Archive of Our Own ^beta

There were a lot of things Shen Qingqiu had to come to terms with following his transmigration into Proud Immortal Demon Way.

First, the fact he had died in his first life and all that implied. Death was not exactly a strange concept considering his medical history, but that didn’t help the wistful melancholy he felt. Still, this was quickly overshadowed by the situation he found himself in.

Second, he had to deal with being the scum villain Shen Qingqiu! The very man he had advocated being castrated as a reader of the web novel. He had found himself interested in the story for the world building, trope subversion, and, most importantly, the extremely compelling character of Luo Binghe. He had followed as the boy grew from a white lotus to a blackened Stallion Protagonist in a way that was satisfying and enthralling to him. He very much could have done without the harem politics and wife plots later on, but Luo Binghe never failed to impress him.

Third, well. It turned out that Luo Binghe was a bit of an unreliable narrator, because Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but be hit with a wave of ever-shifting and confusing scents from others’ pheromones. As in dynamic pheromones.

That betas, like Shen Qingqiu was described as (and indeed was vilified for attempting to steal the omega Ning Yingying in the books), were not supposed to be able to sense most of the times. 

Because Proud Immortal Demon Way was an alpha/beta/omega dynamic novel that had the audacity to make a male omega (in a world that basically saw omegas as baby-making dolls that were weak and fragile) the main character and most definitely a Stallion in his own right. The story was intricate and finely detailed, with the narrative following a young, unpresented Luo Binghe through his years of abuse by Shen Qingqiu and through his discovery of his demonic heritage and subsequent fall into the Endless Abyss. Then there was the harrowing experience of Binghe presenting as an omega after becoming comfortable with his abilities, and eventually emerging from hell an extremely powerful and alluring demon with a need to conquer the world.

He was hurt, cast away, and faced so many challenges, but he always found a way to survive and come out even stronger. He was an omega that proved that society’s disregard for omegas’ power was to be its undoing, and he sought revenge for all that disparaged him. His brilliance matched his strength, and he quickly overtook all who opposed him while slowly amassing an army of loyal and utterly devoted wives. Luo Binghe had reveled in the torture of Shen Qingqiu and had cast the man from his mind after finally killing him.

But that was at the end of the main storyline (that Shen Qingqiu considered consequential). Right now, as he learned from the people around him, he was only just past the very beginning of the book!

And he wasn’t a beta at all!

The System threatening to kill him if he acted OOC before the character lock was released thankfully included some training wheels for Shen Qingqiu to continue hiding his dynamic as the Original Goods had. Apparently, he was an alpha who chose to hide it for some reason, which perplexed Shen Qingqiu deeply. It didn’t make sense with what he had learned from PIDW, and if Luo Binghe hadn’t been right about this very basic fact about his Shizun…

It honestly had been too much for Shen Qingqiu to process, so he had firmly decided to shelf the self-reflection until the possibility of imminent death was taken off the table.

He got the hang of it soon enough, keeping his scent as impassive as his face (with some of the System’s assistance), very convincingly playing the amnesiac for the sake of his own sanity, and lording imperiously (but no longer wholly unkindly) over Qing Jing Peak. It was obvious that his disciples had noticed a change in their Shizun, but no one dared bring it up to his face.

Well, no one but Luo Binghe.

“Shizun…” the battered boy had looked up at him with large concerned eyes. “Shizun is acting differently these days.”

“Is that so?” Shen Qingqiu said coldly while looking down his nose. Internally, he wanted to cry. White lotus, how are you so considerate to your abuser! 

“This lowly one was just concerned! For Shizun! To see if calling Master Mu was necessary!”

Ah, this boy.

“This master would not burden a disciple with his personal matters,” he said causticly, cursing the OOC lock. “Don’t you have chores to do? Leave this master at once.”

“Yes, Shizun!”

Surprisingly, that made Luo Binghe’s affection points go up? Ah, the mysteries of the Protagonist’s mind.

It happened a couple more times before he finally got the OOC lock turned off. He would brush Luo Binghe off or intervene in his bullying with cutting words and condescension dripping from his tone, and the boy’s affection for him would go up!

Binghe was such a cute, endearing little bun! It was a relief when he was finally able to act as he pleased following the incident with the Skinner and subsequent seclusion in the Ling Xi Caves. 

(The matter of saving Liu Qingge’s life was… interesting to say the least, but he didn’t dwell on it. Yet another inconsistency that pointed to the other Luo Binghe not really understanding what was going on with Shen Qingqiu. Of course, the boy had absolutely no obligation to try to understand his abuser’s motivations, but it was interesting as the person now stuck living with that identity.

In any case, saving Liu Qingge’s life was one less crime to muddy his name down the line! He would take it!)

And following the demonic attack on Cang Qiong Sect and his subsequent poisoning, it seemed like Luo Binghe had begun to stick to him like rice! Shen Qingqiu was kinder to him and the shift had the boy flushing with obvious confusion. He began staying in the bamboo house’s spare room, taking on the additional tasks of cleaning the house and cooking for Shen Qingqiu with a happy smile and a, “Yes, Shizun!”

Every day, Shen Qingqiu’s affection for the Protagonist grew and the less he could face the thought of pushing him into the Endless Abyss. The System was adamant about this being unchangeable and Shen Qingqiu knew how integral Binghe’s time in the Abyss was to his character. He knew he would survive it and come out stronger than anyone else alive.

