Chapter Text
"I'm sorry, Binghe... for everything I've done."
Shen Qingqiu let Xiu Ya slip from his grasp. The sword struck the ground with a dull clang as he stared blankly into the distance, desperately holding back tears.
For the first time, Luo Binghe saw his shizun cry.
Behind Shen Qingqiu's unfocused gaze, countless crimson System windows flashed relentlessly.
[Warning! Warning!]
[Failure to push the protagonist into the Endless Abyss will result in permanent account termination.]
"...I don't care anymore."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"I can't push him. Even if I do... I'll die once he returns."
"Shizun...?"
Luo Binghe took a hesitant step forward, worry written all over his face.
[Account termination in 15 seconds.]
Without another word, Shen Qingqiu pulled him into a tight embrace.
Just this once... let me protect you.
If he self-destructed now, Binghe's demonic heritage would be sealed forever. He would never have to suffer the fate that awaited him.
"I'm sorry, Binghe."
A blinding white light erupted through the forest.
The demonic mark on Luo Binghe's forehead began to fade.
"Shizun...?! Shizun!"
Luo Binghe caught him before he hit the ground, cradling his limp body as panic overtook him.
"I'm sorry... my little white lotus."
"W-Why is shizun apologizing?" Luo Binghe choked out through tears. "I'm- this disciple caused this! I never wanted to hurt you! Please... please don't close your eyes!"
Shen Qingqiu smiled weakly.
But his gaze wasn't on Binghe anymore.
It looked past him... as if watching someone else.
[Commencing account termination.]
Shen Yuan closed his eyes.
At least...
This time, his white lotus would have a happier ending.
---
Luo Binghe jolted awake with a gasp.
His chest heaved as he looked around his room, cold sweat clinging to his skin.
"...A dream?"
No.
It had felt far too real.
Without another thought, he threw open the door and sprinted toward his shizun's quarters.
"Shizun!"
He slammed the bedroom door open.
There stood Shen Qingqiu, still in his inner robes, sleep-tousled hair falling over his shoulders as he calmly brushed it.
He blinked in surprise.
"...Binghe? What's with all the commotion?"
The moment Luo Binghe saw him standing there—alive—his legs gave out.
He rushed forward and buried his face against Shen Qingqiu's chest, clutching his robes as tears streamed down his face.
"Ah—Binghe?"
Shen Qingqiu froze before awkwardly patting his disciple's soft hair.
"What happened?"
"...Nothing, Shizun."
Luo Binghe tightened his grip, as though letting go would make him disappear.
"This disciple... merely had a nightmare."
A horrible nightmare.
One where he had lost his shizun forever.
"You're no longer a child, Binghe." Shen Qingqiu's lips curled into a teasing smirk. "What kind of nightmare could make someone like you cry?"
Luo Binghe reluctantly loosened his grip and stepped back. Though he obeyed, a part of him mourned the loss of his shizun's warmth.
"It was nothing, Shizun," he said with a small shake of his head. "This disciple simply overreacted."
"Hm." Shen Qingqiu set down his comb. "Go get ready. I'll be teaching you before the other disciples begin their morning lessons."
Luo Binghe bowed. "Yes, Shizun."
'I need to teach Binghe everything I can about the Endless Abyss,' Shen Yuan thought as he watched his disciple leave. 'The Alliance Conference is only a few months away.'
A familiar crimson notification flashed before his eyes.
[Host must push the protagonist into the Endless Abyss.]
'i know!' Shen Yuan snapped back internally. 'You don't have to keep reminding me!'
The screen disappeared without another word.
Outside, Luo Binghe gently closed the bedroom door behind him.
The composed expression he'd worn before his shizun crumbled in an instant.
He slid down against the wall, pressing a trembling hand over his face as he let out a shaky breath.
"...Thank goodness."
His shizun was alive.
That nightmare...
It had only been a nightmare.
~
Or so he thought.
Once again, he stood in the same forest.
His shizun let Xiu Ya slip from his hand. The familiar clang of the sword striking the ground echoed through the silent woods.
"I'm sorry, Binghe... for everything I've done."
No.
No, this wasn't possible.
"Shizun!" Luo Binghe stumbled forward, panic rising in his chest. "But... how? I—"
Shen Qingqiu only smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry, Binghe."
The blinding white light swallowed everything.
~
Luo Binghe jolted awake once more.
His breathing came in ragged gasps as his eyes darted around the room.
"...Again?"
He threw off his blanket and sprinted toward his shizun's quarters without hesitation.
This time, he didn't even bother knocking.
"Shizun!"
The door flew open.
Shen Qingqiu looked up from arranging his robes, clearly startled.
"Binghe?"
The sight of him—alive, unharmed, breathing—should have been enough.
Yet Luo Binghe's heart refused to settle.
The nightmare...
It had happened exactly the same way.