Chapter Text
Sometimes Shen Yuan forgets that this world lives according to the canons of the regularly published. novels and sincerely begins to get bored, nestled in a happy life. A healthy dose of boredom is what makes the world real. Along with warm kisses, gentle touches and beautiful clear eyes of Luo Binghe in the morning.
The beauty of his sleepy husband is still stunning – as if he got it all undeservedly, bought a scattering of precious stones for a song, came out of the second or third plan and stole the love interest of the main character. However, this time he took away the main character himself – Shen Yuan is so used to it that he no longer even thinks to apologize for it, at least mentally.
And also, if you kiss Binghe on the tip of his nose, he squints his eyes like a kitten, the tips of his ears turn red, and his lips tremble and open slightly in a soft exhalation, as if he still can't believe it. Yuan is not going to give such an intimate sight to anyone, not even Ning Yingying – and she is his favorite.
"Good morning, Shi-husband", - Binghe gently corrects himself – Yuan is trying to teach him to finally call him by his first name. So far, he only has enough for a touching "husband", after which he always hides for a couple of moments so as not to show his reddening cheeks. Shen Yuan reaches out and runs his fingers over his cheek and the curl of his ear, removing a tight curl.
"Good morning, husband. "
Yuan himself is sometimes shy to say something affectionate in response - especially in public, where he would rather hide behind a fan than show everything that he has in his heart. They still have all the time in the world – someday he will be able to say everything that is in his heart.
Patience is a virtue. The system does not adjust either. And Binghe will understand everything himself, he is the main character. It's not worth wasting words. Besides, he presses so gently against his hand that his heart melts.
You should never forget that this world lives according to the canons of a regularly published novel – so, it turns out, they have somewhere to go to break up boredom. More precisely, Yue Qingyuan sends Shen Qingqiu the news that there is another petition from the monks of a remote province. One more sacred place needs to be cleared, and of course, who besides Lord Peak Qin Jing is better suited for this role? Yuan reads these lines and the tired but still kind face of the head of the sect appears in front of his inner eye.
Of course, Binghe goes with him – this is not even discussed. In addition, Shen Yuan secretly enjoys traveling with pleasure when his affectionate husband is around. Sometimes it's nice to get unlimited care.
Shen Yuan prepares Xiu Ya for the path, meticulously examining the light blade – for some reason Luo Binghe lingers, and then, as if deciding something, takes two blades with him at once. Zheng Yang and Xin Mo are pressed against each other on his left hip –Yuan raises an eyebrow questioningly. They had been discussing for a long time what a negative influence Xin Mo has on Binghe, and yet for some reason his sweet husband keeps the demonic blade with him, even though he does not use it often.
"This Binghe… Husband, this Binghe thinks that Xin Mo may be needed on this trip," - Yuan glances at how awkwardly his husband covers two handles with a wide sleeve and is glad that his smile is hidden by a fan. Sometimes Binghe still behaves like a shy child, timidly hiding his toys. It's just a pity that he shows such a tender side only in private – as soon as someone appears, he immediately ruffles and darkens. Next to him, he is barely a blooming flower, next to others he tightly folds back into a bud, raises terrible thorns and is no longer visible behind the prickly branches and twisted leaves of the former fabulous charm.
Yuan... doesn't quite understand what the still dangerous demonic blade and his consort have in common. In this version of the writings of the Binghe Plane, one no longer has to cling to the force to get what his soul craves. The need for Xin Mo has already disappeared – but Binghe still holds the artifact close. Although he could have left it in the treasury, if not sealed.
Seeing that Yuan is thinking too deeply, Binghe squints his eyes and looks questioningly, tilting his head to the side like a bird, silently asking. Yuan shakes his head negatively and chooses a pendant for Xiu Ya to match his fan.
" If the husband thinks so, then this is his decision. "
He would like to say something else affectionate, but ... probably it is not necessary, because Binghe already looks at him with impossibly soft eyes.
The journey promises to be not too long – just a couple of days and nights, there is nothing to worry about and take a lot of luggage, so they set off on a sword journey. Sometimes Shen Yuan wonders if Xiu Ya knows that he is not the real owner of it. The sword has never shown a single sign of disobedience, even after his "death" and return. Spiritual swords are usually tightly linked to their owner – there are exceptions, for example, the same Xin Mo, who has been changing hands for a long time – so it is still very strange that Xiu Ya accepts it unconditionally. Although, maybe the System played here too – if the sword had refused the owner, it would clearly have been a fierce OOС. And if Shen Yuan was still lounging at home and reading a similar story, he would have written in the comments a firm "I don't believe the author has written himself out."
