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Chapter Text

Damn it, damn it, damn it. Who would have thought I could hurt myself like this. One moment everything was fine, the next I find myself facing myself, attacking for me without a second thought. Not that I had much trouble fighting, but no one likes to beat themselves up. Then that bastard managed to fall through the rift with my sword, so now I’m stuck here with no way home.

So it’s no wonder I’m a little groggy as I struggle through the corridors of my demon world headquarters to get to my room. When I see the familiar door, I’m overwhelmed with relief, only a few steps left and I can finally stretch out. Right now, all I need is a good night’s sleep. It’s just… Yeah, I just didn’t expect that when I open the door, my room wouldn’t be empty.

“Luo Binghe?” My eyes narrow at the owner of the voice. What is he doing here? What the hell is Shen Qingqui doing in my room? I think the last time I was this confused was when I figured out how to use the dream dimension. I just don't want to believe my eyes, I'm sure I'm just seeing a ghost, so I head towards him to make sure I'm right, but I barely take two steps when the ground disappears from under my feet. Damn it! But before I can hit the ground, someone catches me, and it's none other than my former master.

"What happened? Who did this to you?" He asks as he wraps his arms around me, and for the first time in years, I feel desperate. What the hell is going on here? This is just some bad dream. Shen Qingqui would never be this nice to me in his life. Finally, I force myself to at least speak up.

"Go..." But that's all that comes out of the words. What really meant to be "Go to hell, you scum!" but it seems my other self has beaten me a little more than I realized.

"Go?" My former master asks back, but he immediately continues. "Okay, let's go." He says and puts his arm around my waist, and I instinctively push him away, who the hell does he think he is, hugging me like that? The man looks at me in surprise at first, then continues in a serious tone.

"Calm down. Your master is taking you back to the Cang Qiong Mountain now." He says, and I feel the anger start to build inside me, like hell will I go back there.

"I'm not going." I growl through my teeth, but to my surprise, the answer is something I didn't expect.

"Why are you still doing a tantrum? Let's go and hide there first." He says and puts his hand on my back, and the expression I had on my face freezes. Is he really doing what I feel he's doing? Why on earth is he giving me spiritual energy? Why is he healing me? Doesn't he hate me? However, before I could make a decision, my former master pulled out his sword and, to my greatest surprise, literally dragged me onto the sword with him, which helped us reach my former home.

I'm so shocked by the absurdity of the whole situation that I'm not even surprised that my former siblings are treating it as if it were natural for my master to drag me here in the middle of the night.

"Shizun, what happened to A-Luo?" The question comes from the girl's mouth, who didn't exactly use her sweet little mouth to speak at this time yesterday. However, I'm not busy with Ning Yingying, but much more with staring at the bastard who should be dead long ago with the coldest possible gaze. How on earth is Ming Fan still alive?

"Just minor injuries. You can calm down. The first aid kit that the Qian Cao Peak brought is still there, right?" My master asks as he leads me to his bed and acts as if he didn't notice anything from the previous stares.

"We didn't move anything. Everything is still there. Shizun, do you need our help?" Ning Yingying asks, not even looking at me. What kind of world is this where your own wife doesn't give a shit about you?

"No need, your master can handle the situation on his own." My former master sends out the disciples, then steps next to me and helps me get comfortable on the bed and even helps me take off my boots. Has this guy completely lost his mind? In fact, if that weren't enough, he even brings me medicine and... no, I won't let him take off my clothes. So I grab his wrist. Who does he think he is?

"Don't be so stubborn. I'll check your wounds." He says, but I don't let go of his hand, which results in the handful of medicine simply being shoved into my mouth, off which he doesn't take his hand off until I've swallowed it all. While I was busy trying not to choke the man on the spot, he managed to remove the top of my clothes and started cleaning my wounds.

"Where the hell have you been these past few days? Who have you been fighting to make you like this?" He asks as he grabs my wrist to check my pulse, and I'm still speechless from the shock, even when he sits down on the bed next to me and starts talking again. He',s trying to stabilize my spiritual energy. I only react when he tries to hug me again, what the hell is wrong with this man?

"What's wrong with you again?" He throws away the rag he was using to clean my wounds. Instead of answering, I just look at him suspiciously, and what did he do, what? He rolled his eyes. "What the hell are you still mad about? Is it really worth being angry for so long just because I didn't let you sleep with me a few days ago?" The questions make my heart race and I have to try really hard not to show my thoughts on my face. Instead of fighting back, my beloved master comes even closer to put his hand on my forehead. "You have a fever. Aren't you dizzy?" He asks, when I hear my wife's voice from outside the door.

"Liu-shishu, you can't come in. Shizun can't be disturbed right now!" Is Yingying seriously warning Shen Qingqiu about something? The world has turned upside down and everyone is going crazy! I don’t even realize what’s happening when the man next to me jumps up and pulls the curtain on the bed, so I can only listen to the conversation outside.

“Liu-shidi, I hope everything is okay with you.”

“There’s a rule on Cang Qian Mountain. Luo Binghe is not allowed in here.” The voice brings back strange memories, but what he’s saying doesn’t really surprise me. If I didn’t own the entire mountain, there would probably be such a rule, as much as they fear me.

“I’ve never heard of this rule.” My master declares.

“It's a new rule.” Oh no, this guy really only has as much brain as Liu Qingge had.

"He's telling the truth, Shizun. There really is such a rule on Cang Qian Mountain. Only Zhangmen-shibo hasn't written it down in the Stone of Regulations yet. But everyone knows about it..." Ah, the cockroach spoke. Would it be a big deal if I killed him here too? It seems I was too kind to him last time.

"Shut up!" My eyes widen at this shout. Shen Qingqiu shouted at his favorite student, the one who always jumped at his every word? And with words like that?

After that, there was silence for a while, more precisely, until a figure pulled the curtain in front of me, and I suddenly couldn't decide from the sight whether it was a ghost or the real Liu Qingge? My hands clenched into fists and I was about to jump at the leader of Bai Zhan Peak at any moment, when Shizun surprised me again by standing between us, placing one of his leg on the bed.

"Shidi, don't do this."

"Is he injured?" Liu Qingge blinks at me, and I almost roll my eyes. Haven't he seen someone injured before? What's the big deal about this?

"I wouldn't have brought him back if he wasn't injured." Shizun sighs. "Liu-shidi, please just turn a blind eye to him this time and don't chase him."

"If he's injured, why didn't he stay in the demon world?" The question comes from the leader of the warrior peak.

"We had a little problem..." My former master starts explaining, and I still don't know where to put all this.

"Did the demons rebel?" Even if I couldn't see his face, I would know he was gloating, he couldn't deny it.

"Um." Shizun glances at me, then back at the leader of the other peak. "Probably."

"He needs to clean up his own mess. The Cang Qiong Mountain protects you, not him." The more belligerent man growls, but all it does is make me laugh. Like a little child who wants his toy. However, the unexpected consequence of my laughter is pain, so I grit my teeth and try not to make a sound.

"Liu-shidi. Don't forget that you're at the Qing Jing Peak." Hearing Shizun's statement, I'm only a hair away from widening my eyes. Did he seriously send Liu Qingge to hell because of me? And how is it that they're talking to each other? Don't they hate each other? Or not in this world?

"So be it, protect him if you want to!" As soon as he said this, he stormed off, then came back half a minute later only to throw a fan at my former master.

"I'm always giving you trouble." The man in front of me clears his throat, but the other one doesn't even pay attention to him, he just hurries away.

"...Liu Qingge?" I moan out with difficulty, just to make sure I'm not hallucinating.

"Don't worry about him. He's just like that. He'll shout two and then leave when he's done shouting." His explanation means that he knows the other peak leader well. Which means he can't hate him as much as I thought. So they're on good terms and now they're fighting over me. "Don't worry. Since your master said a few words for you, he won't come back and cause trouble for a while. Next time, if the disciples of Bai Zhan Peak band together against you, just beat them up." When haven't I done that? Don't tell me that the me here is a wimp! "As long as you don't kill them, you don't have to give in. You can take it as fighting for the pride of Qing Jing Peak." Am I hearing that right? Did those words really come out of his mouth? Right through his mouth?

"...Shizun?" I say, just out of curiosity.

"Hmm?" He nods his head to the side, no words come out, but his tone was something that warmed my soul. I look away and even my lips pull into something like a smile against my will.

"Nothing. I just wanted to try..." What did I want to try? To see if he hates me, if he's still jealous of me, if he even pays attention to me. "Call you." At this I get a caress on my head.

"Go to sleep. Whatever the situation is in the demon world, it can wait until you recover." At this I just nod, before the man takes the pillow from behind my back, unties the ribbon in my hair and carefully places me in a lying position on the bed, as if I were the most important being in the world. I just watch with my eyes as he blows out the lamp, then I hear his clothes making a sound. He takes off his outerwear and to my greatest surprise, he lies down next to me on the bed and hugs me. "Sleep. Your master will help you to get the energy flowing properly in your body."

True to his words, I soon feel the energy flowing warmly through my veins. I can't do anything but stare at the face of the man sleeping next to me, hugging me. He is so different from the shizun I had to endure. I carefully take a strand of his hair between my fingers and squeeze it.

"Shen Qingqiu." I say it barely audibly. Are you sure it's you? No, you're not that Shen Qingqiu."Shen Qingqiu." I repeat his name and a smile spreads across my lips. That doesn't stop me from causing him a very unpleasant evening, and we'll see how real this disguise he showed today is. If I really have entered a completely different world thanks to the Xin Mo sword, then I have every right to enjoy the time I have here.

Chapter Text

When I woke up in the morning, the first thing that greeted me was Shizun's flabby face. Judging by the way he looked, my night's work was a success. I just don't understand why he's still hugging me. Why does he do this? And why did it feel better to wake up in his arms than in my wives'?

To chase away my swirling thoughts, I try to free myself from his arms, which I succeed in, but only after I woke Shizun up with my movements, who is grimacing and pressing the skin between his eyes.

"Why are you up so early in the morning? Are you making breakfast? Don't do it today." At this statement, I almost give myself away again, that I'm not the Luo Binghe he thinks I am. What kind of relationship does my other self have with him anyway? I only cook for my wives! "Your old clothes are still in the side room. Yingying and the others left everything as it was."

When I get the directions I leave immediately, but only more surprises await me. If I remember correctly, I've only seen this room once. Now he says it's mine. A normal bed, table, chairs, cabinets and even a nightstand. Everything is so clean, as if it's been cleaned all the time. On a small table next to the bed, there are rolls and brushes arranged by color and size. Just like I would do.

I open one of the shelves of the closet and find myself in front of a neatly folded white clothes. How many years has it been since I last used these clothes? I don't even know. There are even jade pendants hanging on a small stick. Finally, putting the shock aside, I get dressed and go back to Shizun's room. As soon as the man sees me, he beckons me over and when I get to him, he starts pulling me down. Of course, I don't move, I just grimace and say.

"What are you doing?" As I ask, he takes out a hair tie and a comb.

"What do you think I'm doing?" I finally sit down in front of Shizun only when I'm sure he doesn't want to do anything that will harm me. So I sit on the floor and survey the room while the man does who knows what to my hair.

"What are you looking at?" Comes the sudden question.

"I've always been in a hurry these past few years when I've been to Qing Jing Peak, I've never had time to look at the place properly." I say it honestly and don't even think about what if my statement seems strange, but I'm lucky.

"Then you can look as much as you want for now. Later, I'll visit Bai Zhan Peak and get Liu Qingge to keep his students on a tighter leash. There is no reason for the disciples of Qing Jing Peak to be chased and beaten by Bai Zhan Peak." How different this Shen Qingqiu is from the one in my world. How much more considerate of his disciples. I don't know why, but I slowly turn towards him and smile.

"Shizun?"

"Hmm?" Comes the answer, making my heart race.

"Shizun." How different everything would be if you were my shizun too.

"Hmm." He responds again and no matter how many times I call him, I always get a response. He lets me call him that, no matter what kind of emphasis I put on it, he lets me. I won't stop calling him until he hits me on the head with his fan. "Why are you calling me? Once is enough. Speak properly." Thanks to the punch, I almost got worked up again, but I quickly stopped myself and asked with a smile.

"Did Shizun sleep well last night?" I wonder how successful my work was.

"Just some dreams from the past." He replies kindly.

"Then how about I hug you next time you're sleeping?" I ask with a playful edge in my voice, but he just pats my head and pushes me away.

"Come on. Come on." Well, since he then told me to wait here as a good disciple and he disappeared, I guess to the Bai Zhan Peak, so he probably said one of these come on, come ons to himself. But of course, I wouldn't be me if I took his word, so I immediately step out the door and who do I see, one of my little wives dressed in orange.

"Yingying." I call out, but she just shivers from the cold and her face even turns white.

"A-Luo! What's wrong with you? Did you hit your head? Why did you call me that? What do you mean by Yingying, that's so scary!" I literally don't know how to react to her outburst, so I can only stare at her, but maybe it was a bad idea, because she continues like this. "Why don't you call me Ning-shijie?"

"...Ning-shijie." I groan out with difficulty. When was the last time I called her that? When I was fourteen? But she seemed relieved.

"Well, that's how it has to be. It's not like you to change the way you call me so suddenly. Shizun may like you, but you should always be careful to give due respect to those older than you. Only in this way will we regain our pride as Qing Jing Peak disciples and Shizuin's teachings will not be wasted." Oh my Gods. This woman has been brainwashed and won't even let me speak. So I think it's best to interrupt as soon as possible.

"I want to ask you something." I see the traces of understanding on her face and she even waves her hand to indicate that she knows what I want, which I doubt, especially when she pushes the broom into my hand.

"Shijie knows. Here." What the heck do you understand? "A-Luo, please don't be mad at me. I know you always liked to clean Shizun's room by yourself. However, you and Shizun were away for so long, there was nothing we could do, Dashixiong and I had to fill in for you. But since you're back, I'll leave the duties to you. Shijie won't fight you for the work. Shijie knows that much."

~ You know, the fucking hell... That! ~ I growl to myself as I turn around and head towards Xian Shu Peak, hoping the girls on that peak are smarter than Yingying here. Thank goodness they still like me on this peak, so I'll be allowed in. I'll have to see if my other wife recognizes me.

"Luo-shixiong." Liu Mingyan greets me with her face covered in a veil, and I can't tell from her eyes if she recognizes me or not. "Didn't Shen-shibo send Luo-shixiong here to summon Shizun? Please wait a minute. I'll be back as soon as I finish the business of these Tian Yi monastery sisters." And with that, she leaves me to go chat with my other three wives, who are whispering as if they were just wooing me. Still, I force myself and wait calmly for Mingyan to return, only to notice something strange. Among a pile of books, the corner of one of them sticks out. It's clear that it was just pushed in there while someone was in a hurry.

~ Look at that, even Liu Mingyan is hiding something! ~ Curiosity overwhelms me, so I pull out the book. Whoever wrote the title has terrible handwriting, but when I see the author's name, I excitedly open the book, only to almost drop it.

~ This is impossible! This... You good lord... What is this? ~ I blink as I scan the book. But I can hardly believe my eyes. Me and Shizun? What was here? What has been since the beginning?

~ Let's say that would explain why he is so kind to me. ~ I think about it, then close the book and, leaving the girls at the wooden statue, I return to Qing Jing Peak. I calmly wait for my former master back in the small bamboo house, leaning back on his bed and when he enters the door, I immediately look up at him.

"What's wrong? Why isn't Shizun coming here?" I ask with a smile and in the kindest possible voice, while I look at my Shizun, Shen Qingqiu, with different eyes. Looking at him like this, you have to admit he has charm, a respectable figure and attitude, I can understand what my other self likes in him.

I watch him close the door and come closer to me, as soon as he gets within arm's reach I immediately pull him to me and hug him tightly. My hands run along his side, sometimes harder, sometimes softer. And when he catches my hands, it only takes a few moves to make him sit on my lap, thus achieving that his legs are on both sides of me.

~ Let's enjoy this world. ~ I tilt and support the man's neck so that I can press my lips to his. To my greatest surprise, instead of resisting, I notice that the man is slowly opening his lips. That's enough for me to give it my all. This is the first time I've done this with a man, but it's not much different than with girls. Somewhere I even enjoy the novelty of it, the discovery of how he reacts to each of my movements. Thanks to my demon blood, there is no trace of my wounds from yesterday, so I can enjoy the situation much better.

I simply can't get enough of the feeling, the way he kisses me. It feels like he doesn't really know what he's doing, but he reacts so sweetly to my movements. Even though he tries to escape my kisses in vain, I don't leave him a moment's peace, in fact I only kiss him deeper with each attempt. Soon the man can't keep his eyes open anymore and that's when I feel like I've won. His hand slides over my chest and suddenly hits me.

~ Oh, did I get caught? ~ I laugh to myself and grab his right wrist, and with my other hand I continue to hold his neck. Thanks to the secure position, I can lie him down on the bed and turn so that I'm above him and look down at him with a smile.

"What's wrong, Shizun? Don't you love me very much? Why don't you give yourself to me?" I ask and finally get the answer I would have expected from him anyway.

"Get lost!" Somehow his resistance only encourages me to continue what I started, but now I'm almost kissing his lips until I'm bleeding. This is the point where my dear Shizun tries to escape, but I don't let him get far and I pull him back under me.

"Where is he?" He yells at me and I nod my head to the side.

"Who are you looking for? If you mean me, I'm here, aren't I?" I ask with an evil smile, and he continues asking in a calm voice.

"How did you get here?"

"I'd rather be curious about how Shizun found out about this?" I ask and start playing with his hair.

"Do you really want to know?" The question comes, but I simply lean into the man and continue quietly.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want to tell me. We have plenty of time to figure it out slowly." I explain.

"Then how about you turn around and look for yourself?" The grin freezes on my face and I turn around nervously only to find myself facing my own face, which looks at me icy and bone-chilling, even if the eyes burn with a blood-red flame. This bastard managed to get back!

Chapter Text

It definitely seems like the bastard managed to come back. He was wearing that black outfit of last time, and that sword at his side... What the hell did he do to my Xin Mo? What are those mangy talismans on it?

"Get off of him!" That was the first thing he managed to groan out, although his voice is quite hoarse, one have to admit, did he get into trouble on the way back? But I don't have much time to think about such things, because like last time, he attacks me immediately, and I defend myself accordingly. However, it's natural that even if we jump at each other, our attacks neutralize each other, in the end we are one and the same person.

"You needed to come back right now, instead of coming earlier or later, huh..." I growl at the boy. Because seriously, why didn't he come later, like when I had already enjoyed the situation with Shizun, or earlier, so that I wouldn't have a chance to find out that there could be something between us. However, my thoughts are interrupted again, although this time it's not me, but Shizun, so now I'm surrounded on both sides.

I hold myself together and after pinching Shizun's side one last time, I roll off the bed and rush to the other side of the room, where I lean against the wall and look back at the man with a sad face.

"Shizun is so cruel. Doesn't his heart ache for his student?" I ask, but I can already tell from hia look that he's answer is no.

"Shizun, did this scum do something to you?" Hey! Control your mouth, you're talking about yourself, buble head.

"Your master is fine." Shizun says as he adjusts his clothes, then looks at my black-clad self with worried eyes. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?" I grit my teeth at the question. This is not fair, why is he so concerned about him and why do they have to do this in front of me?

"I'm fine." My other self replied after a nod, before Shizun grabbed his wrist and looked at his hand. What is he looking at on his hand anyway? Don't tell me, I got exposed because of a damned hand.

"What's going on here? Where have you been for the past two days? Why is he here?" The questions come, and I turn my head away.

"Your disciple doesn't know. The day before yesterday, when I retreated to the inner chamber of the underground palace, the pieces of Xin Mo suddenly began to glow in purple light and this... man appeared with another Xin Mo in his hand. We fought and in a moment of inattention, I fell through the crack that Xin Mo had cut. I just managed to grab the sword before the crack closed. I couldn't find Shizun when I got back, so I came straight to Cang Qiong Mountain." Okay, I've had enough, I can't stand this. What's all this chatter here and pretending I'm not here? It's impolite!

"Sorry, but I'm still here. Can you maybe not pretend that I'm invisible?" I finally ask in an icy voice, which finally gets them to pay attention to me. How can they flirt with each other right in front of me? In anger, I crush several stones lying at my feet into dust before using my power for something worse.

"What were you doing here earlier?" My other self stands in front of Shizun, and I roll my eyes.

"I was just having fun." I declare and although Shizun's face shows no emotion in his gaze, I can see that I've managed to surprise him. So I decide to continue to pull my other self's nerves. "Who asked you to be so useless that you don't even have a woman?" I ask him in a contemptuous tone and a grimace on my face. My plan proves successful, as my other self's eyes almost burn and take on a demonic red color when he speaks in an ominous voice.

"How dare you stare at Shizun like that, aren't you ashamed?" Hearing the question, I also unleash my demonic power before I start shouting at him.

"I'm not the only one who should be ashamed. Don't you see how useless you are! You're Luo Binghe, but you're not ashamed to constantly hang around Shen Qingqiu, such a dishonorable and shameless scum, every day..." I don't even finish my sentence when my black-clothed self freaks out and attacks me, just as I expected. The result of his attack is that we punch a nice big hole in the roof of the bamboo house. Well, it won't be easy for Shizun to explain this in front of An Ding Peak when they come to fix it.

"Come out!" I suddenly hear my own voice and realize that the other self has already left the house.

"Just as I wanted. This wretched run-down hut, too cramped and crumbling!" I snort as I rush out after my alter ego, leaving Shizun and the bamboo house behind me. Only to start fighting with myself again. Although I'm surprised he doesn't use his sword against me. What's wrong? He can't use it? Could he be that unlucky? Controlling that piece of metal isn't that big of a deal.

Thanks to our battle, he manages to make a holey cheese out of the Qing Jing Peak, but who cares? I don't really care, especially since it keeps me busy enough to try not to leave my teeth there. Which I get dangerously close to when Shizun's snow-white sword Xiu Ya appears in front of me. I nod my head to the side, narrow my eyes, and I push the blade away from me with a finger, then look questioningly at my master.

"We are clearly the same person. Shizun, why are you helping him hurt me?" I ask honestly, but not the question I really want. I am much more curious about how they got this far, what makes the other me better than me? What made him deserve Shizun's attention? However, instead of an answer, I only get two simultaneous attacks, which makes me start to lose in the fight. It's no use going two against one. Despair and anger are starting to take over me, so I do what I do best, tease. And this time, the subject of my tease is my black-clad self.

