books or moving them around. Shen Yuan wouldn't doubt if they were making it harder to find anything instead of organizing.

A little corner in the back left is where Luo Binghe takes them. He lets go of Shen Yuan's hand to gesture at a bookcase, a grin on his face. "These are the finest bestiaries in Hell, at your disposal."

Shen Yuan can hardly keep from running his hands along the books he's only heard about on some obscure demon forums. They have The Ultimate Bestiary IV! It contained creatures that have long since been killed off in hell. He wonders if they'd have stallion novels here too…

Shen Yuan is eyeing the bestiary for now. The stallion novel part can come later. He goes to reach for it, only to realize he is too short to grab it from the top shelf. And Luo Binghe definitely saw if the chuckle he lets out is any indication.

Then a body is pressed up against his, and an arm grabs the previously out-of-reach book to hand it to Shen Yuan. Shen Yuan is currently short-circuiting, thinking about the well-toned abs he just felt against his back, and an all-too-familiar third leg.

He grabs the book but makes no motion to move as Luo Binghe leans down to read the title. "Has Yuan-ge ever fought before?"

"A-Ah n-no! I'm more of a researcher."

"I'd love to bring Yuan-ge hunting with me so you could observe. Although, maybe first I could teach you a way around a weapon."

"A sword." Shen Yuan says with a sort of determination. Thinking about all the great stallion MCs with swords, and not Luo Binghe in particular. (Either way, this is so cool! Now two people have invited him to go study beasts! Rad!)

He feels Luo Binghe tense for a moment, only to lean down closer. Shen Yuan wonders for a split moment why neither have they moved at all. "Mm. Yuan-ge would look good with a sword."

Why does he sound like that?! Shen Yuan shivers, wondering if that was an innuendo or if his horny incubus brain is working overtime. "Definitely not as good as Binghe, but I'd love to get there!"

"In time we could turn Yuan-ge into the perfect partner!"

Shen Yuan's brain finally breaks at that. Really… It was such a simple sentence! The image of Luo Binghe saying that above him, shirtless and in the dark. And well, Shen Yuan realizes he definitely wants to fuck Luo Binghe, but he doesn't want to top him. Not at all. It's suddenly way too hot in here and— Shen Yuan has to leave. Now.

"A-Ah. I'd have to take you up on the offer some other time. I have to go, I think I'm dying." The words come out before Shen Yuan can even stop them. Luo Binghe's eyes widen, but before he can question it Shen Yuan shoves the book into the man's hands despite really really wanting to take it.

Shen Yuan wastes no time in sprinting out of the library and into the hall at top speed. Stupid, stupid brain!

Once he thinks he is considerably far away, and alone, he opens a portal to his room and leaps through it. Almost immediately he threw himself on his bed and began to scream into his pillow. Where is his mind going?! This is the same man that thought he was a succubus, who cares if he was beautiful?!

He was also your succubi awakening. A helpful voice in his head snickers.

He turns to think about Luo Binghe instead, trying to hope he can clear out the war in his head. He thinks about the sharp gaze from the arena, or the soft eyes staring at him as he turns away. Then he remembers he definitely just left Luo Binghe alone in the castle, and he thinks back to that blank stare from the man the last time he left him in the castle. His heart turns.

He screams into his pillow again.

Only when he hears the door in the dead of the night swing open, does he remember, he left Shang Qinghua there too.

Shang Qinghua's anger subsides as he enjoys Shen Yuan's pain and suffering. Shen Yuan wasn't planning on telling him, but…

He got a package. The cupcakes he remembers from the banquet hall, with a note on top. He absolutely couldn't read it so he had Shang Qinghua read it instead.

"Why?" The man deadpanned.

"Because I had a gay awakening and realized I wanted Luo Binghe to fuck me."

Shen Yuan hits Shang Qinghua at full force as the man smirks and the words "I told" come out of his mouth.

The note was just Luo Binghe saying he hopes Shen Yuan was doing well since he disappeared and hoped it wasn't anything he said or did, and since he had some leftovers from the banquet hall, Luo Binghe will send the rest to him.

And he was true to his word.

Every other day he got a delivery of pastries, and a note he couldn't read but refused to let Shang Qinghua read them after the smirk he gave every time. Most concerned for his well-being, wondering if the pastries were good, and talking about some sword or monster he had come across that might interest Shen Yuan. It was just too embarrassing! What if Luo Binghe knew what Shen Yuan was thinking? It's already too much that Shang Qinghua knows!

After about a month of the pastries, Shen Yuan comes home after some beast hunting with Liu Qingge. The two kept in touch and he's surprisingly adept at beast slaying, which is good for Shen Yuan's inner nerd so he can tag along and document anything he's never heard or seen before. It’s also a good distraction for whatever is going on in his brain. It’s also good training for when he inevitably goes beast hunting with Luo Binghe. He can’t avoid him forever, he doesn’t want to either! But right now if he sees Luo Binghe he feels like he might combust with the new realization. He goes to check the mailbox, but it's just Shang Qinghua's magazine subscriptions sitting idly in their box. And Shen Yuan does not feel anything in particular about it at all. No way at all is he upset that the delightful baked goods he was getting from the hottest man alive have stopped.

He rolls up Shang Qinghua's magazines and hits them off on his door to vent his (not disappointment) emotions before he swings said door open and nearly screams. Not only is Mobei-Jun sitting and stiff as a board on his couch, but Luo Binghe is also there beside him with a familiar box in his hand as the two stare at the turned-off TV in front of them. He almost has half a mind to close the door and make a break for it. He still doesn't know where he stands with the Wrath Lord, and quite frankly, his feelings either! But Luo Binghe whips his head to Shen Yuan as soon as he tries to take a step back, and his expression is beaming at the man.

"Yuan-ge! I'm so glad you're well!" The smile on his face makes Shen Yuan feel like he's being put through the pear wiggler.

"Ah… yeah… sorry about last time—"

"No need to apologize." Luo Binghe's smile is so pure and innocent that he feels like he might throw up from the sickeningly sweet feeling in his bones.

He enters his apartment with a smile he hopes isn't showing how nervous he feels. "So, what are you two doing here?"

"Qinghua invited us," Mobei-Jun replies, remaining unmoved from the couch.

The question of why almost escapes Shen Yuan's lips, but instead Luo Binghe makes his way over to stand directly in front of Shen Yuan holding out the familiar red and gold box. "Sorry, since Shang Qinghua invited us I figured I'd bring the pastries this time so they'd be fresh out of the oven for Yuan-ge." Shen Yuan blinks.

