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Chapter Text

Luo Binghe’s Shizun was a stern, cold, and harsh one. The peak lord of Qing Jing was famous for his cold countenance and look of disdain to almost everyone, making him seem like a lonely flower atop of a mountain peak with only cliffs and abyss surrounding it. Unattainable.

He gave punishments so easily if you displeased him. Luo Binghe personally witnessed and experienced this first-hand.

Copying books, running laps, holding your deliberate horse stance for a whole night that you couldn’t feel your back for a whole day afterward. All the male disciples had experienced all of these more frequent than they liked to admit.

Luo Binghe suffered more in his first few months of discipleship.

Luo Binghe slept in the woodshed for a few months, working the hardest, trying to be the first to wake up and always been the last one to sleep.

Eventually, much to Luo Binghe’s relief, his Shizun was finally kind enough to end the torment, or as several mean martial brothers told him ‘screening test for newbie’, and Luo Binghe was granted a room. It was pretty small and he didn’t have any roommate. But it was way better than the woodshed so Luo Binghe loved it like no other.

Luo Binghe’s life got better after that, not by much but certainly many things improved.

As like other boys, Luo Binghe was not safe from Shizun’s displeasure. Only girls could be safe, the hardest punishment they ever needed to do was to copy several books and if Shizun was annoyed enough, they would need to pull an all-nighter.

Meanwhile, other teachers would be pleased if you showed that you learned something through punishment, never show that you learned more than you supposed to learn from punishment to the lord of Qing Jing peak. Because he would assume that would be the best method to teach you and increase the amount.

Pretend to be dumb and learn one thing. That would be sufficient. One martial brother made a mistake by blurting out that copying the art of war helped him to memorize the book and Shizun was more than happy to make him do it more often.

Stupid. Everyone thought when they saw that martial brother looked faint.

Putting Qing Jing peak lord’s punishments and method of teaching aside, every boy got the same treatment from him except for one.

Luo Binghe again.

Luo Binghe was an odd case, aside for him being the only one having to sleep in the woodshed for months before Shizun granted him a room, their Shizun also liked to do something else...

“Eat this,” Shen Qingqiu pushed a bowl of... Inky black soup??? Was that supposed to be a soup or a new concoction from Qian Cao peak??

Luo Binghe glanced outside and saw it was lunchtime, he licked his dry lips slightly, “Pardon, Shizun. What is this?” Luo Binghe asked reluctantly.

“Just eat it.”

Luo Binghe picked up the bowl and he almost had a heart attack when he smelled the thing. His eyes teared up, it smelled worse than the spoiled food he forced himself to eat when he wandered around the street after his mother’s death. He had to eat this?

An impatient tap on the wooden desk surface brought Luo Binghe’s attention back to his elegant and dainty Shizun, “It’s hard for this master to get his hands that.” A pause, “Do you want to eat it or be punished?” Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes harshly and Luo Binghe nodded hastily, showing a flattering smile all the while.

“Y-yes,” Luo Binghe closed his eyes. Here goes nothing. He picked up the spoon and carefully fed himself the black thing in the bowl, the smell was horrid but the taste...

The taste was awfully delicious. It was like a perfect mix of sweetness and sourness, Luo Binghe would enjoy this if only his sense of smell was not killing him. With his sense of taste and sense of smell disagreeing with each other, Luo Binghe looked up to see his Shizun was looking out of the window, hiding a secretive smile behind his paper fan.

Luo Binghe’s expression must’ve been really entertaining, then.

It wasn’t just Luo Binghe who wondered, everyone also wondered what stupid mistake that Luo Binghe accidentally slipped out in front of their Shizun to get him that special treatment. Initially, Luo Binghe was flattered with his Shizun’s kindness to share and others were jealous of him. But slowly, that feeling was changed to confusion and others began to pity him.

It started with normal confectionaries, almost like Shizun was treating him like a child he was and Luo Binghe was honestly both flattered and shy at first. But it slowly evolved to something more and more bizarre that no matter how foolish Luo Binghe was, he had to pause and raise his eyebrows.

Like that time when Qian Cao peak’s peak lord, Mu Qingfang, came to visit to give a little lecture about outside world’s herbs and how to process it. It was a good lecture aiming to teach the future scholars about the outside world and what changed now they were cultivators.

Mu Qingfang presented a stalk of berries called Crescent Moon Berry because of its crescent-like shape. He then explained that while it was harmless to adult mortal, it could harmful to cultivators, something that rarely happened. Usually, while it could be harmful to mortals, it wouldn’t always be harmful to cultivators.

Whilst explaining that Crescent Moon Berry was a bit harmful to cultivators because it disturbed the flow of qi and the more qi you have, the more disturbance it was, but it wasn’t deadly. Shen Qingqiu plucked one from the branch and told Luo Binghe to eat it since he was the one with the weakest cultivation and pretty safe to eat it.

Still, who would offer something to his student when another already said it could be harmful?

Or that one time when Luo Binghe felt his stomach was on the verge of bursting out because he ate too many and then his Shizun told him to run a lap around the peak to digest it. That didn’t help. No matter what, if you ate too much, you should sit for a while and think about what happened wrong in your life. Not run.

As Luo Binghe grew up, he became convinced that this was just another of his Shizun’s creative ways to torture him.

Eating many things, most of them were delicious but Luo Binghe rather be an ascetic and only ate bland congee forever than to eat those delicious dishes in one day.

Luo Binghe tried to think where he did something wrong which made his Shizun apply this kind of torture to him. Did he look way too pleased when he was first given a food? But Ning Yingying reacted the same way whenever she received anything from Shizun, food or not, and Shizun never stuffed her with three trays worth of food.

Did his Shizun take the saying of fattening up the lamb for a slaughter too literally? Was Luo Binghe the lamb?

However, Luo Binghe could only accept his situation, he had a shelter, he had a teacher, he wasn’t starved, he was grateful to his Shizun nonetheless... He just really hoped his Shizun could stop his torment in any form.

“Today, this master feels generous, you all would get Body Enhancing Pills and Spirit Enhancing Pills. If you don’t improve after this, this master will have to cross your name from the list and kick you out of my peak,” Shen Qingqiu announced and the disciples all looked at each other in delight.

Pills! They did get their own assigned resources including pills, but the pills Shen Qingqiu just mentioned were not something they could easily get their hands on unless their Shizun was kind enough or thought highly of them.

Shen Qingqiu distributed two small jade bottles to each of his disciples, when it was Luo Binghe’s turn, Shen Qingqiu paused and looked at Luo Binghe’s face seriously. “No... Not you,” he said as he retracted his hand back.

Of course, Luo Binghe’s heart was crushed after he was denied but he held himself back and kneeled down, “Shizun, did this disciple have any fault?” he asked.

Shen Qingqiu looked at him coldly, “No. I just don’t want to give it to you,” he flicked his sleeve. “You’re not getting any, that’s all. Next,” Shen Qingqiu said.

Luo Binghe sadly looked at his Shizun and slowly stood up, bowing down, he walked away, aware of his martial brothers’ sneers. Luo Binghe sat down under a banyan tree and sighed. Why did he think he would be treated fairly? He should really just be satisfied with what he had...