"His technique sucks; what's so good about him?" I ask, which makes the sword tremble in Shizun's hand. It's not exactly the reaction I wanted, but it works. So I strike while the iron is still hot. "Shizun has experienced my courage firsthand. Whatever it is, we're the same person, why don't you come with me? You'd be happier with me than if you stayed with him." I say in a honeyed voice.

"Shut up!" Oh, how much he sounds like the he I know.

"You experienced it firsthand?" My other self mumbles the question, and I tell myself I'm on the right track. I've managed to rile myself up again.

"Focus on the fight!" Shizun scolds him.

"What does he mean by firsthand experience? What does he mean you'd be happier if you stayed with him?" He us jealous. As I said we were one person. I know where to poke me to make it hurt.

"Or does Shizun like it when it hurts? If that's the case, your disciple can be of service to you in this too." I play innocent, causing my other self to tighten up so much that he almost pulls the sword out of its sheath.

"Don't pull it out!" Shizun scolds him and I know that my chance has flown. This self of mine is worse than a pincushion, if Shizun says anything to him, it's sacred. However, his anger remains, which is why we start the bare-knuckle fight again, as a result of which we successfully break one of each other's arms and one of their legs. Oh, why does he have to fight like me?

"Enough!" Shizun suddenly stops us. Wait... Why is Shizun looking at me like he knows me? Unless... That dream last time? It was him?!

"Shizun, are you mad at me because I hurt you last time?" Damn it, you're not the Shen Qingqiu I know. And the one I know, I'd be happy to torture a thousand times over, and even that wouldn't be enough.

"Shizun, have you two met before?" My other self is surprised, which means that Shizun hasn't mentioned our meeting to him.

"It was just a passing encounter." Comes the answer, which for some reason affects me worse than I thought. Maybe that's why I look at my former master in despair.

"Last time was my fault. Your student admits that he made a mistake. But didn't Shizun do the same thing just now? I'm your student too; how dare you treat me like that?" Why can't you look at me like that too? Why does everyone always look at me like I'm the devil incarnate? Why can't they sincerely respect and like me?

"That's not what I did at all." Shizun declares, and I decide. If he can't like me, if he can't look at me like that, then he won't look at anyone.

"Are you still saying you're not serious?" I ask, when I see his lips tremble. My blood has activated the destructive effect in his stomach. No matter how close they are woth this other me. Of the two of us, my blood is the stronger. Tears gather in Shizun's eyes and he gasps for air, and even the hand holding the sword is shaking.

I really don't want to see this Shen Qingqiu like this, but I've already made up my mind and if I decide something, I'll follow through. But luckily, I'm not the only one bothered by Shizun's condition, so while he's not looking, I'm able to summon my Xin Mo sword from my other self. A wide smile spreads across my face as my hand rests on the hilt. I can finally go home.

"Don't be happy yet. Look up!" Do you seriously think I'm going to fall for this thousand-year-old trick? As soon as I look away, they will attack. There's no way I'm going to ignore them. I just smile faintly.

"Do you look down on me so much that you're trying to trick your student with such a childish trick?" I shake my head, but I don't get an answer and I only notice that Shizun is using some kind of hand signal. He clicks and narrows his eyes in concentration, and I feel an ominous feeling. I'm about to speak when a leaf falls in front of my eyes and the smile on my face freezes when I feel the blood on my face.

The leaf cuts me. I barely realize it when I'm surrounded by thousands of razor-sharp leaves. Damn it, we're in the bamboo forest. I have no chance of escaping this attack here. Because l could deal with a couple leaves, but that's it. No one can stop this much. I'm about to run away when my black-clad self steps in front of me and slashes me in the chest so hard that I almost vomit blood. The taste of iron is already in my throat, but I hold it down, as I stagger. There is no way I would be in such a state in front of them.

"This is harmony. Not bad, I guess?" I groan bitterly, my hands clenching into fists. How can they be so in harmony? I don't even care that they beat me like I've never been beaten since I became an adult. I just want to know how they can have such a good relationship, that they don't even have to speak to understand each other.

This is not fair. In my world, Shizun has done nothing but oppress us, exploit us, make us ridiculous. And here is this Shen Qingqiu, who holds the hand of my other self as if he feels his pain and even calms his covertly. Yet by what right did this self get this kind of Shen Qingqiu and why did I have to put up with the other? Why didn't I have this? Why did I have to suffer? Why is it that he is so kind and gentle with him? I want this shizun too.

"Come with me." I blurt out and my gaze is now only on shizun, but of course my other self speaks after an icy laugh.

"What did you say? Hmm?" I hear his joints crack, he's probably going to kill me now. However, I'm not that stupid to wait for my death. I simply break the talismans on Xin Mo, who is surrounded by a black and purple demonic aura. I immediately move and slash in the air to open a passage home. Before I reach the rift, I look back at the pair who could also be me and my master. In my sadness, I bite my lip so hard that it bleeds and then I reach the rift, which closes behind me, blocking that world from me forever. I'm home, but is there any point in being home at all?

Chapter Text

As the crack closes behind me, I fall to the ground and close my eyes. I didn't even look where I'd broken through. Now I need some air, some solitude. I run my fingers through my hair, then open my eyes to look around.

"Thank goodness." I sigh heavily when I see the familiar walls of my room. "All I needed was for everyone to be here." I lie down on the floor and stare at the ceiling.

"Where did I screw up? Did I screw up at all? But I'm the master of the world, I have what I want." I suddenly sit up, grinning, but the smile freezes from my face. "Even I can't do miracles." I shake my head. "I need to distract myself." I decide, then I get up from the ground and leave the room to find one of my wives, it doesn't matter which one, I just need someone who can make me forget him, his kiss, his movements. I need someone who can pull me back to the right path that I've always been on.

However, even after half an hour, I can't find a single woman or even a single demon in my palace. No matter where I look for them, it's as if the earth has swallowed everyone, but that's impossible. But if it's impossible, then where the hell is everyone.

"Mobei-jun!" I shout to myself and, as always, the ice demon appears in front of me, who immediately lowers his head. "Where is everyone?" I ask and the demon looks up at me with confusion in his eyes. "What's up now?" I gasp, my patience is running out.

"You sent everyone away yesterday." The answer comes and I freeze completely, even my mouth drops open. The other me was able to send everyone away? And they didn't even notice that something was wrong? What kind of subjects are these? "Should I call the people back?" I get a question, but I just turn around.

"No need. Thank you for your services, you are free." I say and without looking back I start heading towards the deepest part of the palace. If they were able to leave me here for so little, if they didn't notice that it wasn't me, not even my wives, then how much could they really love me? I don't need them. The world is mine, I can say one word and they are all dead. Everything is mine and I get everything that comes to my mind.

The deeper I go in the palace, the darker it gets, but I don't need light to know where I'm going. I know exactly where I am, I could go with my eyes closed. My footsteps echo off the walls. My thoughts are far away when I reach the end of the corridor, where a huge black door awaits. There's a click and the structure opens up before me, torches lighting up along the wall as I enter the vast room.

My gaze immediately focuses on the center of the room, where something that was once a person, but is now more like a human toothpick, hangs on a chain. The person slowly raises his head at the sound of my footsteps, but instead of the usual hatred mixed fear, I see surprise mixed with incomprehension in his eyes. However, I don't let anything show on my face as I approach him.

"Are you Luo Binghe?" The question that leaves the man's mouth with great difficulty surprises me greatly.

"Who else would I be, Shizun?" I ask and force a smile onto my face.

"I thought I saw a ghost." Comes the answer, before I look at myself and understand his surprise. I'm still wearing the clothes I put on this morning, the ones that belong to my other self. Without thinking, I reach up to the ribbon tied in my hair.

"Shizun..." I say, and the chain starts to jingle. He tries to run away from me, like he always has since I brought him here. My hands clench into fists, I lower my head and try to summon the anger I feel towards him. When I feel like I've succeeded, I look up at the man, but as soon as I look into his eyes, the tears I've been holding back spill out and I fall to my knees again. "Why?" I ask. "Why? Why? Why did you hate me? Why did you hurt me? What did I do as a child to make you hate me so much?" I shout.

"I just..." I lower my head and slam my fist into the floor. "I just wanted you to be proud of me. I looked up to you, you were my sunshine, but you let me down. Why, why?" I jump up from the ground and grab him by the neck to pull him towards me. There's terror in his eyes, tears flowing, just like when I cut off his limbs. "Why do you still have such an impact on me? The world is mine, I have whatever I want and yet I..." I start, my gaze involuntarily drifting to his lips.

"Yet I only want what can never be mine." I mutter as I lean closer to him. "Why couldn't you be like the other you?" I let go of his neck just so my hand can rest on his cheek. "Why did he get the you who cared about him and why do I want you so much to be like that?" I ask. "Shizun..."

"I'm not your shizun!" He spits the words at me, and I let go of him and simply sit on the ground in front of him. I pull my legs up and rest my arms on them. In my mind, the man hanging on the chain in front of me now looks like he did in the other world.

"Shizun..." I whisper, a faint smile on my lips. I smile, then nodd my head to the side. If I concentrate hard enough, I can see that other shizun in his eyes. I don't know when enter the dream world, I just know that I'm reliving the past day over and over again.

"Get up, dog!" I hear the roar, which makes me immediately sit up. "Finally!" The voice came from the man hanging on the chain, seeing whom I smile.

"Shizun." I grope for the name, then stand up and step in front of him. I stroke his face with my hand again. Without thinking, I lean close to him and press my lips to his. "Don't worry Shizun, your student will return soon." I say with a smile before letting go and leaving the room with a desperate face, ignoring everything.

I decided that I want him, so I will stay by his side. Even if he doesn't want to see me. He is mine, like everything. So I arrange everything in the palace, then return to the secret room. My days from now on will be spent in the same system. I take care of the palace in the morning, and then I am with Shizun all day. However, as the weeks go by, the man becomes angrier and less and less able to bear.

"Stupid world! Stupid life!" I growl one evening when I'm spat on. "I'm fed up with this life, I'm fed up with everything. I want it to end." I fell asleep with these thoughts that night, but instead of my usual dream dimension, I am surrounded by a rainbow-like blackness like when I use Xin Mo.

【Activation Code: 「Stupid world, stupid life.」 Automatically triggering system.】

“What the hell?” I ask, because I have never heard such a strange voice in my life and I can’t even see its owner, which is not a little annoying. What kind of demon has the power to enter my dream? Who would dare to do such a thing and what is a system?

【Welcome to the system. Our system works on the principle of 「if you can, do it better, if you can’t, shut up」. We try to provide you with the most pleasant experience. We hope that in the process you will achieve what you wanted: To get the life you deserve. We wish you much happiness.】

I hear the annoying female voice, thanks to which the anger starts to rise inside me. When suddenly I am surrounded by brightness and I have to blink. I slowly sit up and immediately grab my head, which is hurting like never before. However, every movement hurts, as if I am beaten. I look at myself with this realization.

~ I am much smaller than I should be, but this is definitely my body. These clothes... This is the uniform of Qing Jing Peak. Why am I in these clothes? Why am I small? ~ I think, but even thinking hurts. So I look around, but I also open my mouth by the sight.

"This..." I start, but my voice is very hoarse, so not much sound comes out of my throat.

~ This is the firewood shack on Qing Jing Peak. I have always been locked up here. What am I doing here again? What am I doing here, beaten up? ~ I ask, but there is no answer, so I can do nothing but take a close look at my surroundings. However, I almost have a heart attack when a gong sounds out of nowhere and a slightly transparent sheet of blue light appears in the air before my eyes and an annoying female voice also sounds.

【The system has been successfully activated. We have recorded your character, your role: Lou Binghe, disciple of the Qing Jing Peak of the Cang Qiong Mountain clan. Main character. Points: 100】

“What?” I blink at the floating thing, on which the previous words appear written down. “What does this mean and what are you looking for in my head?” I demand answers.

【You have started the system. We have connected you to the character of Luo Binghe.】

“I am Lou Binghe, you idiot.” I growl.

【The system has connected you to the character. You will have more chances to earn points throughout the story, please make sure your points are not less than 0. If it does the system does automatically will give you a punishment.】

"Stop! Enough!" I hold my head. "Are you telling me I went back in time and you're taking my life for some story?" I slowly lower my hand.

【Yes.】 I hear the answer before I collapse on the wooden floor.

"Great! That's all I needed. I can't even die properly." I close my eyes and start thinking about what to do now. "Damn it." I mutter, and just as I'm about to decide to take a nap to heal my wounds, a figure appears in the doorway.

"Get up, worm! Shizun wants to see you!" The voice was Min Fang, who is standing in front of me with a huge grin on his face. "One, two! Get up and pull yourself together! You don't want to keep Shizun waiting, right?" The mocking question comes. "He's already angry enough, if you keep him waiting, your punishment will be worse."

~ So I've really gone back in my past and Shen Qingqiu is just as much of a scumbag as he was before. ~ I say to myself as I struggle to get up.

"Come on!" The boy kicks me in the side to make me go faster, but I don't know what he expects when I'm beaten.

~ I'll kill you fornthis as soon as I can and your precious Shizun too. I'll kill everyone now and my troubles will be over before they start. ~ I grit my teeth.

【Caution. Your plan is very dangerous. It is against the rules, please do not try it. Otherwise, the system will automatically impose a penalty.】

~ What is against the rules? I am Luo Binghe, I do what I want. If I want to kill Shen Qingqiu, I will ki... ~ I start shouting, but only in my mind, but the female voice interrupts me.

【At the beginner level, the OOC function is not available. You must complete the beginner level before the functions can be used. If you perform actions that go against the original character of 'Luo Binghe' before certain functions can be used, you will lose a certain amount of points. OOC error: The main character named Shen Qingqiu cannot die prematurely.】

~ Great, then I can't kill him. ~ I grumble to myself. ~ What is OOC? ~

【Out of character, the full equivalent of the term. Literally, the role is not well played and does not correspond to the original character.】

~ Don't tell me to act like my helpless teenage self! ~ I'm getting worked up, but luckily I've been beaten so much that I don't really show any emotion on my face.

【Correct.】 I get the answer when Min Fang kicks me again and I have a hard time restraining myself from wringing his neck with my bare hands.

~ So, if I act out of character like that, you'll deduct points. What if by accident, my points go below zero? ~ I'm asking because I'm not sure I can handle not speaking up to some people at least a little. Like the rat who leads me to my scumbag shizun with a grin.

【You will automatically be returned to your own world.】 I pause for a moment at this statement.

~ In my original world, what's with me? ~ I ask after a deep swallow.

【The system cannot provide information about this.】 I get the answer, which clearly means one thing. I'm dead.

Chapter Text

This is my luck, I get to relive the worst moments of my life. Haven't I suffered enough? Or is this my punishment for standing up for myself and taking revenge on those who hurt me? I have no idea, although right now I'm seriously considering that punishment here, punishment there, I'll exterminate this idiotic bastard who keeps kicking me to move forward.

~ I just want to know why you're jumping around so much, you little slob! ~ I growl to myself and wonder why my shizun even invited me to him? He usually avoided me as much as he could, unless he was having a bad day and wanted to take his tension out on me.

~ Hey, crazy fucker! ~ I shout to myself in my head.

【I'm a system. 】The answer comes, before I roll my eyes.

~ Then fucking system! ~ I'll decide. ~ Just so I know what's up. Now what didn’t I do to get beaten half to death? ~ I ask curious.

【You fought with Shen Qingqiu.】I get the answer and I want to hit myself on the head, but I can barely lift my arm. If my memory serves me right, in my early days I looked at him like a god, I didn’t even dare to look at him, let alone fight with him. I can’t help but think that he hates me.

“I brought the worm Shizun.” Min Fang opens the door of the cottage, and I follow him carefully inside. In other words, I stumble in after him.

~ I don’t want to, but I have to! ~ I growl to myself when I reach Shizun. I hate kneeling in front of others, but back then I always had to, so now I must grit my teeth and kneel. Although I’m not sure I’ll be able to get up.

“Shizun.” I groan and start to kneel.

"Don't kneel." I snap my head up at this statement. The man isn't looking at me, but he's tense, like he's being interrogated. I look to the side as I straighten up.

~ What the hell is wrong with him? ~ I think to myself, but it confuses me.

"Have you learned your lesson?" The question comes, and I grit my teeth.

~ So he really wants to beat me again. ~ I say to myself, but I bow respectfully to him anyway.

"Yes, Shizun, your student, has learned not to argue with you." I force the words out of me before that fucking system appears.

"Very good, that's a good attitude. Take this..." He suddenly hands me a small bottle of ointment, and I look at him in confusion.

~ Did you get hit on your head? ~ I'm confused, but then I'm even more surprised when he suddenly pulls his hand back and drinks the contents of the bottle. ~ Ew! ~ I shiver from the cold, but it seems that the man also quickly realizes that something is wrong, because his face turns white and he collapses into a chair. ~ What the hell happened, I've never seen Shen Qingqiu like this before? ~ I start to think, but I can't come up with a sensible answer. I hear Min Fang scolding me, but I don't even pay attention to him, but Shizun's next words surprise me.

"It's okay. That's enough. I've already punished you. Go and think about your mistakes. I don't want to deal with this anymore." He waves and I bow to him before I could jump in with a flurry of questions.

"Thank you, Shizun." I say, then I give the idiot, who is talking again, a not-so-kind look. I look back at Shizun, who is looking at us very strangely, but finally I turn away. I wouldn't get any answer from him anyway, I have to figure out what's going on here myself and I will have to act accordingly.

"By the way..." At Shizun's voice, we both turn towards him. "Binghe, how old are you?" The question surprises me, so at first I just blink.

~ Fucking system! How old am I? ~ I inquire and hear the female voice, whose answer I immediately repeat.

"Your apprentice is fourteen, Shizun." I declare, then my eyes widen.

"Fourteen." Shizun repeats, but I can't really pay attention to him because the bitch is screaming in my head.

【OOC danger! OOC danger! OOC danger! You can't kill the character named Shen Qingqiu! OOC danger!】But then I suddenly hear a bang and when I lift my head I see that Shizun has fainted.

"Shizun!" Min Fan and I shout at the same time and move to catch the man, but of course my disciple brother quickly throws me out of the house, and I huff and puff, heading back to the firewood shack to rest a bit and start healing my wounds.

"Something is really wrong with Shen Qingqiu." I hold my head as I'm left alone in the small wooden chamber and collapse on the floor. "Why did he faint when he heard I was fourteen? Aaaah. I don't understand." I close my eyes. "Hey, system." As I say this ans the small transparent blue screen appears. "What's up my Shizun?" I ask.

【The system does not have the authority to provide information about this.】I get the answer, and my hand clenches into a fist, but I immediately let it go, I haven't healed it enough yet and it hurts a lot.

"Then what can you provide information about?" I ask sarcastically and although I don't expect it, I still get an answer.

【As soon as you recover, you must complete your tasks.】My eyes widen at this, I forgot about that, I was the one who did everything here. Especially, when I was fourteen. Whatever those bastards could force on me, I was eager.

"I'm looking forward to a long time." I close my eyes and decide that it would be better to focus on healing than grumbling, and so my first day in my past slowly passed.

The next two days were exactly as I remember them. Monotonous, getting up, washing dishes, carrying water, chopping wood, and studying. Yes, studying, because this fucking system has locked almost all my abilities except my healing abilities, so I still have that damn demon seal on me. So I must practice, like the fucking system said, to unlock my abilities. But there is a little joy in all this shitshow, I still have my jade pendant. It's the only memory I have of my mother and I didn't really realize how much I missed it until I got it back.

"A-Luo, A-Luo. Look! There's a huge ditch in the ground!" The only female member of our peak is jumping next to me, who would be my wife by the way, but is currently getting on my nerves.

~ Well, don't tell me Yingying, if you didn't notice I have eyes too. ~ I growl to myself, it's not enough that I have to cut wood, this idiot had to follow me to make sure she wouldn't let me work in peace, so that I could at least release the accumulated stress on the damn trees.

"A-Luo, which of our clan brothers do you think practiced swordsmanship here?" I get the next question from the girl, before I roll my eyes.

~ Is it not obvious? Idiot! ~ I growl to myself, then adjust the wooden bag on my back.

"As far as I know, on the Qing Jing Peak only our shizun has enough strength for this." I say and turn away from the girl to continue walking.

~ But why on earth would Shizun practice swordsmanship right here when he knows it by heart? ~ I think about it, but in the end I just shrug and get to work, which I would do if my future wife wasn't nagging me all the time.

~ I forgot you were so fucking annoying! If you didn't have such a pretty little face and a fucking system around my neck, I would have strangled you a long time ago. ~ I growl to myself, but I still try to answer her questions politely, which isn't easy when I have to keep up the guise of an enthusiastic apprentice. I have to think ten times what the hell I'm going to say. Especially when the girl brings up how she wants to talk to Shizun in my behalf.

"You talk to..." I start.

【Luo Binghe would never be rude to Ning Yingying.】The female voice screams in my head, before I immediately change my tone.

"I mean, please don't." I raise my hands and smile at the girl, then turn away from her. "I don't want to bother Shizun with such trivial things." I say.

~ Especially since if I could, I would have killed them all by myself a long time ago. If you start jumping around Shizun here, I can't even imagine the horrors I'll have to endure as a good apprentice. ~ I'm shivering, that's the downside of Shizun's favorite being your best friend.

"The others don't mean any harm." I force the words out of myself, but I feel like I have to wash my mouth out with soap at night for this. "They're just helping me get stronger, I'm still too young, I need this." I say enthusiastically.

~ Because when I'm old enough, I can finally skin them! ~ I continue to myself and I think my eyes are starting to sparkle too. But then they spoil my mood, because the aforementioned donkeys, our apprentice brothers, appear. So I immediately get out of the way, Min Fang only wants to court Yinging anyway. I wouldn't even bother with the whole situation if my dear wife didn't get involved.

"Its color is ugly. A-Luo's is much prettier." At this, I turn to the girl in surprise.

~ What are you getting me into now, woman? ~ I ask nervously, because I have no idea what they were talking about, I was busy planning how I was going to torture Min Fang.

【Ning Yingying would have received a jade pendant from Min Fang, but the girl rejected it.】The fucking system makes up for my lack of knowledge, and my eyes widen.

~ Why do I have a bad feeling about this? ~ I grab my pendant.