But how could he bear to push him into hell? He wasn’t just a white lotus anymore; Luo Binghe was his white lotus! He really was the scum the System claimed he was if he were to betray him like that!

Desperate to do things that could help Binghe in the long run (and convince him to not turn him into a human stick), Shen Qingqiu took to tutoring him personally. He nurtured his growth as a cultivator, and pushed certain books on survival and the demon realm to him when possible with some flimsy excuse the System barely accepted. He ignored any signs of Luo Binghe learning demonic cultivation and left manuals on any material he thought important for Binghe to know laying around the house for his disciple to clean up and hopefully glance through.

Time passed like this and Shen Qingqiu was grateful for Mu Qingfang’s extremely effective rut suppressants. He could cultivate his way into hiding his scent, but still would have fallen prey to nature’s cycles without help. He took his little pill every day with breakfast, Luo Binghe eyeing it with curiosity, but not questioning beyond Shen Qingqiu claiming that he was not ill.

His disciples and fellow Peak Lords sometimes disappeared for a week or so at a time, but he did his best to ignore it. Scents often assaulted his nose and he did his best to pretend like they did not exist, playing a beta in a way that made such an act easy to follow… for the most part.

And, hey, if he kept some sinus-clearing spices on his person to give him a break from teenagers going through puberty, well. No one was going to call him on it.

(And he never used for Binghe. His scent was that of clove, lotus, amber, and just the tiniest bit of honey as he was unpresented that was just as lovely as described in the book. The scent would shift to something sweeter in the Abyss, but that was something he wasn’t thinking too hard about.)

Years passed, and Luo Binghe was quickly approaching his seventeenth birthday before Shen Qingqiu knew it. Like it or not, he now had less than a year until the Immortal Alliance Conference, and he was coming to hate the passage of time. He wanted to protect Binghe, keep him safe and happy in their small home. He never wanted him to face the horrors that were waiting for him, and couldn't stand the thought of him suffering. The fact that the System would force him to be the one to make his Binghe go into the Abyss was beyond cruel.

He was so wrapped up in his own angst, that he didn’t notice signs that things were changing. He wouldn’t until it was far too late.

Luo Binghe was in love with Shen Qingqiu.

It wasn’t a surprise and it certainly wasn’t something that needed to change. It was the natural order of life, his devotion to his Shizun in all things. He wanted nothing more than to be with Shen Qingqiu for the rest of his life.

He didn’t care that he was unpresented or that his Shizun was attempting to pass as a beta. He would be Shen Qingqiu’s mate, would be claimed by him as soon as he could. It was the only way he could be happy, carrying his mark on his throat even if it was just for show. He could renew it every time they laid together for all Luo Binghe cared, as long as he was his.

Luo Binghe often wondered how long it would take him to present. He knew he wasn’t a beta; far too aware of scents for that. He suspected he was an alpha, if only for the fact he seemed to be… well endowed. And, while his Shizun maintained a surprisingly liberal space on Qing Jing that refused to treat students differently based on their dynamics (outside of medical leave and things of that nature, he often provided talismans that allowed students to block their scents), he knew how the rest of the world saw omegas. He was far from opposed to being a good little omega for his Shizun, to have him driven to breed Binghe possessively and tend to his every need as Binghe would tend to his. No, he didn’t mind being an omega so much for the physiology, but rather for the fear that Shen Qingqiu would never see him as someone to rely on for protection, never see him as a true equal.

It was all moot until he presented, really, which he expected to happen soon. Before, due to years of abuse, starvation, and constant stress, he had skipped presenting at the usual age of fifteen. His body just wasn’t ready for it, and he was grateful for that natural failsafe. But now, after living in Shen Qingqiu’s spare room for over a year, growing more secure of his position at his side and increasingly attached to him, he doubted his presentation was far off.

And while Shen Qingqiu was well disciplined at hiding his scent in public, he tended to slip when he was relaxed and at home. Luo Binghe smelled his affection for him, could scent how fond of him he was, and how it got stronger as time passed and Binghe aged. Shen Qingqiu, his beloved Shizun, cared for him.

He didn’t care how taboo it was for a master to have an intimate relationship with their disciple. Binghe could only pray he cared for him enough to help him through his first heat or rut. 

Well, pray and do everything he could to endear Shen Qingqiu to him further. He subtly left parts of his scent on the neck of Shen Qingqiu’s clothes after he laundered them. He did his best to ensure the smell of home was that of their scents intermingled. He cooked, and cleaned, and worked to Shen Qingqiu’s desires, basking in the man’s fussing worry over him doing too much, him spoiling his Shizun.

Like that wasn’t exactly what he wanted.

Alone at night, having drunk in as much as his master’s presence as possible during the day, his mind was preoccupied with natural but far from respectful thoughts about the man. Luo Binghe’s dynamic didn’t particularly matter to him in those fantasies; he wanted Shen Qingqiu every way possible. He would be honored to take his knot and utterly desperate to take him in turn. Anything that demonstrated that Luo Binghe was his and Shen Qingqiu was Binghe’s alone.