“A’Luo...” Ning Yingying came and sat close to him, she had two small jade bottles in her hands. She looked sad for him, “I’m sorry you didn’t get any, Shizun might have some other plans for you...?” she offered her assumption.

“It’s fine, Ning-shijie,” Luo Binghe smiled.

Ning Yingying bit her lips, “You know, we got two pills each,” she showed the two jade bottles with two pills in each. “Maybe-“

“What you got is yours, no one should take others’ or give it to others. This master will know,” Shen Qingqiu announced one last time and everyone murmured their response.

“I’m sorry, A’Luo...” Ning Yingying instantly gave up. She didn’t want to get in trouble, but mostly, she also didn’t want Luo Binghe to get in trouble.

“It’s okay, thank you, Ning-shijie,” Luo Binghe smiled bitterly.

“Luo Binghe, come. This master has something for you,” Shen Qingqiu called out and Luo Binghe stood up, quickly running up to Shen Qingqiu to receive whatever Shen Qingqiu wanted to give.

He really should have known it would be another strange exotic food that he needed to finish in one sit.

When their Shizun went for a retreat, Luo Binghe was free of the mental torture of having to eat anything that his Shizun found remotely interesting. He studied harder, he cultivated diligently to improve his cultivation.

Although Luo Binghe ate way less because Ming Fan didn’t let him get more than a bowl of congee every day, Luo Binghe didn’t care. Ming Fan could be petty for all he wanted. A bowl of congee was good, sometimes, Luo Binghe would even add some herbs he found in the bamboo forest to flavor his congee.

Having experienced the lowest and highest point of eating, Luo Binghe was pretty detached in this topic.

Everything had to come to an end though, the day Luo Binghe and several other disciples were crossing to Qiong Ding peak, wanting to go to another peak to do some assignments, Qiong Ding peak was under attack. The rainbow bridges were severed with no way to request for help.

At the same moment, fate decided that the two peak lords within the Spirit Cave got out of their retreats, both were equally pissed. When they saw the chance to vent was present in front of them, they gladly accepted it by jumping straight to the invading demons’ way and started their slaughter.

But the demons managed to talk them down on it before it was too late and Shen Qingqiu accepted their attempt at ‘peace’ much to Liu Qingge’s annoyance. Luo Binghe was then shoved to a fight he was not supposedly fought after Liu Mingyan failed to attain victory and the two peak lords began to argue on ‘who is better?’

Since Liu Qingge’s little sister had failed, Shen Qingqiu pushed Luo Binghe unhesitantly to fight a demon elder with a poisoned hammer as a weapon.

Luo Binghe won. Somehow.

He almost died when the beaten demon elder tried to maim him again but the two peak lords reacted quickly with that action which broke the ‘peace vow’ and led the few disciples to kill and push the demons out of the Sect.

When all was done, Shen Qingqiu looked at Luo Binghe. “Good job.”

Luo Binghe’s heart almost skipped a beat before blooming into something so full and satisfying hearing his Shizun’s praise but then as it always went. Good thing never lasted for him.

“Ten laps around the peak and re-stock the woodshed,” Shen Qingqiu said, instantly crushing Luo Binghe’s pride and joy.

“But, Shizun...” What did he do?

However, one cold look from Shen Qingqiu made Luo Binghe cower back.

“Yes, Shizun...” Luo Binghe resigned.

That night, when Luo Binghe dragged his tired body to his beloved small and comfy room, he dreamed of a demon and found Ning Yingying beside him in the dream.

He witnessed back everything that happened in his life, including the one that recently made a very big impact in it. His Shizun...

That was the point of a drastic change of Luo Binghe’s life.

Luo Binghe’s forehead felt itchy, the demonic energy overflowing from him was out of his control, Luo Binghe was almost terrified at it. He then raised his eyes, meeting eyes with the man who stood not far away from him, his heart once again trembled when Shen Qingqiu glared at him.

Unforgivable...

Luo Binghe glared back.

“A half-demon?” Shen Qingqiu said disbelievingly before hissing, “Demonic cultivation?!” Under his watch?! “How dare you!”

Luo Binghe gritted his teeth, glaring furiously at Shen Qingqiu, “This disciple has no choice,” he said darkly.

“No choice? Would you say you have no choice when your demonic cultivation exceeded your years of human cultivation!?” Shen Qingqiu growled. He wasn’t a fool! No choice? Who would believe that?!

“What are you going to do now?” Luo Binghe growled in distrust. Ever since he agreed to cultivate demonic cultivation secretly with the Dream Demon, he had only grown stronger, he prepared himself well in everything, he took every punishment given by his Shizun and learned to not care when his Shizun didn’t give him his resource.

Dream Demon had tried to plant the seed of hatred but Luo Binghe could never truly hate his Shizun at all. However, Dream Demon had managed to plant many seeds of doubt in Luo Binghe’s heart. It had a feeling in this place, he would reap many things.

Shen Qingqiu glared sternly at him as he stalked closer, Luo Binghe backed off slightly instinctively. He was close to snarling like a feral animal when Shen Qingqiu stopped in front of him.

Shen Qingqiu raised his hand and Luo Binghe instinctively squeezed his eyes, bracing for an impact from Xiu Ya or a blast of spiritual qi that would instantly kill him.

In this situation, if Shen Qingqiu chose to kill him, Luo Binghe wouldn’t even be able to resist.

However, in the next moment, he felt a thick and warm coat wrapped around him. Luo Binghe’s eyes opened and widened as he looked at the person before him who had given his defensive outer robe for Luo Binghe.

Luo Binghe gazed at him with wide eyes, disbelieving. “Shizun,” he started, voice soft, like an innocent child calling out for the person he trusted the most.

However, as always, like every good thing in Luo Binghe’s life, it ended. In the next moment, Shen Qingqiu harshly pushed Luo Binghe off and into the abyss.

Luo Binghe lost his footing and his heart dropped. Luo Binghe reached out to no avail, his eyes were still wide in disbelief and bewilderment, “Shen Qingqiu!!!” He shouted out at the top of his lungs, with a tone full of grievance and fury.

Luo Binghe smiled lightly when he glimpsed Shen Qingqiu’s expressionless face that slowly morphed into a disbelieving expression once their eyes met. Luo Binghe smirked when he saw a surge of fury in Shen Qingqiu’s eyes. 

It had been three years since he was pushed into the Abyss to suffer. Three years of suffering and three years of grievance. The protective outer robe protected his fall but he still suffered a broken arm and a few internal bleeding even then.

He almost died.

Luo Binghe was enraged, deeply furious of Shen Qingqiu’s action that almost cost Luo Binghe his life. But he also had his own dilemma in the form of the protective outer robe. But why did he push Luo Binghe off?

Dream Demon had said that giving Luo Binghe that outer robe had been a distraction so that Luo Binghe lowered his guard and could be pushed into the abyss, but Luo Binghe knew his Shizun was more than capable to resort to such petty and cheap tricks.

Why?