"Oh, so our shidi has a jade pendant too?" Min Fang asks in a grumpy voice.

"Of course! He always wears it around his neck and doesn't even show it to me." The girl explains enthusiastically.

~ Woman, I'll kill you! ~ I look at her with a panicked look and then trouble strikes, of course, that bastard didn't need more than that to start fighting with me. By the time I realize it, they've already held me down and that idiot has taken my pendant.

"Give it back!" I hiss between my teeth. "That's mine!" I growl, but the boy, as if he doesn't notice, just starts to talk.

~ Who the fuck cares that it's from a bazaar? I got it from my mother, you bastard! ~ I scream to myself and try to get out of the hands without hurting anyone, before the fucking system appears.

"Get it if you want it!" The boy grins at me and throws the pendant. My eyes follow the object and when it is out of my sight the thread snaps.

~ Fuck the system! ~ I decide and get out of the hands to teach the beasts a lesson. It doesn't even take a minute to wonder what Yingying is talking about with Min Fang, because since my abilities are limited, I am at a bit of a disadvantage against the superior force, so I quickly fall to the ground and they kick me to the shit again, but this only makes me angrier and thanks to this I can get up to punch Min Fang in the nose. However, I don’t have time for anything else, because they push me to the ground again and then what do I hear, what? My wife is laughing.

~ Woman! Are you trying to kill me now?! ~ I get worked up, but I can’t get out of the grip. I’m just thinking that everything could go to hell and I’ll kill everyone present here in the blink of an eye, when that damn voice sounds.

【OCC danger! You can’t carry out your plan.】My ears are ringing, and I’m trying harder to get rid of the hands that are holding me.

"Which hand did you hit me with? Which one should I break?" Min Fang asks, grabbing one of my hands.

~ Then what should I do? Let the bastard break my arm? ~ I scream in desperate anger as I try to pull my hand out of the boy's grip.

【Yes.】I get the answer that completely astounds me.

~ Fuck you! ~ I scream in my head and squeeze my eyes shut.

Chapter Text

The expected pain never reaches me, but instead I hear frightened screams and when I open my eyes I notice that my fellow apprentices are dodging flying leaves and running away, their ears and tails tucked in, screaming. I just stare in front of me for a few moments, not understanding the whole situation. Then I push myself up from the ground, dust off my clothes and sigh.

"A-Luo, I'm sorry. Can I help you find your pendant?" The girl asks, and I grimace and lower my head. I see one of the leaves that saved my arm, so I pick it up, then close my eyes and shake my head.

"He threw it too far, I didn't see where it went. There's no way we're going to find it in such a dense forest." I say sadly.

~ I just got my mother's pendant back and I've already lost it. This isn't fair! ~ I growl to myself, then I put the wooden bag on my back and without even thinking about my future wife, I head back towards the accommodations. I hear the girl's footsteps following me, but I have no intention of turning around or talking to her.

I slowly open my hand and start to stare at that particular leaf. The whole situation was so strange, the leafs appeared out of nowhere and as fast as lightning. It was just like... No... That can't be... Or is it?

~ Fucking system! My shizun who is here with me now is from the world where I met myself? ~ I ask and suddenly hope fills my soul.

【No.】And that was enough to immediately break it into pieces. I should have guessed that I wouldn't be so lucky. Why did I think it was shizun who protected me anyway? It could have been any of my older siblings, or someone from another peak. I could have learned by now that there's no point in hoping.

"Don't be sad A-Luo, I'll get you another pendant." The girl, who I've successfully forgotten about in the meantime, offers. But her words make me root my feet into the ground and look at her with murderous eyes.

"It's better if you don't do anything! This is all your fault! Did you want to kill me, or what?" I get worked up, and the girl blinks at me in surprise.

"A-Luo..." She starts, but I raise my hand.

"Don't A-Luo me here! If you didn't get involved, this won't even happen!" I say angrily and immediately turn around, leaving Yingying in a daze.

【Penalty: Rudeness. -6 points. Points remaining after deduction: 94 points.】

"Fuck!" I growl loudly as I rush forward with my hands clenched into fists.

【Rule violation: Swearing loudly. -2 points. Points remaining after deduction: 92 points.】

The next indecent phrase is already on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it before I say it, I shouldn't lose all my points. To relieve my nervousness, I decide that although I haven't been ordered to do it this time, I will do the evening cleaning, at least until then I can calmly think about who I'm going to kill and how. So after I get back to the quarters, I unload the wood, then begin to implement my plan and after four imaginary tortures of my fellow apprentices, I finish. I stop satisfied and wipe the sweat from my forehead, then proudly put my arms on my hips. How much better the place is cleaned this way.

【Congratulations! For volunteering, 'Luo Binghe' gets +10 points. Your current points: 102 points. Please keep up the good work.】I hear the fucking system, and I first blink, then grin widely.

"Is that all?" I chuckle and go back to my sleeping place. From the next day on, the Luo Binghe everyone knows has changed. I always swore to my heart's content, of course making sure to do it mostly when I was working. That way, I gained and lost points at the same time. Of course, when Shizun was around, I restrained myself, all I needed was for him to accidentally overhear me talking to his dear Yingying, who, by the way, is currently second on my list of "people to be exterminated" right behind the peacock Min Fang.

Thanks to my little discovery, the next few days were much more bearable. I got used to a new routine. I get up, clean the kitchen, get water, light the stoves, practice, study, and then do the afternoon chores. And if someone does pick a fight, I just swear under my breath, because I don’t dare fight, who knows how many points my fucking system would deduct.

Speaking of the fucking system, the lady recently switched tactics and she reports my daily points gained and lost every night, instead of croaking in my head every time. So I have to listen to her annoying voice less during the day, and if I manage to avoid Min Fang properly and not talk to him, risking strangling him, I usually don’t even hear her until the evening. So I was really surprised when I woke up this morning to find that fucking female voice screaming.

【Important side story coming up! Experience gathering for the apprentices. Prepare for the journey. 】She repeats the same sentences, and I sit up on my makeshift bed, holding my head.

"Okay! Okay! Enough! I understand! I'm going, I'm packing, just stop!" I growl as I get out of bed and start packing, not really looking at what I'm doing, I'm still a little dazed. I don't usually sleep long, I prefer to join the camp of early risers, but now it's early even compared to my usual waking up, which is very not advantageous.

That's why I yawn a lot while getting everything ready, but at least the surprised faces of my fellow apprentices made it worth all the suffering I endured. Finally, we all wait at the foot of our peak for Shizun to arrive so we can finally leave. It didn't surprise me that the others didn't get me a horse, they always tease me, so I couldn't help but start running accompanied by a short curse, when His Majesty Shen Qingqiu got his ass off the top and got into his little carriage.

I'm going to have a long journey and I don't curse out loud the whole way because that would just tire me out, which won't be beneficial at all considering we're not going to the next door. However, my resolve not to curse out loud is quickly broken by Min Fang and his gang, thanks to whom I almost choke on dust. I cough a lot, squeeze my eyes shut and have to stop. I don't even realize what's going on around me, until Yingying appears next to me on horseback.

"A-Luo! Shizun wants to talk to you." That's when I realize the carriage has stopped.

"Damn!" I growl under my breath as I nod and walk to the cart.

~ That's it for me, he's going to kill me. ~ I swallow hard as I walk to the door. Instead of scolding me, Shizun just nods towards the inside of the cart. I'm so surprised that I freeze completely and only move when Yingying speaks to me. But I don't really pay attention to what she says and just do what she tells me. It just so happens that a few minutes later I'm sitting across from Shen Qingqiu, who suddenly throws a small bottle in front of me.

"Take this, don't let them say I'm torturing my apprentices." He says, and I carefully pick up the bottle.

~ What's up? We don't want to ruin our reputation? ~ I ask myself sarcastically and pull my lips into a smile.

"Thank you, Shizun." I say it barely audibly, and the man suddenly smiles and the world around me stops. That smile completely enchants me and I'll be honest, I have no idea what happened for the rest of the trip.

Chapter Text

I might not even fully understand what’s going on around me when we reach our destination and I follow our Shizun with my fellow disciples to some nobleman’s mansion. Well, not that I really care what it’s about, but I’m still completely shocked and my brain won’t let go of that one moment in the cart.

What the hell could have happened to Shen Qingqiu that he smiled? And it was such a beautiful, easy smile, as if it came naturally to him, as if he didn’t consider me the most despicable person in the world, as if I mattered to him. It was almost like the smile that that other Shizun used to look at my copy.

Only one interesting sentence managed to pull me out of my thoughts. It was as if I had heard that nobleman, who was as good as a pig, talking about some kind of face-eating ghost that only attacked beautiful women. I just blink at the information spoken in a meowing voice.

~ Why do I have the feeling that this is not a simple ghost? ~ I ask myself, but now I don't even get an answer from the fucking system. Which surprises me a little, but it doesn't bother me enough to get all hiped up about it.

To my surprise, I can see even on Shizun that he would rather not be here and not listen to the pig like nobleman's speech. It's clear from his body language that he would rather get up from his chair and get out of here so quickly that no one will even find a trace of him. Others might not notice, but from here I can see from the side how those deep black eyes flash and how the corners of his mouth twitch behind his fan.

"Leave this problem to us. My apprentices will take care of it." Shizun finally says and stands up, then leaves the room, leaving us behind. Of course, the team's on-duty footman Ming Fan immediately agrees to do the task, leaving the rest of us without a thing to do.

"A-Luo! A-Luo!" Even the cold shakes me when I hear the squeaking voice behind me and my hands involuntarily clench into fists, but I force a smile on my face intended to be kind as I look back at her.

"Yes?" That's all I ask, but I only finish the question in my head.

~ What the hell do you want again, woman?! ~ I growl, but I try not to show my displeasure.

"Accompany me to the fair." She grabs my arm and flutters her eyelashes, which in my original world I remember finding cute, but now I'd rather pull them out one by one.

"As you wish shijie." I nod, finally yielding to the inevitable. At least I'll have something to do and it wasn't completely unnecessary to come here. So I let the girl drag me by the arm to the fair. I'm not interested in this place at all, but she seems to really enjoy it. That wouldn't be a problem if she didn't start talking to me and the conversation didn't take an unpleasant turn.

"Seriously, A-Luo, you're so lucky Shizun never even let me get in his cart. Tell me what it's like inside!" The girl begs as she rushes before me, clasps her hands behind her back, leans forward a little and walks backwards with her head tilted to the side. I just roll my eyes at the question.

"What would it be like? It's like any other cart." I sigh.

【Mission! Ning Yingying's Kidnapping】The fucking system screams in my head, and my eyes widen.

"A-Luo? Are you okay? You look like..." She starts, but can't finish because she's suddenly surrounded by black mist, which immediately disappears.

"Shijie!" I shout to myself.

"A-Luo! Help!" I hear the woman's voice and immediately turn towards her, the girl is standing on a roof, and the black smoke takes on a human form and squeezes her neck.

"Let her go!" I jump onto the roof and draw my sword, but as I try to slash at the smoke figure, I realize that I don't have my trusty Xin Mo in my hand, but a simple sword that can't even be controlled.

~ Damn life! How the fuck should I fight like this? ~ I growl to myself, but I try to make the most of my situation. ~ Fucking system! ~ I scream in my head. ~ What the hell should I do? ~ I ask, before the blue rectangle appears next to my head and I hear the voice.

【Mission! Ning Yingying's Kidnapping. Please don't interfere with the storyline!】I get the answer.

"Fuck you!" I scream loudly, both to the fucking system and the smoke figure, as I punch another one in the air, but the smoke figure disappears along with the girl, before I slam my fist into the roof tile. "Damn fucking life! Woman, it's always trouble with you!" I narrow my eyes.

【Rules violation: Swearing loudly. -6 points. Points accumulated after deduction: 122 points.】I get the penalty from the fucking system.

"You better tell me what to do now!" I run my fingers through my hair and groan loudly. "I'm going to have to do that, right?" I ask, not expecting an answer as I climb up off the roof tiles and start running back to the pig noble's house to find Shizun. I've run into quite a few of my fellow apprentices. I'm on the road, but at least I can quickly find the room where my Shizun is resting.

Without any hesitation, I almost break the door and immediately collapse on the floor like a good disciple. I'm not surprised that Ming Fan is with my Shizun, that child is almost impossible to get off Shizun, worse than mud stuck to your hair.

"Shizun! Shizun! The ghost kidnapped Ning-shijie!" I say and squeeze my eyes shut, preparing for the worst. If something similar had happened in my own world, I would definitely get a good beating or a huge wave of humiliation right now. However, Shizun doesn't say anything and Ming Fan just starts yelling at me.

"Enough! We don't have time for this! The most important thing now is to find your Shijie! Ming Fan, tell the others! We're searching the whole city." Shizun gives the order and I start blinking at the floor.

~ Did I really hear him right? ~ I ask myself. I hear Ming Fan rush out of the room, as well as Shizun walking past me.

"This is all my fault. Please Shizun punish your student." I force the words out of me the moment I notice the blue rectangle in the corner of my eye.

【100% match with the character. The remorseful student's plea. +10 points. Current points: 132 points.】I hear the sound of the fucking system, and I grimace.

~ Shut up! ~ I growl to myself, but before I can start arguing with the fucking system, Shizun speaks up.

"We don't have time for this now! If we don't act quickly, she'll be in danger. Show me where you last saw her!" He gives the order, and I immediately jump to my feet and head for the door.

"Yes, shizun." I say.

~ I recommend you to stay alive, woman, because I want to skin you myself for this! ~

Chapter Text

"The smoke swallowed her here." I stop on the roof and look down at the streets. Shizun just hums beside me, then takes out his fan and opens it. His eyes travel the streets, then suddenly closes the fan with a loud snap.

"I got the trail! Binghe follow!" He says and runs off across the rooftops.

"Are you serious?" I groan as I follow him. I feel the tiles touch my feet, but my gaze is only on the man running in the distance ahead of me. I grit my teeth. Normally I could easily follow him, if my abilities weren't limited, then such a run wouldn't even make a dent, but like this. Seriously, what did this crazy person think that a simple student could easily follow a master?

"For fucking life!" I groan under my breath as my foot slips, causing me to crash into the dust from a rooftop.

"Finally you made it here!" I hear Shizun's voice and I want to yell at him, 'I was fucking faster than any of your students, what the fuck do you want?', but I know that if I say even one word of this, the fucking system will deduct at least twenty points from me.

Finally, I get up and quickly dust myself off, then I follow Shizun, who has set off down the street. We walk silently together through the night city and to my surprise, I have to admit that he is actually quite pleasant to be with. I remember that when I was fourteen, I always felt awkward and anxious about conforming, no matter how many times I was around Shizun. But now, that feeling is gone.

The thought makes me smile, although it wasn't like that last time, now nothing stops me from enjoying this moment. I can see the nervousness in Shizun's movements, but somehow he's not as nervous as I remember him being. When he was nervous back then, he would always growl and his steps would pound so hard that you could hear them from every point on the summit, his whole person would be surrounded by an icy and raging energy that would make even the bravest of people tremble.

But now, he's not that kind of nervous. The Shizun, who walks in front of me, doesn't exude that icy aura, it's more like when you can barely breathe in the summer heat. Not a single sound leaves his lips and he just hurries forward, following some invisible energy. His steps are light, like when he ran on the rooftops, there's no trace of the trampling that shook everything. Only his hands are clenched into fists and his forehead is slightly wrinkled. These are the only signs that something is bothering my Shizun.

"What?" The question comes barely audibly, and I glance up at the gate we're standing in front of and I can almost feel a vein popping out on my forehead.

~ Seriously? Seriously?! ~ I growl to myself. ~ Is this some kind of fucked up joke?! For gods' sake! We started from here! ~ I get worked up and maybe I would have continued on if the door hadn't slammed open and that certain black mist had appeared inside. It reaches Shizun, whose eyes widen and he falls to the ground. ~ Hehe, pathetic! ~ My head spins as the smoke starts to move towards me.

"Damn you!" I groan, but all I notice is that I'm seeing the sky instead of the gate. I guess I'm not much better than Shizun, if she could knock me out. I'm probably already lying on the ground and in half a minute the pain of the impact hits me, and then the darkness swallows me up, locking me into a pleasant oblivion.

I wake up with a headache, but it goes away immediately when I realize that I can't raise my arms. My eyes pop open and I look down at myself. I'm tied down, my back is pressed into something convex.

~ A pillar! Am I tied to a fucking pillar?! ~ I grimace and try to move my limbs. There's a little room to move, but not enough for me to do anything or to be able to free myself from the rope. The next thing I realize, there's someone next to me. When I look to the side I see their face.

~ Woman! ~ My eyes light up with an evil flame. ~ Oh, if we weren't tied up right now you'd be screaming and not from pleasure! ~ I wrinkle my nose, but then the girl moves and turns her head in fear.

"A-Luo." She looks at me in terror.

"It's me, Ning-shijie." I say, trying not to sound grumpy.

"Shizun!" The girl hisses and stares ahead. I follow her gaze suspiciously, but I literally open my mouth and my eyes widen when I see the man tied to the pillar opposite us. My gaze travels over him, someone has taken off his top clothes and managed to tie him so that half of his shoulder is out of the clothes. And I simply can't take my eyes off the seductive white skin. What I wouldn't give to be able to touch it.

I'm so busy with the sight that I barely notice Shizun start to stir, then look around in surprise. He tries to free himself, but he can't, and the girl next to me almost screams in relief.

~ Are you seriously blind, woman?! He can't free himself either, he's tied up with an energy-suffocating rope! ~ I curse the woman inwardly.

"Shizun, I'm scared." The girl groans.

"Don't be scared, shijie, Shizun will definitely get us out of here." I look at the aforementioned and I just hope that the sarcasm in my eyes is not visible. However, before Shizun can answer, the door opens and the shadow appears. "The Skinner Demon." It reaches my consciousness as she rushes past me.

~ You little scoundrel, you don't even have a backbone! ~ Angry despair seizes me. However, at the moment, I can't do anything but sit here and wait for what will come out of the situation, because thanks to someone... Yes, I'm thinking about the fucking system, I can't do anything. All my strength is tied up, so I wouldn't be able to kill the demon even if I really wanted to.

So I resign myself to my fate and watch as the smoke figure takes on a human body and as Shizun talks to the demon in the female body. Well, this wouldn't be a problem so far, if the demon didn't start explaining herself, which only makes me barely able to control myself from beating my head into the pillar.

~ How can someone be such an idiot?! ~ I groan to myself. ~ Why the hell are you telling him everything about yourself?! So that he can kill you more easily?! ~ I growl to myself seeing the woman's behavior. However, I try to look embarrassed on the outside, but only enough to show that I'm worried, because theoretically at this point I still thought Shizun was invincible, so it wouldn't be advantageous if I didn't show any of my blind faith in Shizun.

The demon surrounds the girl tied to my side, and I beg her to kill her. Then at least I'd be free from the girl. However, Shizun stops the woman and instead turns the attention to himself. Let's just say I don't know what I'm surprised about when he's so into Ning Yingying. However, nothing could have prepared me for what he does next, he laughs.

"You can't see the forest for the trees. There are three people in the room, and you just don't notice the one who would be the best with you." He glances at me, and the demon turns to me.

~ Pff, I knew he hated me! ~ I think to myself.

"You'll have to come up with a better lie than this if you want to trick me." The demon also speaks. But I don't even pay attention to her anymore, until Shizun says something strange again.

"You think I would have accepted him as my apprentice if he wasn't special. He has a secret that no one knows about." The man explains, and I look at him in confusion.

~ He's not talking about the fucking system, but then what is he bluffing about here?! ~ I blink to myself.

"Go ahead. You can easily try him. Just hit him in the head and you'll see!"

~ This is the Shen Qingqiu I know! ~ I close my eyes and lean against the pillar, but unlike shijie, I don't say a word. ~ This is the end, but why do I have to die because of a damn little demon?! ~

Chapter Text

I'm already mentally prepared for my doom when I suddenly hear a huge bang, then a snap, and when I open my eyes I see the demon moaning under a beam. For a few moments I can literally only blink, nothing reaches my brain.

~ What the fuck was that?! ~ I blink a lot. However, no matter how hard I try, I can't figure anything out. ~ How does this make sense? It's not even raining, how could a beam have fallen on her head? ~ I try to force my brain to think of something, but it just won't click.

~ Or was it shizun? ~ A wild idea strikes me, but I immediately dismiss it. ~ No way, the energy draining rope is still on him, but then what could it be? ~ I'm thinking and now even the fucking system doesn't want to help me find a solution. It always chooses the best moment to disappear. Of course, it's nowhere to be found when you need it. But when I don't even want it in the middle of my back, it's there right away.

Finally, I'm brought to my senses by the woman leaning over me. I congratulate her, she fainted. That's when I decide I've had enough, so I try to free myself from the ropes. To my great satisfaction, I quickly figure out how to untie my bonds.

~ Hehe, typical. They tie knots poorly. ~ I say to myself and now I'm exceptionally glad that I haven't regulated the demons here yet. If I had been in my own world now, the problem would have been bigger, they could tie knots there, some better than others. But here, it seems I don't have to worry about such things. ~ Gods bless weak-minded demons! ~ I declare to myself triumphantly and stand up.

I see the demon turn to Shizun again and start talking in a style that suits her. Hasn't she really learned that talking is always bad? Since I'm aware that right now, thanks to the fucking system, there's not much point in me being free, I have to act.

I sneak past the woman silently and just roll my eyes that she hasn't noticed. Is this really how they want to take over people, that they don't even notice such small things? In any case, I'm just getting out of this situation good, since I can get behind the pillar where Shizun was tied unnoticed.

~ Horrible job. ~ I grimace at the sight of the knot, but I untie it immediately.

"If I were you, I'd turn around and see if anyone was missing." Shizun speaks, and I have to smile at the irony of the situation, but at least I'm not the only one who noticed that the demon is a complete idiot. As soon as she turns away, I step out from behind the pillar, so when she looks back at us, she can see that her prisoner has been freed, who duly sends her flying.

~ You may be a scumbag, but I won't deny that you have great power. ~ I admit to myself as I stare at the hole in the wall.

"Remember, if you want to protect people, sometimes you have to kill." Shizun explains, and I just nod behind him, not like I'm not already aware of that.

"Shizun, you won't be mad if your apprentice asks..." I start, but he cuts me off.

"You mean to ask what I would have done if the beam hadn't broke?" He glances at me.