Shen Qingqiu must have smelled (or maybe convinced himself he did not) the evidence of what Luo Binghe did to himself in the evenings. Neither of them commented on it and Binghe was not shameless enough to allude to it at all.

He would be good, would play his perfect mate, and, when the time came, Shen Qingqiu would not fail to reward him by making his dream a reality.

The time came soon enough.

About five months after his seventeenth birthday, Luo Binghe began to feel hot. Despite the cold on Qing Jing Peak, no matter how much time he spent outdoors, he felt warm enough to be uncomfortable.

Then the touch of his clothes became irritated and scratchy against his skin, enough that he couldn’t concentrate on anything else. Everything smelled intense enough to give him a headache.

Everything, except the bamboo house.

Luo Binghe had been looking for the signs of his presentation and knew what these changes meant. He was presenting as an omega andentering his first heat.

Usually, the second the signs were spotted, the right people were alerted and the omega was put into a room with piles of silk and illicit toys until their heat passed. Once an omega started a heat and had made a nest, they would not be moved unless it was a true matter of life and death. This isolation was a relief for anyone going through their dynamic cycle as they were able to endure it in relative privacy not otherwise found in the dormitories.

Standard protocol was the exact opposite of what Luo Binghe wanted, but he could use the rules to his advantage.

He was an omega; of course he would instinctively build his nest in his own home. And once the nest was made, he was stuck there.

And he would conveniently forget all about the toys that were available to make cycles bearable alone. He abandoned his duties in the middle of the day abruptly, attempting to sell that everything he was doing was based on instinct alone. He let himself be as indulgent as he wanted as he went through the bamboo house and pulled any articles of Shen Qingqiu’s clothing that he wouldn’t be too upset if they got ruined, as well as his Shizun’s bedding.

Binghe closed his door, stripped himself naked, and arranged a modest but acceptable nest of items that smelled of his beloved. He couldn’t help whimpering as slick began to gather at his hole and slip out.

He buried his nose into Shen Qingqiu’s oddly soft pillow and did his best to wait until his Shizun discovered him. He only had one class to teach, then he was free for the rest of the day.

He would only have to wait a little while, then Binghe would have everything he’s ever wanted.

Shen Qingqiu woke up feeling like today was going to be a good day. He only had an art class to teach, and then the rest of his day was open for rest and relaxation. Sure, Binghe had been a little jittery this morning, but it was nothing too far out of the ordinary to become a concern.

Then, just as he was wrapping up his class, the System decided to pop into view.

[Quest Diverging Paths: initiated. Penalty for failure: -1000 B-Points.]

Shen Qingqiu nearly spit blood. What do you mean!? What is the quest? What even is failure?!

[Answering Host: Host must assist the Protagonist. Failure to adequately do so will incur a penalty. The manner of assistance is Host’s decision, but this choice will have consequences.]

Assist Binghe? What’s wrong with him?

[Answering Host: Yes. Nothing is wrong.]

What kind of answer…!?

Shen Qingqiu wrapped up his class a bit early, concerned first and foremost about finding his wayward bun. 

System, could you tell me where Luo Binghe is?

[Answering Host: Bamboo House.]

He sedately but purposefully began to make his way to the bamboo house, waving greetings away, and doing his best not to alert anyone of his internal panic.

He decided to try the System again. If nothing is wrong, then what does Binghe need assistance with?

[Answering Host: Host has asked the maximum number of free questions from this System in regards to Quest Diverging Paths. Additional information will cost B-Points.]

…

Nevermind.

Shen Qingqiu’s eyebrow twitched, but he did his best to focus on being mentally prepared for whatever task ahead. Once he was hidden from the rest of the Peak by the thick bamboo grove, he began to run home, apprehensive about what would be waiting for him there.

Was it his demon seal? An attack? An injury?

Shen Qingqiu opened the door, already shouting, “Binghe!?”

That was when a veritable wall of scent hit him. It was strong, potent, and intoxicating. It smelled to him like home and freshly baked sweet bread wrapped somehow in musk and that clove-lotus-amber that was unique to Binghe..

Shen Qingqiu had never been around an omega while they were in a heat, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out what was happening. Shen Qingqiu did the only natural thing and freaked out about it.

He frantically closed the door behind him when he realized the scent of an omega in heat could draw others to their bamboo house, no matter how deep in the bamboo grove. Another alpha going into a rut because of Luo Binghe’s scent was the last thing they needed! Unfortunately, this action left him drowning in the smell of his disciple’s need.

Shen Qingqiu didn’t know what to do! He always left the matter of heats and ruts to the other staff, wanting nothing to do with it and excused from it because he was a “beta.” He was aware there were toys for this kind of thing, and he should probably go get some, but his body and instincts rebelled at the thought of leaving his favorite person in such a vulnerable state and–

He heard a high, helpless whine from behind the spare room’s door, and he was only just able to hold onto his concentration to prevent releasing pheromones to calm his Binghe.

Shen Qingqiu… needed to leave, needed supplies. He would just get what Luo Binghe needed and drop it off outside the door. Then leave the house and–

[WARNING: Quest Diverging Paths requires active participation by Host. Leaving the Protagonist alone for long stretches of time will result in failure.]

Fuck.

Fuck.

Okay.