His Shizun had always been a cruel and rather indifferent, he gave out punishment as easy as drinking water. He always punished Luo Binghe strangely, telling Luo Binghe to eat borderline poisonous plants, giving strange repugnant food instead of a normal one for Luo Binghe to eat- he seemed to treat Luo Binghe as nothing than a mere lab rat.

And perhaps that was why Luo Binghe was called Little Beast too.

But he gave him the defensive outer robe...

But he was the one who pushed him off anyway...

Three years were spent to get stronger as well as thinking and mulling about Shen Qingqiu’s intention, however, Luo Binghe still couldn’t understand it.

No matter, now he was here, Luo Binghe would find out.

And Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t be able to run.

Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t be able to avoid him.

Luo Binghe would imprison him. Trap him.

He’d make sure to press him for a reason, oppress him if he had to.

Anything to make this burning fire in his heart to feel satisfied.

Luo Binghe frowned at Shen Qingqiu and Shen Qingqiu moved. Was he going to run?

No, no, no. Luo Binghe couldn’t let him run. Shen Qingqiu had be to be in his hands. In his mercy. He prepared himself to chase and catch his Shizun if he were to run.

However, Luo Binghe didn’t need to chase at all. Because Shen Qingqiu had decided to dart forward and jumped at Luo Binghe.

Luo Binghe’s eyes widened slightly before he snorted and stepped back, smoothly dodging Shen Jiu’s strike. Luo Binghe spun and ducked to avoid Shen Qingqiu’s spinning kick. However, when Shen Qingqiu threw himself into Luo Binghe, the younger man was caught off guard and fell to the ground with Shen Qingqiu pinning him.

“Peak lord Shen!” The Palace Master hollered, not only him, even others felt the sight was too crude and surprisingly inelegant for the peak lord of Qing Jing peak.

“Qingqiu-shidi-“ Yue Qingyuan called out in worry, also not believing that Shen Qingqiu could be that reckless.

“What are you doing, attacking my Huan Hua’s people so openly like this!?” The Palace Master hollered his lungs out once again with an underlining threat in his tone.

Shen Qingqiu ignored the old coot and raised his hand.

Slap!

Everyone’s eyes widened by a fraction as their jaws slowly dropped in disbelief.

Luo Binghe blinked, his cheek stung after the slap. He snapped his head back to growl furiously at Shen Qingqiu.

But Shen Qingqiu was having none of that, “You, damn idiotic soulmate! What kind of monstrosity did you eat down there?!” Shen Qingqiu demanded as he grabbed Luo Binghe by his collar and shook him furiously. “I almost die choking, you bastard!!!”

“...”

“...”

“WHAAAATTT!?!?!?!” Everyone exclaimed incredulously. Luo Binghe included.

“It’s not just once every few days, it’s once a day. I had to wash it down with sugar or honey water,” Which was honestly more sugar and honey than water, it should be called watery sugar or watery honey instead, “I had half a mind to just cut off my tongue to dim the taste and let you taste my blood of suffering- do you want to be killed so badly?!” Shen Qingqiu shook Luo Binghe almost hysterically as he threw a satisfying punch.

The punch woke Luo Binghe up from his daze and he hastily caught another punch thrown at him with ease, he pulled Shen Qingqiu to the side and rotate their position so Shen Qingqiu who was on his back now. His eyes were wide in disbelief as he pinned Shen Qingqiu’s wrists to the ground, watching as his Shizun glared furiously at him.

“Soulmate?” Luo Binghe voiced up incredulously.

“Flattery won’t get you-“ Shen Qingqiu started but Luo Binghe released him so suddenly. Luo Binghe slashed a wound open on his palm and shoved his palm over Shen Qingqiu’s mouth. A thing that he been obsessed to do. He had many scenarios in his mind on how this would happen.

By force as he conquered his Shizun.

Putting it into his drink when he wasn’t looking just to have the element of surprise.

Putting his Shizun in a cage and fed him this as he stripped away the freedom off of this aloof Immortal.

Never like this... To prove whether the man was his soulmate or not.

The taste of blood trickled in Luo Binghe’s mouth, the taste of his own blood. His soulmate was consuming his blood... The confirmation brought another wave of shock in Luo Binghe that he lowered his guard and Shen Qingqiu actually bit his hand off, spitting out his blood.

“Luo Binghe, you dare-!” Shen Qingqiu shrilled.

“Uh... Do you need some privacy?” Yue Qingyuan nicely asked as everyone simply stood there, too speechless to react accordingly.

Luo Binghe got off of Shen Qingqiu who proceeded to hack out in disgust, trying to cough out the blood and get rid of the disgusting metallic taste in his mouth. None of them answered the Sect Leader.

“You’re my soulmate!?” Luo Binghe finally demanded, flushing and losing his composure. That would explain the taste of tea but never any food! Wait- Since when?!

“Impossible!!!” Xiao Gongzhu shrieked out.

Shen Qingqiu was about to spout out something offensive when Yue Qingyuan’s voice sounded again.

“Uh, we really should leave you two on it,” the Sect Leader said as he cast glances to everyone to be kind enough and scram out with him.

“Wait, we’re in the middle of something here,” Old Palace Master said, his voice was filled with restrained fury and considerable amount of resentment as he gazed at Shen Qingqiu.

“You overfed me till the point of edging towards throwing everything up for taste-testing?!” Luo Binghe finally connected all of those ‘forms of torture’ when he was in Qing Jing peak and glowered in indignance.

Finally, aside for fury and absolute resentment, Shen Qingqiu’s face showed a trace of embarrassment but he quickly scoffed out, “You’re speaking nonsense. Do you not feel grateful that this master fed you?” he said haughtily.

No. Not at all. Luo Binghe felt flattered at first when his Shizun gave him different kinds of dishes, but it quickly turned into dread because he needed to eat everything up as his Shizun watched him indifferently, sometimes, with a slight amusement! He thought it was a creative form of torture! Fattening up your lamb before slaughtering it!

However, Shen Qingqiu’s answer confirmed everything to Luo Binghe. So, it was truly taste-testing!!!

Luo Binghe growled in frustration. All of those childhood traumas happened just because his soulmate was too lazy to open his mouth and eat it himself!!!

Luo Binghe yanked Shen Qingqiu towards him by the collar, furrowing his brows rather murderously as he killed the remaining wailing Sowers. “You’re really...” he said darkly.

“What?” Shen Qingqiu was not afraid and challenged, making Luo Binghe even more frustrated.

He really wanted to push this man down. Preferably on a bed.

Luo Binghe hissed, “We need to talk, now.”

Cang Qiong Mountain Sect was usually very protective of their own. But yikes, it seemed, and sounded, nasty. They appropriately smiled in all grace they could muster before taking a step back, nodding to Shen Qingqiu.

“We’re going to leave you two on it,” Yue Qingyuan said.

“Please talk calmly,” Mu Qingfang reminded.

“Tsk,” Liu Qingge rolled his eyes.

Shang Qinghua simply smiled a light and secretive smile as he gave a thumb up to Shen Qingqiu. “Comrade!” He said meaningfully, filled with a delightful feeling of camaraderie.