~ No. I wanted to know why couldn't you get out of such simple knots? But this question will do. ~ I decide to myself, maybe this way my fucking system wouldn't punish me for being rude to the man.

"Maybe you blame me?" I hear the question.

"No. It would be an honor if your apprentice could give his life for you." I cut him off immediately, but I have to clench my hands into fists to keep from throwing up. Sometimes I don't understand how I can squeeze such sentimental nonsense out of myself.

"Then let me tell you, no matter what happens to me, nothing bad can happen to you." He says and turns in my direction.

~ What the hell is wrong with you?! ~ I blink at him.

"You can be sure of that!" He grabs my shoulder.

~ What the hell is this! ~ I panic. ~ This, I don't understand this! Shizun was never like this! What is this all about?! ~ Thoughts are swirling in my head.

"Shizun... I..." I start, but I really don't have the faintest idea what I want to say.

"Enough. Go check your Shijie." As he gives the order, I move. At least I understand this, I can do this. Then I'll deal with why Shizun behaving in such an un-shizun-like manner later. Luckily, or rather unluckily, the woman is fine and recovers quickly.

However, I don't have the patience to deal with her now. I'm already confused, all I need is for her to start thanking me for being alive. So I decide to instead focus on gathering Shizun's clothes and then move over to him.

"Shizun... Your... Your clothes." I turn my head away because in the end, if I keep looking at that peeking shoulder, I'll do something that's very unbecoming of a young disciple. Luckily, the gods listened to me exceptionally, so my Shizun took his clothes from me, and after we'd taken care of everything in this lousy little town, we returned to our clan, or rather to Qiong Ding Peak for the first. I silently listen as Shizun reports to the clan leader.

~ Is it just me, or is Shizun really much happier than he usually should be?! ~ I ask myself the question, but of course I don't say a word from it. I don't need to be looked at as stupid. I'm just starting to think about what I'll do when we get back to Qing Jing Peak, when I hear something interesting.

"I'd like to retreat for three years to meditate in silence." I blink in surprise at Shizun's words.

~ Oh, we're already there, when he will retreat back in the caves?! ~ I think about it when I remember that before the Immortal Alliance Council, Shizun also went to meditate where I came from. Which means that I'll be free of him for about three years now. I'll avoid my idiotic apprentice siblings for three years and I'll have a golden life.

To make up for it, as soon as we return to our own Peak, I'll go train hard. That is, do something like that, because this fucking system won't let me train properly, because my abilities haven't been unlocked yet, or whatever the hell it keeps repeating when I try to train normally.

"Relax, lower your center of gravity! Lower your wrist! Direct your power into the sword! Don't pay attention to your body, but to your mind! Think before you strike! Your movement should be lightning fast! Forget about the sword! Empty your mind!" I hear the voice and in surprise, I almost drop my sword from my hand, but finally manage to finish the sequence of movements.

~ What's wrong with him giving advice? ~ I ask myself, but all that comes out of my mouth is a thank you.

"Here! Take it!" He pulls out a notebook, which I take.

"My mentor, why are you giving me new notes?" I ask as I read the caption.

"Your body structure is a bit different from the others. Regular notes won't work for you." He turns away from me, which I'm very grateful for, because I think I'm looking at him like he's grown another head.

~ What the hell is this nonsense?! ~ I mutter to myself.

"Practice a lot while I meditate." He says and leaves.

"Thank you, my mentor." I reply, then read the book, but almost drop it when I see its contents. "He wrote it by hand?! For me?!" I gape.

【Congratulations! Special item obtained: Accurate Cultivation Notes. +200 points. Current points: 345 points. The cultivation skills in the note are unlocked.】I hear the sound of the fucking system, which makes my eyes widen as well.

"Shizun helped me?" I mumble to myself, not knowing what to make of this discovery.

Chapter Text

Three damn long years, and when I say damn long, I mean it, and I'm not being sarcastic. They were the longest three years of my life since I started over. At first, I thought they were going to be great. Shizun got his ass set in the caves, and all I had to do was get away from everyone else and have a good life. Well, it seems fate had other ideas and decided that instead of leaving me alone, it started screwing with me.

But it did it to such an irritating level that sometimes I seriously considered poisoning everyone's dinner, skinning my fellow apprentice siblings one by one and displaying them as flags, setting this place on fire, maybe drowning myself in the mop water, or all of that. Is it really that hard to make sure I can have some fucking peace?! A damn day when idiots don't breathe on my neck and make a fool of me?!

I had to admit that it was! It must be fucking hard, because fate didn't even think of helping me. In fact! There were days when it even hung the fucking system around my neck just to make me happy. Such days usually consisted of my adorable, dying, skinned, fucking voiced system appearing every five minutes and either criticizing me, or flashing me that there was going to be a problem, or just wanting to chatter and giving me banal, meaningless information that I never wanted to know in my life.

Like how the woman picks out the biggest grains of rice once a month because she thinks that if she eats them, she'll get over her female problems much faster. Or how Min Fang sneaks over to Bai Zhan Peak at night to spy on their evening exercises. Or that another apprentice brother of mine pathologically avoids cracks in the ground. And a thousand and a thousand other such nonsense, without which I would have died happily, but according to the fucking system it was important that I know about it.

In the end, these three years passed with great difficulty and if it was embarrassing, if not, when the demons appeared on Qing Jing Peak today, I even shed a tear or two in relief. If the demons are here, it means that Shizun will be back soon and then at least I can distract myself from the idiots with housework. Finally, something interesting will happen and if my memory serves me correctly, I should meet two of my other women today.

Just as the demons cut off Qing Jing Peak from the outside world then, we apprentices tried to protect the place as best we could. The woman and the annoying Min Fang went to the caves to get Shizun out, and I stayed here to take care of the others, but I didn’t expect these damn demons to chase me out into the forest and for my fucking system to show up and tell me I couldn’t use an ability.

However, just before I could fucking start argue what the hell it was thinking to stop me, a very familiar figure appeared and saved me. And I could only blink at Shizun, who smiled kindly at me, as if he was proud of me despite his words, which was both honorable and very embarrassing. Finally, I followed Shizun back to the top of our peak, where we came face to face with the Demon Clan, and then I heard the unmistakable sound of bells.

【Sha Hualing. The newly appointed sacred demon mistress of the Demon Clan.】I heard the voice of the fucking system as it introduced the woman to me.

~ Hello, little demon! ~ I greet the girl in my mind, but of course since I have to play a good apprentice now, I look at her sullenly, until I notice someone looking at me. When I look over, I see Shizun. ~ What is he staring at? ~ I think about it, but my future wife starts talking, so I quickly get distracted.

~ Were you such a big whore back then? ~ I ask myself as I listen to the girl sweetly admit that they didn't mean anything bad and that she just wanted to talk and compare their skills with ours. ~ Oh, yes, that's exactly why I took her. She's a whore, but she's cute! ~ I note to myself, but the next thing I notice is that Shizun has already started his first duel.

~ How the hell does he do it, he's more impressive than he was last time?! ~ I gasp in surprise as I watch the man's movements and smile when he wins. The one-armed demon deserved what he got anyway. Suddenly I find myself looking at Shizun, who is looking at me with worried and perhaps regretful eyes.

~ Why is he looking at me again? And what is that look? Did a rock fall on his head in the cave or what? The last time he sent me almost to certain death quite enthusiastically. ~

【Luo Binghe has to participate in the duel. This is where he meets the two female protagonists. The storyline cannot be changed.】The fucking system chirps and I almost roll my eyes. I couldn't change the storyline, or the shit, even if I wanted to. If Shizun says I fight, then I have to fight. I have this much backbone that I don't bring shame to my own clan. By the way, speaking of Shizun, I'm still looking at him when the little demon announces that she's next. I'm already waiting for the next female figure to appear and I shouldn't be disappointed that Shizun asks the question and the woman with her face covered appears in front of him from the sky.

【The most beautiful apprentice of the Cang Qiong Mountain Clan. Senior disciple of the Xian Shu Peak. Liu Mingyan.】The fucking system gives me the information I already know. When the two girls start fighting, I fold my arms in front of me and look at them boredly.

~ I didn't notice it last time, but they were already more preoccupied with each other than with anyone around them. ~ I roll my eyes, but I still watch them dance around curiously, until I notice a pair of eyes looking at me again.

~ Shizun? Why does he keep looking at me? Especially when they are dancing in front of him? ~ I ask myself, but the fucking system refuses to answer my questions again, so I can only guess, but I don't have time for that, since my women have finished the battle. Just like last time, the female demon won and started her little rhyme again about how dangerous the final duel will be. I see Shizun's shoulders tense, but I just sigh. I know what's coming, so I lower my hands and mentally prepare myself for the phrase "Now show me how good you are Binghe!" and I even move my shoulders. But the expected sentence never comes, instead Shizun speaks in a calm voice.

"I can guarantee that whether he wins or loses, this person will be your doom." He says.

~ I don't argue with that. I just want to know where he got it from? ~ I note to myself as the man turns to me and points his fan at me.

"Luo Binghe." He says my name. His gaze is filled with confidence, as if he knows I'm going to win just as well as I do. "Step forward!" He gives me a half-smile, which I faintly return.

~ It's time to beat a demon! ~ I get excited and step forward, as Shizun asked.

Chapter Text

I stretch myself out and march in front of the demon, who has a big fucking hammer in his hand, and I'm already mentally pounding the ground when the torment of my life that blue mother fucker of a system appears next to my head.

【Abilities blocked. Good luck with the battle!】I hear the voice and I'm just a hair away from screaming.

~ What the fucking hell?! How can I defeat him without any abilities?! ~ I scream to myself as I jump out of an attack. At least defend myself, somehow...

"Damn you!" I hiss between my teeth as the hammer's wind hits me to the ground. One more blow and I think one of my ribs has cracked. Or is it just dislocated? Damn, the point is that thanks to my fucking system, I'm slowly turning into a living mass of flesh and I even lose my sword, because I manage to place it in the behemoth's palm. However, with the next blow, I see stars and can barely lift my head.

"Luo Binghe! What are you doing?" I hear Shizun's voice and look at him. "He only has a few hundred years' advantage and you're giving up already?" The question comes to me, and I look at him in confusion.

"Shizun?" I blurt out, but I suppress the continuation.

~ What the hell did happen to him? Did the cave air hurt him? ~ I think to myself and if my face didn't hurt so much, I would grimace.

"Stand up, if your bones are intact!" I receive the order.

~ Well, listen, I don't know how many of them are intact... ~ I groan to myself.

"I put the reputation and dignity of the Cang Qiong Mountain Clan in your hands!" He continues, and I just blink at him.

~ What the hell did you do?! This bastard seriously thinks I can defeat a demon that's been around for hundreds of years? Withou... ~

【A pep talk from Shen Qingqui. Skills learned so far are unlocked. Good luck in your future battles.】I hear the sound of the fucking system, which brings a smile to my face.

~ Freedom! ~ I exclaim to myself and almost feel the healing energies running through my body, then I stand up and start seriously beating the demon. ~ Let's hunt the demon! Let's hunt the demon! ~ I chant to myself and summon a few talismans with which I attack the behemoth, causing it to fall to the ground.

"Sorry, but this is mine!" I grin as I pull my sword from its palm. However, the demon gets back on his feet and starts saying a bunch of nonsense as he swings his hammer at me, which I place my sword in. "Come on, come on... That's it for you!" I note and break the hammer into pieces, then send another dose of talisman into the demon's face and when he lies down again I put my hand on my hip and sigh in satisfaction.

~ Ah, that's what I needed! ~ I close my eyes for a moment, then look at the members of my Peak, everyone is cheering and Shizun. ~ This is smiling again! ~ I'm surprised, but the fucking system quickly distracts me.

【Gaining fame to the Cang Qiong Mountain Clan in fighting against the Demon clan.
Successfully attracting the attention of Liu Mingyan and Sha Hualing.
+500 points.】It tells me with which it makes me smile broadly.

~ I can swear for weeks without work! ~ I get excited, but the demon girl distracts me when she comes close to me. ~ Hello, kitten demon! Should I wring your neck? ~ I flash my red demon eyes at the girl, who stares at me angrily. However, she immediately ignores me in order to scold the hammer demon.

Who, in anger, grabs my sword that I threw on the ground and suddenly jumps at me. I'm about to attack when Shizun pushes me behind him and stabs the demon through his heart. But he just grins and pulls Shizun closer, who even though jumps out of the way, still gets a wound on his hand.

"Shizun!" I shout and rush to his side.

~ What the hell did you do, you crazy person?! ~ I ask myself.

"Your hand!" I grab his hand and look at it. "You got hurt!" I swallow hard, but he pulls his hand away.

"Don't get worked up!" He says, making me want to strangle him.

~ Don't get worked up? Don't get worked up?! You could lose all your cultivation, and why? Because you protected me! ~ I get caught up in myself and to vent my anger, I jump at the hammer demon and give him the final blow. ~ Fuck you! Now how can I save Shizun without him noticing? ~

【Danger! Danger! The storyline can't change. Luo Binghe can't heal Shen Qingqui.】The fucking system is screaming and if I hadn't heard a huge explosion, I might have started arguing with it. When I turn my head towards the sound, I see Shizun, supported by Liu Qingge, and the kitten demon is looking at them from a distance in surprise.

"Oh my gods. I could really hit that hard?" Shizun says, and the person behind him grimaces.

"Hell no." He groans, but they didn't have much time to talk, as the demons started talking again, but no one is stupid enough to jump on Liu Qingge face to face, not even them, so they retreat. I was just about to start enjoying the view when Shizun stopped.

"Shizun, are you okay?" I rush to his side, even if my Shishu is dealing with him. After all, it was only because of me that he got like this.

"Well then. It's lucky you weren't in trouble." He says and smiles at me as if everything was fine.

"Shizun! It's my fault you got hurt..." I start, but I don't continue, what can I say? I know I could save him, but I can't. This way, I can only watch the other Peak leader heal Shizun. "Liu-shishu, how is Shizun?" I ask and swallow hard.

"He's alive." I get the answer, which doesn't reassure me at all, because I already knew that. I was curious to see how much he managed to screw up his qi system.

"I'm fine, just let me lie down a little." Shizun sighs and starts to lie down on the ground.

"Shizun." I reach for him, I have no idea what to do and this helplessness is fucking annoying.

"I knew..." He starts haltingly. "That you would definitely win." He strokes my head, and my eyes widen and I start to blink at him. But before I can say anything the man faints.

"You are Binghe, right?" The other Peak leader looks at me and I nod. "Show me the way, we will take your shizun back to your Peak." He gives me the task.

"Yes, Liu-shishu." I nod and stand up, and when the man picks up my fainted shizun from the ground, I start towards our peak.

~ Why did he save me? Why does he trust me so much? What happened to him? ~ I think to myself on the way, it's lucky that I know where to go without thinking. ~ The look he was looking at me with. That wasn't the shizun I remember. Maybe his illness and meditation for three years had changed him? ~ I ponder and decide that this is the most likely possibility. ~ But how can I be sure? ~

I still think about this when we arrive at Qing Jing Peak and thake Shizun to his small house, where I lead Liu-shishu into Shizun's room. The man lays the unconscious man on the bed and then goes to Qian Cao Peak to get Mu-shishu. I'm left alone in the house with Shizun.

"I have it!" I smile. "If it's the Shizun I remember, then there's no god who could make him accept that." I hold my chin, nod to myself, and turn to head for the kitchen.

Chapter Text

Well, my plan quickly collapsed when I was about to throw out the first batch of food, but I didn't give up, I'll do it until that bastard wakes up to check if everything is as it should be. When I have free time, I watch Shizun. As I've already established in that other world and as I've discovered in my own, I have to admit to myself that he looks damn good when he sleeps here too.

I could watch him for hours. In fact, I did. When Min Fang didn't catch on and bothered me, damn it. That's when I cursed under my breath and went back to the kitchen grumbling. Three days later Shizun woke up. And after his favorite paw-licker jumped around him and told him that he was going to get Mu-shishu, I was the only one left with Shizun in the house.

"Do you want to say something? If so, come in!" I hear his voice, then I take a deep breath and enter the room.

"Shizun, don't be angry that your apprentice was stupid and ignorant." I start, but I don't look at the man, only at the ground in front of me. "Your apprentice thought you didn't care about him, Shizun. I only realized I was wrong after the third fight." Either you have suicidal tendencies, or you're not the Shizun I know, or I've seen something fucking wrong. "From now on, your apprentice will take the obstacles you put in front of him much better." I close my eyes and bow to him, kneeling on the ground.

"The point is, you figured it out. Get up from the ground!" I don't show my surprise, but I slowly stand up, but I don't leave, now comes his test. "Is there anything else?" I hear the question I expected.

~ It's now or never! ~ I try to suppress the grin that's about to burst out.

"You've been sleeping for days, Shizun. I was wondering if you'd like some rice porridge I made." I offer it and glance at him, but I immediately avert my eyes. I have to play well-mannered Luo Binghe, I can't be brave yet.

"Rice porridge?" He asks back and when I look up, my surprise almost spills out onto my face.

~ Are his eyes really shining now? ~ I ask myself. The silence drags on for another half minute.

"Yes. With pleasure!" I finally get the answer.

"Shizun, I'll bring it right away!" I say enthusiastically and immediately turn around. I only realize that I'm grinning widely when I see my reflection in the water in the kitchen.

~ This is not the Shizun he was in my world. ~ I think happily as I measure out the small bowl of food. ~ He's different, then maybe... ~ I swallow hard as I remember the moments before I got here, when I could feel Shizun's lips on my lips. ~ Maybe, if I'm clever enough... ~ I nod to myself, then return to Shizun's cottage with the bowl in my hand.

"Shizun, here's your rice porridge!" I say as I enter, setting the tray I'm holding on the table.

"That was quick. Did you make it recently?" The question comes, but I don't even look up at him.

"I didn't know when you'd wake up, Shizun, so I've been making a new batch every few hours for the past few days." I answer without even thinking about what I'm saying or how stupid the words coming out of my mouth sound.

"Shizun, it's not hot anymore." I nod, stirring the porridge. "Should I put it on the table, or would you rather eat it in bed?" I ask, looking up at him. The surprise on his face is clear, which makes me smile. I think this will be my new hobby. To make Shizun surprised. He has a very funny face when he doesn't understand why I'm doing what I'm doing.

"Just put it on the table." He waves, and I do as he asks, then help him sit down at the table. I watch curiously as he brings the spoon to his beautifully curved mouth and wait with bated breath for him to taste it.

"This is divine!" He stares into the bowl, and I grin widely. I don't even try to hide my enthusiasm. I just watch as Shizun eagerly spoons the porridge I made for him. I don't know when, but somehow I lean my elbows on the table and stare, resting my chin on one hand. My master eats it like a little kid when he gets a candy.

"It wasn't bad." He announces, clearing his throat as he puts down the spoon and wipes his mouth.

~ Hey fucking system, can I ask him a question? ~ I scream in my head.

【The system doesn't detect any errors in the storyline.】I get my answer, so I swallow hard and try to conjure up my most innocent look.

"Shizun, if you like it, how about your apprentice cook for you every day from now on?" I ask the question and look at him with a hopeful look.

~ Please let me, please let me. Whit this, I don't have to deal with idiots. ~ I beg as I watch him, but the man suddenly starts coughing as if he's swallowed something wrong.

"Shizun?" I blink at him with a worried look, then bow my head in resignation. "If you don't want me to, I won't do it." I note in a sad voice.

~ What was wrong with him now? ~ I ask the question, but of course I don't get any answer.

"I certainly want you to. From tomorrow on, you'll be responsible for the food." Shizun suddenly cuts me off, which manages to make me look up at him surprised.

~ I never thought I would ever tell him this honestly! ~ I take a deep breath as I prepare my next sentence.

"Thank you, Shizun!" I say in a grateful voice and with a faint smile. He just turns away from me and waves.

"I'm fine. You may leave now." He gives the order and waves again towards the door.

"As you wish, Shizun, have a good rest." I stand up politely and take the tray from him, then bow again and continue. "Your apprentice is leaving." I turn and leave the room. I wash up in the kitchen, then start my afternoon tasks. And in the evening I strech out in the woodshed with a huge smile.

"He has changed! Shizun, not himself." I grin like a wild apple as I stare at the ceiling, and the moments we spent together flash before my mind's eye. "I just wonder what surprised him so much that he almost choked?" I think out loud and close my eyes. When an old memory comes to mind, from my previous life, when I sat next to Ning Yingying and watched her dreamily eat my cooking. I can almost hear my own voice.

If you like how it tastes, how about I cook for you every day from now on?

I put my hands in front of my mouth as I sit up on my makeshift bed and stare at the wooden wall of the shed with wide eyes as the realization hits me. Finally, I slowly lower my hands and run my fingers through my hair.

"Do I want him that much?" I ask myself and lean back again on my bed. I groan, my hand still in my hair, as I close my eyes. Now my thoughts wander to that incident in that other world where Shizun was so kind to me. I can still taste his lips.

~ Are his lips still that sweet? ~ That was my last thought before sleep overcame me.

Chapter Text

Smoke? No. This isn't smoke, this is a sandstorm...

【You've reached an important sub-plot. Title: Dream World】The blue window appears next to my head and starts screaming. However, I'm not paying attention to it, but to the figure in the distance.

~ Ning Yingying should be here, not Shizun! ~ Runs through my mind.

"I'm imagining things, or the fucking system is broken." I mutter under my breath, before the blue window beeps again.

【The system found no bug.】I get the answer in that drawn-out fucking voice.

"What the hell?" I frown and turn to the floating window.

【There is no error in the system. Please continue the plot, failure will result in a 1000 satisfaction points deduction.】It continues as if nothing could be more natural, but my hands clench into fists.

"You motherfucker!!" I growl, then take a deep breath and move closer to the man standing in the sandstorm before he somehow harms himself. "Shizun? What are you doing here?" I call out when I reach him. He tenses up for a moment.

"This is the dream world." He says without turning to me.

~ You don't say it, I know. ~ I roll my eyes, taking advantage of the fact that he's not looking at me. ~ I wonder what the fuck are you doing here?! ~ I ask myself the question.

"This is your dream world." He says, and I look around in surprise.

"Mine?" I ask softly, as my gaze runs across the barren land, which doesn't look anything like what it should be.

~ It definitely isn't, it doesn't look like that... ~ I suddenly remember the first time I was here with the woman. ~ Yeah, but that's how it looked back then. ~

"Shizun, how did you get here?" I ask.