Wait a minute… his first note, the one that haunts him through Shang Qinghua's voice… "I thought… the baked goods were leftovers from The Hunt?" The two look at each other. Luo Binghe's eyes go wide and give him a look akin to a doe in headlights. There are no thoughts behind his eyes, but they sure do look innocent and cute!

Silence falls between Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe as the two stare at each other. Luo Binghe is not moving or motioning to say anything, so neither is Shen Yuan. Meanwhile, Shen Yuan's thoughts are key mashing a mile a minute. Fresh out of the oven?! What servant have you been making cook for me almost every day, ah?! Why are you making someone cook once a day?! Are you still trying to kill me?? Get me killed?? KILL THEM?!

When he goes to open his mouth to voice anything into the silence, Shang Qinghua's grand appearance has whatever might've come out dying in his throat. The man eyes Shen Yuan, then grins, completely unaware of the tension he resolved and caused. "Sick, my magazines. Thanks, Cucumber-bro!" He saunters over and takes the magazines out of his hand completely unphased.

Mobei-Jun finally makes his presence re-known as he stands up from the couch. "Qinghua."

Shang Qinghua hums. "Ah. You also let them in? Surprise ruined, then."

"We portaled in directly," Mobei-Jun responds.

"Surprise but better, then." Shang Qinghua throws a smirk in Shen Yuan's direction.

Shen Yuan feels like he's about to commit a hate crime in the comfort of his own home. "Hey Airplane-bro, can we talk over in the kitchen for a second?"

"Sure bro!"

Mobei-Jun glares at Shen Yuan and sits back down. Luo Binghe has still not moved. The two walk to their kitchen over in the corner, the half wall not hiding anything other than Shen Yuan clenching his fists. It also does not hide how Shen Yuan grabs a magazine from Shang Qinghua, only to roll it up and smack him hard across the back of his head. "What are they doing here!" Shen Yuan whisper-yells.

Shang Qinghua lets out a groan. "Look bro, no offense, but I am trying to get some good dick. I figured I'd help you get some too in the process."

"I'm an incubus!"

"I never said you'd be taking his dick—"

Shen Yuan hits him again for good measure. "I am not attracted to him, in any sort of way anyway!" He feels like he's on fire, and he's praying Shang Qinghua doesn't know he's lying. (They both know he is lying.)

"Then keep him busy or something! I don't know! He insisted on coming with Mobei-Jun!"

Shen Yuan hits him again. He goes to add in one more extra swing for good measure, but Shang Qinghua finally dodges. "It'd do you some good to make new friends anyway!"

"You're one to talk!"

"Yeah yeah!" Shen Yuan goes to hit him with fury blinding him. That, however, allows Shang Qinghua to duck and then scurry past Shen Yuan from under his arm and back to the living room. That rat!

"So Mobei-Jun, let me show you to my room! I bet you've never seen a computer before." Shen Yuan hears a hum in response.

When he turns his head Shang Qinghua and Mobei-Jun are shuffling away, leaving a starry-eyed Luo Binghe alone on the couch. Shen Yuan huffs. He might as well be a good host! It would be rude to leave a guest as nice as Luo Binghe sitting there in his small living room only to admire the black screen of a TV. Red eyes meet his gaze and have him freezing on the spot. Luo Binghe smiles. "I'm glad Yuan-ge is well, I was worried he had gotten sick and that's why he had to leave."

Shen Yuan shakes his head. The only way demons usually get sick is a lack of sin energy, and so far he was doing fine. He wonders if Luo Binghe knows this because the idea of essentially telling Binghe he was in fact fucking to reassure him makes him want to die on the spot. Although, why wouldn’t he know?! He’s a wrath lord!! Shen Yuan forces words out of his mouth so he has to stop thinking. "I'll give you a warning next time if I have to leave so suddenly again."

"Yuan-ge is good on energy then?"

A loud thud saves Shen Yuan from the embarrassment of responding to that. He turns his bright red face to the hall where the noise came from, only to remember Shang Qinghua's words.

Yeah, he's fucked the guy, but also, he does not want to hear him get railed. Luo Binghe probably doesn't either!

"Would you like to take a walk around the city streets? Have you ever been to a human park before?" Shen Yuan turns back to Luo Binghe with a strained smile. "You can leave the baked goods on the table, we can have some when we get back."

Luo Binghe blinks. Shen Yuan wonders if he's offended the man somehow— "Sure. I'd love to!" He springs off the couch and places the tin down on the coffee table. "No portaling, just a walk with the two of us?"

"Yeah. Humans would freak if they saw us come out of something that materialized in thin air." Shen Yuan heads to the front door, his hand is over the knob when he pauses and turns to the Wrath Lord. "If that's okay with you?" He doesn't want to do anything Luo Binghe doesn’t! He’d feel awful!

He's shocked to see the man turning slightly pink. He nods vigorously at Shen Yuan. Can Lords get sick? He wonders as he ushers him out of the apartment, hitting the lock button on the pin pad before he guides Luo Binghe down the stairs.

He ignores the urge to grab his hand as he does it. Just to make sure Luo Binghe is okay!

The two walk down the bustling streets and Shen Yuan absent-mindedly begins pointing out stores that he likes as he takes them to their destination. He hopes he isn't coming across as thinking Luo Binghe is dumb, the Lord surely knows human society and their silly little buildings! He ends up saying such at the end of his long rant about the coffee shop they passed. (They've never gotten his coffee right, not even once!) Luo Binghe's red eyes feel like they're staring into his very soul.

"You could never offend me, Yuan-ge. In fact, even if I knew these things already, I like hearing you talk."

Shen Yuan picks up speed as they walk on. Hoping he outruns his embarrassment and fluttering heart. Of course, a hot guy complimenting him would leave him flustered, especially one as handsome and influential as Binghe!

When they make it to the park it's empty due to the late time. Shen Yuan goes and sits on a swing without thinking, and Luo Binghe sits on the opposite one as well. Then he lets out a little laugh, one that sounds almost like silver bells ringing to Shen Yuan.

"It's odd being on a swing not over some kind of torture pit or floor of magma."

Shen Yuan laughs. "People here bring their little ones usually to do this for fun, isn't that weird? I definitely used to think so."

"Humans are definitely odd."

"Yeah. They have some smart ideas sometimes, though."

Luo Binghe hums into the night. "Is that why Yuan-ge doesn't live in hell? Because of fascination with humans?"