Shen Qingqiu stepped out of the bamboo house and breathed mostly clean air. He was deep in damage control mode and there were things Luo Binghe needed that did not involve Shen Qingqiu being in the room.

First, he set up a ward around the house, blocking scents and sounds from escaping and deterring any who wished to enter without his explicit permission. 

Second, he made his way to the store rooms and discreetly placed one of the pouches full of… sexual aids for omegas into his sleeve.

Third, he snagged a teacher by the arm and softly explained the situation to them. They were scandalized at first, but quickly realized there was nothing for the situation. Luo Binghe was mid-heat and likely had already made a nest. They could not move him and the person he trusted most was Shen Qingqiu. 

(Shen Qingqiu did not realize this, but the teacher also knew there was nothing they could do if their master decided to mate the young omega at the moment. One would have to be rather oblivious to think that was not something Luo Binghe would want, despite his young age. Even as a beta, Shen Qingqiu was strong and nurturing and cared deeply for the disciple. There were worse mates to be had.)

Finally, Shen Qingqiu went to the kitchens to collect food and water supplies. Luo Binghe would be unable to move yet still needed sustenance; he would do his best to provide that.

Out of tasks to distract himself with, he headed back to the bamboo house. Wildly uncomfortable situation or not, Binghe needed him.

Unless…

System, you’re not expecting me to have papapa with my student, right? Right!?

[Reminding Host that he must pay for additional System support for this Quest.]

Well, fuck that! He was not corrupting his little bun like that! He would be worse than the Original Goods if he did, truly a disgusting old man preying on his disciple in his time of need!

He just had to help him! Shen Qingqiu would just have to do that without touching him!

Determined, he took a deep, fortifying breath before he made sure the barriers around the house were solid. Then, he opened the door and plunged head first into the quest.

Shen Qingqiu’s bravado lasted as long as it took him to inhale twice. The scent of Binghe’s heat was heady, sweet, and threatened to be intoxicating. 

He… had at some point come to terms with having a secondary gender as long as he didn’t have to perform any of the roles associated with it. Unfortunately, he also knew he could only fight one part of his instincts at once. He had to make a choice between holding onto his secret or finding some way to help Binghe from a distance. 

The latter wasn’t an option, not really. So Shen Qingqiu loosed the chokehold his cultivation usually had on his pheromones and he felt his body lose a tension that had become normal for him. He felt himself instinctually respond to an omega in need, scent modulated to be soothing to him.

Disturbingly, Shen Qingqiu’s instincts did not see Luo Binghe as an offspring, but rather a potential mate. With horror, he felt himself begin to swell in his robes, his scent now laced with arousal in a way that was met with a burst of sweetness from Luo Binghe.

“S-Shizun?! Shizun, please, please!”

Shen Qingqiu found himself moving automatically, hardwired to both protect omegas generally and Luo Binghe in particular. He stopped at the closed door and gathered himself. 

“Binghe,” he said, only to balk at the growl in his voice. He cleared his throat and thankfully achieved a more normal tone as he continued. “Shizun is here. This master has some things that can help you. Can you move?”

“Shizun, Shizun!” Luo Binghe cried, sobbed really. 

He supposed that was answer enough. Binghe couldn’t move, truly was dependent on Shen Qingqiu. He would not betray that trust or himself.

He opened Binghe’s bedroom door.

Luo Binghe lost awareness of most of his surroundings as he fell completely into his heat. He was too hot and damp and uncomfortable. He couldn’t resist touching himself, but the relief of orgasm was nothing but unsatisfying. Where was his alpha? He needed his alpha!

Eventually, a deep, earthy smell reached him, heady and familiar and his. His inner omega whined in relief and he couldn’t help calling out to him, pleading for help.

He really only registered the beloved scent getting stronger and closer, soothing him even as it made slick drip faster out of him in preparation and welcome. An alpha, his alpha was here. His mate was here!

“Alpha,” he sighed out as he presented himself, ready and willing and so incredibly ready to be mounted. 

Then a word cut through his haze.

“No.” 

It was impossible. His ears had to be deceiving him. He could smell his Shizun, smell the arousal on him, smell his affection and power and dominance and and and–!

“No, Binghe,” his beloved said again, forcing Luo Binghe to confront the reality of the moment. He bared himself to his Shizun, his Shen Qingqiu. He offered the sight he had been told all his life was irresistible to even the most controlled of alphas, to an alpha that he knew cared about him.

And he was still rejected. 

Was he not needy enough? Not asking properly?

He had to try again.

Luo Binghe whined and reached back to part his cheeks, face resting on the blankets as he ensured his entrance was visible to the room. He felt more slick escape him and begin to flow down his thigh as he said, “Shizun, alpha, please.”

“You don’t want this,” he heard.

What kind of foolishness…?

Before he could remember how words worked to properly respond that he knew exactly what he was doing, Shen Qingqiu said, “Sit down.” 

He disobeyed him for the first time in a while, arching his back more and spreading his legs, praying that his desire was made clear by his scent.

Then, Shen Qingqiu repeated himself. “Sit down. ”

Before he was fully aware of what he was doing. Binghe turned and sat down properly, facing Shen Qingqiu with his hands on his thighs. He flushed and moved his hands to cover his overly-large pillar, not wanting his Shizun to see it as an abnormality for an omega.