"I'm afraid someone has unknowingly messed with your mind..." He starts to explain, but I'm stopped there, someone has dared to poke around in my head. "That's why you accidentally pulled your shizun in."

"Did I pull you in?" I realize, because I definitely didn't do that. However, if he's here, it's because of me, even if I didn't bring him in. "I'm sorry. But who messed with my mind?" I think about it.

"The Demon Clan." The man snaps.

"Of course..." I grimace, I barely remember this time anymore, but it really is as if the kitten demon sent the dream demon.

"Demons aren't evil, maybe they just see things differently. It's hard to get out of a dream trap, the only way is to destroy its core." Shizun interrupts me in my thoughts.

~ Or let the maker appear and destroy them. ~ I note it and try to control myself so that the grin doesn't show on my face.

"Start thinking about how to get out. Dreams often target a person's weakest point. Be alert!" He warns me and when he starts walking forward I look after him suspiciously.

~ How the hell do you know all this? ~ In the end I just shake my head and follow. I'm not getting any further by thinking about things I can't find the answer to anyway.

"Oh, I came home..." I'm surprised when I see the dream city.

"Yes, let's go." Shizun says and marches through the gate, me following closely behind. There are crowds of people walking on the street.

~ I shouldn't be interacting with other people's games, but this is my dream world... ~ I smile when a tea shop appears.

【Successful manipulation of dream world. +10 points】The fucking system says, which makes me feel even better.

"A tea, Shizun?" I stop the man, who looks at me in surprise. At which point I start scratching my neck. "If I don't let him bring up the memory, he can't influence it and has to switch, right?" I ask, which makes Shizun slowly nod. "Are all dream worlds this big?" I ask, just to make myself look like a stupid apprentice.

"It's hard to reproduce a real city so accurately. There's only one demon who can do it." He explains seriously.

"The Dream Demon!" We say it all at once, when the man turns on his heel and walks further down the street. I grab his wrist.

"Shizun, I think it's better if we don't go any further..." I warn him, as a black mist surrounds us and instead of the city, we find ourselves at a house on the edge of a village.

"Another illusion." Shizun speaks when I realize where we are. "Luo Binghe, whatever you see, don't worry about it. And don't touch the illusion!" He grabs my shoulders, and I smile sadly.

"I know, take a seat Shizun." I gesture to the bench that has appeared next to the cottage.

【Successful manipulation of the dream world. +10 points】The fucking system speaks, but I can't be happy for long, because a strange light flashes.

"Shizun! Watch out!" I shout, but instead of jumping, the man steps in front of me, as if to protect me, causing Shizun to collapse and start floating in the air next to me.

"You dirty old smoke cloud!" I scream, as that particular smoke cloud appears and its voice echoes from all directions.

"You were able to break my illusion, that's something." I hear the satisfaction in his voice, but my anger suppresses everything.

~ I'm going to kill you off! I'm going to kill you off! Who did he think he was to hurting him?! How?! Fucking system! Can I kill him off? ~ I ask, my fist clenched with clenched teeth.

【In the dream world, no action is considered OOC.】The answer comes, which surprises me so much that I start blinking and let go of my hand.

"Why didn't you say that before?" I ask out loud.

【The storyline has to take its course!】I get the answer, and I just shake my head and smile. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

"Come out, you old fart, before I go after you! He was just starting to get nice, and you're screwing up my plans!" I shout and the demon appears in front of me in surprise, even though I don't open my eyes to see it, I can still feel it.

"Kid, what's pent up inside you?" I hear the question, my lips pull into a wide smile. My mind's eye is filled with the form I was in before I came here.

"The demon!" I open my eyes to see the stunned dream demon. "Goodbye, old smokeball!" I wave a little, and the demon howls in pain. I immediately turn around. This is my dream world. I control it however I want. The demon won't stay here for long.

"Shizun! Shizun!" I shake his shoulder, but when he refuses to wake up, I decide to follow him, into the deep sleep that old smokeball probably put him in. "Where..." I blink around as I emerge into a dark room, where a familiar sight greets me far ahead. "This? My memory again?" I swallow hard as I get closer to the hanged shizun, who is looking at me with terrified eyes.

"Shizun..." I whisper as I step in front of him. I look at him sadly and raise my hand to caress his cheek. "I'm sorry..." I swallow hard. "I promise it will never..." I mumble, slowly leaning closer to him. "That will never happen!" I say confidently and leaning close to him I place a soft kiss on his forehead. "Sleep, shizun, you won't have nightmares tonight." I promise and watch with a smile as the man's eyes close.

Chapter Text

【Congratulations on successfully completing the storyline. Your reward is +500 points. Keep up the good work.】I hear the sound of the fucking system when I open my eyes. I immediately sit up. I'm in the woodshed.

"Shizun!" I blurt out, then jump to my feet and start running towards the bamboo house. Straight to the man's room. "Shizun!" I call out, as the man sits up on his bed and I crouch in front of him. "Shizun?" I ask, but his eyes widen in fear.

~ Does he remember now? Oh my, I have to do something about this... ~ I think to myself, but my mouth seems to have a life of its own, it speaks.

"Shizun, are you okay?" I ask and swallow hard.

~ I swear, if that demon harmed him, I'll crush the entire demon realm to dust. ~ I swear to myself.

"Your shizun is fine." He says as he stands up and turns away, and I look at him in disbelief.

~ Oh, of course, and I'm blind, huh? ~ I roll my eyes.

"Did the dream demon bother you after?" He glances at me, but the question comes as a surprise. I'm not used to him caring about me yet.

~ Well, he didn't have much of a chance... ~ I answer myself and try to restrain myself from grinning.

"The demon has also thrown your apprentice out of the dream shortly after." I finally lie, turning my head away when I manage to sort out my thoughts somewhat.

"It's no joke to be attacked by a demon." He grabs my hand, which makes my eyes widen and my heart start beating faster.

~ What the hell are you doing? ~ I panic.

"We need to take this seriously. Let your shizun examine you." He pulls me down to the table where we both sit, but I can't even notice what's around me, I can only focus on the point where shizun is touching me.

~ Fuck, fuck! ~ I chant to myself. ~ If he notices that I'm stronger than I should be... ~

"I don't feel anything strange." He stops my increasingly chaotic thoughts.

~ Thank the Buddhas! ~ I calm down, and when he lets go of my wrist, I think I even let out a big breath.

"It's late at night, go and rest yourself." He stands up again and sits on his bed.

"Thank you shizun. Your apprentice is leaving." I bow as usual and head for the woodshed.

"By the way!" He says, which is enough to make my feet root themselves in the ground.

~ What do you want again? ~ I grimace.

"Go to Qian Cao Peak tomorrow and ask your Mu-shishu to examine you, just to be safe." He continues, and I have to close my eyes so as not to show any outward signs of anger.

~ Geez, how do I avoid that? ~ My brain starts to click, because the herbalists shouldn't find anything.

"Okay. Shizun..." I start.

~ One more test won't hurt. Just in case... Just in case I have a chance with him. ~ I take a deep breath.

"Shizun, do you think all demons are hopelessly evil?" I turn to the man, who slowly stands up.

"There aren't many differences, we only see when demons attack humans, but that doesn't mean humans don't attack innocent demons. Humans can be good and bad, the same goes for demons." He walks up to me and pats my shoulder.

"Shizun, so you're saying demons deserve to live too?" I blurt out. It's so unbelievable that he would think that way. The shizun I had to live with hated demons.

"Why do they exist if they don't have the right to?" The question comes in a serious tone.

~ That's a good question... To get on my nerves? ~ I think about it, but I don't say what I'm thinking.

"Luo Binghe, even if you forget everything this shizun teaches you, remember what I'm saying now!" He looks at me as seriously as I've ever seen him.

~ I remember everything you've ever said, you idiot. Even what the other you said... ~ I swallow hard. ~ Why do you look so good when you're serious? ~ I ask myself the question.

"There is no creature that does not have a place under the sky. This is true for demons and humans alike." He puts his hand on my shoulder and then turns his back to me.

~ Well, that was an encouraging speech. ~ I smile and try not to laugh.

"Shizun, I'll take note of your words." I say, pulling myself together a little and turning to him. He looks good even from behind.

"Okay, if there's nothing else, go to sleep." He waves.

"Yes. Your apprentice is leaving. Good night, Shizun." I head towards the woodshed for the second time today.

"Where are you going?" He stops me again.

~ I wonder? To where you exiled me. ~ I roll my eyes, but finally look back at him with an innocent face.

"Your apprentice is getting ready in the kitchen to prepare your breakfast tomorrow, Shizun." I lie with noble simplicity.

"It's the middle of the night, why do you want to cook?" He frowns.

~ Do you have to stick your nose in everything? ~ I get worked up, but I try to suppress my temper.

"Go to sleep!" I get the order.

"Yes!" I bow and leave for the third time? For the third time!

"Pack your things tomorrow..." He says again, and I freeze again.

~ What is he throwing me out now? ~ I start blinking in front of myself. ~ Everything was going so well until now, what did I do to make it like this? ~

"And take it to Min Fang... No. Bring it here!" He says, and my eyes literally go wide.

~ What?! ~ I scream to myself, but only a weak: "Shizun?" comes out of my throat.

"There's a side room in the bamboo house. You can move in there tomorrow." As those words leave his mouth, an image from that other world appears in my mind.

~ In the side room? Like... Like the other me? ~ Thoughts form with incredible slowness in my head. Shizun accepts me, shizun takes care of me, shizun... shizun... shizun...

"Thank you, shizun." I hug him and close my eyes as I rest my head on his arm.

"Enough. What's this nonsense? You are a grown-up or are you not ashamed?" He unfolds from my arms, but I can't quite make out the words.

~ Oh, if you only knew how much... ~ My gaze falls on his lips. ~ of a gronw up...~ I swallow hard. ~ I am. ~ I finish the thought and literally have to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from moving forward and risk getting the evil shizun back.

"You're not a child anymore. Don't act like that." He scolds me.

~ It's a good thing I'm not a child, Shizun, children don't want to trample their teacher. ~ I bite my lip harder and start to wonder why I haven't bitten through it yet.

"Yes!" I bow, then after another goodbye, I finally leave the bamboo house. When I get outside, I take a deep breath.

【Building a positive relationship with Shen Qingqiu. +50 points.】I hear the sound of the fucking system and see the blue window. A smile spreads across my lips.

"If everything continues like this, what we have will not be a simple positive relationship." I summon my demonic power as I look back at the bamboo house. "Sweet dreams, Shizun." I note as I continue walking, knowing that Shizun won't have any more nightmares today.

Chapter Text

So the next day I moved into that particular side room. And my life at Qing Jing Peak has completely changed with this move. I spend a lot more time with Shizun, who is always nice to me and praises my cooking and thanks me when I help, and I think I'm slowly taking over Min Fang's place, he relies on me so much for everything. Well, it's not like I mind, at least this way I can be close to him and it will be easier to sneak into his heart.

My fellow apprentices also seem to be slowly getting used to the new setup. They no longer treat me like a worthless piece of shit. On the contrary, they tremble in front of me as if Shizun were standing in front of them. However, there are some things that haven't changed. For example, Min Fang and the woman are going on my nerves. And the Bai Zhan Peak are making more and more trouble as time goes by.

Finally winter comes, a fucking cold winter, well not so cold that you can't go outside, but the wind is definitely biting, and of course it blows the leaves around so that I have more to do tomorrow. Not that I don't have enough problems. Because the gods know my soul, I tried to sleep, but it's a bit difficult when every damn muscle hurts, but literally everything.

~ Fuck you, fucking system! ~ I curse the blue floating rectangle as I try to lie down on my otherwise comfortable bed in a third way, but it's all in vain. This won't get any better.

~ There's nothing I can do. ~ I give up and get out of bed. I pick up a small bottle from the table, then sneak out of the bamboo house as quietly as I can. I don't go far, just into the back garden. I sit down calmly on a bench in the moonlight so I can see clearly. I set the small bottle down next to me and take a deep breath, then grit my teeth and peel off my outerwear.

"Get bugged you fucking system." I mutter under my breath as I get out of the last of my clothes. Over the past few months, I've learned that bug means the system is malfunctioning, which would be especially good on days like today.

I didn't even swear under my breath when I went under Bai Zhan Peak, but those idiots just jumped out at me. Plus, it was five against one, which is unfair anyway. Because I might have had a chance against one, even if the fucking system prevents me from fighting properly.

But no, fucking whore wouldn't have helped me when I'm in such trouble, no! It even kicked me in the guts when it appeared next to my head and said, "Dueling without permission will result in a 10,000 point deduction." All this while I usually keep my points around 1,000, that way I can still swear. But with this deduction, it would have killed me instantly.

So I had no choice but to let the bastards beat me to a pulp. So pulpy that I was surprised that no one noticed when I got back to Qing Jing Peak. I tried not to show any signs of being troubled, but still. Right now, I would like to skin them all one by one because of all the fucking wounds and then find someone who can free me from the fucking system.

Images of torture were already appearing in my mind's eye as I was applying the alcohol-smelling medicine to my injuries. When I reach a more painful bruise, I squeeze my eyes shut and hiss when I hear a sudden sound.

"Luo Binghe." Hearing the sound, I immediately jump up from the bench, which resulted in all my clothes falling to the ground. However, I don't pay attention to them, I just stare at the man in front of me in surprise.

~ How the hell did you get here? And why didn't I notice you? ~ I ask myself before I speak.

"Shizun! Are you awake?" I ask, barely able to get the words out. The man walks in front of me.

"Your master wasn't sleeping." I get the answer.

~ Shit! This is worse! ~ I get caught up in myself. I didn't expect to run into him. He shouldn't know about this, he'll think I'm looking for trouble.

"Did you wake up to your student's noise, Shizun? I'm so sorry!" I start, hoping that I can get away with the punishment by licking his boots a bit. "Your student came out specifically so that he wouldn't disturb your peace, Shizun." Lies flow from me like tea from a pot. "He didn't think that..."

"Where did you get those wounds?" Shizun interrupts.

"Uh..." I swallow the answer, he doesn't need to know where the wounds came from. "It's no big deal. Your student just cultivated poorly the past few days and picked up a few extra minor wounds." I try to force a smile onto my face, but when the man starts looking at me, I have to swallow hard. I know he doesn't look at me that way, but even then, that look will take me to the grave one day.

"So it wasn't the disciples of Bai Zhan Peak who beat you up again?" The question comes and I look at him with wide eyes.

~ Wait! Did you know? ~ I'm surprised. ~ Then why not... ~

【You can't argue with Shen Qingqiu!】

~ Fuck you, damn it! ~ I growl to myself, when shizun speaks.

"What did I teach you?" He asks and I can see in his eyes that he's angry.

"If you can't win, run away." I close my eyes and feel my face start to heat up, even though it's so cold that I have goosebumps.

"And you followed this?" He accuses me.

~ You think? I'm not a slob! I won't run away from a little fight! If it weren't for that fucking system, they'd be all blue and green! ~ I huff to myself and then clench my fists.

"But... But your student would bring great shame to the Qing Jing peak." I mutter to myself.

【100% match with the character. Your reward is +50 points.】

~ Thanks, this is all because of you! ~

"Fighting just because they don't like something... What's the difference between the disciples of Bai Zhan Peak and the bandits who raid at the foot of the mountain?" My eyes widen at this statement. "If we look at it this way, who is the one who sould be ashamed, Qing Jing Peak or Bai Zhan Peak?" Shizun grumbles.

~ You look good when you're angry. Especially when you are not angry with me. ~ My mind spins as I watch his features.

"I'll go and find Liu Qingge. There are three hundred and sixty-five days in a year. If he only took one day to regulate that group of brats, they wouldn't be so undisciplined and uncontrollable." Hearing this, I might have smiled, but...

【Shen Qingqiu can't fight Liu Qingge again! Shen Qingqiu can’t fight with Liu Qingge again!】 The fucking system suddenly screams, and I grab Shizun’s clothes.

“Shizun, you can’t! If you and Liu-shishu fight again over this disciple, then I…” What am I going to do? I laughed out loud last time. They always make up anyway. “Then I…” Shizun stops when he almost manages to drag me away. “I didn’t get all of this because my fellow disciples beat me up from Bai Zhan Peak. It’s just that I look so bad because I fell while cultivating and hit myself.” I lie, and since the fucking system is gone, I guess I’ve managed to prevent a disaster.

“Cultivation is a process…” He starts his lecture, but I don’t really get much out of it, I’m more interested in what Shizun looks like in the moonlight. Now that I've worn out the fucking system, I can stare in peace, at least for a while.

"Go in!" The man's voice breaks me out of my staring, and I first blink, then start waving my hands in front of me.

"No, your student is fine out here. If he came in, he'd disturb your rest, Shizun." I say.

~ All I need is to endure your pitying gaze. ~ However, Shizun ignores me and just bends his finger, and my clothes gets in his hand from the ground. I just watch as he unfolds it and drapes it over my shoulder. ~ You're too close. Way too close, Shen-ge. ~ I'm starting to panic.

"What peace? Now that he's seen you, how could your Shizun let you freeze out here in the cold, all alone in the middle of the night?" I can't say anything more about this, so I go with him into the bamboo house, where I plan to hide in my side room, but Shizun has other plans.

~ You want to kill me, huh?! ~ I swallow hard when he takes the medicine from my hand and gestures for me to sit on the long bed in the inner room. I'm so shocked that I suddenly find myself being dragged by Shizun and... ~ Heavenly Buddhas! ~ My heart starts pounding as I realize he's trying to undo the belt I've just tightened.

"Shizun, w-w-w... what are you doing?" I ask, backing away and tugging at my dress at the neck.

~ This almost ended in disaster! ~ I bite my lip on the inside. The man just shakes the bottle in front of me.

"I'll help you apply the medicine." He tells me, I try to snatch the bottle from his hand.

"No need, I'll handle it myself!" I snap at him, but he grabs my wrist and steps in front of me with a grim face.

"You... Do you see the wounds on your own back?" He asks coldly.

"I..." I start.

【Luo Binghe wouldn't agree so easily!】

~ Fuck you, you whore! Can't I enjoy this?! ~ I ask, but I'm already giving up and starting to resist.

"Everywhere, it's enough if I apply it everywhere!" I fight, but it's like talking to a wall.

"Shut up! The Qian Cao Peak always sends a certain amount of medicine, I can't let you waste it like this."

"I... I..." I mumble, trying to think of something before the fucking system starts to whine again, but Shizun beats me to it as he grabs my shoulder, turns me around and starts massaging the medicine into my back, pulling the clothes off my shoulders. I close my eyes at his touch.

"Ah!" I blurt out, and Shizun's hand loosens.

"Is your Shizun pressing too hard?" He asks, but I don't dare speak because in the end an answer comes out of my throat that Shizun isn't prepared for. So I shake my head. "Then why are you making such noises? A manly man like you should be able to bear such a little pain." He says, but the words only make my underwear uncomfortable.

"No, it's not pain..." I start, but I don't continue. I hate the sound of my voice when I'm like this, like some fucking comatose mosquito. However, my frustration towards my voice soon turns into sexual frustration as Shizun continues to rub my back and...

"Ah!" Another ambiguous sound leaves my lips as I feel his energy flowing through my body.

"Why are you even fussing over such a small nothing? You completely ignore proper behavior, how can you be my Qing Jing Peak's disciple?" The question comes suddenly.

"I... I..." I start.

~ I don't want to be your disciple right now, I'd rather... ~

【WARNING! Luo Binghe can't show his feelings towards Shen Qingqiu! WARNING!】 The fucking system screams again, before I bite my tongue.

"Your student, your student has enough medicine, he doesn't want Shizun to waste his spiritual power." The first lie that comes to mind comes out of me and I surprise myself with the fact that I can think of one, when the movements of the man's hands completely drive me crazy.

"Does it feel good?" I hear his voice behind me.

~ Fuck me! Fuck me! Fuck me! ~ I chant to myself, biting my lips and trying not to imagine the same sentence in a completely different situation. It doesn't help that Shizun's hands are lower on my waist.

When he takes his hand away, I exhale a large amount of air in relief, which is destined to be sucked back in immediately when Shizun suddenly hugs me. The next moment, he pulls me onto the bed. And my heart starts pounding in my ears. Maybe it's not too early after all?!

~ What are you doing now?! ~ I'm scared.

"Shizun... Shizun!" I try to stop him before he does something he shouldn't, this situation is too much like that other world.

"Your master is afraid that just using his palm is not enough. Stay like this and your wounds will almost completely heal after my spiritual energy goes around once or twice... It's much more effective than your medicine." I start fidgeting like a hedgehog.

"Shizun! Shizun! I'm covered in ointment everywhere!" But the man ignores me, instead he just slaps my arm.

"What are you fidgeting about?" The scolding and the punching have had their effect. I think my body remembers the pain too well, so now it's frozen.

"Shizun... This isn't working... Let me go, let me go..." I beg.

"Luo Binghe, if you were Ning Yingying right now, blushing and shy, I wouldn't do this. But you are not a girl, are you afraid that your master will eat you?"

~ Not at all, I would be happy about it, Shen-ge. ~ My mind turns, but in the end something else comes out of my mouth.

"Shizun means that he wouldn't treat Ning-shijie like this?" I wonder.

"Of course not." I get the answer immediately.

"Then... Then if it wasn't Ning-shijie, but another of your students, Shizun would still do this..."

"What nonsense are you imagining?" My heart beats fast at this question.

~ Am I special to you? ~ The broken little child speaks from the depths of my soul.

"Calm your mind and control your breathing." I immediately follow the command, and Shizun places his chin on the top of my head.

~ You smell good, really good! ~ My head spins and I swallow hard when I feel him start caressing my back. I'm about to snuggle closer to him when he moves away from me and places his hand on my forehead.

"Do you have a fever?" The question comes, but my gaze is caught on his lips.

"Shizun..." I whisper.

【WARNING! Luo Binghe can't show his feelings towards Shen Qingqiu! WARNING!】The blue rectangle of the fucking system appears next to Shizun's head, and I close my eyes.

~ Then I have no choice! ~ I decide and the next moment, I'm in my dream dimension with Shizun facing me, whom I immediately step over to and put my arm around his waist, placing one hand on his face.

"Soon, Shen-ge, soon you will be mine I promise!"

