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Shang Hua raised the rock over Mobei-Jun's head... And lowered it. Mobei-Jun was simply more perfect then he'd imagined. He couldn't hurt him.
"Stupid," Shang Qinghua grumbled as he bound up a broken arm and used makeup to hide the bruises. "Should have just killed him."
He winced in pain as he moved his arm too quickly, before forcing himself to relax, circling his qi around the injury to speed up the healing, all the while working on his paperwork. After all, it wasn't going to do itself.
"Spoiled, selfish bastard," Shang Qinghua grumbled. "Thinking I can just drop whatever I'm doing to help him, coming by whenever he wants..."
This was hardly the first time he'd regretted it. He hadn't at all though until the first time he was hit.
"I'm sorry my King," Shang Qinghua said, rambling. "This was all the information I could get, I tried, really, but I-"
SLAP!
Shang Qinghua fell to the ground from the force of the blow, too shocked to cry out with pain, before looking slowly up at Mobei-Jun. "...My King?"
"Shut up," Mobei-Jun replied. Unsaid; it's fine, you don't need to apologize. You could have brought me nothing and I wouldn't care.
Shang Qinghua trembled, staring up at Mobei-Jun in fear. For all Mobei-Jun was cold and distant, he had never hit Shang Qinghua. The newly announced Peak Lord lowered his head to hide the bitter smile on his face. He should have known. Mobei-Jun was going to kill him in the future, of course he'd also be abusive. I don't know what I expected. Maybe I should have just killed him back then.
Things got worse as time went on. Shang Qinghua would be beat up for everything. He'd broken more bones than he could count, many of which never healed right since he had to hide the injuries in order to avoid suspicion. He constantly had bruises and secretly getting makeup in order to hide them was a hassle as he had so, so many duties. He had also familiarized himself with frostbite and now kept a stock of different things to help it in his office at all times.
His only saving grace was when Mobei-Jun wouldn't stop by for a while.
The Immortal Alliance Conference was the worst. Shang Qinghua tried to protest and recieved not only a punishment from the System, but a harsh beating from Mobei-Jun that gave Shang Qinghua fractured ribs and serious breathing problems until Ma Lia noticed.
"Shizun, go to Mu Qingfang," she said insistently.
Shang Qinghua sighed. "I'm too busy Ma Lia," he told his head disciple. "The Immortal Alliance Conference is coming up and there's still so much other work-"
"Li Weihao and I will handle it," Ma Lia said. "And if you're worried he'll ask about where the injuries came from, say you fell off the roof doing repairs."
Shang Qinghua gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks Ma Lia."
And then during the attack he got thrown into a tree, reinjuring his ribs.
Shang Qinghua was relieved and so unbelievably happy to meet another transmigrator. In fact, he felt stupid for not realizing Shen Qingqiu was one sooner.
But after retrieving the Sun-Moon Dew Mushroom sprouts, Mobei-Jun questioned him extensively. And Shang Qinghua couldn't explain. He was beaten to the point of unconsciousness for that, and Li Weihao found him like that later. They tried to get Shang Qinghua to go to Mu Qingfang after he woke up, but Shang Qinghua refused. It would result in far too many questions Shang Qinghua couldn't answer.
That did not mean he wasn't in pain however, and he could barely move without being in excruciating pain for weeks.
Shang Qinghua was there when Luo Binghe arrived TWO YEARS EARLY with no way to warn Shen Qingqiu, having joined Huan Hua Palace and now deciding to conquer the demon realm. He watched as Luo Binghe beat up Mobei-Jun with a strange feeling of satisfaction, but when Luo Binghe noticed him, he very nearly received the same treatment for having betrayed Cang Qiong. It was only Shang Qinghua's emergency talisman signalling an emergency Peak Lord meeting that saved him. Luo Binghe reluctantly sent him back and Shang Qinghua tried to warn Shen Qingqiu of Luo Binghe's return.
He was unsuccessful and to make matters worse, Shen Qingqiu insisted on being sent on the mission to Jin Lan city.
Mobei-Jun found out about the letter he sent to Shen Qingqiu.
"Why?"
"He's my friend," Shang Qinghua replied.
Mobei-Jun frowned. "He was not before."
"He's been my best friend for the past three years."
"What did it say? Nobody could decipher it except for Shen Qingqiu who dissolved it after reading."
Smart, Shang Qinghua thought. He didn't answer Mobei-Jun.
"Answer me," Mobei-Jun demanded.
"I cannot."
Mobei-Jun demanded answers some more. Shang Qinghua refused to answer, despite being terrified. He was beat up severely.
Shen Qingqiu died and Luo Binghe stole his body. Shang Qinghua waited for his return, hopeful the Sun-Moon Dew Mushrooms had worked, visiting the place where they were planted as often as possible, despite being beat up by Mobei-Jun for refusing to explain why. That hope slowly faded as time passed, vanishing entirely after 2 years. Shang Qinghua stopped visiting.
Shen Qingqiu came back after 5 years. Shang Qinghua was so terribly happy. Everyone else hated and scorned him, abused him, or ignored him. Shen Qingqiu didn't, even if he claimed to.
Shang Qinghua didn't know what possessed him to save Mobei-Jun, but he regretted it when Mobei-Jun beat him up later. Shang Qinghua hadn't the faintest clue what he'd done wrong. He hated this.
I wish he would just drop dead, Shang Qinghua thought bitterly.
He was dragged along to the ascension ceremony. He had only a dagger and some talismans with him. The System gave him the option to go home, and Shang Qinghua stared silently at it, unsure what state his former body was in.
Linguang-Jun arrived eventually, and Mobei-Jun prepared to attack him. Shang Qinghua hesitantly grabbed his dagger, eyes darting back and forth between Mobei-Jun. Then his gaze hardened and he drew the dagger, lunging forward.
The dagger plunged into Mobei-Jun's back and Mobei-Jun turned after it was removed, shocked, collapsing. Shang Qinghua had driven it straight through Mobei-Jun's heart.
Shang Qinghua stared coldly at Mobei-Jun.
"Qinghua...? Why...?" Mobei-Jun had the audacity to look betrayed.
Shang Qinghua laughed. "Why? Why wouldn't I?! It was only a matter of time before you killed me, so why shouldn't I kill you first?!"
Linguang-Jun raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised.
"...I wouldn't have kill you," Mobei-Jun said, choking the words out as blood bubbled in his throat. "I love you."
Shang Qinghua sneered. "Well I don't love getting beat up three times a day! Do you know how many times that almost killed me?"
Mobei-Jun shook his head.
"Neither do I! I lost count!"
"Hah! Oh my gods, he was courting you the demon way!" Linguang-Jun laughed. "That's hilarious!"
Shang Qinghua stiffened. Something tugged at his memories. Something about demons courting through violence. The dagger clattered to the floor. "What have I done?" he asked, horrified.
Linguang-Jun laughed, like this was the funniest thing in the world. "Amazing! I almost wish I could let you live, but... Ah, well I can't exactly kill my nephew now, can I? He's dying, because of you! So perhaps I'll kill you in front of him while he's helpless to do anything but watch."
Shang Qinghua didn't have time to fully register and process those words before he was impaled with ice created by Linguang-Jun.
Coughing up blood, Shang Qinghua stared at the System message.
Return home?
[Yes] [Maybe next time]
Shang Qinghua pressed [Maybe next time] with a grim smile on his face. "I'm... sorry, my King."
And with Linguang-Jun's laughter the only sound in the room, Shang Qinghua and Mobei-Jun died at the same time.