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Chapter Text

There were a lot of things Shen Yuan, aka Peerless Peach, now Shen Qingqiu, wanted to change for her beloved Luo Binghe immediately upon arrival.

One: end the bullying of her precious white lotus from both her disciple siblings and her shizun. With the OOC lock in place, it was difficult to make the changes really stick. Hard, but doable, especially now that she was the shizun in question.

Two: get her a proper cultivation manual so that she wouldn’t be in (theoretical as the Protagonist) danger of qi deviating at any point. Shen Qingqiu expected the young half-demon to thrive with even this small change, even while she was away in seclusion doing her damnedest to get her own powers under her control. 

This one was more difficult to get around and Shen Qingqiu needed to go through the rather humiliating episode with the Skinner demon before the System would allow her to even suggest that the manual “gifted” by the Original Goods was inadequate. While Shen Qingqiu would very much like to forget how she had woken up tied to a pole and half flashing her two disciples to their visible discomfort, she didn’t regret that it finally allowed her to give Luo Binghe the tools to work towards her own success. 

Three: get Luo Binghe into an actual dwelling rather than the woodshed. 

Four: ensure that Luo Binghe was recognized as the girl she was. 

It turned out that Three and Four could be solved together.

Before going into seclusion and after being freed from the OOC lock, Shen Qingqiu summoned Luo Binghe to the bamboo house. The young girl, forced to wear a boy uniform and never be acknowledged as the shimei she was due to the Original Good’s prejudice, came in with an obvious spark of hope in her eyes. She quickly bowed to hide it and Shen Qingqiu wept in her heart for her. Ah, Binghe! After all the hurt this Shizun has given you, you’re still such a white lotus to her!

This Shizun will do better than the Original Goods did!

“Shizun wished to speak to this lowly disciple,” Luo Binghe said, tone soft and demure. 

“Indeed. Disciple Luo is aware that this Shizun is no longer in possession of some of her memories due to her qi deviation?”

“Yes, Shizun.”

“Tell this master: why is Luo Binghe sleeping in the woodshed?”

Luo Binghe froze and went to her knees to deepen her bow. “Shizun.”

“It is a simple question, is it not?”

The girl before Shen Qingqiu began to tremble in fear, but she said, “Answering Shizun. This… this disciple did not feel comfortable in the boys dormitory. When Shizun previously questioned this disciple about why, this disciple…”

“Go on,” Shen Qingqiu urged, tone softer than she knew the Original Goods would have used.

“This disciple was not welcomed by the others. And. This disciple. This disciple told Shizun she does not feel it is the appropriate place for this one.”

“And why is that?” Luo Binghe stayed quiet, falling into a kowtow out of terror, and Shen Qingqiu couldn’t take it anymore. “Enough. If Disciple Luo does not wish to share, this master will respect that. However, this master will no longer accept one of her disciples living in such conditions.”

“S-shizun?” Luo Binghe asked, looking up at her apprehensive. “Shizun, please, please, this disciple begs. Please, do not ask this disciple to return to the boy’s dormitory!”

“Don’t presume that would be my order. Has it not already proven to be an untenable position for both Disciple Luo and this one’s other disciples?” Binghe lowered her head and Shen Qingqiu’s hand twitched towards giving her curls a comforting pat. “No, if Disciple Luo cannot stay in one of the extant dormitories, then this master has a side room that can be cleaned out and turned into additional lodging.”

Luo Binghe raised her head tentatively, looking up at Shen Qingqiu in supplication, the tears in her eyes making them sparkle. “Shizun?”

She tried looking down her nose imperiously at her, but Luo Binghe just looked too pathetic! Protagonist! Please, this old woman can’t take it!

“Would Disciple Luo prefer to stay in the woodshed?” Shen Qingqiu asked, gently. 

“N-no, Shizun! Just, this disciple is confused.”

Shen Qingqiu raised an eyebrow at her. “Disciple Luo questions this master’s decisions?”

Luo Binghe fell into another kowtow and Shen Qingqiu winced to herself. “Never, Shizun!”

“Enough. Rise. This master is to enter seclusion for a time, but expects Luo Binghe to be established in the sideroom by the time of her return. Now, return to your chores.”

Luo Binghe stood quickly and bowed low again, “Yes, Shizun!” With one last look of confused elation aimed at Shen Qingqiu, Binghe left quickly.

She sighed and put her head in her hands. It was fine! It totally made sense that Binghe wouldn’t want to remind her long-time abuser that she’s trans, even though that terminology didn’t exist here. Why tell a woman you were a girl when previously she had tormented you over that confession?