A sinking feeling washes over Shen Yuan as he blinks. "Sort of… I didn't get along very well with other incubi." Joining a cult was awful. He always got cat-called female incubi, and he doesn't get it! They were a part of the same cult! Most of them watched him sign his blood oath and still gave him winks when he went about in incubi territory. He kicked a pebble that was a little too close to his foot. "Sex is cool and all, and yeah that's how I get my energy, but the constant parties and mingling were boring. Some made fun of me for my weird tastes."

When he turns to look at Luo Binghe, the man is locked onto him with interest in his eyes. "What weird tastes?"

"Things like my love of beasts, lack of interest in sex. And you know, cult. I just moved to the human realm to be free of constant parties and other incubi. They are the worst."

Luo Binghe snorts. "And you're better than them?"

"Oh, definitely. I haven't cat called you or seduced you yet, have I?"

The smirk on Luo Binghe's face makes Shen Yuan wish he could retract his statement. "I don't know, that first time we met…"

"I! Was! Pushed!" Luo Binghe hums, and Shen Yuan pathetically stamps on his foot which causes the Wrath Lord only to laugh.

"Well, what else do you like more about the human realm?"

"Oh. The food, definitely. It's a crime we have taste buds and no reason to use them, human food is so useless but it tastes so good!"

Luo Binghe finally looks away from Shen Yuan and out into the city. "Would you like to go grab something to eat?"

He almost rolls off his tongue. He eyes the stars in the sky. No restaurants would be open around this time, and he's a bit conflicted about taking the Wrath Lord out for some McDonald's. Luo Binghe seems a bit too refined to be eating some Big Mac or McFlurry. There is always convenience store food, but he still isn’t too sure if the Lord could get sick, and he doesn’t want to find out! He will bring no harm to Binghe! "Nothing worth your time would be open. I do have some things back at my house but—" He pauses. Most of it is instant ramen, he can't cook, and once again, Shang Qinghua getting "some good dick".

Luo Binghe side-eyes him. "If you wanted, we could go back to Wrath Manor and eat."

"You have food at Wrath Manor?" He wants to hit his head against the pole. Hasn’t Luo Binghe been sending him pastries every other day?

He nods. "My mom was angel, so she used to eat. It's become something of a habit for me, so I got an actual kitchen installed when I became the Lord."

Shen Yuan beams. He wonders if the cook would be the same baker that's been making him sweets. He then remembers he really should tell Luo Binghe that fresh baked goods are unnecessary, and he will live. When he's not distracted by food. "Yeah! That sounds like a plan."

Luo Binghe hops off the swing and opens his portal. Red hued, much like his eyes. Shen Yuan hopes there's no one walking by, but his mind is filled with the idea of five-star cooking humans gush about as he steps through.

The portal led them directly to the kitchen, and unlike the rest of Wrath Manor, it is pearly white. Luo Binghe appears behind him with a grand smile on his face. "Would Yuan-ge like anything in particular?"

"Not really… why not something of Binghe's favorite dishes?" Surely, this man must have a palate that only accentuates his greatness!

"All right. I'll get started. Yuan-ge can have a seat wherever he likes."

Shen Yuan watches in astonishment as Luo Binghe walks toward the fridge. "You'll be making it?"

Luo Binghe turns to Shen Yuan with a pout. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"No, no! I just assumed you'd have a chef make… things for you…"

"And risk sin poisoning? Absolutely not."

"Then… you just have chefs for important events?!"

Luo Binghe turns back to the fridge. "Of course. Chefs are expensive."

"Then why are you still paying a chef to make me pastries?"

When Luo Binghe turns this time he has ingredients piled in his arms. He gives Shen Yuan a confused look. "I haven't been. I've also been making your pastries?"

Shen Yuan feels like he just got shot through the heart with a beam of pure heat. "You've been making my pastries?! Once again I thought those were old and from the Hunt! Binghe, that really is too much for this simple incubus!"

The Wrath Lord's ears tinge pink, and Shen Yuan almost feels like the stallion protagonist in front of him turned into a love interest from a dating simulator. "Yuan-ge deserves only the best-tasting baked goods. Besides…" He sets his ingredients on the counter and refuses to meet Shen Yuan's eyes like a blushing maiden.

"Besides?!"

"Just… Let this Lord make up for his past wrongdoings with his sweets. It would put this Lord at peace." Luo Binghe shyly mumbles this, while still refusing to look directly at him.

Really… does he have to be so cute while also being annoying! Shen Yuan huffs and turns to look at the wall, suddenly also not wanting the other man to see his reaction. He sits up on a counter away from Luo Binghe. "Okay."

His answer seems to work because the silence that falls between the two becomes comfortable.

After a while, he turns to watch Luo Binghe cook in silence. There's a warm smile on his face. He looks serene, almost like a holy being with all the white surrounding him. Then again, he was holy, at least half, wasn't he? Shen Yuan can't tear his eyes away from the sight. More interesting than any Donghua he's ever seen, and hotter than any of the wives and protagonists combined. Luo Binghe side-eyes him as he looks up from the pot he's been stirring for a while, and Shen Yuan almost falls backward from the smile the other man gives him.

What happened to the angry demon lord who was trying to kill him not even three months ago?! There's no way this love interest was the stallion protagonist he met so long ago! Love interest?! If Shen Yuan was only that lucky. No amount of charisma and wiki cheats would sit him next to the (literal) godly being that is making him food the way a housewife would! The only thing missing is an apron, maybe even a matching bow holding his hair up to complete the picture. Maybe even nothing on underneath—

"I hope you don't mind that it's nothing special." Shen Yuan jumps when Luo Binghe is directly in front of him with the same tender look on his face as before.

What the hell was he thinking about!!!

His eyes shoot to the bowl Luo Binghe is holding out to him, where fluffy white congee is piled in. He takes the bowl, trying his hardest to not touch the hand holding it out to him. (Cause he doesn’t want to! That would be awkward!) (Why is he even thinking about that?!)

He notices Luo Binghe staring expectantly at him, making his mouth move before his thoughts. "I bet it will still be the best thing I've ever had." Luo Binghe smiles and hops up on the counter beside Shen Yuan. He silently thanks whatever deity is allowing him to make it through this meal without looking at Luo Binghe's face because he doesn't know if he can be normal about it.

He stares down at the congee and absent-mindedly wonders if it's Luo Binghe or if he really just needs to get laid to replenish his energy.

He shoves a spoonful in his mouth to avoid the answer.

Ginger and garlic hit his tongue before it bursts into the mix of vegetables and other blended spices Luo Binghe had added. It's the best thing he's ever eaten. Maybe an exaggeration, because the pastries belong beside it on his mental tier list

He's astonished that when he looks at Luo Binghe the man is eating his creation like a human would eat store-bought ramen. "Is it to your liking?" Luo Binghe is now looking at him expectantly.