“Scream if you need us,” Qi Qingqi smiled graciously.

“We don’t need to talk, and shut up you!” Shen Qingqiu glared at his brothers and sister who had betrayed him. “Luo Binghe, you beast!” Shen Qingqiu screamed furiously when Luo Binghe practically hauled him up and threw him over his shoulder like a potato sack and brought him away in a flash under everyone’s incredulous eyes.

“He won’t be back tonight,” Shang Qinghua told his martial siblings like he was completely familiar with this. Everyone agreed.

Chapter Text

Luo Binghe dragged Shen Qingqiu into the inn, all the way up to his room. He dragged Shen Qingqiu inside, locked the door, and instantly casting an enchantment to isolate the room from the rest of the outside world.

Luo Binghe turned to Shen Qingqiu, “Explain,” he demanded.

Shen Qingqiu crossed his arms, “I should be the one who asked that. Explain,” starting what kind of abomination Luo Binghe had consumed to silently kill Shen Qingqiu.

“Shizun- no, soulmate, you’re testing my patience,” Luo Binghe said as his eyes glowed red. “Since when did you know we’re soulmates?”

Shen Qingqiu sniffed haughtily, “Four months in. I kept tasting the same confectionaries and tea I specifically gifted to Yingying. I know she’s not my soulmate so she must have given it to someone else,” he said.

Luo Binghe remembered. Ning Yingying had always been a gentle and caring girl, after all. “That’s why you moved me in,” he realized.

“Obviously,” Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes.

“And yet,” Luo Binghe’s eyes burned. “A few months after that, you tried to kick me out of the peak for the slightest mistake,” he growled. He remembered crying piteously day and night before Shen Qingqiu’s bamboo house at that time, begging him to not throw him out, not daring to touch the money and supply Shen Qingqiu had prepared expressionlessly for him.

“I was tempted, yes,” Shen Qingqiu said.

Luo Binghe’s anger peaked again.

“Having your soulmate as your disciple, who wouldn’t feel strange?” Shen Qingqiu mocked. “As if my bad reputation is not enough. I don’t need pedophilia and taboo relationship in a list of my so-called crime.”

Luo Binghe’s ire cooled down again. Logical... Luo Binghe would also feel conflicted...

However, “Why didn’t you tell me, Shizun?” he demanded.

Shen Qingqiu raised an eyebrow, “I thought you knew?”

NO!!!

“Wasn’t it obvious? Why else would I tell you to eat all of those things?”

“A new way to torment me?” Luo Binghe sneered.

“You think I would waste such good foods and sweets to torture you?” Shen Qingqiu said disbelievingly. “There’s no such a blissful torture in this world. I’d rather feed them to dogs that to use them for torture, moron!”

“Everything has its limit, you exceeded those limits repeatedly and unrepentantly!” Luo Binghe retorted back. “Would you consider it freedom if you’re trapped in a cage of gold?!”

“What kind of idiotic comparison is that? Being caged and being fed is vastly different,” a tick appeared in Shen Qingqiu’s temple. “See? Eating all those disgusting things lowered your IQ to the minus level!”

“How could you blame it all on me?!” Luo Binghe said incredulously.

“Because you ate those disgusting things!” Shen Qingqiu yelled back.

“Shizun... Shizun,” Luo Binghe’s eyes were twitching dangerously. “You’re being unfair to me again.”

“Nonsense, when had I ever been unfair to you aside for the first four months of your discipleship to me?”

“Every time! Don’t tell me you forget that you never gave me my resource!” Luo Binghe growled.

“What resource?!”

“Those pills you gave out every few months!”

“Those pills are bitter!” Shen Qingqiu yelled indignantly like Luo Binghe just said something so absurd like wanting to eat those bitter pills to aid his cultivation.

Luo Binghe paused incredulously and his jaw almost dropped to his chest. Bitter?! Bitter?!?!  Luo Binghe gritted his teeth harder instead, “You, brat,” Brat! Obviously a brat! What else if this wasn’t a brat behaviour?!

Bitter?! Bitter he said?! Luo Binghe felt the longer he talked to his soulmate, the more his sanity was at risk.

“Besides, didn’t I give you Stark Dragon Fruit and Longing Phoenix Nectar to replace it?!” Shen Qingqiu retorted.

“Stark Dragon- what?!” Luo Binghe blinked.

“The scaly fruit with silver thorns and white inside and many seeds. Also the red nectar which hurt your eyes with its aroma and had a strong sour and spicy taste.” Dream Demon actually helped to supply Luo Binghe on that.

Luo Binghe was almost horrified, “I can’t sleep for three days straight because of the fruit and I could feel my insides burning because of that nectar!”

“Yeah?” Shen Qingqiu raised his brows. “There might be some small side effects, but it tastes better than pills,” he sniffed condescendingly.

“Small side effects? You...” Luo Binghe’s eyes twitched.  It was official, his soulmate was throwing his mind to the insanity, in fact, he was thrown so hard that he got overthrown back to sanity. Because he absolutely couldn’t go insane or he’d lost this argument.

“What are you doing?!” Shen Qingqiu shrilled as Luo Binghe dragged and pushed him onto the bed.

Luo Binghe pinned his Shizun securely as he glared down at him, “Don’t you know it is like a form of torture?!”

“What torture? Isn’t it just not sleeping for three days? Use it to cultivate!” Shen Qingqiu defended himself with all dignity he could muster being pressed under his own disciple on a bed.

“That is just one example of my inconvenience!” Luo Binghe said. “You always gave me questionable things to eat! From the mildly concerning ones to the mildly poisonous ones! You gave me punishments that I don’t even know why I got it.”

“Nonsense, I treated you the same way as any other boy within the peak,” Shen Qingqiu said. Which was very unfair, very hard, very discriminated against. But there was no discrimination if he treated them all the same.

“You’re really selfish, do you know that?” Luo Binghe growled.

“Fuck you. And what about you? What sort of disgusting craps did you eat in that place?! How dare you to force such a torment to me?!” Shen Qingqiu demanded.

“I have to survive down there! And guess why? Because you pushed me down!!!” Luo Binghe yelled back with the same heat. However, without him realizing, all of his true burning and murderous fury had gone and replaced by only an appropriate amount of indignance.

Shen Qingqiu sneered, “Perhaps, you should have used that non-existent brain of yours and not practically announcing to the world that you are a part-demon?” a pause to give Luo Binghe a murderous glare as if everything was solely Luo Binghe’s fault. “If you’re found out, you’re either killed or worse, captured. With all the demons getting out of hand at the conference. I would also be implicated. Yue Qingyuan would be able to protect me but not you-“

Luo Binghe growled, suddenly feeling hyper-aware and upset that Shen Qingqiu actually trusted that Yue Qingyuan, another man, would be able to protect him.

“It’s either you die, captured to a fate worse than death, or take the gamble and dive into that Abyss which was also connected to the demon world,” Shen Qingqiu sighed. “Which I regret, should have ended your misery early. At least, then I wouldn’t be miserable, Yue Qingyuan might- hmph?”

