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Life as an independent cultivator had been rather peaceful. Once the first year had passed, then the second, and a few more since, Shen Qingqiu had started feeling like he might have truly escaped his grisly torture and death at the hands of Luo Binghe.
So why was he walking himself right into the demon lord's domain now?!?!
The news that Luo Binghe was finally getting married should have been a joyous discovery. The stallion protagonist was officially starting his harem! The problem was, this was the wrong first wife! Worse yet, this was a wife Shen Qingqiu knew very well - the demoness whose family conspired to use her new position in an attempt to usurp the throne!
It was true that Luo Binghe could likely manage himself, but could he really? Unlike the original story, this Luo Binghe did not have years of experience in managing a harem full of scheming and intrigue. What if the demoness and her family caught him on the wrong foot? Shen Qingqiu couldn't leave his former disciple to manage this on his own, what sort of master would that make him? And if he wanted a glimpse of what a lavish wedding Luo Binghe would host then you couldn't blame his curiosity.
And Shen Qingqiu wasn't the only curious soul. The crowds around the demon emperor's palace were large and lively, celebrating the auspicious occasion. Ultimately, Shen Qingqiu was grateful for the extra cover in addition to his simple robes and veil, which allowed him to get close and slip into the building without turning any heads. Getting through the halls was trickier, but he had recent years of experience staying under the radar to avoid drawing too much attention that would potentially get back to Luo Binghe.
The plan was simple from here. Get into the bride's rooms, threaten her until she either fled or gave up some sort of information which would allow him to quietly ruin her family's plans, then sneak back out and try to glimpse the wedding hall along the way before anyone else could find out he was there. An absolute cinch for an immortal master with the boundless spiritual energy provided by this Sun-Moon Dew Mushroom body!
The bride's room was quiet when Shen Qingqiu managed to slip through the door. After confirming there was no one inside, he took it upon himself to look around. It was important to know the layout before starting a conflict, after all, just in case things escalated! And truly it would be a shame if no one looked around at the decor and especially the bridal robes set out as if on display. Someone should appreciate the hard work of the hands who put all this together.
Shen Qingqiu ran his fingertips gently along the embroidery of one of the sleeves. It really was a bit sad that this garment may not even be worn after he was done threatening Luo Binghe's would-be bride to get the hell out-
"Mistress?" The call was accompanied by a knock on the door. "Shall I come dress you now?"
Shit. Shit!
"Mistress?"
As the door opened, Shen Qingqiu quickly slipped behind the dressing screen to hide. He peeked through the crack between the panels to watch as a maidservant entered the room, carrying a sheathed sword. She frowned as she looked around the room. "I could have sworn-"
The door pushed open again and then slammed shut as another demonic woman entered, this one wearing silky robes and hair arranged into a bridal style. "Did you really just walk all the way here with that sword out in the open?!" she demanded in a hiss.
"Well, you told me to-"
The maidservant was interrupted as Shen Qingqiu leapt out from behind the screen and lunged to grab the sword, easily prying it from the surprised woman's fingers.
"Who-" the bride began, but the maidservant jumped in front of her.
"Run!" she yelled.
Shen Qingqiu, unprepared to be assaulted by an unarmed woman, was barely able to see past his surprise opponent to catch sight of the bride rushing out of the door. By the time Shen Qingqiu incapacitated the maidservant with the strike of a few acupoints, his real target had disappeared into the hall. His original plan was out the window now. It was time to think on his feet!
Upon reaching the hallway himself, he found there was already no sign left of the bride. With private, direct confrontation no longer an option, he had to choose - get the hell out of here or risk getting near the blackened Luo Binghe. It was a simple choice, really.
And yet, he found his feet carrying him toward the main hall.
Ducking and weaving through the guests became more difficult as he neared his destination. It became even more so when he heard the shout of, "There he is!" and turned to see the bride pointing toward him, brandishing a different sword and flanked by three armed demons.
Well, good thing he took her first sword. Shen Qingqiu sprinted for the main hall, hoping for a larger concentration of Luo Binghe's own followers there to help turn the tide. He could hear a myriad of cries behind him of both outrage and pain as well as the thuds of bodies hitting the ground. Even worse was the increasing number of footsteps pounding after him.
Even worse was pulling open the door to the main hall to find himself face to face with the protagonist.