Chapter Text

The days pass slowly and I slowly get used to my daily routine. Shizun smiles more and more around me, and I take every opportunity to get closer to him. Whether it's just cooking him something special, or even being brave enough to try to touch him. Let's just say it's a much bigger risk, because no matter how much I do it, I always wonder in the back of my mind when the bitch will show up to pounce, but I try to hold on.

My efforts are slowly being rewarded. As the months go by, I manage to get Shizun to rely on me for everything. It's an uplifting and scary feeling at the same time. In my own world, where I come from, it was never like that, no matter what I did, Shizun always found something wrong with me. But here it's the opposite. No matter what I do wrong, he always finds something to praise. Like this, who would blame me for doing everything I could to make the man fall for me, which is not the easiest thing to do when you are barely a litte teen, compared to your chosen one, who is an immortal master.

Finally, I manage to get Shizun to trust me enough to send me on a mission alone instead of him. The task was very honorable and I would be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy the fact that everyone envied me, but... Yes, of course, there is a but. In the few days that I was away from Qing Jing Peak, or rather from Shizun, I had to realize that I can handle being apart much worse than I thought. If my dreams were rough before, now they are downright catastrophic, well, not the dreams themselves, but their final outcome in the morning and their effect on the whole day. So it's no wonder I sprinted back to the Peak as fast as I could.

"I said it wasn't necessary." That was the first thing I heard from Shizun when I entered the bamboo house. The man sat with his back to me, staring at something on his desk.

"Your apprentice came back from a long journey and you won't even look at him, Shizun?" I put one hand on my hip. The man immediately turned to me at my words. A broad smile spread across his face that warmed my heart.

"Binghe!" He stood up and hurried towards me.

"Shizun!" I greeted him in a kind voice and with a broad smile.

"You went so far. How did you get back so fast?" He grabbed my upper arms and I wanted to step forward to hug him, but I held back, savoring what I was getting. Patience bears roses, I will be rewarded for my waiting.

"It was no big deal." I shrug. "I missed you terribly too, Shizun, so I hurried as fast as I could." I say honestly, managing to make him look away as if he were ashamed.

"Sit down!" He leads me to the table, where we take our seats, and I take the teapot in my hand.

"Shizun, your apprentice poured you tea a long time ago, please accept it!" I hand him the tea and touch his hand directly as he takes it. "Is something worrying you Shizun? Did something happen while I was away?" I tilt my head to the side when I see his gaze.

"The Council is about to begin." He says it, and I freeze for a moment.

~ Fuck it. I need fight with the little girl again. ~ I sigh to myself.

"Shall I write down for you which apprentices are suitable for the competition?" I smile and offer it to him.

"When you're ready, just take it straight to the clan leader." He nods, which I take as consent. He trusts me enough to do this job for him, he doesn't even want to check it.

"Shizun, I've been away for a long time, are you used to me not being with you?" I ask and originally I think I just meant it as a joke, but if I'm honest, I'm more interested in the matter than I admit to myself.

"I had no choice, right?" He turns away from me, and I'm about to reach for him when he suddenly looks at me. "Binghe, do you want to be strong? So incredibly strong that no one can compete with you?" He leans closer to me suddenly, which only makes me blink at him like he said that the sky is green.

"Yes." I finally say, but instead of leaving it alone, he continues.

"Even if it means enduring so much pain and suffering, experiencing such immense torment that your body and soul almost collapse under its weight?" I see the genuine concern in his eyes, as if he doesn't want to hear my answer.

"Are you afraid for me now, Shizun?" I ask, tilting my head to the side. "Don't worry, your student knows exactly what pain is and that if it's what it takes to protect the one he loves, then all pain is worth it." I smile kindly.

"Okay." He nods and turns his head away, as I take his hand on the table.

"Shizun, don't worry about me." I say without thinking. "I know that whatever you do, it's because you want the best for me." I finish, and he raises his right eyebrow and looks at me with that typical "Are you serious now, Binghe?!" look that I gotten to adore over the years.

"You're brave to say such things." He smiles faintly.

"Just let your student do what he has to do." I look him straight in the eye and try to convey my feelings to him with my gaze.

~ I promise, no matter what happens... ~ I swallow. ~ Even if you push me away, I will come back to you Shen-ge... ~ I take a deep breath as I look at the man. ~ How could I not come back when I saw what you would become without me? ~ I ask myself, but I don't get an answer. I really don't need one, I know I wouldn't leave him alone for long. I won't do it now, not even if the fucking system punishes me out for it.

The next day, the Cang Qiong Mountain clan set off for the Great Meeting. Shizun is riding in his carriage as usual, and I have been riding on the right side of the carriage like for the past three years. This is the closest I can get to him.

"Shizun?" I'm surprised when the man looks out the carriage window during the journey.

"Where is Mingyan? Let me look!" He says and his gaze is already searching for the girl.

~ What do you want from the little girl?! ~ I narrow my eyes.

"As time goes by, this girl becomes more and more beautiful!" He declares when he sees the girl riding in front. I press the reins in my hand and feel my anger building up in my chest.

"I've seen someone more beautiful than her." I note and don't turn to the man so he doesn't notice I'm talking about him.

"What?" He's surprised, but before I can answer him, the leader of the Xian Shu Peak speaks.

"He, he... Even your apprentice is making fun of you." She pulls Shizun into the carriage, and I ride ahead to the front to get some exercise.

~ Forget it, you little whore! Shen-ge is mine! If necessary, I'll make your face not look so pretty! ~ I huff to myself.

"Liu-shimei." I call the girl, and she nods, then after we've been riding side by side for five minutes, she speaks.

"Luo-shixiong, do you have something to say that made you come to me?" She turns to me with a curious look in her eyes.

"Yes." I nod, then turn to her with a smile that doesn't promise anything good. "I just thought I'd tell you that it's better if you don't go near Qing Jing Peak, otherwise I won't be able to ensure your well-being."

"What does this mean, Luo-shixiong?" She looks at me suspiciously and her eyes narrow, I just smile broadly.

"Nothing, nothing, just that he's mine." My gaze gets serious, then I change to a nice tone again. "By the way, I think you should start writing, you have a talent for it, Liu-shimei." I make a note and turn my horse back to take my usual place next to Shizun's cart.

"We're here, we've arrived." My clan brothers shout, and I look around the huge mountains indifferently.

~ I don't want to be here. A lot of headaches, no good for anything else. What if I win this little competition? ~ I think about it.

"Why are you alone again?" Shizun's sudden speech almost makes me fall off my horse, but in the end I just turn to the man with a wide smile.

"How could I be alone, since you're here, Shizun." I say, then continue quietly. "I don't need anyone else."

~ If I win this for you, will you let me hug you or do something else to you, Shen-ge? ~

Chapter Text

It's as if I vaguely remember that the last time I stood here waiting for the competition to begin, I wasn't bored to death, but I had a stomach ache. Now, involuntarily, I'm waiting for my fifth... Or who knows which, wife of mine to stop talking and finally let us go.

Of course, Min Fang, who was struggling with his jealousy, was the first to throw himself into the teleportation signal. And the other idiots followed his example. Personally, I'm among the last to enter the "arena" and I'm completely calmly setting off into the forest.

~ I'm not in a hurry. All I have to do is catch something big and win, and Shizun will be proud of me. ~ I smile as I walk through the trees, looking left and right.

~ Boring, boring, boring. I'm going to be bored to death! ~ I yawn when I realize that these little demons avoid me like Liu Qingge avoids women. I'm just thinking that the whole hunt is going to be this boring, at least until the very strong demons come, until I have to save my two newly appeared women. Which wouldn't have been such a big deal, but...

【Luo Binghe can't leave the apprentices in trouble alone!】The fucking system appears next to my head, when a group of slobbery apprentices also hang around my neck in addition to the two girls.

~ You fucker! Does this seriously mean I need to pester them? Oh, no! ~ I growl, but I try not to show much of it on my face, I don't want Shizun and the others to see any of my anger. My hard-built good apprentice disguise would completelly get destroyed.

"I'm tired!" I hear one of the girls' voices.

"I want to rest!" One boy hisses.

"Let's stop!" Another boy mutters.

*We've been going for so long!" One of my wives meows.

~ You keep whining and I swear I'll let them eat your ass. ~ My hands clench into fists as I continue to stomp through the forest.

"I'm sorry, if you weren't protecting us, you'd have the upper hand long ago." The woman who doesn't play the hysterical machine steps up next to me.

~ I don't have to do that for you, the fucking system made me. ~ My head spins.

"Don't even worry about it, as long as you get out alive, it doesn't matter." It comes out of my mouth instead of growling and thanks to that we can walk calmly for about five more minutes.

"I'll rest anyway." Another apprentice starts, and my feet are rooted to the ground and I swallow hard as I turn towards them.

"For the fucking love of everything holly!" I exclaim and I don't care anymore, if anyone sees me freaking out. "What are you pussies? In the holy name of the Buddhas!" I spread my arms, then point to my head with my left hand. "Are you out of your mind, huh? You want to stand here when the sun is about to set and you're surrounded by about five thousand monsters?" I put my hands on my hips. "You know what? You can do it if you want, but if you die, your stupidity is not my fault!" I turn around and take a deep breath. There's a deafening silence around me. Finally, I shake my head and look at the team with a resigned look. "Just hold on a little more, we'll find a good place and then you can rest all night." I promise them and as if that had an effect, they start to follow me more and more enthusiastically.

"Water, water, water." They chant when we pass a river after half an hour.

"I wouldn't go in if I were you, it's dangerous near the water at night." I note, but it's as if I'm talking to a wall.

~ Typical, they never pay attention to me, because why would they. ~ I say to myself in a disapproving tone, while I stand on a rock to watch over them. ~ What is that there? ~ My eyes widen after just a few minutes.

"Ouch! Out of the water! Right now!" I shout, and the group starts to jump out of the river like crazy.

~ What is this? Again? No way! I seriously have to kill that little demon girl as soon as I get the chance! ~ I swear when the giant water worm appears.

"You damned motherfucker!" I curse as the creature grabs one of my women.

~ One less woman! ~ I note to myself as I jump at the worm, ignoring the other apprentices.

~ There you go. ~ I blow a whistle as I reach the ground and the demon's corpse falls back into the river.

"Get away from the shore! Don't be left behind!" I shout when I realize that the bastard apprentices are here to watch disaster tourism.

Luckily, fear is still a big thing so I can get them to follow me relatively easily. However, it looks like I've overreacted a bit, or the little guy took action sooner than he should have, because it's nice that as soon as they put their asses down around a campfire, they attacked us.

"Stay back, you braindead!" I say as I walk up to the unfortunate apprentice, whose face has literally been eaten off. My eyes widen, I immediately turn around and what do I see...

"Don't scatter, stay..." I start, but I immediately give up, they're no better than geese. "Oh, why am I trying! Fucking spiders!" I curse when a large group of face-smashing spiders appear.

~ Oh, for fuck's sake! If you weren't here I would have killed them long ago! ~ I growl to myself as I try to fight the spiders off. How I hate that I can't use my abilities in front of others, because in the end the bitch starts to ring for me.

"I see you still need me in sticky situations." I hear a familiar voice and the spiders scatter in front of me.

"Shizun!" I turn to him and feel relief wash over me.

"I can't even rest a moment because of you." He says and taps my head with his fan.

"Don't tell me you're sorry Shizun." I smile at him broadly, but he just turns away from me and looks at the group.

"Is everyone okay?" He asks with concern in his oice.

"First, we were attacked by a seven-headed star monster. Some of them didn't listen to me and unfortunately, we lost them." I look at the team with a frown, when Shizun surprises me so much that I almost open my mouth.

"You had a hard time." He says, holding my shoulder, even though I thought he was going to scold me.

"Your apprentice did everything he could, Shizun." I lower my head when I see hundreds of spiders approaching us.

~ Oh, what a fucking bitch! They should be dewormed down there! ~ I say and start pest control next to Shizun.

"Shizun, watch out!" I shout and cut off a spider that would have attacked me, then I start attacking the other eight-legged ones.

~ You come one step closer and you'll all be dead! ~ I threaten them.

"We'll use the sword formation, Binghe." I hear Shizun's voice, and I nod obediently and stand beside him.

"The drums are pounding, the soldiers are training, the wall is being built around the city. I'm heading south to battle, on the side of General Sun Zizhong, against Cheng and Song. I may never return, so let my thoughts guard me! Heavenly drum, sword formation!" We chant together and when we're ready, a protective sword-spinning wind surrounds us.

I smile contentedly when I see this. It feels strange, to be so in tune with him. It's so new and tingling, almost intoxicating. And so much so that it only occurs to me that Shizun has qi problems when trouble has already happened and the whirlwind is shaking around us. I turn to the man in fear, who is clutching his chest and grinding his teeth.

"Shizun! Forgive me for being so impudent..." I blurt out as I grab his wrist and close my eyes.

Chapter Text

"Binghe, what are you doing?" Shizun challenges me, but I don't answer, I just concentrate. "How did you do that?" I hear the surprised question as I let go of his hand.

"I saw Liu-shishu do it once and learned. But now we'd better retreat." I look at the spiders.

"Follow me!" Shizun starts in front of the team.

~ Thank the Buddhas that he didn't ask any more questions! ~ I roll my eyes as I hurry after them. He doesn't necessarily need to know that I didn't just learned about it from Liu Qingge. His energy flow was fucked up because he protected me, and I was looking into how to stabilize his condition.

Our team, led by Shizun, will soon reach a flowery clearing. Which I immediately recognize and I have to admit that I'm not fucking happy that I have to be here. However, everyone here is as safe as possible right now.

I'm standing with my hands on my hips at the edge of the flowery meadow, watching the darkness. If I remember correctly, some fucking big demon appeared here back then. It would be better if I was prepared for it now. The last time I was in this situation, I really didn't know what was happening around me...

~ Oh, one of my women passed away here. ~ I blink suddenly in front of me, then back over my shoulder at the group. ~ I mean there's one less already. ~ I roll my eyes as I turn back to the darkness. ~ Why am I counting how many there are? None of them really wanted me. They weren't with me because they loved me, or not really loved me. ~ I lower my head as sadness pierces my heart.

"Binghe? Are you okay?" I feel Shizun's hand on my shoulder, and I immediately look at him.

"Yes, Shizun." I answer immediately. "I just have a bad feeling." I say seriously.

"Don't worry, your Shizun is watching over you." He smiles at me, which makes my lips curl upwards too. However, the gesture is very short-lived, as someone suddenly almost falls into the clearing...

~ Oh no! You're here again?! ~ I ask through gritted teeth when I see the leader of the An Ding Peak, Shang Qinghua, who is rushing to Shizun with trembling eyes and if I didn't have to play the role of a good student, I would have just slapped at him. Not only did he betray his clan, letting the demon clan into a competition that was for almost children, but he also climbed on Shizun.

"Shizun, it's not sure it's smart for you to stay here..." I start when the little blue board of the fucking system appears next to my head, with some numbers alternating on it. However, I can't finish my sentence, because not far from us a very human figure appears.

~ Mobei-jun? You shouldn't be here! ~ My eyes widen as I recognize the figure approaching us.

"What the fuck?!" I hear a surprised voice, then several knocks. I think the ice giant has knocked the group out just by showing up.

"What the hell?" Shizun says with the other voice at the same time.

"What the heck?" I blurt out half a moment later, as the demon casually walks into the otherwise fairly safe clearing and comes straight towards me. On the way, he knocks Shizun to the ground, which causes the anger inside me to start rising, which reaches its peak when he simply presses his finger to my forehead without any word.

"Don't touch me, big boy!" I grimace and look up at him with my demonic eyes.

"You have a big mouth, kid." The person in front of me chuckles and I think I've lost my patience.

~ Don't think I don't have the power behind it icicle! ~ I start to take deeper breaths. ~ Don't get me wrong, I like you, but I'm going to kick your ass now... ~ I tell myself and I'm about to finally start a normal fight when...

【System warning, you can't stand up to Mobei-jun!】The fucking system screams, but so loudly that I literally tremble and even have to cover one ear.

~ Okay, I get it! I'm not deaf either for good fucking life! ~ I swear and I think I can now make a face like someone in need.

【System warning, the Infinite Abyss mission begins! If you prevent the story from unfolding, you will receive a 20,000 point deduction.】The skinned whore continues, and I can barely contain myself from opening my mouth or cursing myself out loud.

~ You fucking, damned motherfucker! ~ I scream in my head. And Mobei-jun turns his head to the side.

"You are no ordinary demon." He says, then simply turns and leaves.

~ So what was this shitshow? ~ I scratch my head, when I hear voices behind me, causing me to turn around.

~ Shen-ge? Why are you looking at me so strangely? ~ I blink at the man, whose eyes are so full of emotions that I feel dizzy from the sight.

"That mark on your forehead..." He starts as he slowly comes closer to me.

~ Will he? Shoot... Wait! FUCKING SYSTEM! ~ I call out to the bastard as I start backing away towards the chasm.

【The system is at your service!】I hear the voice and see the blue floating sign out of the corner of my eye.

~ He has to do it, right? ~ I ask as I reach the chasm the very edge of the wedge, at least based on the fact that my heel is floating in nothingness.

【Shen Qingqiu must push Luo Binghe into the Abyss.】I get the answer, which is enough to make me accept my fate. I failed to stop him.

"Shizun, please... Don't push me!" I say with a pleading look.

~ Why are you backing away? You should hate me now if you didn't do it before. ~ I feel confused when he raises his sword in my direction.

"Shizun..." I involuntarily take a step forward, and he moves his hand, which is enough to cut me.

~ This wound... ~ I remember those certain moments. ~ Would the other me have gotten them like this? ~ It turns in my head, but I immediately block the thought. ~ No! I won't be like him! I will be stronger than that me! Someone who deserves to be by Shen Qingqiu’s side. ~ I decide within myself when I notice his expression, even when he’s not looking at me.

~ Why is it like you don’t want to do it? ~ I just ask myself, I’m used to not getting answers.

【Because he doesn’t want to do it.】My eyes widen at the sudden voice of the fucking system.

~ What do you mean he doesn’t want to? ~ I voice my surprise even if only to myself.

【FORCING PROTOCOL! OBLIGATORY STORYLINE!】The fucking system with its skinned voice shouts and even starts to roar, as if someone is blowing a horn.

~ So you don’t want to push me away. ~ I look longingly at the man, who suddenly turns his head to the side, then looks at me in fear and grabs my shoulder and pushes me into nothingness. I see him reaching for me, as if to catch me. I just smile.

"Thank you..." I call out to him, even though I know he won't hear any of it. "Wait for me, Shen-ge! You'll see, you won't even notice, and I'll be right back at your side." I promise, whispering into the air, before I lose sight of the figure of the man standing on top of the cliff and close my eyes to wait until I reach the ground.

Chapter Text

I lie on the ground with my eyes closed. I can literally feel every muscle in my body, and I may have broken a bone or two. I congratulate myself. I simply congratulate myself.

~ Fuck life, how can this still hurt so much? ~ I ask myself. Then I start to breathe slowly and deeply. ~ I need to heal myself first. ~ I decide and start to focus on that. The procedure is painful, but much faster than I expected, so I'm soon able to sit up.

"What did I do here last time?" I mutter to myself as I strain my neck. "Yeah, I got it! I unleashed my demonic power, took control of the demons, and found my sword." I count on my fingers, and nod.

"I found my sword!" I smile suddenly, and the thought is enough to get me to my feet. "I'm finally getting my sword back." I say enthusiastically and my hands clench into fists. However, my joy fades in an instant when another thought occurs to me.

"Shit, now I have to hang out here for five years?" I look up at the sky from where I fell, then down at my feet. "No, that's out of the question, I'm not staying down there that long. No! Just not!" I shake my head and even the cold shakes me. It was enough to do it once, I won't do it again. I put my hand on my chin and start thinking. "I need a plan, a really good plan..." I say, but I don't manage to finish because I hear an unfamiliar voice.

"Who's that guy?" He asks, and I roll my eyes and decide to continue thinking.

"Are we going to kill him?" Another voice comes, and I grimace.

"Looks delicious!" A third one speaks up, and I grit my teeth.

"He's like a disciple from some clan." The first one continues, and I take a deep breath. I've lost track. I don't know where I was.

"Do you think the mistress would pay for him?" The second voice asks, and I have had enough and turn to face them.

"Shut the fuck up! Someone here would like think about their own fucking life!" I shout and the next moment I'm attacking the group. I jump at them so suddenly that they don't have time to react. In fact, to be honest, I don't even realize what I'm really doing until they're all lying dead in front of me and I'm dusting my hands off.

"That's better." I sigh. "Where was I?" I tilt my head to the side, hoping to recall my lost train of thought more easily. "I'll get Xin Mo, take down the boss, and go back to the surface." I nod as I think through my plan.

"Wait!" I frown, then look down at the corpses. "Why isn't the fucking system screaming?" I ask myself, not really expecting an answer, but I get one.

【The system found no diversion from the character.】I hear the voice in my head and the blue floating board appears in front of me.

"What do you mean you didn't find diversion? These guys should have taken me to the bitch and I yelled at them. You've already yelled at other times. Not to mention they're dead!" I ask, leaning forward towards the board and narrowing my eyes.

【After unlocking the OOC feature, you can customize your character however you want, except for the mandatory storylines.】I get the answer both spoken and written.

"I know." I roll my eyes. "But didn't you say that I haven't..."

【OOC feature unlocked since the first night spent in the bamboo house.】It cuts me off, and I can only blink at the words in front of me. I'm so surprised that I even lower my hands to my sides.

"What?" I ask after a long moment.

【OOC feature unlocked since the first night spent in the bamboo house.】The fucking system chirps, but I somehow have a hard time believing it.

"You mean I can do whatever I want from now on?" It comes out of me and I don't know whether to be happy about this news or be annoyed that it didn't say anything.

【As long as you don't want to kill the main characters, yes.】The system answers, and I blink a few times.

"This..." I start to say, but then change my mind. "This makes my job a lot easier." I declare, then put my hands on my hips again. "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"

【The system gave you a notification that the feature was open.】It appears in front of me and I hear the voice.

"It gave me damn fucking nothing. I don't remember it." I raise my right index finger in front of the screen.

【You turned off the system notifications. The system is not obligated to provide further information.】The fucking system explains.

"Did I turn it off?" I ask, confused.

【You always turn it off.】I get the answer and then it dawns on me what it means.

"Oh, so when I say every night, 'Shut up, fucking system!', what that meant to you is that I turned off the notifications?" I scratch my head.