Luo Binghe blocked Shen Qingqiu’s lips with a rough kiss, not wanting to hear his soulmate’s frustrating chatter. Not only he talked as he pleased, he even brought up another man’s name so easily, Luo Binghe had had enough.

Surprising Luo Binghe, his Shizun actually raised his arms and threw them around Luo Binghe’s neck to deepen the kiss. The unexpected action made Luo Binghe purred a little inwardly.

Luo Binghe finally pulled away when he sensed Shen Qingqiu’s hold turned into a weak attempt to push him off. He raised his head to see his Shizun catching back his breath, he narrowed his eyes slightly, “You know, I’ve always felt sympathy to my soulmate who always had to consume pure sugar or honey whenever I ate something horrible in the Abyss to retain my life.”

The sweet taste that mixed with those terrible foods, Luo Binghe remembered apologizing profusely as he kept eating.

“Never mind that, you deserve it fully.”

“What did you say?!” Shen Qingqiu was snapped out of his stupor after the (‘passable’ he’d later on diss) kiss and hissed coldly but froze when he saw Luo Binghe stripping off of his own robe. “What are you doing?” Everyone was waiting! Don’t tell him Luo Binghe was thinking what Shen Qingqiu thought he was thinking?!!

“Payback,” Luo Binghe said as he tossed Xin Mo along with his outer robe to the corner of the room. “We can slowly talk about this... this whole mess as I fuck you to ease this headache. By the end of it, we’re lucky to forget about this whole ordeal.”

Fuck. Shen Qingqiu thought.

“Like hell I will,” Shen Qingqiu blurted out, trying to sit up and roll off the bed, but Luo Binghe hugged his waist and practically tossed him back to the middle of the bed and trapped him with his arms

Luo Binghe laughed, “Shizun, you can’t run now. This disciple had been bad for making you wait, now you don’t have to wait anymore. See? Binghe is now all grown-up and ready to collect the debt.”

“Debt?” Shen Qingqiu sneered. “Dream on, weren’t you the one who set up those sowers to slander me?” he accused, his tone was bitter, bitter, and resentfully bitter.

Luo Binghe paused mid opening Shen Qingqiu’s outer robe with his mouth. “... We might need to investigate that one later,” he said. Damn it. Who the hell was trying to set up his soulmate? Whilst Luo Binghe was delighted to see Shen Qingqiu got framed earlier, now he turned out to be Luo Binghe’s soulmate, Luo Binghe couldn’t just let him be no matter how frustrating his personality was.

Shen Qingqiu glared furiously, “You’re the only one who could do that! You damn demon spawn! I don’t have- mmph!”

Luo Binghe blocked Shen Qingqiu’s words again with a deep kiss, he pulled away and sighed “Shizun, stop thinking. Just leave everything to this disciple.” He smiled in satisfaction when Shen Qingqiu glared up at him, trying to mask the blush on his face as anger instead of embarrassment and maybe a little bit of humiliation.

“Don’t call me Shizun. I disowned you. Disowned! You fucking ungrateful mongrel!”

Luo Binghe’s eyes lit up. “Husband, then.”

“What fucking husband, we’re not even married-“

“That’s a strange complaint,” Luo Binghe cut in smugly. “Does Shizun want marriage? This disciple will certainly make an honest man out of you, don’t worry.”

Shen Qingqiu choked. “You fucking beast! I’m gonna kill you!” He hollered.

“If you decide to do that after sex, I will let you,” Luo Binghe smirked as he got rid of his Shizun’s outer robe with no little amount of excitement that it might be torn a bit but he immediately discarded it without even glancing at it.

“Luo Binghe, stop playing around. People are waiting outside,” Shen Qingqiu’s face burned when he imagined how would those people react. This can’t go on, his dignity was at risk.

“So?” The world could be ending and Luo Binghe would still choose to fuck his Shizun right now.

Shen Qingqiu stared at his younger soulmate, seeing the hot fire burning in that gaze, Shen Qingqiu sweated. “Let me go, the accusation against me is still going.”

“I’ll take care of that later.”

“My fellow peak lords are waiting,” as if Shen Qingqiu ever cared for their feeling.

“They’ll know,” Luo Binghe smiled dazzlingly, “One of your junior brothers is a soulmate of a demon, he’ll know what to tell others.”

Whoever that was, Shen Qingqiu already decided he hated him and that man could go to hell. “Fuck, you really can’t take a hint. I have a reputation.”

“Between the reputation as a refined peak lord of Qing Jing peak and my wife, I assure you the latter is better,” Luo Binghe smirked, amused at his older soulmate’s desperate attempt to excuse himself away.

Shen Qingqiu desperately wanted to poke Luo Binghe’s eyes out to get rid of his smug gaze on Shen Qingqiu’s person. “Luo Binghe!” Shen Qingqiu exclaimed in fury when the young demon untied the knot of his inner robe.

Luo Binghe caught the hand that intended to strike him and pinned it above Shen Qingqiu’s head with the other hand, before Shen Qingqiu could react, he bowed his head and seized those lips that had been tempting him unfailingly again.

“Ah-“ Shen Qingqiu bit his tongue and glared at Luo Binghe whose hand had wandered and squeezed his butt.

Luo Binghe chuckled, “Shizun, Shizun, have you ever wondered how you tasted?” he licked his lips.

Shen Qingqiu flushed at the implication. “You- beast!”

“Never mind, we’ll find out together,” Luo Binghe laughed as he slipped in his finger.

Everyone waited until the suspected mastermind and savior ‘talking’ out their differences, however, as the day began to get dark, everyone immediately knew it would be a long night to wait for them. Those who waited immediately turned and decided to rest for the night, following Cang Qiong Mountain Sect who had decided to call it a day before the day even began to turn dark.

It was only the next day that Luo Binghe turned up with a refreshing smile on his face... and a new set of clothes.

Everyone who saw this felt their eyes twitching furiously. They truly felt like a bunch of dogs for waiting for this man to show up yesterday, now they felt like a bunch of dogs for an entirely different reason.

Qi Qingqi frowned displeasedly at Luo Binghe before handing off a few notes of money to a smug Shang Qinghua. The peak lady snuck a glance at Luo Binghe again, shaking her head, “Beast...” she whispered. To think Shen Qingqiu really didn’t show up the next morning...

Yue Qingyuan seemed to be way too dense to see the difference in Luo Binghe’s appearance.

“Where is Qingqiu-shidi?” Yue Qingyuan asked.

Luo Binghe looked at Yue Qingyuan and beamed, “Zhangmen-shibo, no need to worry. Shizun is just too tired after our serious discussion the night before, he’s resting right now.”

“I did not hear any scream, it should be a calm discussion right?” Qi Qingqi said gracefully as he flicked a calm glance at Luo Binghe.

“Mm. Very calm indeed,” Luo Binghe beamed.

Qi Qingqi eyed the young man who was her shixiong’s soulmate and sighed in her heart. Ai, this one is even blacker than her Shixiong... A match made in heaven, or was it hell?