"It's the best thing I've ever eaten." It rolls off his tongue without thinking about it. He watches as The Wrath Lord blushes under the praise, then Shen Yuan turns back to staring at the pristine kitchen, not thinking about how his blushing state was cute.

They eat in comfortable silence. Shen Yuan feels eyes on him every so often, but when he turns Luo Binghe is staring at the sink with a smile on his face. He feels like squirming at the thought of Luo Binghe's eyes on him, and he can't decide if it's in a good or a bad way so he locks it in a box and pushes it into the recesses of his mind.

Once he's finished eating the bowl is slowly taken out of his hand, and he watches as Luo Binghe brings them over to the sink and turns the water on with a frown. For a lord to be doing dishes! But also… it feels almost like some scene out of a shitty human romance novel or something! Shen Yuan jumps off the counter and placed himself next to Luo Binghe. "Let me help you with the dishes—"

"No." Luo Binghe does not even spare him a glance.

Shen Yuan has to bite his tongue from gaping. So cold in a second! "It's only fair, you made the food—"

"Yuan-ge is a guest! I would never let a guest do the dishes."

"I could help—"

"No." This time eyes snap to him. The look he gives Shen Yuan makes him shiver. Cold, demanding with a "that's final", paired with a tone of the same variety. When the man blinks his expression is back to the Luo Binghe who's your next-door neighbor and childhood friend that writes poems with you. Shen Yuan's knees feel like jelly. The young maiden act of Luo Binghe is already taken his heart, he doesn't need the Wrath Lord to take his lust too! "However, it would be incorrect for me to leave Yuan-ge unentertained." Wait, why did he admit that?!

"I should probably go home," It comes out as a squeak. He has to stop looking Luo Binghe in the eyes because he keeps thinking about them peering down at his— "I wouldn't want to worry Shang Qinghua."

He can see Luo Binghe's pout out of the corner of his eye. "If Yuan-ge says so."

The red hue of a portal opens, and Shen Yuan is already dashing through it. He also at the same time becomes aware of his problem. He could die of embarrassment. He's an incubus!!! Incubus! Maybe he's just a little bit behind on his sin energy!

He almost laments not saying goodbye to Luo Binghe, but the man is behind him in his living room when the portal closes. Shen Yuan feels like crawling under his covers and perishing there peacefully.

He glances over his shoulder to see Luo Binghe still pouting. "Is Binghe okay?"

"Yes. I just wanted to make sure Yuan-ge got home safe."

Shen Yuan bites his cheek. Does Luo Binghe know?! Did he see?! Oh god, is he going to make fun of Shen Yuan!? Or even better— "Well. Thankfully portals aren't that dangerous, so I made it home fine." He turns around and closes some of the distance between him and Luo Binghe, in hopes his problem would be less visible.

Luo Binghe's eyes widen, and he looks away. "That's good. That's good."

Luo Binghe does not make a motion to leave. "Well. Thank you for the portal. I'll see you around?" Shen Yuan wonders if Luo Binghe is going to leave, or if he's going to even look at him.

He does, with shock painting his face. "I thought—"

Luo Binghe is cut off by the sound of a door hitting a wall alongside Shang Qinghua's nervous laughter. Shen Yuan's thoughts simultaneously fill with Thank fucking god and Oh god fuck not like this.

He refuses to turn his body, opting to turn his head again to look at Mobei-Jun and Shang Qinghua rounding the corner. Shang Qinghua would never let him live this hard-on down if he found out.

Shang Qinghua freezes. "Have you two been here the entire time?"

"We just got back." Shen Yuan tries to sound as cool as possible.

Thankfully Shang Qinghua doesn't notice anything is off or is refusing to acknowledge it. He replies just as cooly, "Good, good." Shen Yuan would raise a brow if he wasn't also hiding something.

"Well, it's getting late, so Luo Binghe was just leaving." He feels eyes staring down his neck.

"Perfect, Mobei-Jun was leaving as well!" The gray man side eyes Shang Qinghua.

"I guess you two will save on portal energy then!" Shen Yuan jokes. The only laugh he gets is Shang Qinghua's nervous one.

"Well, it was nice having you guys over!" Mobei-Jun nods, and when Shen Yuan turns, Luo Binghe has stepped away, with an almost solemn expression as he summons his portal. "I'll summon you sometime soon, my King!"

Shang Qinghua freezes up. Mobei-Jun only nods in response again, as he follows Luo Binghe to the portal. Shen Yuan gives him a small wave as he steps in, feeling like his goodbyes from earlier were good enough. "I'll stop by again sometime, Yuan-ge."

Shen Yuan nods, not wanting to say anything as incriminating as Shang Qinghua did. Luo Binghe seems a bit happier by the response, and he disappears into the portal. Mobei-Jun follows suit. Once the two are gone the portal shrinks and disappears with a tiny pop.

Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua look at the absent portal for a while. Until Shen Yuan can finally spin around, a smirk on his face. "So… my king?"

"I don't want to hear it! Why were you standing so close to Luo Binghe!"

"Because we're friends!"

"Yeah! Sureee!"

"Enough about me, you and the demon that almost ate you, huh?"

Shang Qinghua turns red. "Well. Actually. Fun fact about that Cucumber-bro."

"Hm?"

"He thought you and I were together that night when he took me." Shen Yuan gags. "Apparently he stole me because he thought that? On that note, since you know, he's a pride demon. I don't think we should fuck anymore." Ah, fuck. "For your safety. And for mine. And for my sexual health."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!"

Shang Qinghua shrugs. "You'll figure it out." Then the man turns on his heels and walks off.

Well. Fuck! There goes. His chance of hoping whatever in him was just a lack of lust energy. At least for tonight. He'll just have to go back to dating apps! Surely, they can't be as bad as they remember! And surely this thing, these thoughts go away when he gets laid again!

After a night of unneeded rest, only really taken to calm his mind, Shen Yuan starts up his dating apps once again.

He really did forget how much he hated these things. Women were either straight to the point or way too formal for Shen Yuan. Conversations felt like they went on for eons, and no one really caught his eye. Then, something he'd never admit, he tried adding more men to his pool. Then he found he ran directly into a wall. They weren't tall enough, or their hair didn't look fluffy. They did not look like they could physically overpower him— but why would he want that?! He's an incubus! Inc! U! Bus!