Shen Qingqiu rolled her neck and then used some of her qi to call for Ming Fan. He needed to understand her instructions on how things were to be run on Qing Jing in her absence well, and part of that was ending the bullying of his shidimei.

All of them.

Things were going to be different around here, and it was time people understood that.

Luo Binghe didn’t know what to do with herself. 

She stared at her Shizun, Shen Qingqiu, as the woman lay still, still unconscious after getting poisoned by Without-A-Cure for the sake of saving Luo Binghe. She had thought for so long that her peerlessly beautiful Shizun had hated her, despised and distrusted her, but now–

Now, how could she think that? How could it be true when the woman had all but sacrificed her cultivation, nearly her life, for Luo Binghe? Since her deviation, she looked at her so gently, treated her with more kindness than ever before. Even when her tone was sharp, it was nowhere near as cold and cutting as before. 

Her Shizun saw her as a person now and not a beast. And Luo Binghe didn’t know what caused it beyond her forgetting that Binghe was a girl despite everyone assuming otherwise. 

Luo Binghe didn’t so much hate her anatomy as she resented how other people treated her because of it. So what!? She was a girl! Plenty of girls had minimal chests and dressed modestly! 

But…

But. She was growing older and she started to find other people more than attractive. And it really was people, not just girls or just boys. Luo Binghe had done her best to hide this from everyone, not wanting it to further mark her as more animal than human. It was kind of lonely, being the only person like this.

Luo Binghe was used to being lonely.

Even Ning Yingying… Luo Binghe never fully trusted her when she was the one who had tipped Shen Qingqiu off to the fact that Binghe felt like, no, was a girl. Her shijie tried, but sometimes it felt like she gave the older girl more support than she received. Luo Binghe didn’t mind it, grateful that she talked to her and seemed to like her as a friend, craving any kindness that she could get. Still…

Luo Binghe kept some secrets to herself.

But, since Shen Qingqiu had deviated, since she had given her medicine and smiled at her and housed her and saved her–

She didn’t feel as lonely anymore. 

Luo Binghe could let the past be the past, as long as Shen Qingqiu kept treating her kindly. She could dedicate herself fully to her Shizun, as long as she allowed her even some scraps of her approval and affection. 

It was so much more than she had ever expected to receive, and she had learned to be grateful for what mercies she could find in this life.

When Shen Qingqiu began to lightly stir, Luo Binghe ran to fetch the fresh bowl of congee that she had recently prepared anew. 

Ming Fan watched her hatefully as she walked through the bamboo house, but Luo Binghe ignored him. While she couldn’t deny the guilt they both put on her for Shen Qingqiu’s injury, their Shizun had welcomed her into her house. Shizun had done her best to protect her, even while she was gone, and ensured that her cultivation flourished with the improved manual. 

Luo Binghe would not leave her Shizun’s side until Shizun sent her away herself. 

To her delight, when Shen Qingqiu awoke, her defiant stance towards her shixiong was vindicated. Shen Qingqiu tasted her congee and loved it, making the tiniest noises of pleasure that had Binghe feeling warm. Then she offered her a headpat and went back to sleep. 

Luo Binghe had gone to bed that night in the nearby room feeling giddy with her Shizun’s attention and minuscule praise. She didn’t blame her for her injury and she touched her so softly!!

Binghe fell asleep with a smile on her face.

Then opened her eyes to a gray landscape. She was confused but turned, searching, when she heard her Shizun call her name in a way she had never imagined.

“Binghe?”

“Shizun!” Luo Binghe began to run to Shen Qingqiu’s side, only to freeze as she felt air on her legs in a way her usual robes never allowed.

She looked down at herself and was horrified to realize she was in the correct uniform for once, the shortened robes her shijie and shimei wore hanging comfortably on her.

For the first time, she felt relief as she looked down at herself.

It was swiftly followed by panic. She looked up at Shen Qingqiu and took a step back as her Shizun stared at her, expression unreadable. “S-shizun?”

“Is this Disciple Luo’s preferred appearance? Is this what you were so afraid to tell me before?”

Luo Binghe didn’t know how to interpret the words, but immediately fell into a kowtow. Terror at losing the affection she had only just gotten a taste of, of losing her room and never being trusted to serve her master again, utterly filled her. She cried helplessly, “Shizun!”

Steps approached her and Luo Binghe braced for a blow.

What she got was a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

“Oh, Binghe. This master has failed her disciple,” she said softly, a note of sadness in her voice. “How could I have been so blind as to not see what you needed? Of course you would not fit in the boy’s dormitory as a girl.”

Luo Binghe looked up at her, almost afraid to believe her own senses even as she saw a look of kind acceptance on her Shizun’s face. “Shizun?”