He sat there for a moment, eyes down and shaking from the heat that still drove him. He unconsciously found himself moving against his hands and he felt himself redden further with embarrassment. “Sorry, Shizun.”

He heard Shen Qingqiu sigh, and it felt… disappointed. He felt tears gather in his eyes at the thought of disappointing his alpha, of not being what he wanted. “Sorry,” he said again, wetly.

“Oh, you poor thing,” Shen Qingqiu crooned, almost paternally. Binghe was glad for the positioning of his hands as he felt his pillar react to it. “Does it hurt?”

Luo Binghe nodded.

“Do you want me to help you?”

Throat tight, he nodded again.

“Look at me.” Binghe obeyed and saw… pity on his master’s face. It made him want to crumple into nothing. Shen Qingqiu saw his honest, wanting display, and just found him pitiable.

He had taught himself not to cry after being on the streets and experiencing his early days on Qing Jing Peak. He had never wanted his then-awful Shizun to see him break down like that. 

Now, in front of the Shizun he adored, that he wanted to be his mate and faced with utter rejection, he found himself sobbing. Maybe it was the hormones from his heat or this was something truly unbearable, but the reason did not stop how he flinched away from his gaze and moved away from him, wanting to hide in a nest with a scent that now just mocked him for his foolish desires. 

Of course he would never want him. What was Luo Binghe anyway?

“-he. Binghe! Luo Binghe! I cannot help you if you don’t let me!”

Help?

He wanted to help him?

Binghe’s sobs subsided as his alpha’s voice cut through the mess of his own thoughts. He lifted his head from the small ball he had curled himself into and wiped his face. “Shizun?”

When Shen Qingqiu sighed, it was with relief. He was worried about him, Binghe realized. He wanted to help him.

“Binghe,” he said, voice back to his normal tone, if a bit more soothing. “I know you’re going through a lot right now. I know you’re not thinking clearly, that your emotions are heightened. Me obeying what you think you want right now would be a gross violation of my position as your Shizun and of your trust in me. I. I see now from your nest that I may have already made several mistakes with you, and I will take responsibility for those. I will help you, but only if you do exactly as I say. Do you understand?”

Shen Qingqiu was staying with him. Shen Qingqiu loved him enough to take care of him even with his own silly ideas about what was happening. After assuming the worst, it was a benediction to Luo Binghe. He was afraid of making his true feelings known now, not wanting to push his Shizun away after he said he would help him. Still, he couldn’t help but ask. “Could this Binghe. Could I ask Shizun for something?”

His Shizun frowned at him and said, “You may ask, but I may not give it to you if I think it will hurt you.”

Ah! His alpha was so gentle! So considerate! The perfect mate, perfect parent for their children!

“Scent mark me? Please? Shizun makes me feel safe and loved. I… I want to feel like that now,” he said, looking at him with eyes that threatened to spill over.

Shen Qingqiu pursed his lips and said, “We are already at this point… very well. Lean forward.” Luo Binghe scrambled to crawl just that bit closer to Shen Qingqiu. 

He rolled his eyes up to look at his master’s cold but gentle beauty as he pulled off his arm guard and pulled back his sleeve to reveal his bare wrist. His breath caught as Shen Qingqiu touched him, the skin on skin contact its own kind of ecstasy. He couldn’t help his moan as his Shizun rubbed his scent glands along Binghe’s cheeks and neck, breathing in deep the spice-earth-musk of it as something in him settled. 

His body clenched in soft delight.

Luo Binghe felt half drunk on his scent when Shen Qingqiu called him. “Binghe.” He looked up at him, adoring. Emotions flew over Shen Qingqiu’s face quickly, before it settled back into blankness. He took a deep breath–full of Luo Binghe’s pheromones no doubt–and said, “Be a good boy and do as I say.”

Binghe licked his lips and said the only thing he could.

“Yes, Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu would like to state for the record he did not sign up for taking part in the Protagonist’s sexual awakening. He hadn’t signed up for anything related to his transmigration, really. 

Things really just start happening and then don’t stop happening, huh.

Shen Qingqiu did his best to find the line between what Luo Binghe and he could endure. He had started this hairbrained scheme by dropping a bag of sex toys near the Protagonist and telling him to pick out something to use on himself. 

He turned his back and that caused Luo Binghe to whine loudly. Seeing him turn in on himself and cry because of Shen Qingqiu’s inaction was devastating. Not his bun! Sure, he had exhibited very un-bun-like behaviors, but still! That was the heat talking, not his Binghe!

In any case, he couldn’t stand to see Binghe crying, to stand himself if he hurt him. 

So, he acted. And did his best to keep from screaming his virgin-ass from the room.

Luo Binghe seemed to respond very well to him ordering him, especially if he let go of even more control and used an Alpha Command. He didn’t want to, hadn’t meant to in the first place, but that didn’t change how well Binghe responded to it. His white lotus just wanted his direction, he wanted to be good for him.

Shen Qingqiu just had to give him something to be good at that wasn’t taking his annoyingly hard pillar. 

Binghe did not respond well to the suggestion that Shen Qingqiu find a folding screen to put between them, but he seemed okay with him looking at something else as he followed his directions. Some trial and error found Shen Qingqiu saying clearly a half hour after he had arrived at the bamboo house, “Is it inside you?”