His prowl of the dating apps goes on for one more day, then Shen Yuan gets Luo Binghe's every other-day delivery of pastries. Matcha-dipped strawberries. It tasted a lot better than it sounded. As he bites into one he wonders very briefly if he could convince Luo Binghe to sleep with him. Brown locks underneath him on the bed, not too different from his blushing maiden persona– no, that seemed a little wrong. He was still a stallion protagonist at heart! His head switches gears to the cold and calculating eyes hovering over him and it doesn’t feel like Luo Binghe at all, at least not the one he's grown acquainted too. Instead, his brain switches to eyes locked down on him, a playful smirk, playing innocent. He nearly chokes, well if he was human he definitely would have choked. He shakes his head, he can't believe his brain keeps forgetting! He's an incubus! Incubus!!!

Hopefully, these baked goods taste so good because of an overwhelming amount of Gluttony energy, enough for him to survive.

He finds out they aren't enough to survive off of in the worst way. Shen Yuan is out beast hunting with Liu Qingge. They're somewhere in Lust, Shen Yuan suggesting it because of the familiar territory to him, while also silently hoping he absorbs some energy from the air because he feels like he's been trudging through mud for the past few days.

Liu Qingge notices it too. "Shen Yuan, are you feeling alright?" His usual scowl has almost a hint of worry to it.

Shen Yuan smiles through the weight all around him. "Yeah! Just a bit odd being back in lust." Well, it's not like he's lying.

"Did you get kicked out of your cult?"

"What, no?!" Why would he even think that?!

"Hm." Liu Qingge turns and trudges forward once more.

As the two walk on, Shen Yuan begins to take note of the change of scenery. Specifically, the way the purple of the grass fades into a bright pink. "We should be careful, we're entering its territory."

"What territory?"

"Didn't I tell you what we were hunting for this time?"

"No."

Huh! How had that escaped his mind? Then Shen Yuan feels something wrap around his ankle. He instinctively stops moving, hoping this thing will think he's a statue. He lets out a yelp as a vine begins slowly wrapping around his body and picking him up. Liu Qingge turns around with a look akin to a guard dog ready to bite an attacker.

"Shen Yuan! What is this thing!"

Shen Yuan turns to follow the vine, suspending him, only to see it protruding ruby red petals mixed in with red trees about five meters away from them. Concubi call them Luxuria, to indulge in your own sexual desire. That's exactly what these plants do. They're drawn to lust for energy. They're mainly known for taking nearby travelers and er… extracting lust energy from them by any means necessary… but in Lust, where the beings are pure lust, it's known to absorb all of your energy until you go back to what you were. Either a soul of a human free of sin or dust. Shen Yuan was going to become dust.

The weight he was already feeling on his body becomes worse. He doesn't even attempt to wriggle free. "You have to hit it–it's ovary!"

"Flowers have an ovary?!" Shen Yuan weakly nods. "Where is it?!"

His eyes roam around the flower, his vision slowly becoming hazy. He's never actually seen a Luxuria up close! Just in drawings. He honestly was hoping before they found it he could just tell Liu Qingge to beat it from afar, he was hoping his lust levels were low enough!

"SHEN YUAN!" Liu Qingge sounds so far away. Almost like he got placed in a plastic container and moved across hell. When Shen Yuan tries to turn to see why he sounds so frantic, he discovers he can't move at all.

He thinks about how maybe if he had taken Luo Binghe up on his similar offer, he'd have a sword as well and the chances of this happening would be slimmer. Plus, his last sight would’ve been Luo Binghe.

Instead, he’s met with the red-hued sky of hell, black closing in on the edges of his vision.

When he opens his eyes he can tell he's dreaming. Mainly from the white mist that seems to follow the edges of his vision, but also because of the person standing in front of him. Luo Binghe is in front of him, in a maid costume. Staring at him with a wide grin. "Yuan-ge is awake! This one was getting so worried."

Shen Yuan can hardly believe his mind. Luo Binghe is in a maid costume. Even worse, it looks really good on him. His fluffy hair with the headband, the skirt, the boob window… "Ah… would Binghe want to change into something more…. comfortable?"

"This is comfortable." He pouts.

Luo Binghe, if Shen Yuan looks at you any longer he won't be able to keep his not-so-holy thoughts back any longer!! "It's just–not that Binghe doesn't look good in the dress, just maybe, he might be easier to look at in a suit?"

"Does Yuan-ge think I'd look good in a suit?" Shen Yuan nods. He hears a little poof, and when he turns Luo Binghe is donning an all-black suit. His eyes are cold and sharp, and despite the warmth behind them, he looks at Shen Yuan like he's a worm. That's making it even worse.

"Ah… I can't believe I forgot! How would Binghe cook in a suit? Maybe some sweatpants and shirts would be better?"

Luo Binghe nods. When Shen Yuan blinks, he's in gray sweatpants and a red t-shirt that Shen Yuan can tell if Luo Binghe moves he would see the outline of the man's abs. Shen Yuan takes a deep breath in. It's impossible for Luo Binghe not to look hot in anything at all. He's a masterpiece.

"I just realized… wouldn't the maid apron have been fine? Or just a normal apro—"

"Ignorant! Best not to stain fine things."

"But… then shouldn't you cook? We wouldn't want me to get stained."

"Shameless!" Shen Yuan says without thinking. Dream Luo Binghe is really too…cocky!

“Of course, I was kidding Yuan-ge, you are my finest thing.” Luo Binghe then kneels down to place his head on Shen Yuan's thighs. Shen Yuan cites mantras in his head because now would not be the ideal time to pop a boner. Or maybe it would— "Yuan-ge will have to give me a second. I just need to recharge all that energy I used changing twice."

"So your head is on my thighs because…?"

"Because it is the best way to recharge." Luo Binghe lifts his head and rests only his chin so he can peer up at Shen Yuan. "Besides… doesn't Yuan-ge think the sight is good?"

Shen Yuan feels like his brain is about to explode. "I mean– I–I think–well– It's not…" He closes his eyes. Choosing to ignore that Luo Binghe can definitely see he does like the sight. "Binghe could never not bless my eyes. Luo Binghe is always a pleasure."

"If you'd let me, I could bring you even more pleasure…" Luo Binghe purrs.

Shen Yuan opens his eyes out of shock, but he isn't looking at Luo Binghe anymore. The sight of him however is still ingrained in Shen Yuan's brain, and probably will be for months. Shen Yuan is looking at his ceiling. He tries to sit up but struggles, feeling like he’s been resting in frozen jello. Then he feels a hand on his chest and his back, slowly helping him sit up and against his headboard.