Having seen Luo Binghe’s meaningful smile, Yue Qingyuan stopped questioning, even if he was a bit dense, he still could take a hint. The other peak lords didn’t say anything and even appropriately putting an I-don’t-know-what-you’re-implying face.

“Luo Binghe.”

Luo Binghe turned to see the Old Palace Master and his entourage, his refreshing smile didn’t even twitch.

“I know he’s your soulmate,” The Old Palace Master said calmly. “But he’s still our main suspect for the spread of demonic plague within this city. He must be investigated.”

Luo Binghe waved, “No need to worry, I come out here to help the investigation to clean up my soulmate’s name.” He approached the Old Palace Master and his daughter all because of their power and influence for the sake of revenge, now, Luo Binghe was sure he didn’t want revenge.

“You can’t be biased,” The Old Palace Master’s eyebrows twitched slightly but he still managed to look dignified. “We have to detain him until the investigation and his trial,” The Old Palace Master said sternly.

Luo Binghe raised his eyebrows, “Detain?” he raised his chin, “Fine. But he’s under my protection.”

Luo Binghe smiled, “And I will be directly involved in the investigation. Any question?”

“So that’s why,” Yue Qingyuan said as he handed Shen Qingqiu his bundle of clothing. “You’re under arrest for the slander, but we’ll make sure to clear up your name. Just leave it to us,” he said gently.

“And you guys gave me away so easily?” Shen Qingqiu said disbelievingly.

Yue Qingyuan smiled bitterly, “Qingqiu-shidi, we’re not giving you away. We’re entrusting you for a bit for your own good and to prove your innocence. Besides, Luo Binghe promised he’ll treat you good.”

An arm slithered around Shen Qingqiu’s waist smoothly and pulled him closer to the source of warmth beside him. Luo Binghe beamed, “I will never mistreat Shizun.”

“That is my problem!” Shen Qingqiu pointed rudely towards the black-hearted young man beside him. “Why am I not in prison?! Why do I have to live with him?!”

“Well, Luo Binghe is apparently a part of Huan Hua Palace too and he had volunteered to watch over you and be your jailor,” Luo Binghe’s suggestion had been solid as rock, the Old Palace Master couldn’t go against it as Luo Binghe was pretty much the city’s savior and no one doubted his credibility on this. And it also set Yue Qingyuan’s heart at ease if Shen Qingqiu was under house-arrest instead of being locked in the Water Prison.

“Two-faced little beast,” Shen Qingqiu hissed and Luo Binghe simply smirked down at his older soulmate who was visibly seething.

“If I didn’t have a stable footing in Huan Hua Palace, I wouldn’t be able to help Shizun like now,” Luo Binghe said.

Yue Qingyuan smiled, “Alright, I’ll leave you in his care. You two can get to know each other while you’re living together.”

“Oh, we will,” Luo Binghe drawled out and Shen Jiu stomped on his foot. Hard. But Luo Binghe didn’t even flinch.

Yue Qingyuan saw this and smiled awkwardly, “Alright, Qingqiu-shidi, congratulation...” he nodded slightly and Shen Qingqiu glared at him.

“What congratulation- Yue Qingyuan, you fucking dumbass idiotic motherfuck-“

“Thank you, Zhangmen-shibo,” Luo Binghe said, beaming with delight.

After Yue Qingyuan left, Shen Qingqiu all but yanked Luo Binghe by his collar and slammed him to the nearest wall.

“Instead of clearing off my charge, you decided to put me under house arrest?” Shen Qingqiu seethed.

“Shizun, I know you think I did it. But I swear, it wasn’t me,” Luo Binghe said appeasingly. “I’m a straightforward person, I wouldn’t use slander. I would use your real dirty laundry.”

“So you would use yourself?”

“Harsh,” Luo Binghe smirked. “But I don’t mind. After all,” Luo Binghe tugged Shen Qingqiu and reversed their position, “I can always be your dirty little secret. Delightfully so.”

Shen Qingqiu directly uppercut Luo Binghe and kneed him away, “Behave yourself, I’m a dignified prisoner.”

Luo Binghe rubbed his jaw that already healed in a few seconds. “Alright, alright, Shizun is very dignified. The most elegant flower in the garden, refined and straight like an orchid,” Luo Binghe praised as his arms found their ways to slither around Shen Jiu’s slim waist again. His Shizun had been particularly thorny since Luo Binghe tasted him too much to the point of begging last time.

Who told him to take advantage of Luo Binghe when he was young and stupid? He couldn’t blame Luo Binghe for taking advantage of him too.

Luo Binghe had hunted down the trace of those sowers to the deepest end he could but in the end, he couldn’t find the real culprit behind the case. And the only sower he kept alive had died poisoned a few days later, which led Luo Binghe to venture to the demon world to investigate. However, the time was running out, so Luo Binghe opted to just pull out several forged proof that Shen Qingqiu was innocent and absolutely had no tie to the demon world.

One month time was up and Luo Binghe was ready to help free his Shizun off of charges and finally let go of a month of abstinence. He had planned so many things in his mind, he had told his subordinates to prepare a bride price whilst he was investigating, the only thing he needed to do after his Shizun free was to propose and then hold a wedding.

With the help of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, Shen Qingqiu’s name was washed clean in the trial and Luo Binghe happily dumped the responsibility to some unknown master he had created.

Before Shen Qingqiu could be declared a free and innocent man, however.

“Shen Jiu... Are you Shen Jiu?!” A woman from the crowd stepped up and cried out loudly, pulling attention to herself. Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe were included.

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes went wide, “Oh no...” he murmured in a tone that Luo Binghe never heard from him before. Something in-between horror and anxiety, not something his Shizun often showed off openly.

“You are Shen Jiu!” The woman narrowed her eyes which was filled with blazing hatred and cruel resentment. “All this time I was searching for you high and low, you’ve actually become a grand sect’s peak lord?! Great! Really great! I’ve been living in misery because of you and you lived in luxury!”

No one moved, everyone looked at each other and only resorted to murmuring words to each other, all asking the same thing. What’s happening?

Luo Binghe raised his head and smiled bitterly. If this woman was not someone arranged to be here, Luo Binghe dared to stab himself with Xin Mo.

“Shixiong, Shen-shixiong, calm down. I’m only here to accompany you- wait, wait, don’t throw another dagger! I’m serious, I’m only here because Luo Binghe asked me to accompany you!” Shang Qinghua cried out.

“Why the fuck did he do that?” Shen Qingqiu growled.

“Because I’m the only one who already finds my soulmate, so I’m the safest choice,” Shang Qinghua easily said. “Besides, it’s going to be good for us to bond over our similar predicament. We can exchange some stories and gossip."

“You already found your soulmate?” Shen Qingqiu’s muddled mind screeched to halt at Shang Qinghua’s first sentence. “Wait...” he trailed off.

“It’s Mo Beijun...” Shang Qinghua nodded as he scratched his head.

“You’re the fucking son of a bitch- fuck! You fucking betrayed Cang Qiong for a pathetic soulmate!? You ungrateful piece of shit-!”

