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After the ice demon shatters Luo Binghe's sword and blasts apart the seal on his demonic heritage, everything goes red for a while, sound and sensation drowned out by the thundering pulse in his ears and the overwhelming need to savagely fight and tear and rip and kill.
He's busy struggling to rein that urge in, struggling to remember why he should rein that urge in, and almost completely insensate to his surroundings.
He's only barely aware of a hand slapping his back, but the sound of a cough rings louder in his senses, and it's followed by the scent of blood.
Shizun's blood .
It drags him out of his stupor. Luo Binghe raises his head and meets Shen Qingqiu's eyes as the man grimaces and wipes blood from his mouth.
“You’re awake?” he asks. “If you’re awake, let’s speak frankly. Binghe, tell me honestly, exactly how long have you been practising demonic cultivation?”
As soon as he says this, it’s as if Luo Binghe had been plunged from the stifling upper heavens into a bone-chilling pool. It would have been impossible for him to not return to complete consciousness.
He stares at Shen Qingqiu’s wintry face, and his heart sinks.
“Shizun,” he says quietly, “this disciple can explain.”
Shen Qingqiu shakes his head and waves his hand as if trying to shoo away a particularly bothersome fly. “I don't need an explanation, Binghe. How long?”
Luo Binghe feels his stomach twist at the dismissal in that tone. Shizun won't even give him a chance to explain himself. He bites his lip and lowers his head. “Two years, Shizun.”
“Two years. Good, that's good. Hopefully that will be enough,” Shen Qingqiu says with a sigh, and Luo Binghe's head snaps up.
Good? What did he mean, good?
Is… Shizun not angry with him for his deceit?
The expression on Shen Qingqiu's face is just as stony as it was to begin with, but the hand he reaches out to clasp Luo Binghe's shoulder with is gentle. His free hand withdraws a fistful of talismans from his robes and pushes them into Luo Binghe's hands. “Binghe, this is extremely important, and I need you to listen to me carefully. The valley is swarming with cultivators and you are visibly a demon. These will help suppress your demonic qi so that you can hide; there is also an illusion talisman that will conceal your demonic features. You need to hide somewhere long enough for the barrier to be dropped, then you can escape. It will… likely be difficult for you for the next while, but you are strong and talented. You will soon succeed and thrive, without question. Work on establishing full control over your unsealed demonic energy. Listen to Meng Mo, his advice will be useful.”
Luo Binghe feels stunned. Shizun is supporting him? Is protecting him? Is… accepting him? Luo Binghe raises his hand to touch the hand Shen Qingqiu laid on his shoulder. “Shizun… forgives this disciple?” he asks, almost unable to believe it could be true.
The impassive mask that Shen Qingqiu is wearing cracks a bit; his lips quirk up in a faint smile, but the expression trembles. “Of course, Binghe. No matter what, you will always be my cherished disciple. I will always choose to protect you.”
Luo Binghe's heart feels so light; the wave of relief makes him feel like he could fly. “This disciple is so glad. He will be sure to listen to all of Shizun's advice as well as Meng Mo’s,” Luo Binghe promises, tilting his head to rest his cheek against Shen Qingqiu's hand.
Shen Qingqiu's trembling smile shatters.
His eyes flick behind Luo Binghe for a moment; he's looking at the fissure that opened into the Endless Abyss. On guard for another creature to emerge and attack? Luo Binghe turns his head to follow Shen Qingqiu's gaze and sees that the crack is slowly starting to close. Good; at least that particular threat will be gone soon.
Shen Qingqiu inhales sharply, though. “Binghe, I can't go with you. I'm sorry. I want to, god I want to, but I can't. This was the choice I had to make.”
“What? Shizun, I don't understand,” Luo Binghe turns back to Shen Qingqiu, unease stirring in his guts.
“I'm sorry. I don't have time to explain. But I… your future is going to be splendid, Binghe. You're going to be spectacular. I wish I could be there to see it. Please don't cry, okay? I like Binghe better when he smiles,” Shen Qingqiu blurts, and he looks… he looks devastated, even though he's smiling.
Sudden terror surges through Luo Binghe, and he drops the talismans to grab Shen Qingqiu's arm with both hands. “Shizun, no, you can't-”
Shen Qingqiu shakes his head. “I'm sorry. I'm glad I got to meet you, if only for a little while. Goodbye.”
With that, the fissure into the Endless Abyss snaps closed, and Shen Qingqiu collapses like a puppet that had its strings cut.