He looks at Luo Binghe, surrounded by stallion protagonists and harem wife posters, red eyes glowing in his dark room. Why does he keep thinking about Luo Binghe in his bed?! "Yuan-ge shouldn't exert himself. He's weak."

"I'm… fine." Shen Yuan's voice comes out raspy this time.

"You are not fine." Luo Binghe sounds tense. He pulls a cup out from somewhere on his right and holds it out to Shen Yuan. "You're going to have to drink this." Shen Yuan motions to move his arms to grab it, but Luo Binghe gives him a frown. "Open your mouth."

Shen Yuan bites his tongue for the way his mind wanders at that sentence. Then, he does as he's told and parts his mouth slightly. The cup is brought to his lips and slowly tilted, and he resists the urge to gag at the overly sweet liquid that touches his tongue. He almost wants to ask what the hell is it, but Luo Binghe is still pushing the cup upwards. He really intends to make him drink all of it!

There's no reason his body is reacting to this, now!

Only once the cup is empty does Luo Binghe finally remove it from his lips, and Shen Yuan feels like he's been set on fire. "If Yuan-ge starts to feel worse, you'll tell this one alright?"

Shen Yuan gives him a nod. "What was that stuff?"

Luo Binghe places the back of his hand on Shen Yuan's forehead. The man's warm hand against his forehead feels nice. He closes his eyes to soak up the feeling. After Luo Binghe doesn't respond for a while, he opens his eyes.

He's looking back at his ceiling again. He shoots up only to realize it's real. He immediately feels groggy and the unbearing weight back on his body.

Just what the fuck kind of dreams was he having now!

When he ventures out of his room on his two legs; Shang Qinghua is in the living room playing on his switch. "Glad to see you're alive, Cucumber-bro." Shang Qinghua doesn't turn his head at all.

Shen Yuan walks over and plops down on the seat beside him. "What the fuck happened?"

"You got sucked off by a Luxuria—"

"—Don't say that—"

"And got your life saved by a sin infusion potion. I was told you're supposed to be on bed rest now." Shang Qinghua pauses his game, then turns to Shen Yuan with a serious look on his face. "Hey. Go get back in bed dumbass. You almost died." Shen Yuan grunts. He does not want to get up again. "Should be using your stored-up lust energy or whatever."

Shen Yuan does not have stored up lust energy at the moment. It's way too embarrassing to admit that, however. So he just shrugs. "Does that mean you're going to take care of me?"

"I already told you, my King—"

"Dude. I meant in a sick human kind of way."

"Ooooh. No."

Shen Yuan frowns. "Then I am going to go back to your room and ruin your laptop."

"Fine. Fine. Fine! Get back in bed."

Shen Yuan rolls his eyes. He gets up, as slowly as possible so as to not trigger anything, and begins to walk off back to his room. He realizes Shang Qinghua gave him the vaguest response ever, and he learned nothing other than he almost died but he didn't. Should he feel freaked out about this? Why isn’t he freaked out about this?! His mind goes blank for a moment. "Bring me Binghe's desserts." He says before he rounds a corner, deciding he'll need some energy and something to stress eat as he ignores his emotions and catches up on some stallion novels instead. He hears Shang Qinghua snort, but he keeps on with his trudge, feeling too awful to even berate the man properly.

When he settles back into bed again, he's out like a light.

For about two weeks, Shen Yuan does not show signs of improvement, instead, he only gets slightly worse each day. He didn't know why he thought gluttony would work when it didn't before. He ends up feeling too weak to even hold his phone. So not only can he not even go to a dating app for the lust energy he probably just needs to get better, he can't even read his stallion novels! When he's awake, he angrily glares at the wall. And when he's not just mindlessly glaring, his mind wanders to thinking about Luo Binghe. He still gets his baked goods and notes, each wishing him well and he only hopes the Lord is doing better than him. (Shang Qinghua wiggles his eyebrows as he brings them into his room as well. Despite his words, he does come and take care of Shen Yuan out of genuine concern. Also, probably, so he can keep this documented for later, for blackmail purposes.) Some notes ask if he'd like to meet up again sometime in the future, usually phrased by a "If Yuan-ge asks." Or end with questions that if Shen Yuan could pick up a pen he'd respond back to. He also thinks about him in some not suitable for work ways as well, as he glares at the delicious muffins the man sent him and wonders why they aren't enough.

He shoves another one in his mouth anyway, feeling like he's being weighed down by a bag of rocks as he does. Then he decidedly takes a nap to keep his mind off of wishing someone else was

When he opens his eyes he sees red light glowing dimly in his room. It takes a second for his eyes to adjust, only for him to realize it's the red glow of Luo Binghe's eyes. He frowns, it's not unusual for his dreams of Luo Binghe to be back to back, but they don't usually start with the man looking at him from a chair on his right side.

"Yuan-ge, are you awake?"

"Mn." He responds, hoping and praying the dream gets on with it already.

"Shang Qinghua is going out with Mobei-Jun to Pride for a couple of days, so he sent me to come and look after you."

What kind of cheap porno plot is this?

Shen Yuan hums in response. In the recesses of his mind, he's allowed to indulge just a little bit. "Well, I'm glad they sent you."

Shen Yuan can make out the soft smile on Luo Binghe's face. "I was worried I had scared Yuan-ge somehow. While I'm still upset you aren't feeling well, I'm glad you weren't avoiding me." He places a familiar box next to Shen Yuan's legs.

Shen Yuan feels like he just kicked a puppy. He was avoiding you, you poor soul! The thought wretches his heart all the same. He refuses to open his mouth and tell him the same. Mainly because he doesn't want to, but also because if anyone deserves the explanation, it wasn't fantasy Luo Binghe who was probably about to impale him with the heavenly pillar.

He nearly jolts out of his bed again when a warm hand is pressed to his forehead. "Hmm… you feel cold." Luo Binghe looks down at Shen Yuan before he stands up with urgency. "I'll go make you some soup to warm you up." He exits the bedroom.

Shen Yuan lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He hasn't had this type of dream yet, but he knows exactly where it goes! Luo Binghe will come back in just an apron. He hopes Luo Binghe will come back in just an apron. He curses his stupid sex addled brain. He has to give it the fact that Luo Binghe would look good in an apron. But there isn't much the man wouldn't look good in, he looks like he was sculpted by the gods.