“Binghe, this master—” Shen Qingqiu stopped talking and stood, quickly moving into a defensive stance as the scenery shifted dramatically around them. They were suddenly before an entryway to a hauntingly familiar town and Luo Binghe had to fight not to give anything away.

The only good thing about this place died with her A-Niang.

“We’re in a dreamscape built by a demon, Binghe. We have to find a way out.” Shen Qingqiu said, hand held out to her. Binghe stared at it stupidly for a moment before realizing her master was offering her help. 

Luo Binghe took it, and never regretted it.

Things indeed did change after Shen Qingqiu’s seclusion and turned out far more pleasant than she had ever expected.

Luo Binghe had thrown herself happily into living with Shen Qingqiu and tending to her like the maidservant she definitely was not. Shen Qingqiu had internally freaked out about this, not wanting her white lotus to remember this as forced labor when she became the demon emperor.

Binghe had just smiled with a slight flush and promised that it was her pleasure to cook and clean their house, do Shen Qingqiu’s laundry, and serve her tea.

It was all a bit much honestly! What could Shen Qingqiu do but allow her little sheep to do what made her happy? And if it made her life easier, she wouldn’t complain about it!

Luo Binghe was a ray of light and glowed with happiness under Shen Qingqiu’s care. She had been overcome with gratitude when Shen Qingqiu took her personally to see Mu Qingfang to inquire about ways the medicine of this world could help Binghe feel more like herself in her body. That had led to her disciple hugging Shen Qingqiu’s waist and crying with joy in front of the flabbergasted Sect doctor, which had been embarrassing but so worth it.

Shen Qingqiu made a point not to accompany Binghe to her follow up appointments on Qian Cao, wanting her to feel empowered to ask for what she wanted without worrying about her Shizun’s reactions. She resolved to go if asked, but only if asked.

She gave Luo Binghe (well deserved) praise freely, making sure to always acknowledge her as a young lady. She was there to remind Binghe to take her pills (to aid her cultivation of a body she was comfortable in) and give her praise. She helped Binghe adjust to new robes and fighting style made to fit a growing chest. Shen Qingqiu openly complimented her cooking and cleaning skills, noting that she would definitely make a very good wife someday!

(That had left Luo Binghe stumbling and flushed, which had Shen Qingqiu apologizing. She hadn’t expected such an innocent observation to leave the Harem Master Protagonist who would have a reverse harem that numbered in the hundreds in just a few years so embarrassed. Ah, Binghe really was so innocent!

But her Binghe was so strong! So beautiful! Was she really so at fault for stating the obvious?)

The System displayed Binghe’s satisfaction levels as high, which reassured her. The ever-approaching deadline of the Immortal Alliance Conference did not.

The thought of hurting her blossoming white lotus hurt Shen Qingqiu’s very soul, nevermind throwing her into the Endless Abyss. She protected and nurtured her as much as she could now, but what would it matter to the Protagonist once her master threw her into hell?

She would be irredeemable if she did it. She didn’t have a choice.

The weight of what Shen Qingqiu had to do followed her everywhere, to the point that she sometimes had to leave Luo Binghe alone. She tried not to do so too often as Binghe became rather sticky and her Shizun leaving her quickly gave her anxiety, but!

But it was so hard! So hard to see how happy her Binghe was, how nervous and then proud she was when she started wearing the proper uniform for her gender on the Peak (and thank the gods that pronouns were pronounced the same in this language!). Almost excruciating to see her marveling at how her body changed and beaming in pride as they ate dinner together. Downright unbearable to have her disciple hug her and know that she would have to kill this innocent part of her so that she could reach her full potential as the Emperor of the Three Realms.

She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t push her Binghe into the Abyss. She—

—didn’t know what to do, what to say, to have her Shizun listen to her, to prove that she wasn’t evil.

Luo Binghe took a step forward, newly formed claws at the tips of her fingers stark in their blackness. “Shizun—!”

“Silence!” Shen Qingqiu snarled as she drew Xiu Ya and pointed it at Luo Binghe’s chest, right over her heart. “You dare still call me that, demon?”

“I’m still Binghe, Shizun,” she said desperately. She saw hurt flash across Shen Qingqiu’s face, there and gone. “I’m still your loyal disciple, your pretty girl.”

“You’re not my anything,” she said coldly, but her eyes began to water, the pain there reflected in Luo Binghe’s heart. Then panic crossed her face, her usual walls torn down by the moment. “You must go!”

“Shi—” Luo Binghe stopped talking as her chest was pierced, right above her left breast. Shock came over her Shizun’s face as she took Xiu Ya’s blade in her hand, feeling the cut across her palm, and said, “I would rather you take my heart than face leaving you!”