Wet, lewd sounds followed and Luo Binghe moaned, “Yes, Shizun, yes.”

“How does it feel?” Shen Qingqiu asked, out of his depth and stalling for time as he fought through his own thick face, complete inexperience (he never had much interest in masturbation, let alone that of the penetrative kind), and what his beloved disciple needed right now to actually do something. He had told him to pick a toy of his choice that could fit inside him, very thoroughly studying the wall in front of him.

“Not enough. It, it doesn’t. It’s cold.”

“Give it a minute,” Shen Qingqiu said soothingly. “It will warm up to meet your body temperature soon. Try… you’re a young man, Binghe. Do whatever you do alone to make yourself feel good. And, if the toy you picked truly isn’t enough for you, at least get used to it before picking something larger.”

“Yes, Shizun.”

More wet sounds followed and Shen Qingqiu ignored the heat on his face and spreading through his body. This really was too much, System! Binghe wasn’t even supposed to present until he was in the Abyss.

[Host is not taking into account his impact on the world and characters around him.]

Impact? What impact?! I’m just trying to keep from becoming a human stick!

[...]

Shen Qingqiu was then distracted by Luo Binghe begging, “Shizun, Shizun, please, please.”

“Binghe?”

“I. Just, please. I need…”

“Speak clearly.” Luo Binghe whimpered and Shen Qingqiu added, “Now.”

“Please look at me. Please…” When Shen Qingqiu’s didn’t, Binghe sniffed and said, “I’m so hot and sticky but cold , Shizun. I feel so alone. I know… This Binghe knows he disgusts his Shizun–”

“Ridiculous.” Shen Qingqiu scoffed coldly before turning slightly and focusing on Luo Binghe’s panting and tearful expression. “What you are experiencing is perfectly natural. Your presentation caught us both unaware; that will not be the case in the future.”

“Then… Shizun does not hate this disciple?”

Shen Qingqiu’s heart clenched in his chest. “This Shizun finds such an idea impossible. Binghe is the best. He’s so good to–”

Luo Binghe cried out loudly as his back arched sharply. Shen Qingqiu was very carefully not listening to the background noise, but it seemed the Protagonist had finally gotten himself to the point of completion. 

He knew (in theory) that most of the (proper) heat aids made for omegas were designed to create an artificial knot once they received enough pressure to all sides, something that would occur if an omega orgasmed. Not even a moment after Luo Binghe first screamed in pleasure did he begin keening with it. His expression was utterly blissful as the toy inflated inside him aaaaannndddd– 

Shen Qingqiu looked away from him, cursing himself for not averting his eyes the moment it was clear he was too out of it to notice. Still, he wanted to reward good behavior, he wanted to make sure Luo Binghe knew he did the right thing. 

He stood and, very carefully, walked forward two steps then reached out. He rubbed the scent glands at his wrists against Luo Binghe’s sweaty neck and said, “Good job, Binghe. You’re so good for me.”

Luo Binghe made an inelegant, deeply carnal sound in response. Shen Qingqiu decided to take it at face value as a win; something he had done right in this little nightmare of a situation.

It took a few moments for Binghe to come back to himself, so Shen Qingqiu decided to make himself at least somewhat useful. He murmured soothingly to Binghe that he would be right back, then fled from the room. He kept the door open behind him to better hear if his disciple was in distress, but only just kept himself from running away from him as he headed to the bathing room. 

Wow. Just. This was. Fucking wild. Okay.

Shen Qingqiu was doing his best to settle into the insanity that was his life and not think about what exactly was happening as he prepared a bucket of water and a cloth. Being covered in that much sweat couldn’t be comfortable. For all that this little quirk of nature (by that he means trope that Airplane played with) was called a heat, that didn’t mean that his little white lotus needed to bake through it completely, right?

“Shizun?” 

Shen Qingqiu heard the scared call from across the bamboo house and rushed back into the room, arriving just before tears could fall from Luo Binghe’s star-filled eyes. “This master is here and would not abandon his dear disciple. He simply thought that Binghe would be uncomfortable as he currently is.”

“...this Binghe is,” he said, pouting up at him miserably. “It hurts, Shizun. Even… this aid is not enough. This disciple is at a loss. Please, Shizun, teach this ignorant one?”

Teach!? Luo Binghe, I don’t know what half of the things in that bag are! Your master is less experienced than you at this point!

Shen Qingqiu sighed and did his best to outwardly remain calm. He came forward, set the bucket and cloth to the side, and reached to pat Luo Binghe’s hair over the edge of his rudimentary nest made entirely of Shen Qingqiu’s clothes and linens. “This master finds this subject challenging, but could never do less than his best for his student.”

Binghe shivered and looked up at him like he was a miracle, which had the unfortunate side effect of making Shen Qingqiu feel absolutely filthy. “This Binghe wishes to be a good boy for his Shizun.”

“Then listen to me.”

“I will, alpha.” 

Shen Qingqiu felt like his face was going to melt off as he felt himself release a pleased rumble from deep in his chest. “Good,” he said, aiming for casual but landing somewhere near pleased. “Good…omega?”

The last word was tentative, not feeling right in his mouth, but Luo Binghe gasped and shivered out of the corner of Shen Qingqiu’s eye before relaxing back. He was still flushed and sweating, but he smiled beatifically up at him. 