He bites the inside of his cheek. Stupid stupid incubus brain! He doesn't know how long he goes in circles with his brain until a familiar red glow is entering his room. The man is by his bedside once again, using a hand to coax Shen Yuan into sitting up. "I hope I didn't keep Yuan-ge waiting." He can't trust his mouth, so he gives the man a head shake. Luo Binghe pushes Shen Yuan’s legs to the side slowly so he can sit beside him on the bed, a bright smile illuminated under the red glow. "I made you some soup, I know it doesn't really cure actual demon sickness, but…"

“The thought is still nice. Thank you, Binghe."

"No need to thank me, the pleasure is all mine." Why did he sound so… husky as he said that line? Shen Yuan stares at him in the darkness for a moment before giving up, leaving it to his once again stupid incubi brain.

Shen Yuan motions for Luo Binghe to pass him the soup. The man's eyes narrow, and he looks at Shen Yuan as if the man has just said the stupidest thing ever. "Yuan-ge should preserve his strength, and allow me to feed him."

What.

Shen Yuan blinks. Luo Binghe simply picks up the spoon from the side of the bowl and begins to lift it up and blow on it. The sight of it makes Shen Yuan decide the red glow is making him look way too seductive. His body still feels like someone put him into the river with rocks in his stomach, so in the end, he opens his mouth and obliges.

The soup is really good. It's definitely not any of the cans he and Shang Qinghua store away just in case. It's definitely not that weird sweet drink he remembers from his first dream because the taste has lingered in his mouth since the stupid dream. It alone feels like it is revitalizing him, and he silently thanks his incubi brain for so perfectly reflecting the masterpiece of Luo Binghe's cooking. It's definitely not the way Luo Binghe stares at him intensely as he puts the spoon to his lips. Or the idea that Luo Binghe was putting something into his mouth. Definitely not from how, even though he's been careful, Luo Binghe still reaches out to wipe something off the corner of his mouth. It's truly just how good the soup tastes.

After the bowl is done Shen Yuan feels less full of rocks but still as if someone had dragged him through a swamp. "Yuan-ge should get some rest, and I'll be here in the morning." Shen Yuan lets out a hum in response. He ends up closing his eyes as Luo Binghe gets up and leaves, and when he opens them—

He really can't believe he had that sort of dream! Something so domestic, it's worse than the porn dreams! He takes one of his pillows to scream into for a moment as it still burns vividly in his head. Most of his dreams have been pretty simple, something under the desk or activities to get him kicked out of his cult and to die a human. Why was that one so long and intense?! He screams once again, only for his bedroom door to burst open.

When he drops the pillow out of mortification he realizes that last night was not, in fact, a dream. "I heard screaming, is Yuan-ge alright?" Luo Binghe rushes to his side.

Shen Yuan's eyes dart over to his bookshelves full of anime figurines. The mass amounts of wall scrolls and posters adorning his walls. Then he feels a warm hand on his forehead bringing him back to the present with realization. Luo Binghe is in his room. Luo Binghe has also probably now had a chance to look at all the merch he has of his favorite stallion protagonists and their wives that aren't just to add to a growing harem. Then he stares back at Luo Binghe who is looking at him with a face full of worry. He's close enough that Shen Yuan notices his eyes still have that dim red glow, but not as noticeable as it was in the darkness.

"Yuan-ge?"

"O-Oh, I-I'm fine! A horrible dream is all." He chokes out, throat constricting as he lies through his teeth. It was a really good dream. One he wishes went a little further… Shen Yuan curses the fact that he can't scream into his pillow again. So he changes the subject. "I can't seem to remember… where'd… Airpla–Shang Qinghua go?"

"He and Mobei-Jun are going to visit Pride around Mobei-Jun's hometown. Shang Qinghua was worried about you so he got Mobei-Jun to ask me to come look after you."

Shang Qinghua really was going to die. "You didn't have to, don't you have a section of hell to run?"

"It can run perfectly fine without me there." Luo Binghe pouts. "Besides. Yuan-ge has a nice room, I would've never seen it otherwise. Your collection is interesting."

Shen Yuan nearly passes out from embarrassment. "Oh the.. novels really aren't that– I mean they're kind of– I get they're not—"

"The one I read while you were asleep was interesting. I hope you don’t mind that I went through Yuan-ge’s books, I didn’t want to wander too far..” Shen Yuan has frozen up like a sheep. “Into Hou's Manor? The plot of Lai Fengge and the servant was interesting."

Shen Yuan now feels like he is going to explode.

"Lai Fengge? And Song Mei?" Luo Binghe nods. Shen Yuan's heart skips a beat. "Absolutely. Hou Mei deserves none of her husbands. I love that Lai Fengge gets his own side story. He doesn't belong in the harem at all, he deserves his own wife who loves him and respects him… at least more than Hou Rui does."

"Hmm. I especially loved their bitter upstart that turned into something softer as Lai Fengge kept getting turned down by Master Hou for Qian Liqin."

Shen Yuan nods furiously. "They had the best romance because of it. The slow development of their rivalry into something softer since Song Mei is a servant and is owned by Hou Rui, and realizes Lai Fengge has not reported her and isn't even seeking her." He puts a hand to his temple, regretting the pain shooting through his skull due to his head shaking. "I never would've expected you to be into stallion novels."

Luo Binghe hums. "I'm not. I thought if you liked it, it couldn't be bad. And I was right."

Shen Yuan has to look away from Luo Binghe to hide the expression that he was giving him. Luo Binghe reading books just for Shen Yuan! Talking about stallion novels with him! With that look in his eyes! He doesn't know what it is, but he knows it's not good. He also has to cross his legs, and he blames his stupid incubus brain for that one. Looking at Luo Binghe has to be too much, nothing else, and nothing more!

"Ah, is Yuan-ge alright? Would you like more soup?"

Shen Yuan weakly nods his head.

Luo Binghe walks out with grace. Shen Yuan briefly debates his options.

His problem may… go down. But it is not going away. He is going to be bedridden until he gets fucked. Or well, fucks. He doesn't want to ask Luo Binghe anything at all but well… It was too embarrassing and incriminating to ask Shang Qinghua to find him a fling! Maybe Luo Binghe would even smile so sweetly as he does it, maybe if Shen Yuan begs, he would even—

Shen Yuan smacks himself. Really! These thoughts are too much!

When Luo Binghe enters with more soup, dread adds on to the already heavy weight of Shen Yuan's body. He takes the soup with a smile but eats it so slowly that Luo Binghe's bottom lip quivers.

"Is the soup bad?"

"No… uh… ah…" Shen Yuan clears his throat. Well, here goes nothing. "You see… the reason I've been feeling so… sick…. Is because…" Shen Yuan feels like he's been set on fire. He makes the mistake of looking at Luo Binghe, whose face is full of worry only makes it worse. He looks down at the soup. "It's been… awhile…. since…. I… well…. You know…. got… energy." He ends up gritting it through his teeth.