Luo Binghe, peerlessly handsome and resplendent in red and gold, dressed to be married and wide-eyed at the sight of this interloper who practically just ran into him. Shen Qingqiu felt himself go cold as those familiar eyes took him in. Despite the safety of the veil obscuring the lower half of Shen Qingqiu's face to disguise him, he could practically feel the ache in his arms and legs from the limbless fate that he had surely rushed back toward.
"Do it now!"
Oh right, there was also the bride.
"Binghe, quick-"
Luo Binghe's gaze flashed at the address, surely angry at the familiarity. Xin Mo appeared in his hand, summoned by a sword seal, and Shen Qingqiu was barely able to keep from soiling his underclothes. Death on all sides. Well, he'd extended his life by a few years, anyways…
Before Luo Binghe could actually strike him, Shen Qingqiu stumbled forward from a sudden shove at his back. True to protagonist form, Luo Binghe didn't budge as his former master collided into his chest. Sturdy and reliable as a demon emperor and husband-to-be should be! Shen Qingqiu tried not to cough blood all over his wedding robes. At least before he died he got to experience the feeling of Luo Binghe's arm around him, allowing him to understand why so many competent women had shed their independence in favor of letting the protagonist protect them. If this weren't the prelude to the end for him it might actually have felt kind of nice.
"Don't touch him," Luo Binghe said, his voice low and dangerous.
Someone behind Shen Qingqiu laughed. "He's not who we want anyways," they said, "We were-"
The words were cut off by the sound of flesh being cut and a gurgle of blood.
For a brief moment it was quiet, then it was chaos.
Suddenly released from Luo Binghe's grasp, Shen Qingqiu was given freedom to draw the stolen sword he carried and defend himself in the ensuing bloodbath. Somehow, he found himself fighting alongside his former disciple, helping to cut down the wave of assailants rather than being cut down himself. It felt almost like a fun competition between them at moments when Luo Binghe jumped in to strike at an opponent who caught Shen Qingqiu off guard - this old man was supposed to get that kill!
By the time the assault ended, the two of them stood surrounded by bodies in the middle of the hall. Shen Qingqiu turned toward Luo Binghe, sword at the ready to fend off-
"Shizun!"
"Oof-"
Shen Qingqiu stumbled back as Luo Binghe collided with him, dropping his borrowed sword with a clatter on the floor.
What?!
"How did you-"
"What sort of disciple would I be if I didn't recognize my master?" Luo Binghe replied, his voice muffled by Shen Qingqiu's shoulder.
In a surprised daze, Shen Qingqiu managed to shuffle them over to a bench so he could sit down before he passed out. His sticky disciple followed, kneeling in front of him and holding on tightly. "Binghe, I-"
"I was never going to actually marry her!" Luo Binghe said quickly, "I knew her family was after me, this was the best way to get them all in one place. And then maybe no one would try to marry me again." The demon emperor's eyes shone with unshed tears as he gazed up toward Shen Qingqiu.
What on earth was going on?! "Binghe, you don't want to get married? You deserve hundreds of wives!" Shen Qingqiu exclaimed.
Luo Binghe's face was filled with confusion and disgust. "Who would want that?" He drew himself higher onto his knees and his hands grasped at Shen Qingqiu's blood-soaked robes. "If this disciple were to marry anyone, it could only be Shizun!"
… What?!
Surely Shen Qingqiu had misheard. As he tried to figure out where he'd lost track,Luo Binghe continued on, "Of course, Shizun deserves a much better wedding than this."
Shen Qingqiu scoffed and gestured around the bloody hall, still bearing a myriad of decorations for the false occasion. "How could this simple master consider a wedding even this grand?"
"Then a simple wedding," Luo Binghe conceded quickly. If he'd had dog ears, they surely would have perked up as he shuffled even closer, his chest pressing against Shen Qingqiu's knees. "What ever Shizun wants, this disciple will provide."
Shen Qingqiu opened his mouth to argue, but found himself unable to do so as he took in the stars in his sticky sheep's eyes. He let out a sigh instead, feeling his veil flutter in front of his face. With a fond smile, he raised a hand to pat Luo Binghe's head for the first time in many years.
It would be a shame to let all these wedding preparations go to waste, after all.