Shen Qingqiu came to a decision.

He would not fail his white lotus in his time of need. There was no way he could adequately assist Binghe while not looking at him, literally refusing to face the situation they were dealing with. He would not touch him beyond what he already had and his clothes would be staying on and proper the entire time, thank you very much! But he would help him as much as he could, and just hope that the System would allow him to forget the entire thing happened.

He didn’t know what he was doing, but he would never learn if he didn’t try.

He started by actually looking at Binghe, shock echoing through his body as he truly saw the famed Heavenly Pillar for the first time. Even for an alpha, it was as large as Airplane had described, though the hack author had failed to quite get across how intimidating it was flushed red with hunger. Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help flushing in response but he raised his fan and did his best to hide his reaction as he reached from some level of academic detachment.

Pft! Good luck with that, Shen Qingqiu!

Despite his own thoughts mocking him, he said, “This master did not see what toy Binghe had selected from himself. Perhaps he could show him the–”

“Yes, Shizun!” Luo Binghe interrupted, jumping to conclusions and action as he reached down and tried to remove the toy from him. He screamed at the sharp tug and Shen Qingqiu reflexively found himself closing his fan and slapping Luo Binghe’s wrist with it.

“Cease! Did you not know you would injure yourself if you attempted to take out a still-inflated toy?!”

“...No. This disciple was ignorant and apologizes, Shizun.” Luo Binghe said, voice regretful but eyes somewhat dazed. “Asking Shizun to guide this undeserving one.”

“Would this master ever bother taking a disciple who was not worthy of his attention? Would the master even be here if Luo Binghe was undeserving?” Shen Qingqiu said in gentle reprimand, causing his student to lick his lips for some reason.

“...no, Shizun. This one was mistaken, and is grateful for his attention.” Luo Binghe moved carefully and sat on his knees before kowtowing to him as best as he could.

Shen Qingqiu stopped him with two fingers on a warm shoulder. “Enough. Listen to my entire direction before you act. Show me what is in the bag, Binghe. I need to know what we are working with.”

He could do this! He would be fine! First heats were supposed to be shorter, right? This would all be over soon enough!

Luo Binghe was in utter bliss. He was also experiencing the worst pain of his life.

He had lost track of time, but he knew that his alpha had given him food at least thrice since he had begun. He also ensured that he drank water as often as Binghe would accept it.

His alpha, his Shizun, was such a good provider, was so willing to take care of Luo Binghe like this. He did not leave him as Luo Binghe feared he would, always returning when he stepped out for a moment to attend to his own needs briefly or to get them more food. Unfortunately, there was the glaring exception that he refused to touch him as Binghe craved, remaining fully clothed and unsatisfied carnally by Binghe’s body.

Still, for all that he refused to give Luo Binghe his knot and seed as Binghe deeply desired out of concern for his mental state, Shen Qingqiu did his best to ensure that Binghe satisfied himself to the best of his ability. He patted his hair and allowed Binghe to nuzzle into his bare hands. He scented him often and, after a certain point, allowed Binghe to scent him in return, a simple act that, so long denied, almost made him come on the spot. He picked what he used and, after a pleading request from Luo Binghe, gave him directions on how to use them. While there was certainly some trial and error, his Shizun picked up the skill quickly. 

It felt like his alpha was fucking him by proxy, and there was something incredibly hot about that that. It drove him crazy to hear his voice giving him lewd directions on how to please himself, in obeying and being praised for it in a way no one else would.

Then, there was the attention. Luo Binghe lived for his brilliant Shizun’s full focus. He was always thrilled by how his eyes stayed on him, just as he always had been prior to his presentation. 

Take now, for instance. Luo Binghe had a phallic object, about twice the size of his first one, secured in place by a talisman to the center of his nest. He was bouncing on it, well past the point of shame as he moaned his pleasure and held Shen Qingqiu’s gaze. While he thought he would have a problem with his Shizun not watching his body during this, he found there was something so intimate and intense about their eye contact that he no longer cared. Part of him understood this came from lingering discomfort about the nature of the situation they were in, but Binghe didn’t care.

Shen Qingqiu was watching him, at his most vulnerable and base, and stayed. He could have left him at any time, could have made him fend for himself as he had been forced to do for so much of his life. But Shen Qingqiu stayed, to the detriment of his own comfort and eschewing all of his other responsibilities to be with him.

Luo Binghe loved him. He loved him so much.  

The only clear word he ever cried out in complete pleasure was “Shizun,” and Luo Binghe knew he never wanted that to change.

*break*

After four days, Shen Qingqiu staggered out of the bamboo house. Luo Binghe’s heat had finally broken, and he was resting on new clean sheets, the fabrics that had comprised his nest beyond saving. He took gulping breaths of pheromone free air as the System dinged at him.

[Congratulations! Congratulations!! Congratulations!!! Important things must be said three times! Quest Diverging Paths: Complete! Reward granted: +500 B-Points!]

ONLY 500!?!

…

Shen Qingqiu didn’t even bother arguing; even he had a limit to arguing with a screen and he was well past exhausted. Thank goodness he would never have to help out with one of Binghe’s heats with papapa! His hips wouldn’t survive!

[Quest Diverging Paths, Part 2 Electric Boogaloo: initiated!]