When he glances up at Luo Binghe, the lord looks shocked. It's quiet for a moment, before hearing how shocked he sounds as well. "What is… Yuan-ge getting at here?"

"Well… I was wondering… if you…. You would… you see—"

"I would be happy to receive Yuan-ge." Luo Binghe says without hesitation.

Shen Yuan nearly drops the soup out of shock. "What!! No! Binghe would top, no matter what!"

"I–Yuan-ge would let me?" What wouldn't I let you do to me?! Crosses Shen Yuan's mind. He wishes he could bang his head against the wall for it. "Wouldn't that… wouldn't you… Would Yuan-ge commit to that?"

"Commit to what?!"

"Wouldn't Yuan-ge… no longer be an incubus? Would Yuan-ge even be able to earn lust energy afterward?"

The real question is would he even earn any, to begin with…? He grips the bowl of soup out of embarrassment and disbelief. How did this even happen?! He was just going to ask Luo Binghe to find him, someone (but, really… was he going to?), Shen Yuan trusts your judgment! Now he's being offered a golden ticket and he wants nothing more— no he doesn’t— no, he does!! His mouth feels dry. He puts the bowl of soup on the nightstand, not trusting himself to keep hold of it any longer. "I–Wouldn't be opposed—"

He feels his bed dip with Luo Binghe's weight. He almost jumps back as Luo Binghe inches toward him. "Does Yuan-ge… really mean it?"

"I—" Shen Yuan looks up at his ceiling. "Yes?"

"And he won't regret it?"

"Who cares!" He snaps.

He feels a hand on his chin. His face is brought back to look at Luo Binghe's. The man looks ready to pounce, and Shen Yuan can feel his nerves on edge. "Yuan-ge really means it?"

"Y-Yes!"

The kiss they share is anything but romantic. There's a mashing of teeth, Luo Binghe accidentally draws blood from Shen Yuan, and way too much tongue, but it still elicits moans from the incubus that only fuel the Wrath Lord further.

His head is spinning. He still can't believe that happened, that any of that happened, that it's happening. That Luo Binghe is actually about to fuck him with the heavenly pillar. And when warm hands crawl their way up his shirt and to his chest, he stops thinking.

It ends up being nighttime by the time Shen Yuan has regained his composure. His face feels raw from how much he cried, but notably, he no longer feels weighed down. Luo Binghe is curled against his side, wrapped around his arm, keeping him from moving.

"I can't believe Yuan-ge wanted to fuck me."

"Binghe! Don't be so… vulgar!" Shen Yuan nearly sits up out of shock, but his arm is still in containment.

"Yuan-ge had no idea. I've wanted you since you got pushed into my lap."

"So you admit I got pushed!"

Luo Binghe hums. "Of course. I saw the whole thing." You… you! "Then Yuan-ge was so kind even after how I treated him… how could I not want you for more than just your body after that?" A face nuzzles in his neck. "I kept giving you liquid lust in hopes whatever fuck you had before me you'd stop seeing less and less, so I could see you more."

Shen Yuan feels like he's on fire. There's also a thrum of irritation itching at his veins, so much so that he takes his other hand and pinches Luo Binghe's nose. "You were doing what now?" Luo Binghe smiles sheepishly.

"I gave Yuan-ge some liquid lust at first to help him after the Luxuria attack… and afterwords I kept sneaking it in his pastries." Shen Yuan almost bangs his head against the table. He can't believe he forgot about the water of lust and sin energy! ….Oh well. At least he got Luo Binghe in the end.

He squeezes Luo Binghe's nose harder, only causing the man's eyes to shimmer with something darker. His mind is full of, holy shit that was real?! and also I probably would have died then if it wasn't for Binghe's interference. Both are thoughts he doesn't want to have anymore, so he only squeezes Luo Binghe's nose harder once more.

The grin on Luo Binghe's face only grows wider. "So is Yuan-ge my succubus n—"

"No."

Shen Yuan squeezes Luo Binghe's nose harder. "I guess it wouldn't be fair to call you that. You'll probably live off of Wrath Energy now."

"I… would? I can?"

"Well yeah. Surely, we can do sin swaps during sex." Shen Yuan turns his head to give Luo Binghe a confused look. Luo Binghe only returns it. "You know… the act of feeding someone sin energy during sex? It’s usually why couples have the same energy, one is feeding the other their energy. Since I'm a Lord, it would work for a being of pure lust."

Hm. Shen Yuan wonders if that's why he no longer feels like a walking statue. "How useful… I wouldn’t become a fallen, would I?"

“I don’t believe so, either way, you'll be my Yuan-ge.”

Shen Yuan thumps Luo Binghe on the head.

He doesn't know how long they stay in his bed, but it feels like eons have passed since he got up from it. Luo Binghe is quite sticky and refuses to peel himself off of Shen Yuan. Often he'll become assertive in a way that he knows works on Shen Yuan, and then they end up in bed longer.

But Shen Yuan gets out of bed anyway. He hasn't walked around since he's felt better.

His mistake, really, because Shang Qinghua is sitting on their couch drinking a mug of coffee. He turns to Shen Yuan with a smug grin, then back to the pitch-black TV. Shen Yuan reluctantly makes a pot of coffee and joins him on the couch.

They make eye contact. Shen Yuan feels like he's going to rip out the man's teeth if he doesn't wipe that shit-eating grin off his face. "Say it."

"Ever since Luo Binghe rushed you here I knew you two would fuck."

"Since he what now?"

"Yeah. After you got Luxuria'd, Liu Qingge took you to Wrath to use some of their resources. Luo Binghe practically gave you his entire supply of liquid lust."

Then he thinks back to the sickeningly sweet taste. "Binghe already told me that. I always thought that night was a dream. Oh well."

"I see, I see... so…" Shang Qinghua wiggles his eyebrows.

"What. Get on with it."

"How was topping the Wrath Lord?

Shen Yuan takes a long sip of coffee, gripping the mug to contain his already building anger. "I didn't."

"I. Knew it! You're a succubu—" Shen Yuan kicks Shang Qinghua square in the face. He perhaps adds a bit too much force, because the man goes limp immediately. ….Surely, he'll live.

He wonders very briefly if the Wrath energy is going to make him easier to anger. He takes one look at Shang Qinghua, before deciding he could definitely live with it. Plus, he gets Luo Binghe on top of it. Score!