Chapter Text
Getting adopted into a new family should've caused a lot of trouble. In reality, whatever the emperor of the demon realm says, goes. Because he was emperor again, now. Shang Qinghua hadn't asked how he broke out of a mountain, or what his plans were, but frankly he had other, far more important, priorities. Like keeping good marital relations, something he could freely enjoy now that Tianlang Jun had proclaimed him his new son. The man was a romantic, and clearly Shang Qinghua's divulging of secrets had healed something within Tianlang Jun that had been festering.
He seemed sad at times, staring off into the distance or growing quiet during a conversation, but Shang Qinghua could understand that. Tianlang Jun had spent years believing in a betrayal that never occurred. So, whenever Tianlang Jun got that look on his face, Shang Qinghua would ask to transform into a little hamster and cuddle the emperor until he felt a bit better.
It was obvious what he was doing, but Tianlang Jun would loosen his hold every time anyway, an amused little glint in his eyes. Though perhaps it was also because he'd get to watch Shang Qinghua do jumping jacks just to transform…
Zhuzhi Lang joined in sometimes. In the cuddling, not the workout. Honestly, the more Shang Qinghua thought about it, the two of them were quite alike in some ways. They both relied on Tianlang Jun to keep a human form, they could both turn into small animals and now they were family too, apparently. Actually… was Tianlang Jun going to keep adding members to the family if they stumbled across more hamster cursed people?
Shang Qinghua hoped not. He had enough daddy issues already, he didn't want to compete for attention, too. He was a special little hamster and he was the only one! The curse had kind of grown on him, now that he had a lot more control of it. He only had to act as a stress ball when he chose to. Which was still often, but on occasions when he didn't want to, Tianlang Jun never betrayed his trust.
And if on those days Shang Qinghua was gently held as a human instead then, well… Only his family knew. Besides, the cuddling was really nice! He'd tried to invite Mobei Jun to join too, but he refused every time, instead preferring to cuddle Shang Qinghua in their bed.
Very differently from Shang Qinghua's father and cousin. A lot more… intimate.
He wasn't really sure what his sect was up to, but he was a happy hamster living his best life! There was one teeny tiny issue though. Shang Qinghua was maybe, perhaps, just a little jealous of his new cousin. Sure, they were alike! They had tiny animal problems to bond over! But! But!
Zhuzhi Lang could transform into a big snake. A giant snake, even. So large he could swallow human Shang Qinghua in a single bite! A hamster was barely a blip in comparison!
His curse was under control now, and it was nice not to turn into a hamster in the middle of a fight and all, but…
He wanted a cool big form too!!!
So, operation "Big Strong Hammy" was a go. The first thing he'd done was ask Tianlang Jun not to interfere if he felt Shang Qinghua's body try to change. The second thing he'd done was inform his king that he wouldn't be available for any intense cuddling for a while. He'd had to explain that Tianlang Jun was just doing what Shang Qinghua asked, and wasn't bullying him or anything like that.
Honestly, Tianlang Jun was really nice about the curse! Maybe because he'd seen how much his nephew struggled with his own inability to control his form, but regardless he never purposefully put Shang Qinghua at risk!
His king was still upset though. Understandably so, but Shang Qinghua needed to do this!
He started by trying to stay in hamster form for longer periods of time. Any time he started to suspect he was too calm, he'd think about Shen Yuan's face and instantly be filled with tiny hamster rage. He couldn't work well while transformed, but it did mean he got to stick with his king all day instead, safely nestled in his robes like old times.
It didn't change his size though. He just… continued to be a hamster sized hamster. So he started using his qi more while transformed. He'd done it before, during the few times he'd fought people, but it was worth a try! He was desperate, okay! Channeling qi as a hamster was harder than as a human, but the longer he did it, the easier it became. Still… his hamster body stayed the same!!
Tiny, cute and fluffy! How was he supposed to wrestle Zhuzhi Lang like this?!
His little body sagged, nearly morphing into a puddle. At least he could be a flat hamster. A little pancake shaped piece of fur, weeping over his broken dreams.
When Tianlang Jun later found Shang Qinghua and dragged the truth out of him, he'd laughed with delight before helping him shape a much larger hamster body.
I'm such an idiot!!! I should've just asked him to begin with!!
Of course, it didn't quite turn out the way Shang Qinghua wanted, but… well, it had strengthened his new bonds with his little family. And family was… was nice.
Despite everything, Shang Qinghua hoped Luo Binghe also had a family to love him like this. Shen Yuan didn't count, the bastard, but surely he'd had a better life in the sect and formed some bonds.
If not, then… then he'd just have to go and pay his protagonist a visit!