Chapter Text
Green acid shed a low light to the dark cave system that was the Water Prison. The once pristine and dignified Peak Lord of Qing Jing Peak, the renowned and feared Shen Qingqiu, was bound and vulnerable— this time even more elaborately than before.
Connected to the ceiling were bright red ropes that bit into the pale skin of Shizun’s wrists and ankles. He was face up, but a curtain of black hair fell into his beautiful Shizun’s face, obscuring his expression. Suspended in the air, with his torso and legs crossed by elaborate red knots, robes in shreds exposing milky skin, Shen Qingqiu looked like seduction incarnate, completely helpless as he swung slightly, his limp black feline tail following the movement.
Seen by no one, a thin line of drool went down Luo Binghe’s lip before he noticed and swallowed hard while wiping the corner of his mouth on his robe, hearing his own heartbeat fast on his ears.
Was it all really necessary? Who the hells had even been responsible for that kind of humiliation? And his Shizun’s face had always been so thin… Poor thing.
That position and rope arrangement suddenly struck a chord. It had been featured in one of Shizun’s yellows books—Shen Qingqiu had a collection of those in a boring-looking qiankun pouch hidden in his room.
Luo Binghe would later discover just who was responsible for putting his master in such a position. They would possibly not leave with their hands and eyes intact.
Freeing him from the ropes or that position didn’t cross Luo Binghe’s mind, however. The guard responsible for delivering Shen Qingqiu’s meals when Luo Binghe was too busy would just have to be changed for a blind one.
Xin Mo, that damned sword he had to rely upon, whispered sweet poison into Luo Binghe’s mind. His skittish master wouldn’t be able to run away like in Jinlan City— what a scene that must have been, the big bad wolf in dog’s clothing chasing after his pure black cat Shizun like he was out to draw blood. Luo Binghe was so stupid and desperate, desperate for Shizun…
The siren’s song was strong, however after ripping Shizun’s clothing before (Binghe’s intent doesn’t matter), how could Luo Binghe act even more shamelessly? Shizun would never see him as more than a heinous monster if he dared to even voice a fraction of those fantasies. He could act on it later in a dream when he felt particularly weak and self indulgent… Damn Shizun was really so flexible.
It had been all so tempting that Luo Binghe almost forgot the reason he was there.
Walking closer, Luo Binghe paced around his bound suspended master before delicately moving the inky black hair from Shen Qingqiu’s beautiful pale face. Luo Binghe frowned slightly at the vision of dry and bitten lips.
Shizun’s eyes were closed, but his breathing was deliberately slow.
Luo Binghe sighed. “Shizun, this Binghe may be a dumb demon, but he knows when his master is awake or not.” They had lived together for years after all— how could he not notice something that basic? Was he truly just a strange unknown creature in Shen Qingqiu’s eyes?
Shen Qingqiu slowly opened his eyes. Rather than cat slits, what greeted him were full blown pupils in alert, the deep black almost taking over the jade green of his iris. Shizun quickly assessed Luo Binghe before his attention was filled by an acid pool close to them.
Shen Qingqiu was determined to avoid the disciple he threw into hell. What a cruel man.
“The position must be uncomfortable, but Shizun tried to escape the Water Prison.” Tried to escape him. “Why would Shizun even do that, didn’t he let himself be captured so Cang Qiong wouldn’t be implicated?”
Did he hate being there so much, incapable of avoiding Luo Binghe’s visits? Or had it been the pests that went to torment him before Luo Binghe could put a stop to it?
Shizun didn’t answer.
Luo Binghe’s voice was sweet like honey, but Shizun’s cat ears flattened against his head. “This Binghe has influence in Huan Hua, you know, this could be decisive in Shizun’s trial rather than if he’s truly guilty or innocent.”
He didn’t give a shit about whatever family Shizun might have killed or not in the past—really, a teen slave murdering a whole household on his own for no reason? Luo Binghe wasn’t so naive as to take that at face value, and no proof was even provided at that.
The demon colluding accusations were also laughable. If only it was true, Luo Binghe would still be happily living under his master’s roof, eager to be used for his demonic powers too, Shizun wouldn’t even need the help of those disgusting sowers to cause havoc whenever he wanted!
Shen Qingqiu was silent, but Luo Binghe didn’t give up. “Just answer me if you regretted it."
Luo Binghe knew how to look to tell apart lie from truth, but even a sweet lie would be a balm for the aches in his heart. His canine ears went up in alert when Shen Qingqiu finally started to talk.
However, Shen Qingqiu found it fitting to inflict pain in Luo Binghe’s wretched heart once again. With the raspiness of a dry throat, at last his master’s green eyes met him only to say:
“Isn’t it enough? Please put an end to this master’s misery, for old time’s sake—”
The world went red. Without his input, Luo Binghe’s hand was already grabbing at Shen Qingqiu’s hair and leaned in, bringing their faces too close. “Shizun won’t escape me that way either.”
Shen Qingqiu shuddered.
“Apologies. This disciple will bring water for Shizun.” Luo Binghe said demurely before walking away with his tail behind his legs.
Meng Mo’s voice echoed in his mind, That master of yours won’t utter a word without torture—
Luo Binghe bristled at the mere suggestion of bringing harm to his beloved teacher. Even if he were so furious he wanted to destroy the world, Luo Binghe would never lay a hand against him.
—so why don’t you just search in his dreamscape? Whether he was hoping in joy or crushed by guilt will be easy to discern.
Damn old man, you know I respect him too much to just barge into his mind like that!, Luo shouted in his mind.
You don’t permit yourself a little peek, but creating artificial versions of your master to do what you please is fine, huh?
Luo Binghe flushed. That was different! I was just practicing…
Having Shen Qingqiu—albeit a fake one—comforting him had been the only way he could go through that hellish eternity in the Abyss.
Shizun, Shizun, Shizun, both the poison and the cure.
Alright, then what about a truth potion? It’s rare but this Meng Mo knows just where to find it.
Luo Binghe narrowed his eyes. I read about it before. Doesn’t it cause qi imbalance and cause qi deviation risk?
Meng Mo huffed like Luo Binghe was being the unreasonable one. His qi flow is blocked; what harm can it cause?
Shut up! Luo Binghe blocked Meng Mo’s annoying voice, but became pensive.