…okay, he wasn’t tired enough to not protest that!

No way! What do you mean!? I just did one!

[Life does not stop just because Host wishes it would! Good luck!]

Before Shen Qingqiu had a chance to respond, the System chat closed and the mission details for the second part of the quest appeared on screen. He scanned them quickly, increasingly confused.

No time limit? Mating progress? Heartbreak meter? What the fuck!? 

Was Shen Qingqiu supposed to play matchmaker between his disciple and his future spouses!?

No further instructions were given, and all the milestones for the quest were hidden. Giving up, Shen Qingqiu sighed, rubbed at his temple and then walked into the bright afternoon to find a member of his staff.

Some changes needed to be made sooner rather than later.

Luo Binghe stared at Shen Qingqiu in utter devastation the day after his heat finally broke. His master had given him time to recover and he was excused from classes and other duties until the end of the week.

But apparently, Shen Qingqiu didn’t want to wait until then.

His Shizun was talking. He should pay attention.

“...proper, now that both of our dynamics are revealed. Do you understand?” Shen Qingqiu said carefully.

“...Shizun does not want this disciple near him anymore?” He said, eyes wide and watery.

Shen Qingqiu blinked at him, like he was confused. “What? Binghe, did you not hear me?”

“This disciple understands that Binghe must leave the bamboo house.”

“Yes, because you are a presented omega, and my identity as an alpha was revealed when your heat began. It’s Sect Rules, you know that.”

Luo Binghe did know, but there was one exception to the rule, one circumstance in which alphas were never separated from their omegas. “Shizun does not wish to mate this Binghe?”

Shen Qingqiu paled. “What? No! Absolutely not! You’re my student, Binghe! That would be beyond inappropriate!”

Inappropriate? “Because this Binghe is your student alone? Does… does that mean that Shizun would consider me for a mate if I was not his student?”

Bewilderment was a mild word for the expression on Shen Qingqiu’s face. “I… you’re seventeen! You have the entire world in front of you, so many, many people to meet that you will be fonder of than this old man. Don’t make such hasty decisions when it comes to your spouses.”

“Spouses!? Why would this Binghe ever have more than one mate?” His Shizun froze, something like bitterness crossing his face. Then something else occurred to him. “Wait, Shizun, did you reveal your true dynamic because of me?”

“You knew?”

“Of course. This Binghe would always keep Shizun’s secret. For you to reveal it for this one…”

Shen Qingqiu closed his fan abruptly, causing Bingh to jump. “Enough. Think no more of it. All of this is immaterial. You remain my head disciple, but you cannot live here. You’re an omega and must live in the dorms for presented omegas.”

Shen Qingqiu’s words were final and Luo Binghe held his tongue. He listened and obeyed his Shizun in this, feeling guilty for having his dynamic revealed against his will. His heart was preoccupied with what he had said about his future mate. Did his Shizun think him unfaithful? Did he not believe he would stand by him? Had Binghe not yet proven himself to him?

And so what if he was seventeen! He wasn’t a cultivation master, but he was one of the best of his generation for sure! If he cultivated to immortality like Shen Qingqiu, then what would the paltry decades between them mean?

Luo Binghe moved and resumed his duties soon enough. He surprisingly seemed more powerful once he had presented, which Meng Mo (who had fled to the deepest recesses of his mind once his heat began) informed him was something particular to demons. Shen Qingqiu seemed to not have noticed anything was off, so Binghe assumed he was just happy and proud of his progress.

When he wasn’t busy cultivating and completing his duties, he defended Shen Qingqiu’s reputation. His Shizun had done absolutely everything he could for him while sticking to his morals, and he never wanted him to be punished for caring for him. He wouldn’t stand for any talk of being taken advantage of by a lecherous master.

The unfortunate side effect of this was that people then talked about him. About how he was a defective omega, as any alpha would have mounted him if he was desirable enough while being stuck together for four days. How it was unnatural for him to be so strong and how he only had his position as Head Disciple because Shen Qingqiu pitied him. 

Luo Binghe did his best to ignore the words as best as he could but…

What if he was defective?

And why couldn't Shen Qingqiu even consider him as a future possible mate? After what he had helped him with? All that they had shared?

And why did it feel like Shen Qingqiu didn’t really look him in the eye anymore?

Luo Binghe felt like he had made a massive mistake and it hurt him. While he still received praise and more attention from Shen Qingqiu than anyone else on the Peak, he was less open and affectionate with him.

Binghe couldn’t lose his Shizun’s regard. He couldn’t! The very thought was unbearable!

So he worked harder to be exemplary, to make his Shizun proud, to be his good boy. But the harder he worked, the more he accomplished, the sadder Shen Qingqiu seemed. Binghe didn’t know what he was doing wrong!

He… he just had to prove that he was a worthy mate! Would have to prove he was strong enough to be unique, to be Shen Qingqiu’s only choice. He didn’t quite know how to make that happen, but he knew the first step was the quick upcoming Immortal Alliance Conference. He would compete, he would win, and he would present his prize to Shen Qingqiu publically, as an act of fealty.

Luo Binghe would make sure that Shen Qingqiu loved him enough to never leave him. 

Because Shen Qingqiu was his alpha. Luo Binghe would accept nothing less.