However, to be honest, both Binghe blades behave strangely – even the light and pure forged Zheng Yang. Zheng Yang ... trusting like a newborn puppy, gladly lies even in the hand of Shen Yuan, even to Ning Yingying. Even though he was split, he is shining again, honest and direct. It was as if he still retained that imprint of Binghe, when he trusted everyone and everyone.
Swords are strange. For some reason, these thoughts captivate Yuan with his head for the whole time while they were on the road, he does not even catch his husband's worried look right away.
" Is everything all right, Shizun? " – Binghe always worries too much about everything, and especially about him. It's cute.
" It's all right. I was just thinking. There's a great view from here," - he throws a phrase at random so as not to reveal his real thoughts, and looks down. The view is really breathtaking.
But he likes the way Binghe looks now more. He also looks down, distracted from his worries, and seems fascinated. His serious sharp features disappear, his hair curls in playful rings in the wind. He looks gentle, ethereal, really heavenly now.
Shen Yuan enjoys watching him from the sidelines.
In fact, the temple does not really need to be cleansed – demonic plants have just bred around it, loving to grow next to sacred places, no matter human or demonic. They don't bring much trouble, but they don't look too attractive, and they also jealously guard the place of their adoration from visitors, which makes life difficult for people. Unfortunately, these spiky bullies deserve a harsh pruning today. They are so defenseless that even one of the few plants in this world, written according to the pattern of a porn novel, does not have any effects of an aphrodisiac or poison. Poor little angry spiky pricks. Unfortunately, they can't even tear the hem of Shen Qingqiu's clothes–even though they try very hard.
Yuan still retains one of the sprouts. Perhaps Mu Qingfang can benefit from it. Or just add to his growing collection of everything that grows out of the ground.
"Just in case, we should check inside," - Luo Binghe, who is always so meticulous about everything that concerns Shen Qingqiu and all the tasks that he can accompany him, frowns, as if trying to smell danger in advance, - "I'll go first. "
" No, we're going together", - perhaps it would be wiser to let Binghe go ahead, or even let him go alone, but honestly, it no longer suits him to pose as a powerless neophyte. He's a peak lord, though–" I don't think anything can harm us there. "
Binghe purses his lips, unconsciously biting them from constant worry – he needs to be gently weaned from this habit. In his youth, Binghe did not have such sharp teeth, and it was not so noticeable. But with his fangs, it doesn't seem so harmless anymore – besides, Yuan doesn't like that Binghe is so willing to hurt himself.
" As Shizun says. "
They enter together – the sanctuary is not too big and it seems that there is nothing else inside. There was no lingering sense of danger – everything was quiet and peaceful, albeit slightly musty. The spiky bullies, apparently, did not even allow the parishioners to restore order. But even so, it was nice inside – the semi-darkness was cozy, the dried flowers did not crumble, remaining elegant frozen decorative elements, continuing to exude a subtle fragrance. There were a lot of different decorations and jewelry on the walls – apparently offerings – and, for some reason, almost empty special carved stands for swords.
What is this small temple dedicated to?
" It's beautiful here, " - Binghe exhales, - " Where are we, Shizun? "
Yuan sighs – outside the house, Binghe is embarrassed to call him her husband even when they are alone. He is thinking about the little information that Yue Qingyuan gave him about this place. It seems that in all this fuss and pleasant journey, he completely forgot to name the place where they were going.
" It seems to be… The Sanctuary of Communication. It's a strange name. "
And this phrase, like a "trigger", triggers the scene – the doors close, Shen Yuan catches the panicked scarlet gleam of Binghe's eyes and falls into darkness. If only it wasn't another conspiracy for his wife.
***
In fact, when he comes to, everything doesn't seem so bad–at least he's still in the same place, the meridians aren't blocked, there's no poison. Excitement too. That's just…
Shen Yuan sits up abruptly and feels his belt and the floor next to him in a panic. Xiu Ya, where am I?! It looks like he was left completely unarmed. Of course, nothing in this damn novel happens smoothly and smoothly.
"Honey, are you okay?"
He jumps on the spot in surprise – a worried voice is heard at all. An unfamiliar figure is bending over him – a woman somehow attentively and worriedly looks at him. Shen Yuan doesn't recognize her–but she clearly knows him, looking so confident and focused on him at the same time in the dim light. Perhaps a pilgrim or a wandering cultivator? But somehow she is dressed too luxuriously for a wanderer – even in the dark, he can see how light fabric and the silver hairpin in her long blue-black silk hair shine. Yuan lets out a short laugh inside himself, which is probably what Sister Shen Jiu would look like if she also made an ice–like expression on her face. Apparently, the Plane doesn't have so many templates for beautiful characters that even the world can't pick up different characters.