“Aiya, shixiong! Ow! Don’t be mad, Shen-shixiong! We’re all in this together- ow ow!”

“Who wants to be your brother! Goddamn Luo Binghe, how dare him to detain me in this place and send this piece of shit here?!” Shen Qingqiu growled. ‘Detain’ but Luo Binghe truly didn’t do anything aside for locking the door, Shen Qingqiu could easily go out if he wanted to. But if he dared to go out and make troubles, Luo Binghe had calmly told him that he wouldn’t hesitate to eat something hideous to make Shen Qingqiu suffer with him. Shen Qingqiu preferred staying inside.

“Luo Binghe only wants you to be safe- aiyo, shixiong! How many daggers do you have?!” Shang Qinghua cried out.

“Get out of here!” Shen Qingqiu shrilled.

“Shen-shixiong, calm down, ah...” Shang Qinghua said. “I come in peace, I even bring an offering. “ Shang Qinghua quickly took out many confectionaries and exotic food he brought in his space pouch, “You must be hungry, you haven’t had lunch yet, right?”

“You think I’m an idiot who’s easily swayed by flattery and food?!” Shen Qingqiu exploded.

Shang Qinghua winced, “No... No, of course no. I will do the poison test for you?”

“This is Alluring Wind Vine Nectar, it’s a rarity even in the demon world. But it grows in abundance in Northern Kingdom.”

“It’s good to go with mooncakes.”

“Right? Oh, and this is Sunspot Fruit, it’s usually a bit poisonous eaten alone but if you mix it with Snow Crown Flower’s petals, it will be extremely delicious and harmless.”

Shang Qinghua tirelessly worked hard in introducing many exotic fruits and how to eat it to Shen Qingqiu. Whilst Shen Qingqiu could name any monster and many spirit plants, those from the demon world were a bit unfamiliar with him. In the process, they seemed to be getting along better than before. Not truly getting along, but at least Shen Qingqiu was not actively trying to murder his shidi anymore.

Shang Qinghua sighed as he put his chin on his palm after he tasted the last kind of food on the table for the poison testing.

“It’s delicious, isn’t it? These certainly would cleanse your mouth from any strange taste,” Shang Qinghua said. “I’m so happy to have someone else I could complain about my feeling to.”

“Do I look like I care about your general feeling?” Shen Qingqiu said bluntly.

“Shen-shixiong, don’t be like that, ah. We’re comrades now,” Shang Qinghua said. “We both have soulmates of demonic descent-“

“And that’s about the only thing about us that’s similar,” Shen Qingqiu would retort more but this iced fruit mixed with a bowl of nectar had pulled most of his attention away.

“We can also bond about tasting demon world’s delicacy,” Shang Qinghua said. “Though, Shen-shixiong is more fortunate, your soulmate was half-human and lived in the human world before the demon world happened to him.”

“I still haven’t asked him just what the hell he ate on the thirty-sixth night yet,” Shen Qingqiu growled.

“Sometimes, you don’t want to find out,” Shang Qinghua said sympathetically. “It’s better to not ask or think about it too much, really. Or else, you’ll end up scarred like me.”

“What is it?” Shen Qingqiu asked as he picked another piece of tanghulu- mm, the tanginess washed away the earlier sweetness. Time to pick another sweet one...

“Shen-shixiong won’t want to hear it...” Shang Qinghua hesitated, but the more he hesitated, the more he wanted to pour out everything in his mind. He blurted out, “Shen-shixiong, you know young demons usually eat corpse- even human corpse- to aid their cultivation, right?”

Shen Qingqiu stopped abruptly from nibbling his tanghulu.

“... Well, like Shen-shixiong and your soulmate. Between my king and I, I’m the older one, so...” Shang Qinghua teared up. “I shared his taste bud experience through his childhood.”

Shang Qinghua quickly pulled out a bottle of wine and poured himself a cup, downing it in one gulp whereas Shen Qingqiu’s face had turned as pale as a sheet of paper.

“He didn’t say it and I don’t want to ask, but I just knew... The moment he found out we’re soulmates and told me... I just knew what that strange bitter and metallic taste that I always tasted for a few years...” Shang Qinghua said depressingly. “Luckily my king is already grown up now and the taste already stopped decades ago, still...”

“Shut up,” Shen Qingqiu snapped as he put down his tanghulu. He looked at his favourite street snack wistfully, it was funny how tanghulu could look like a mangled bloody corpse...

Shen Qingqiu pushed the plate of tanghulu away.

He then glared at Shang Qinghua who had ruined his lunch time and probably his lifetime impression of tanghulu because of his story. However, beneath all of that indignance and annoyance, Shen Qingqiu had to admit he pitied Shang Qinghua.

Shen Qingqiu stared at the sobbing man and winced. He grabbed a cup and poured himself a wine, “Here’s to you,” Shen Qingqiu reluctantly said.

Yeah. This pathetic man deserved to be pitied just this one time.

Luo Binghe had felt the taste of strong wine hours ago, he thought that sending Shang Qinghua over might be a great idea it seemed to put his Shizun’s attention off of the stress that Qiu-girl had brought to him.

However, that was about four hours ago, and... the taste had been constant for the last hours. Shen Qingqiu literally drank for four hours straight.

Drinking wine was fine, that meant his Shizun was having fun with Shang Qinghua.

But drinking four hours straight with little time interval? Was he drowning in sorrow or something?

Luo Binghe decided to call it a day and stopped the investigation and interrogation for the case. He rushed back to see how his Shizun was faring only to find the two peak lords were leaning against each other, slurring and throwing stories at each other... or someone else within their imagination judging from their unfocused gaze.

“And then, they engaged me with Haitang,” Shen Qingqiu said and hiccuped. “A slave engaged to the young lady of the house, isn’t that stupid? Of course, I was... *hic*... only going to be a fake groom. Haitang, that girl... *hic*... was so pitiful. Her family is scum... I really wanted to *hic* help protect her...”

“Did they stop bothering you after that?” Shang Qinghua leaned on Shen Qingqiu further and asked with a slurring voice.

“No,” Shen Qingqiu snorted as he took another swing of his wine. “They vented on me harder... but they avoided my face and exposed skin.”

Shang Qinghua sobbed, “That’s horrible. *hic* don’t they worry... of lady Qiu finding out?”

“I would be killed before we get married anyway,” Shen Qingqiu said, swaying slightly. “She wouldn’t... see me in the wedding chamber to... consummate.”

“Why didn’t you tell her?” Shang Qinghua asked as he sipped his entire cup of wine and almost slumped over.

“No, no, no... She’s... innocent.”

Luo Binghe smiled darkly as he took a seat and watched the two drunk peak lords exchanging stories. Very good, his Shizun truly hid something from him to protect that woman.

“Here’s your human,” Luo Binghe shoved Shang Qinghua to Mo Beijun’s arms. Obviously the northern demon king had sensed his soulmate’s non-stop consumption of alcohol beverage and had come to check on him but unable to enter because it was Luo Binghe’s living place.

Shang Qinghua didn’t even look like he registered Mo Beijun at all, “Mmph!” the peak lord fussed. “Another cup to you...” he snorted before passing out.