【Exactly.】The voice agrees.

"I see. Hey, fucking system. Just to be clear about things in this story, what do I need to do?" I ask.

【The system can't give you information about this.】It appears on the blue board and I frown.

"Okay, so tell me if I can carry out my plan?" I turn my head.

【Tell the plan!】The blue board beeps.

"I'm going to go get Xin Mo now, then I'll teleport to the capital, take over the leadership, and tomorrow I'll get out of this shithole." I say, already mentally running through how I want to carry this all out.

【The system found no errors. The plan is enabled.】The blue board flashes.

"That's good to hear." I grin. On some level, it's reassuring that the whore doesn't want to stop me for once. "Can you tell me if my sword is in the same place as it was last time?" I ask, before the writing disappears from the board.

【The location of the Xin Mo Mystic Sword has not changed.】The text appears the moment the bitchy voice says the words.

"At least I don't have to waste my time searching this wormhole." I close my eyes. "I want to go home." I sigh. "I miss Qing Jing Peak already." I smile, then chuckle as I shake my head. "Who would have thought I would say something like that. This new world has a strange effect on me." I look up at the sky again. "Does Shen-ge miss me as much as I miss him?" I ask, barely audible.

【The system cannot provide information about this.】The skinned bitchy voice interrupts the idyll, and I turn back in its direction angrily.

"I didn't ask! Now get off! I have better things to do than deal with you." I growl as the blue board disappears with a pop. I wave my arms and walk straight ahead with a big smile on my face, trying to sense the energies of my sword from afar.

"I have no time to waste! It's time to execute the 'let's get out of this Buddha-beaten place' plan!"

Chapter Text

"Anyone else feel like throwing up their feet?" I ask with a wide grin on my face as I twirl the Xin Mo sword in my hand. There are three or four hundred demons lying under my feet, and they're not the weak kind either. The harvest of the past month, I've taken a little time to settle down, it took me a little longer to take the lead. The onlookers just shrink back at my question.

"Right, I thought so too!" I noButnd I hang my sword at my side, then turn on my heel and head for somewhere quieter.

"Where are you... going, master?" The kitty demon girl says, and I roll my eyes.

"To get the hell out of here! The less time I'm around you, the better. I don't want to be around you as long as you live like pigs." I throw it to her off-hand, then quickly leave the main square and use my sword at the first opportunity to leave the demon realm.

"Here I am! Fresh air!" I sigh and smile as the clean air fills my chest. "Then let's go to Qing Ji..." I start, but of course I get interrupted.

【WARNING! WARNING! The storyline is being violated! The storyline is being violated! Luo Binghe can't go back to Qing Jing Peak, he can't meet Shen Qingqiu.】The fucking system screams, and my hands clench into fists.

"Oh, how could you fuck your good fucking mother!" I curse at myself. "Why the fuck not?" I ask angrily.

【The system can't give information.】I get the answer, which wasn't really an answer.

"Then where the hell should I go now?" I run my hands through my hair and scratch my head. "To Huan Hua Palace?" I grab my chin, but immediately shake my head and groan in despair. "I just escaped a bunch of idiots, there's no way I'm going to another team of them. But what do I do then?" I put my hands over my eyes, when I hear footsteps from somewhere.

~ I'm not alone... ~ I lower my hands and start walking in the direction of the sounds, as quietly as I can. ~ That's over there... ~ My eyes widen when I see the figure, but I don't want to believe what I'm seeing.

~ Shen-ge and... What the fucking hell is he doing next to Idiot Shang? Wait, he didn't notice me? ~ Unanswered questions gather in my head and I try to find a logical answer to them, but then it feels like a thunderbolt has hit right next to my ear, I hear a tinkling sound that makes me flinch and press my hands to my ears.

~ Damn! That was loud, fuck me! ~ I grimace and turn my head towards the blue floating board.

【System update started. Please beware of rash actions. If you violate the storyline, the punishment will be imposed after the system restarts. System Update: 5%】A long empty rectangle appears on the board, slowly filling with some green stuff.

~ You are doing system what? What is an update? ~ I ask, but I don't get an answer. ~ Why do I feel like I don't want to know what happens when you're done? ~ I grimace as I close my eyes, but my attention is quickly distracted by new sounds.

~ Shen-ge! Where are they going? ~ I blink after the pair, who were joined by a student of my age. Finally, I decide that if I have nothing better to do, I'll follow them for a while.

~ Hm... This is Bailu Mountain, but what... ~ I start to ask, but something suddenly comes to mind. ~ Wait! Wait! Wait! ~ My eyes widen as I realize what this is mountain.

~ To the bloody life! To the bloody life! I have to go after them, they'll kill themselves here for me! ~ I panic when they enter one of the caves in the mountain. ~ Does no one here study history?! Or is everyone so fucking stupid that they can't even remember twenty years! ~ I curse to myself as I get closer to the mountain and I enter the darkness of the cave.

~ It's not true that sensible people enter a place that is a potential demon farm, theoretically the last lord of the demon world died here, who knows how many of his minions are stuck here for the love of gods. ~ I growl, squirming in the darkness.

~ The small advantages of being a demon, I can see Shen-ge's backside, how good it looks. ~ I grin when I see Shizun's shapely backside far ahead of me in the complete darkness. I have no idea what they're doing here, but I better watch them. So I follow them all the way to a big hall, when...

~ Are they seriously here for that red flower? What's the point of that anyway? ~ I frown and scratch my head. When a strange creature appears. No, not a creature, a demon.

~ No, Binghe, you can't move, because the bitch will kill me in the end if it comes back! Shen-ge can defend himself. ~ I reassure myself and although I'm very surprised that Shizun doesn't kill the demon, I'm relieved that they're leaving safely.

~ Thank the Buddhas. Should I go after them, or should I take a closer look at this place? ~ I look after Shizun first and then back to the small lake.

~ I couldn't meet Shen-ge anyway, then I'll stay. ~ I nod as I decide and when I can't hear the sound of footsteps anymore I come out of the shadows and slowly walk closer to the lake. As soon as I get within arm's reach of it, the snake-like demon appears and if I hadn't gotten out of his way, he would have jumped on me too.

"I don't want anything bad, I don't want anything bad, by the gods, calm down, okay?" I growl and huff as I raise my hand to signal that I don't want any trouble.

"What do you want here?" The question comes, but I can barely make out the words, the voice is so raspy.

"Just to look arou..." I start as I back away, but when I reach the edge of the pond my eyes widen and I turn around. "What the hell is stuck here?" I blurt out and my eyes start to squint, hoping to see something that might indicate the thing that's oozing so much demonic power. This isn't normal at all, not even in the realm of death.

"Do you feel it?" I hear the surprised question, and I roll my eyes. "Who are you, kid?" The next one comes, and I turn and look at the snake demon.

"Only a fool wouldn't notice, it gives me goosebumps." I squeeze my neck, then take a deep breath and straighten up. "I'm Luo Binghe, and you?" I ask the question, causing the snake demon to rise up, then down, then up again, as if he's eyeing me.

"Zhu Zhilang." I get the name, which is enough to make me raise one eyebrow.

~ Why does that name sound so familiar? ~ I ask myself, trying to force my brain to give me some useful information. ~ Got it! ~ I look back up at the snake demon.

"You..." I start, when I hear a jingle from my right and the blue floating board reappears.

【System Update: 100% The system is restarting.】I hear the voice of the skinned whore and at that moment my ears start ringing and the world merges before my eyes.

"Fuck!" I blurt out, I still feel my legs shaking and it's like I suddenly see the ceiling, but the next moment only darkness surrounds me.

~ So this is the system update! ~

Chapter Text

"Good fucking life." I groan as I start to come to. "My head hurts." I mutter and reach up cautiously to support myself.

"He got up." I hear a voice, but I can't really identify where it's coming from or who it belongs to.

"Don't say it so loudly, he said his head hurts." Another voice comes, but I don't really pay attention to them, I just try to sit up. When I succeed, I slowly open my eyes. The first thing that greets me is darkness, and a faint gray light.

"Where am I?" I mutter to myself, forgetting that I'm not alone.

"Under Bailu Mountain. You fainted." I get the answer and when I turn towards the voice I find myself facing a snake-like thing.

【Zhuzhi-lang. Half celestial demon, half snake demon. The nephew of the previous leader of the Demon Clan, the uncle of Luo Binghe.】The blue floating board of the fucking system appears next to the snake's head. And I record the new information in my mind.

"I understand." I nod slowly, but my head is still pounding, so the movement quickly stops. "So where were we?" I ask myself, but immediately continue. "Yeah. What the hell is locked here?" I ask the snake.

"It was me." Another voice says, and I turn to its owner. He's a handsome man, even in the semi-darkness, but...

【Tianlang-jun. The previous leader of the Demon Clan, Luo Binghe's father.】The letters on the floating blue board change and the fucking system chirps at me, and I start blinking.

"What the hell?" I'm about to faint, and the sign starts to float towards me and stops next to me, but I can't take my eyes off it.

"What are you looking at?" I get a question from the snake, but I'm more occupied by the whore.

【Luo Binghe's father.】It repeats the end of its statement.

"What?" I blink at the sign.

【Luo Binghe's father.】It says again and now the text starts flashing.

"Just because you keep repeating it, I won't believe that this guy is my father!" I point to the more handsome human-like figure.

"Master, I think the boy is crazy." The snake declares, making me look at him with blazing eyes.

"I'm not crazy. This fucking system says things that are absurd!" I point to the blue board floating next to my head, not even caring that I'm the only one who sees it.

"What is that?" My supposed father asks, and I turn to the side in surprise, but all I see is the fucking system board, but when I look at the pair in front of me, they're looking in the direction where the board is floating.

"Do you see it?" I ask, looking at them in confusion.

"What kind of magic is that? I've never seen anything like it before." The taller man comes closer to me and starts examining the floating blue board with his chin held.

"This is the fucking system, although I don't understand how you see it, because usually no one notices it." I fold my arms in front of me and try to look at the fucking system with as sharp a look as possible.

【The system has been given permission to display.】The whore suddenly speaks out loud.

"When did I give you permission to do that?" I'm surprised and even scratch my head when some jumping lines appear on the blue board and I hear my own voice.

'This is the fucking system' My voice says, even though I haven't even opened my mouth.

"So when I pointed at you, did that count as a permit?" I hold my chin, then nod. "Good to know." I sigh, now I can also pay attention to what I say so that it doesn't just appear next to me by chance.

"It talks. This is amazing." My father gets excited, as if I've given him candy.

"You wouldn't think that if it was fucking with you all the time." I growl again, staring grumpily at the something with the fucking voice.

"Maybe." The human-like demon nods, then turns to me. "What did it say that's absurd?" He asks, and I turn to the floating blue board.

"Now, tell me, whore!" I fold my arms and raise my chin.

【Tianlang-jun. The previous leader of the Demon Clan, father of Luo Binghe.】The whore repeats its previous words.

“This.” I grimace and shake my head.

“So my son is called Luo Binghe.” The person next to me grabs his chin.

“Don’t fuck with me.” I lower my hands and take a step back.

“Can we get over the fact that you’re both equally idiots?” The snake suddenly speaks up. “Yes, he’s Tianlang-jun, yes you’re Luo Binghe. Yes he’s your father, yes he’s your son.” He points to one of us, then the other. “Now that we’re past that, what are you doing here?” He asks, turning his head towards me, and I just roll my eyes.

"I'm trying to kill time until the bitch decides I can go back to Qing Jing Peak to my shizun." I shrug, as if nothing could be more natural.

"Why do you want to go back to Qing Jing Peak when I can feel the energies of the Demon World on you?" My father raises his eyebrows questioningly.

"One Shizun's there, two Shizun's there, three the Demon World is like an oversized pigsty." I count on my fingers, and when I reach three, I wince. Just thinking about the place makes my spine tingle.

"I agree with that last one." The snake agrees, as rolls over next to my father.

"They can't appreciate people and live with them." The former head of the Demon World sighs, shaking his head.

"Ah, I'll exterminate them all." I wave, knowing that I could really do it, one move would be enough and they'd all be dead, although I might just play with some of them for fun.

【Luo Binghe can't destroy the entire Demon Clan.】I was snapped out of my thoughts by the scream of the fucking system.

"Shut up!" I snap at it and clench my hands into fists. "I do what I want, I'm the strongest demon of them all!" I pull myself together and I can almost feel the demon blood rushing through my veins at my words.

"What if we reform the Demon World without wiping out the Demon Clan?" I turn to my father at the sudden offer.

"It would be nice..." I think to myself. "Everything would be better if they could all learn to live together." I sigh, although it sounded quite resigned. "But both humans and demons would immediately jump at each other's necks if they came face to face." I roll my eyes and turn my head.

"I have a plan!" The man in front of me smiles evilly. "The only question is, are you willing to work with me?" He asks, looking me straight in the eye. I smile faintly and simply nod.

"I'm listening!"

Chapter Text

"You're given one last chance. Either you accept my terms, or I must unleash the plague on your city." I say in my night-black robes, hands on my hips, a wide grin on my face, demon eyes burning as I stand before the head of Huan Hua Palace.

"You can't do this, you demon!" A young lady flashes from one side, whom I recognize as one of my wives, but I'm not here for them now.

"You have no idea what I'm capable of." I look at her with a serious look as the smile disappears from my face.

"We won't accept the terms!" I hear the clan leader's voice, and I start to nod.

"In that case, I'm sorry, I have no choice, my hands are tied." I spread my arms as I turn around and walk out of the palace, ignoring the stares. I head straight to the reservoir and to my surprise, no one follows me. Which either means they didn’t take me seriously or that the news is spreading slowly.

“Why are they so eager to get themselves killed? Now I have to poison the city.” I grimace. I hoped I wouldn’t have to do this. It would have been easier if they had just surrendered. But instead… “I’ll just drink for the next two days.” I shake my head as I cut my palm and clench my fist over the water to get as much blood as possible. “I’m serious, if this works, I’ll apologize to the lizard.” I grimace as I heal my wound.

“What are you doing here, little demon?” I suddenly hear a very familiar voice, but I don’t move.

“Nothing that will hurt in the long run, Mobei-jun.” I take note as the demon stands next to me and turns to me.

"How do you know my name?" He asks, and I see him clutch the dagger at his waist.

"That's not important." I wave.

"You're the kid from the Endless Abyss." He's surprised, and I turn to him and grin.

"Exactly." I declare, my hands on my hips.

"That sword on your back?" He points to my weapon.

"Yes, that's Xin Mo." I glance at the hilt of the sword over my shoulder.

"Why did you put your blood in the drinking water?" He suddenly turns to the reservoir and raises one eyebrow.

"Because that was the plan." I declare, without any explanation.

"What plan?" He turns his head to me, genuine curiosity in his eyes.

"A plan to unite the two worlds." I fold my arms in front of me.

"That's impossible." He looks at me like I'm stupid.

"We'll see." I shrug, then lower my hands and head back to my current accommodation, no longer caring about the demon or the city, from now on I'll just have to wait.

"How long do you want to stay in my ass?" I ask, looking at the demon, who has been on my heels everywhere for the past week. I thought he would get bored quickly after the incident at the reservoir. It's true that the city has slowly turned into a hotbed of madness and imaginary diseases, but this wasn't something interesting enough for him to stay here with me because of that.

"Until I see you carry out your plan." He grins at me, so wide that I can see all his teeth.

"Okay. Do as you wish..." I chuckle as I invite him into the small house that is our current quarters. "Oh, by the way, I know you have a little traitor in the Cang Qiong Mountain Clan, aren't you?" I look over my shoulder at him.

"How..." He starts the question, but I don't let him finish.

"I know a lot more than you think. I was right, it seems. Give him a message in my name." I turn to him.

"What do you want to tell him." His posture turns defensive and his gaze turns icy, as if he has summoned his ice.

"Tell him to tell the cultivator world that Huan Hua Palace has fallen and that the demons are breaking out." I declare.

"But we are not breaking out." He nods his head to the side, all the wrinkles of confusion on his face.

"It's part of the plan." I shrug. "So you're helping?" I ask, smiling.

"What if you don't?" He purses his lips, and I nod.

"It'll take a while for the cultivators to get their asses in here, that's what will happen." I roll my eyes too.

"Don't go far from the city. You've made me curious, boy. I'll deliver your message." He says as he waves and turns around and rushes out of the room.

"I like this cheeky version of him. Much better than the silent follower." I laugh as I hide myself away for the day, and the next day, as usual, I watch from the highest point of the Palace as everyone in the city screams and chases each other like crazy.

~ If it weren't for this noise, I'd even enjoy it. ~ I sigh.

"Message delivered. Now we just have to wait." Mobei-jun appears next to me.

"You seem happy. You missed him, haven't you?" I glance at him, a wide grin on my lips.

"Where do you get such nonsense?" He scrunches up his nose and turns away from me.

"I miss someone and I'd be happy to see them." I rest my head on my palm as I lean against the railing and the figure of Shen-ge appears in my mind.

"A human?" I get the perfectly legitimate question.

"Not just any human." I say, smiling.

"Who?" The demon asks.

"Do you know who the head of Qing Jing Peak is?" I answer the question with a question.

"Shen Qingqiu." He says and when I glance towards him I catch the moment when it registers to him.

"Exsactly." I answer with a smile.

"Do you miss him?" He asks and his eyes almost fall out of their places.

"Yes and when this is all over, I will start courting him properly." I turn back towards the city.

"You are out of your mind." He shakes his head and leans against the railing next to me.

"You see my friend, you may be right about that." I nod a few times and soon I will be left alone, the sun is just turning into the afternoon, when I suddenly straighten up, because I see a figure in the sky. "Oh, the cultivators are coming. Right, right. Come on, the more of you the better." I chuckle.

【System warning, the quest called Long-lost Acquaintance begins.】The fucking system screams and the blue floating board appears next to my head.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this again?" I crane my neck and look up at the sky above my head. "It doesn't matter. I have to keep my goal in mind." I declare. "Let's just stick to the plan!" I encourage myself, thinking again about the certain plan that my father and my lizard uncle came up with. We've already started on this path, there's no stopping from here. If one of us doesn't do what he has to do, everything will fall apart and there will be terrible consequences. I didn't think this day would come, but now, exceptionally, I mustn't rely on my strength, but on the plan we've developed.

Chapter Text

I wait with a big smile on my face for the cultivators who are slowly arriving in the city. Soon they will also find out where I am. Then the plan will move to the next phase. I have to make everyone believe... Not that it is that difficult. I just have to do what I did before. It is as easy as sweeping the floor.

~ Shen-ge! What the hell are you doing here? ~ I take a sudden breath when I see the man among the cultivators hurrying up and down the street, thanks to whom my heart rate doubles. I swallow hard.

~ This is not going to be good, it is really not going to be good! ~ I start to panic, but I have to stop myself. It doesn’t matter if he is here or not, I have to stick to the plan. Even if it hurts me. I didn’t want him to be here. Why is he here at all? In the other world, for all the gods' sake, he wouldn't have stuck that shapely ass out of Qing Jing Peak if it weren't for his own interests.

"What are you waiting for now?" Mobei-jun says, and I close my eyes and press my hands, which are still intertwined in front of me, against my own arms.

"I'll wait until they're in one place." I open my eyes. My voice is surprisingly completely emotionless, as cold as when I first tortured hi... No! I can't think about this now.

~ Focus Binghe! ~ I bite my lip from the inside. I have a mission, if I don't do what we planned, then it's over before we even start. I can't risk this. It's not just me at stake now. The fate of two species is at stake now.

When the cultivators gather in a square, I approach them on the rooftops, ignoring the ice demon next to me. A broad smile spreads across my face, my hands on my hips, and I start to giggle.

"Look at all the familiar faces!" At this, the crowd looks up at me almost as one. "Did you miss me?" I ask, tilting my head to the side as I look through the crowd.

"Binghe?" I have to swallow hard at the sound of my name, but not a muscle in my face moves. Finally, I put my hands behind my back and look at the man, still smiling.

"Shizun..." I speak, in the same voice I've been using to address him since I've been here. "I thought you'd forgotten. What do I owe you for visiting me?" I ask, slowly walking towards the edge of the rooftop.

"Binghe, stop this!" He says seriously, and I just nod my head to the side again.

"But I haven't done anything yet." I blink at him innocently, but I can see from his eyes that he must have already met the residents of Huan Hua Palace. "Shizun, I'm so glad you're here too." I giggle, but before I can continue, someone interrupts me.

"How dare you call him Shizun? Filthy demon!" One of the cultivators taunts me, causing me to immediately turn towards him and shout at him without controlling my nerves at all.

"Who are you calling a filthy demon?" My hands clench into fists. "Put your face here, you rascal!" I'm about to jump off the roof straight at the impudent person when someone grabs my wrist and pulls me back. I look back in surprise, but my breath catches.

"Binghe! You fight me!" The man looks me straight in the eye and lets go of my hand to draw his sword.

"Shizun?" I ask with a heavy tongue, but I don't move.

~ I don't want to fight you! You were the only one I didn't want to fight! I'll beat anyone to a pulp, but I don't want to hurt you. ~ I'm panicking inside. This wasn't part of the plan. Now I don't know what to do.

However, I don't have much time to think, because the man immediately jumps at me, which makes me back away. Out of pure instinct, I step away from his weapon, but I don't draw my sword. We can play this cat-and-mouse game for as long as he wants. I won't fight him. However, this has its disadvantages, since he manages to cut me a few times this way. Thanks to our duel, I slowly back up to the highest point in the city, and even to the edge of the roof. I look nervously behind me into the void and grit my teeth.

~ I have no choice! ~ I decide and my hand already grabs the handle of Xin Mo attached to my back, but before I can pull it out, Shen-ge reaches out and lets go of his sword and pulls me tightly to him.

"Shizun, what are you doing?!" My surprise comes out of me. I have no idea what this means, I just wanted to teleport away from here. Why did you hug me? Well, it's not that I regret it, I just don't understand.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything." I hear his voice, but no matter how I try to look at him, he refuses to look at me.

~ What the hell is he mumbling about? ~ I frown and try to nestle in his arms, hoping to get free, but it's all in vain. His arms feel like they're holding me with iron bands.

【System warning! The quest "Something New from the Old" has begun. Your reward for completing the quest "A Long-Lost Acquaintance": 10,000 points】I suddenly hear the fucking system screaming, which doesn't bode well at the moment. It's always bad when it appears, but now I have a really bad feeling about it.