And what is this "darling"?! Even Binghe doesn't call him that!
" Well, well, don't worry, excitement can damage your meridians – and you have them, dear, too fragile to risk them. Darling, repeat after me – inhale and exhale, " - apparently, the stranger was determined to take care of him. And anyway, why is she so incredibly calm in a situation like this?
"I'm not panicking, I'm just surprised, lady," - Shen Yuan tried to pull away from her and still find Xiu Ya. She does not lag behind him and pulls him up, forcing him to stand up, gently but confidently supporting him by the elbow. For mercy's sake, lady, if his husband saw this, he would either burst into tears, or he would return to his state of "evil demon lord", - " Unfortunately, I do not know who you are, but, have you seen the sword-"
"Qingqiu, dear," - the beautiful stranger sighs and raises an elegant hand. A tassel hangs from under the wide sleeve to match Shen Qingqiu's favorite fan, - "This jiejie is Xiu Ya. "
Well, he still had to breathe deeply - otherwise, such plot twists made his head dangerously dizzy. Xiu Ya, cooing softly, pats him on the back – if his blade had just become a human, it would not have been so stunning. But.... Okay, nothing is normal in the writing of an Airplane – if there is a transformation of a reasonable spiritual object into a person, then only into a tall, shapely beauty worthy of the main character's harem.
Speaking of the main character…
"Where-"
"Our cute little wolfcub? He's with Xin-mei and baby Yang. "
Another thing that confuses Shen Yuan is that Xiu Ya's character does not fit her exalted image at all. After all, it is the blade of the Lord of the Peak. Couldn't she be a little... more formal? The character of a spiritual instrument should at least match its owner a little.
If Yuan had said even a few such endearments, he would have already burned with embarrassment. And she chirps like a bird, and through the word calls Shen Qingqiu "darling" or "darling", like an extremely caring rich aunt who has no other worries than wrapping her dear nephews in care and comfort.
In general, she seems... too familiar and cheeky. Although very, very kind.
When Shen Yuan finally recovers from fainting so close to the amount of unexpected information, he looks around and finds the place where his husband should be. The sanctuary is dark, and Binghe, of course, found the darkest corner to communicate with his... blades.
While Yuan was opening his fan – you shouldn't show your confused face – Xiu Ya is already walking forward. By the way, she also has a fan on her belt - show a little modesty, sister!
"Binghe," - Yuan decides to start a conversation before his now embodied blade purrs at his husband and makes Shen Qingqiu burn on the spot – he already sees how her eyes are burning. In the dark, he can make out two silhouettes – perhaps they were lucky, and the "blessing" of the temple worked only on Zheng Yang. Maybe the sanctuary is the sanctuary that acts only on spiritual swords, leaving demonic ones without attention? –" Are you okay? "
At the sound of his voice, both figures turn around at once – and Yuan's hopes crumble like a house of cards. Two pairs of shining scarlet eyes look at him, so similar that it seems as if they are reflections in a mirror, it is not even known who the real one is. And only one pair of those eyes belonged to his spouse–a warm, slightly frightened look, like that of a guilty child.
And Binghe's reflection looks in his direction with a cold, absent gaze, flat as a mirror depth. If Xiu Ya only resembled Shen Qingqiu's sister, then Xin Mo is literally a copy of Binghe – the main character is already androgynous enough, so his... blade seems only a little more feminine. Although her gaze is indifferent and much heavier – for some reason, Yuan feels guilty about something under it. But she is silent – silent and looks with an absent mirror gaze.
"Shizun... "- Binghe's quiet voice distracts him from the silent duel and makes him pay attention to his confused husband. Receiving another shock after shock, Yuan only now noticed that someone very small was sitting on Binghe's lap right now - "This Binghe did not understand…"
Someone small raises his face–a child's face, split like cracks by a net of silvery scars–and smiles. Her teeth are like little pearls, and she presses her cheek against Binghe's chest, who slowly – apparently still in shock – and gently strokes her head
"Another Master! " - Zheng Yang happily declares. Shen Yuan feels that soon his brains will flow out through his ears from such sharp shocks. Xiu Ya takes a step forward behind him, suddenly looks at the frightening cold Xin Mo with satisfaction and bends down, taking her hand in his.
"It's so nice to see you in the flesh and in colors, wife. "
Yuan feels that they are in even more trouble than even the aphrodisiac conspiracy.