“He’s quite useful,” Luo Binghe commented. “I don’t know what he did, but he convinced my Shizun to drink and spill out everything.” And the thing that Luo Binghe was unclear about, he used his dream power to see. He didn’t use it at his Shizun at first out of principles, but since Shen Qingqiu was hiding crucial information to help him, Luo Binghe no longer hesitated.

Mo Beijun looked down on his snoring soulmate and simply nodded, “I see.”

“You can return now with your consort,” Luo Binghe as he turned around and waved Mo Beijun away.

“My lord...?” Mo Beijun stared at the direction of Luo Binghe was going and saw the obvious flaring killing intent the Heavenly Demon was emitting.

“I have another business to attend to,” Luo Binghe smiled as he slashed the space with Xin Mo and disappeared into the void.

A week after Shang Qinghua’s visit, Shen Qingqiu was sitting on the tea table, calmly sipping his tea whilst reading a classic. The sound of the door opening was heard by him but he simply flipped the page of his book.

“Is it the time of my trial yet?” he asked calmly.

“Shizun is so anxious waiting for trial, not missing this disciple?” Luo Binghe asked.

“Why should I miss a dog-like disciple like you?” was the harsh reply.

“Shizun’s words always warm Binghe’s heart. We can leave now, let the servants clean up after your stuffs,” Luo Binghe said as he stopped beside Shen Qingqiu and tucked a strand of his Shizun’s beautiful hair behind his ear.

“Let the servant clean up my things...?” Shen Qingqiu furrowed his brows and looked up.

“Of course, you want to bring your stuff back to Qing Jing peak, no? Unless you don’t want to bring them? Alright, we can throw them all away, I’ll give you new ones.”

“Qing Jing peak? Why would I go to Qing Jing peak?” Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes.

“Shizun doesn’t want to return to Qing Jing peak? But Shizun, by tradition, I should formally propose to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect and the procession would be held from there with the Sect Head’s permission.”

“Propose- what the fuck?”

“Propose,” Luo Binghe nodded. “We’re getting married.”

“What about my trial?!” Shen Qingqiu exclaimed.

“Oh, your charges have all been dismissed. You’re an innocent man since yesterday, I didn’t have time to tell you that yesterday because I had to take care of something... This disciple apologizes,” Luo Binghe said innocently. “Now let’s go. Although the procession is planned for tomorrow, you would still want to prepare yourself in Qing Jing peak.”

And with that Shen Qingqiu was whisked away to the Qing Jing peak for the wedding and had to deal with countless fussing disciples upon his return.

Shen Qingqiu regretted it. He really should’ve kicked Luo Binghe where the sun doesn’t shine once for all of this trouble.

BONUS:

“Wait, you knew I’m Shizun’s soulmate since before this?” Luo Binghe paused to look at Liu Qingge incredulously.

Liu Qingge raised his brows, “Of course.”

“He told you?” Luo Binghe asked calmly whilst feeling restless inside. That troublesome soulmate of his told another man but not him???

“No,” Liu Qingge said. “He had many things to complain about your choice of food in the spirit cave.”

Luo Binghe paused. “Pardon?” Wait, what?

Liu Qingge furrowed his brows before he reluctantly told Luo Binghe what happened in the Spirit Cave. How he got into qi deviation, how Shen Qingqiu came and subsequently forced to help...

“Liu Qingge! You wake up right now before this shixiong kills you out of self-defense!” Shen Qingqiu yelled out fiercely.

Liu Qingge glared murderously as a mocking expression appeared on his face, as if mocking ‘like you have a capability to do that.’ And lunged once again, violent qi flaring like blazing fire.

“Stop-!” Shen Qingqiu dodged and quickly widened their distance again.

Liu Qingge was prepared to chase after him.

“You brute monkey, I-“ Shen Qingqiu stopped and choked. His hand flew to his neck as he coughed violently. He fell on his knees, dropping his weapon. “Stop-“ he raised his other hand.

Liu Qingge paused. He then blinked. He didn’t think his attack got Shen Qingqiu at all. Furious, thinking Shen Qingqiu was resorting to trickery again, he yelled, “Stand up!” he approached the other peak lord.

Shen Qingqiu keeled over and choked instead. He supported himself with his hands and made some retching noises which stopped Liu Qingge completely, clarity began to flash in Liu Qingge’s rage-filled eyes.

“No!” Shen Qingqiu screeched, surprising Liu Qingge. “Not cilantro!” he wailed furiously and made some more retching noises.

By this moment, Liu Qingge was so confused that he already began to grasp his consciousness back, “Hey, are you okay?” Liu Qingge asked.

Liu Qingge’s concern did not stay long, however, as he coughed out black blood because of his qi deviation and quickly had to established his qi. However, this time, his usually reserved and arrogant shixiong was retching on the corner. The sheer unrealistic feeling of the situation kept Liu Qingge ironically aware and alert of the reality that he overcame his qi deviation himself.

Liu Qingge explained all of those roughly in two or three sentences but strangely Luo Binghe could understand them all.

“Wait, so you stopped fighting because he demanded to?” Luo Binghe blinked rapidly.

“I thought he was dying,” Liu Qingge said blandly. The thought alone was enough to pull Liu Qingge back to sanity in an attempt to at least check on Shen Qingqiu.

“So it’s like that.” He nodded, “But then, how do you know his soulmate is me?” Luo Binghe asked.

Liu Qingge blankly stared at him before he downed the wine in his cup, “He pushed you to fight a demon elder to represent him,” he said plainly.

“That’s all?” Luo Binghe asked.

“What more do you want?” Liu Qingge asked back.

“People thought he was trying to kill me by pushing me to fight that elder,” now thinking about it again, Luo Binghe didn’t think Liu Qingge was opposed to the idea of sending a boy to fight a demon elder several times his age... Which wasn’t in line with Liu Qingge’s upward personality at all.

“In front of people?” Liu Qingge scoffed. “Mingyan lost to that demon girl and it became like a competition to him because she’s my little sister,” Petty. Liu Qingge recalled Shen Qingqiu being pretty smug for days after that incident.

Luo Binghe drank his wine blankly. He would keep this in mind when he talked with his bratty soulmate tonight. Preferably in their bed, as they consummate their marriage.

“I hate cilantro,” Shen Qingqiu said seriously.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Luo Binghe said.

If any other person was listening to their conversation, they absolutely had no idea about the flow of this at all but Luo Binghe’s eyes twitched.

“Cilantro?!” He remembered now, when his Shizun went for a retreat, Ming Fan limited his food and he had to get a few herbs he could find into his boring bowl of congee. One of those herbs was cilantro. “You punished me by making me run laps around the peak, restock the woodshed and refill the water tank in the middle of the night after I won the battle against the demon elder... because of cilantro?” his eyes twitched.

“It tasted like ground metal shaving,” Shen Qingqiu said.

“It’s citrusy!”

“For you, not for me.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“Cilantro is evil, I should be asking you why would you eat that.”

“You... brat,” Luo Binghe’s eyes twitched. “Bed. Now.”