~ Get the fuck out of here! ~ I curse the voice, but I don't even pay attention to it anymore. I'm much more interested in the man who's squeezing me tighter and tighter.

"What are you sorry for, Shizun, what's wrong with you? What's wrong here?" I ask and finally one of my arms manages to slip out so I can grab his shoulder. I don't have time to ask any more questions. The man suddenly looks into my eyes with a sad smile on his face.

"Everything will be okay." He says barely audibly.

~ That burning smell... ~ My thoughts start to race, then my eyes widen as I realize what's happening. ~ No, no, no, no, no. ~ I curse to myself, as if it were a mantra, as I free my other hand and now I'm hugging him. ~ No, no, no, no, no! ~ I squeeze my eyes shut, but it's no use. Suddenly, a great brightness comes on, the fucking system beeps.

【Mission accomplished....】It starts, but I don't hear the end of its words, tears are streaming down my face as I force myself to stop.

"NO! SHIZUN!" I collapse onto the roof with my shizun's motionless body in my arms.

"Did he kill him?" I hear the soft voices.

"Luo Binghe, he killed him!" It comes louder from somewhere, but I ignore them. I just pull the body resting in my arms closer to me.

"No, no, no. I won't let you go! I won't lose you again! No!" I decide as I run my hand over his face.

"Grab him! He deserves to die! Let's destroy the demon!" More and more people speak, and I laugh to myself, still teary-eyed. And with that, I manage to silence the voices.

"Do you think I'll let it? You fools..." I purse my lips as I slowly stand up, taking Shen-ge's body in my arms. "Soon you will all be kneeling at my feet." I declare, then look up at the face of the man I hold in my arms. "I will find a way. I will bring you back." I whisper as I turn around and leave the open field, ignoring the cultivators. "I will bring you back, I promise!"

Chapter Text

Five years, five long years, five fucking brain-numbing, nerve-wracking, soul-crushing fucking years. That's how long it's been since that day and no matter what I fucking do, nothing, nothing in the world wants to wake Shizun up. It's as if his soul has simply been absorbed, which is completely impossible, but it's still like that.

I'm slowly getting to the edge of despair, I'm starting to run out of ideas. The body I have left has already healed, but what the fuck is it worth without a soul?! Plus, if I didn't have this problem, even the bitch keeps telling me that this kind of storyline, this kind of event, you can't do this, you have to make an alliance with them, as if I don't know who I should be on good terms with.

So needless to say, I was a bit of a wimp. In fact, I am a wimp most of the time. But at least our big plan is going well. Even if it's in small steps, but my father... It doesn't matter how much time passes, it's still just as weird. So, according to my father, we have to act small so that nothing is noticed at first.

Well, that was half successful, because even though I haven't done anything extra in recent years, I've made the cultivator world feel that it's better if they know who's in their neighborhood, which was helped a lot by me taking over the leadership of Huan Hua Palace. That way, they can't even leave me out on their discussions.

There are days when I really enjoy power games, but there are also days when I'd like to wring the necks of every cultivator, demon, and just about every living creature in general, so that they don't even waste air with their existence. Well, today I had a day like the latter, when the little kitten demon girl disturbed me with a crystal ball message.

~ Why the fuck didn't I kill you already? ~ I ask myself, but I get the answer right away.

【Luo Binghe can't kill Sha Hualing, the character still has an important role in the storyline.】The bitch screamed in my head.

~ Ah, that's why. ~ I grimace, then look into the sphere.

"Say what yoh want?" I ask, and the girl trembles.

"Sir. I've captured a few cultivators..." She starts to say it, but I stop her.

"Fuck off! If you don't have anything meaningful to say, then leave me alone, I'm having a bad day." I announce, and the woman swallows hard.

"There's someone here who seems a lot like him." My hand trembles at this statement.

"I'll be right there." I say more softly and let go of the crystal. "How could I be so stupid to still hope that it's him after all this time?" I shake my head, but I still take my sword off my back and slash through the air to reach my ex-wife, who is kneeling and bowing to greet me. But I pay no attention to her. My gaze is fixed on a figure who, despite the energy-suffocating net, exudes power.

~ Shen-ge? ~ I swallow hard as I look into the man's eyes, which are a mixture of fear and anger. I'm about to take a step when the woman catches my hand.

"My lord, if the prisoners are to your liking, maybe. This humble servant would like to ask for a reward." She mumbles and bows her head, and I just roll my eyes.

"What do you want?" I snap at her as she moves closer to me, her hand slowly wandering to my waist.

"Just a..."

"No way. Now let go!" I give the order without even looking at her.

"But, my lord!" She gets angry, and I move without thinking as I slap her.

"I said let me go! Get out of my sight!" I snap at her.

~ If I could I would have killed you long ago! ~ My hands clench into fists, and when the girl runs towards the inside of the cave, I turn to the prisoners. It's just a snap of fingers and every lock opens, every net disappears. I take my sword off my back and slash the air, the surface visible inside the black-edged gate.

"Go, you are free. This woman doesn't understand the concept of 'no'." I fold my arms in front of me and turn my back to the crowd for effect. I hear the worried voices, but eventually people start moving. Finally, only the one remains, but he also slowly starts towards the gate, but before he can reach it I catch his wrist. "Hey Shizun, don't you even say hello to your student?" I ask, looking at his face, which is now filled with terror.

"I..." He starts, but doesn't continue, and I just smile kindly.

"I finally found you. I've been looking for you for so long. Don't worry, I won't let you go anymore." The words flow out of me and I pull the man to me, then step through the gate straight home.

"Little demon!" Mobej-jun suddenly appears, and I grin at him broadly. "Is he your human?"

"Call your friend, I have a feeling Shizun would like to see him." I say as I let go of the aforementioned. "Come on, Shizun, I'll show you where you're going to live." I gesture in one direction, and when he takes a step, I walk past him.

I have a whole suite in my palace that I have set up for him, and I lead him there, but he won't even look at me, let alone speak to me, no matter how much I shout or speak at him. Finally, I let him into his quarters and stand outside the door, where I crouch down, my hands in my hair.

"I messed up." I mutter in front of me.

~ I've ruined everything. How can he love me like this? He doesn't even want to look at me! He hates me that much? That much? ~ I have to put my hand over my mouth to keep from crying.

"Little demon?" I raise my head at Mobej-jun's voice, the demon and Idiot Shang are standing in front of me.

"Go in and talk to him." I look at the Idiot, who nods and goes in, glancing nervously at me.

"Is everything okay?" Mobej-jun crouches down in front of me.

"No... I think I've managed to screw up all my chances with him." I sigh heavily and close my eyes.

"Cook him something, cooking always makes you feel better. Don't worry, I'll stay here to take care of them." He puts his hand on my head, and I smile faintly.

"Thank you." I say it barely audibly, then slowly stand up and, although unpleasantly, I head to my kitchen. Finally, the demon was right, cooking really calmed me down, so I return to Shen-ge's suite with a tray of food and much calmer. Then I put the tray on the table.

"I brought some food, Shizun." I say smiling, but the smile freezes from my lips when the man's eyes widen. Idiot Shang also moves immediately and catches the man leaning back.

"What's wrong with him?" I ask in panic.

"I have no idea, everything was fine until now." I hear the nervousness in his voice as he starts shaking the body that contains Shen-ge's soul.

【Attention! The Demon Mausoleum story line begins! We wish you good luck!】I first freeze at the whore's voice, then turn to it with an angry look.

"Your fucking mother is the story line! Where the hell did you take him?!" I yell again, ignoring the fact that I'm the only one who can see it.

【The system can't tell you...】It starts, but I stop it.

"I'll give you, you can't inform me! Tell me where he went! Because I swear to gods I'm going to kill someone!" I shout and feel my face start to boil.

"Sir, you..." Idiot Shang starts too.

"Shut up, I'm talking to the fucking system!" I look at the man with an icy gaze, who stares at me with wide eyes, then opens his mouth.

"You... You have one too?" He groans, and I frown at him.

"What?" I ask, and he points at the fucking system. "Who else has one? As far as I know, this motherfucker only torments me!" I growl. "I just want to know where Shizun is! Can you fucking tell me?" I ask the whore, before it snaps.

【In the Demon Mausoleum!】I get the answer before I open my mouth.

Chapter Text

"How in fucking heavens can I get into there, you bastard?! You can't just get in there like that!" I whine, and Idiot Shang clears his throat.

"To be honest, it's enough if you use Xin Mo in front of the main entrance, I didn't write the place as so insanely impregnable."

"What's?" I ask, turning to Idiot Shang.

"Hello, I'm the writer, Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky." I just blink at him.

"You're a bigger idiot than I thought you were, and you weren't much of a genius in the first round either." I put my hand to my hip.

"In the first round? You? So you're not from the modern world?" He hesitates, and I roll my eyes.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. All I know is that I'm living my life a second time and thanks to this piece of shit, it's not much better than it was." I growl, my arms crossed in front of me, then suddenly what he said registers to me. "Wait, you said you wrote it? You... You're the reason my life is like this?" I ask, stepping closer to him, before he raises his hands.

"I'm only responsible for the original! I don't know anything about systems!" He hesitates.

"Oh, then you don't know how I could get rid of this either." I growl.

"No, but like I said, the easiest way to save Brother Shen is to go straight through the entrance." He says, then walks past the system board without paying attention to anything. "Let's go! Who knows how long we have." He would have continued on, but I grab the collar of his dress.

"You're not going anywhere. Just hold on, I'll go alone." I announce myself and draw my weapon and disappear to appear in front of the Mausoleum. "Well, let's see if the Idiot was right?" I ask as I take a deep breath and slash my sword at the door, causing the entire building to shake and parts of it to start to collapse.

I rush into the building nervously and try to find Shen-ge as soon as possible, I don't care who brought him here, as long as he is there. I focus all my energy on the problem, which is why I find the man in a room, and a huge stone falls from my heart.

"Shizun, you're here! I thought I lost you." I hug him tightly and he pats my head.

"Okay, Binghe! Get yourself together, we need to get out of here." He says, and I nod and slowly let go. "We just need to figure out where to go!" He says as if it were his own fault, but I just grab his hand and start pulling him after me. "Binghe, where are you going?" He asks.

"I know where to go, let's just hurry." I say, panting, but before we're halfway there, a familiar voice calls out to me.

"Where, where?" My face contorts and I squeeze Shen-ge's hand a little harder than I should.

"Binghe?" He whispers and turns his head this way and that.

"I was just trying to avoid him." I sigh and let go of the man's hand.

"You won't get out of here al..." Before he can finish his sentence, I punch my father in the face.

"Fuck you! That wasn't part of the plan! Why the hell did you have to capture him?! We talked about turning the world upside down to bring order, but he has nothing to do with it! You stay out of our argument, lizard uncle!" I point at the snake, but I don't look at him, only at my father, who is squeezing his nose.

"I couldn't do anything else. The Mausoleum is the greatest symbol, it had to be destroyed." He says serious, and I slap my hands on my hips.

"Then you could have said 'Hey! We should fuck up the Mausoleum!' Not kidnap him! I'm starting to think this is the worst day of my life!" I shout angrily.

【Congratulations on completing the Demon Mausoleum storyline. Your reward...】The blue floating board appears next to my head, and I glare at it angrily.

"I'll fucking kill you, fucking system, shut up for your fucking father's sake! I'm fightin, if you don't see it!" I turn back to my father. "So what's your excuse?"

"I think your human is a little surprised." He smiles at me as he puts his hands on his hips, and I look back in surprise at the man, who points at me, my father, and the fucking system with his mouth open, then simply sits down on the ground and blinks at himself.

"I've lost track!" He declares. "How come you have a system too, you came from the modern world too?" I sigh at the question.

"It's been a while since I got here and I still don't know what that modern world is that you and Idiot Shang are talking about, but no, I'm just reliving my own life." I explain.

"So other people have funny signs too?" My father asks, and I roll my eyes.

"Yes, as I found out, one of my employees, and him too." I look at Shen-ge, who doesn't seem to be him. "The Idiot said something about him being a writer. He knew how to get in anyway. I guess we should rethink our plan. Maybe they can help with it too." I look at the man I've fallen in love with even though he's not the man I thought he was.

"Good idea. Will you take us then?" My father grabs my shoulder, and I nod and draw my sword. The world changes around us, I'm back in my palace. I hear a scream, and when I look over, Idiot Shang backs against the wall, but when he sees Shizun, he changes his mind and instead stands up and hides behind him.

"Coward!" Shizun looks angrily at the man crouching behind him, then sighs. "I think everyone has something to explain. Let's take a seat. The food is here, by the way, I'd feel bad if your cooking went to waste." He says and takes a seat at the table, and we all follow his example.

While eating, my father and I outline our plan to the two men in broad strokes. We explain how we wanted to weaken both races and how we wanted to get them to join forces. To our greatest surprise, both men listen to us enthusiastically and Idiot Shang even gives us advice on how to refine the plan here and there. Shizun just nods silently, but doesn't say a word.

"So this is the point, in the final battle my son will turn against me and..." I stand up from the table, preventing my father from finishing what he had to say. I just smile at him sadly.

"You deserve to see a peaceful world more than I do. I'll take on the role of the main villain. You know I'm capable of it." I look at Shizun and Idiot Shang for a moment. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to be alone for a while." I say and leave the apartment to retreat to my room, where after closing the door I burst into tears and collapse on the floor. This long... I've been able to take it this long.

"He... He was just playing his role. He knew what awaited him, he wanted to escape from me. He only did everything because his own fucking system told him to." I bury my face in my hands. "I knew..." I sigh. "I knew it, who... Who would honestly want someone like me? Even though I love him..." I lower my hands into my lap. "Even though I love him more than anything, he will never love me." I take a deep breath and raise my gaze to the ceiling. "So be it, I accept that I will die for a better world. I will give you the freedom to do whatever and however you want." I close my eyes. "Shen Qiungqiu, that perfect world, that will be my pledge of love for you!"

Chapter Text

Since the day I discussed our plan with my father, Shizun, and IdioI Shang, I haven't seen any of them. It's not like I've tried very hard to get close to them, on the contrary, I've tried to avoid running into any of them whenever possible. I don't feel like meeting anyone.

My zest for life has gone out the window in an instant, and now I feel that emptiness again. The same emptiness as when... Yes, this is that emptiness. Exactly the same as when I was exiled from that magical world to my own, where everyone abandoned me and where the only person I wanted hated me.

After all, just fairy tales have a happy ending. Life is not a fairy tale, but even if it were, mine would never have a happy ending. Maybe I really deserve my fate... After all, I've conquered everything in my own world. Who knows, maybe the gods want to teach me to be a fool, maybe that's why the system is on my neck.

I accepted it, I'm the bad guy. It's okay, I'll do what I have to do and hope. I hope that after I die, the peaceful world that everyone dreams of will come. Maybe they'll see the demons and humans reconcile. I don't deserve to see this world, I've sinned enough against it not to deserve it. Yet somehow it's bittersweet, somewhere deep down I'm a little relieved. I'll be the key, if I do, then he... Yes, then he won't have to suffer. Because of him... Because of him, this is all worth it.

I wake up with a smile on my lips on the morning of my last day. My dream world has left me with beautiful images. I leave my sleeping place with the faint shadow of his kiss on my lips. According to the plan, I start destroying the lands in a relatively deserted place. When the first bloodthirsty demons and desperate cultivators appear, I just grin at them.

I thought it would be much harder, I was wrong. I can act like a conquering lord again so easily, as if I had never stopped. It seems that no matter how hard someone tries, they cannot change the foundations of their being. Maybe that is why the movements I have not used for years come out of me, as easily as if I had been at war yesterday.

"We will destroy you demon!" Several cultivators shout.

"We will destroy you bastard!" The demons roar. But I just laugh out loud to myself. Oh, how long it has been since I heard those words.

"The ones who will end up dead here today are you. Come on, come on! Finish me off if you can!" I lower my voice a little here, but I am aware that everyone can hear me perfectly. "If you dare..."

They are brave, ridiculously brave. How different everything would have been if they were that brave in my own world. But that doesn't matter anymore. I can't destroy them now. They may get hurt, but they can't die. I have to hold out, bide my time, until my father arrives.

"Luo Binghe!" At the shout, the Xin Mo literally falls out of my hand and I turn around with wide eyes. Standing opposite me, hands clasped on my hips and a face as if I'd ruined his breakfast, is shi... Shen-g... He. My heart is pounding, my throat is dry.

~ This is not good! You shouldn't be here! This wasn't the plan! ~ I panic, but no matter how hard I open my mouth, no words come out. I just gape like a beached fish. And there he is, marching towards me with an angry face and clenched fists.

"What do you think?" He mutters, but I have no idea what he wants. "How dare you?" He asks. "How dare you..."

"Shidi, be careful!" I hear the voice of the leader of the Cang Qiong Mountain Clan from behind me.

"I know what I'm doing." The man standing opposite me growls at him, who at that moment reaches out and gives me with all his might... A peach on the top of my head, then grabs my ear and starts pulling. Which makes me squeal.

"Sorry, sorry!" I chant, but he doesn't seem to hear me. Behind him, I see Idiot Shang, Mobei-jun, my father, and my snake uncle, all smiling at me.

"Right! Just apologize! You're coming with me now and we'll talk about certain things!" My captor scolds me, and I blink at him as if he's grown another head. "Can I trust you to sort out this horror?" He turns to those behind him.

"Trust me!" Idiot Shang grins, which gets the man in front of me to nod and draw his sword.

"Now we're going back to Qing Jing Peak." He explains and without a word or speech he pulls me onto his sword. I let him take me with wide eyes, but I keep blinking at the chaos he left behind.

"That wasn't the plan! What will happen to the relationship between the two worlds?" I mutter under my breath.

"The plan has changed! The others will take care of it. Shidi and Mobei-jun have come up with the perfect solution. We don't have to destroy everything, just let your father regulate the demons a little. Then, with various trade and cultivation exchange programs, we can slowly blur the border between the demons and us, humans." He explains, and I blink at him in confusion.

"This... How?" I blurt out, and he glares back at me angrily.

"If you hadn't stormed out of the room like a six-year-old who'd had his lollipop taken away, maybe you'd know." He growls, but I have no idea why he's so upset. However, I somehow feel that it's better not to speak, because I'll only get the man more agitated with it. So I silently endure him taking me home.

When we arrive, a nostalgic feeling takes hold of me. So many new memories are tied to this place. How many times have I dreamed of the impossible while resting in that side room. I didn't know then, I didn't even know then, that my dreams were baseless, that it was all just because of a system. I silently follow the man into the bamboo house, where he turns to me again.

"Did you seriously think I'd be okay with you dying?!" He yells, I and I wince. "Did you seriously think I was going to let you die?!" He cuts me off with the question, and I narrow my eyes.

"Yes! Your system is connected to me, if I die, you get rid of it!" I blurt out, and my voice becomes perhaps a little more irritated than necessary at the end of the sentence.

"Why do you want me to get rid of it?" The next question comes, and I lower my head.

"I want you to be happy." I answer through gritted teeth.

"Why?"

"Because..." I can't say it, it just won't work. So much has changed.

"Binghe! Why?" I hear his voice, as if he's standing above me.

"Because I love you!" I shout as my eyes pop open and I lift my head, only to see his face a few inches away from mine. His features soften, his lips curl into a wicked half-smile.

"Here. Was that so hard to say?" The question comes, and I blink at him.

"Shizun?" I whisper and swallow hard. He's close, too close.

"I'm not your shizun anymore and it's not customary for a lover to call his love that anyway." He rolls his eyes.

"Shen-ge..." I hear my voice, but it's not like it's mine. The man smiles at me.

"Much better." He nods and the next thing I know, his lips are touching mine. I move instinctively and hug him as my eyes close. How much I've dreamed of this. How many times I've wanted it to happen, for him to willingly give me his kiss.

"I love you." I whisper after the kiss.

"I love you..." He mutters, a pink blush on his face. "Don't get used to that, I won't say it often." He turns his head away, and I laugh.

"It's enough for me to know Shen-ge." I touch my own lips to his again. Maybe I don't have to die for that better world to come.

After the incident, I stayed here at Qing Jing Peak and let's just say that I never thought in my wildest dreams that Shen-ge could make such sounds. Yes, there have been positive changes in my life. I've become much closer to Shen-ge than I thought I would. Idiot Shang often visits him and they have long conversations about all that modern world stuff. At those times, I either talk to my father and my snake uncle about the improving situation in the Demon World. Or I chat with Mobei-jun, usually about nothing. Or, I am on an exploration tour of the Cang Qiong Mountain Peaks just like today.

My journey today has taken me to Xian Shu Peak, where I find my ex-wives, blabbering about something strange, only to fall silent as soon as I appear. I watch them suspiciously and when they disperse to their business I walk over to the table they were standing next to. On the table I see a very familiar book. I can hardly believe my eyes, but since the girls are coming back, I just pick up the book, put it away and go back to my peak.

I return to my small room, leaving Shen-ge and Idiot Shang to talk. Sitting at my table, I open my stolen price and begin to read. My eyes, however, keep widening as they run down the lines. Soon I decide to simply turn to the end and when I see the last entries I curse myself.

"Are you kidding me?! Woman, how can you write such nonsense? There was never such a fucking... Wait..." I stare at the pages as a very important piece of information enters my mind. I've seen this story somewhere before. "The perfect world. In that one, the woman wrote this about my other self and his shizun. But that can't be, it's a completely different world." I mutter as the blue board appears next to my head.

【You're in that world. The system works in that world.】

"Are you saying it wasn't that easy for him either?" I scratch my head.

【You had to change his story. Mission accomplished.】It chirps, and I turn to it.

"So, I'm that Binghe now?" I try to understand its words.

【Yes.】 I get the answer, before I grimace and close my eyes.

"Oh, why wouldn't you disappear from the face of the earth, you wretch!" I say without even thinking about the words, when a huge ringing sound is heard, and the sound of movement filters in from the other room, and half a moment passes. Shen-ge and Idiot Shang appear in the doorway, covering their ears, just like me. They're both staring at my fucking system, so I turn to face it too. The noise stops, then the whore speaks.

【System shuts down, thanks for playing with us.】

"Are we free?" Idiot Shang whispers.

"I think so." Shen-ge mumbles.

"I managed to wipe out the fucking system!" I grin at the two men. "We're free." I repeat the words and think this is the happiest day of my life.

The End