Tears flowed down Shen Qingqiu’s face and Luo Binghe thought that she heard her say, “I’m sorry.”

It was difficult to be sure because that was the moment Shen Qingqiu pushed her hand against Luo Binghe’s chest and sent her flying into the crevice in the earth.

After Luo Binghe had landed on the hard rock, after she had fought off the first wave of monsters who saw her broken body as an easy meal, after she had cried at being thrown away by the woman she so deeply loved, Luo Binghe noticed something.

Nestled snuggly into the fold in her robes was a qiankun pouch embroidered with bamboo and Qing Jing’s symbol. She opened it carefully, and found travel rations and a dagger and—

It was supplies. Enough for a long journey, enough to keep her alive until she could find her own way. They even included a large collection of pills that Qian Cao provided her to help cultivate her appearance as she desired, but rather than the familiar and neutral qi of a doctor, there was a spark of her Shizun’s power.

She had used her limited availability of spiritual power to do this for her. There were enough pills to last five years.

Shen Qingqiu had known this would happen, had lamented the necessity. Something had to have forced her to do this.

But what? And why?!

Those were questions only her Shizun could answer.

A new resolve filled Luo Binghe. She would find a way back to her Shizun, her beloved. She would return and steal her away, keep her safe from whatever threatened her. And once she had her back in her grasp, she would never let her go again.

Chapter Text

Shen Qingqiu was fine. 

No really. She was just waiting for the beloved disciple she betrayed to come back and kill her. It wasn’t like she had killed that bright smile she had so wanted to protect. Luo Binghe would be fine, would be strong and have power and women and men and an entire Kingdom!

She was fine. 

Shen Qingqiu didn’t understand why people spoke in hushed tones around her, or why Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky (discovered too late, how had she not known, could she have done something to cha–) said that she was killing her “widow era.” It was normal to miss her functional head disciple! And what interest did she have in food after being spoiled by the Protagonist’s cuisine for three (perfect, too short) years? And it was only logical to find peace near Zheng Yang’s sword mound, in Binghe’s favorite spot damn near in their backyard. 

So yeah! She was fine!

Shen Qingqiu even took some time to travel a little! She and Airplane (now Shang Qinghua) found the Sun Moon Dew Flower to come up with an escape plan for when Binghe returned! She had gone night hunting and found some cool monsters! She got to live for a bit!

Sure, she could never exactly go far with Without-A-Cure threatening to leave her in pain with no spiritual energy if she went untreated for a long time, but she had had worse limitations on her movement due to chronic illness! At least she could fly on a sword here!!!

Thus, contrary to what anyone else said, Shen Qingqiu was just fine.

Three years after Luo Binghe had “disappeared,” Shen Qingqiu was having a normal day on Qing Jing Peak and found herself wrapped in strong arms. She was being kidnapped! 

She kicked and elbowed back, but her captor’s arms were a vice around her and a sudden wave of energy knocked her out completely.

When Shen Qingqiu woke, she found herself in the bamboo house.

…wait, what?

She sat up in her bed and looked around, taking sharp note of everything she saw. Yes, this resembled very closely her bedroom, but there wasn’t the wear and tear one would expect from regular habitation. And there was not a speck of dust to be seen!

Shen Qingqiu wasn’t exactly a dirty person, but she didn’t care much about a bit of clutter here and there. What did it matter? Binghe had been the person who–

Anyway, it was far too clean. Shen Qingqiu carefully listened and heard movement in the front room. 

She looked down at herself and found her robes intact, but she didn’t have Xiu Ya. She got up and opened the widow to see if there was–

The sky was red. She was in the demon realm despite not feeling the oppressive demonic qi that made it difficult for all but cultivation masters to be here for an extended period of time.

There was only one person in the world who knew what the bamboo house looked like to this extent and would exist in the demon realm. 

Then there was a knock at the door and Shen Qingqiu whirled towards it, pressing her back against the wall in fear. Okay, this was bad.

Why go through all this effort though? Just to humiliate her? Lull her into a false sense of security then break her down the way Shen Qingqiu had done to her white lotus?

Maybe… no, she definitely deserved it for what she did to Luo Binghe to save her own skin, because it was a selfish decision in the end. She should have allowed the System to kill her instead of pushing Luo Binghe in. She should have died for daring to hurt her dearest disciple in such a visceral, unforgivable, unchangeable way. 

Shen Qingqiu deserved whatever punishment Luo Binghe wished to give her, but she was failingly human, and did not wish to die. Perhaps there was some other way she could atone? She could be her servant, be her court jester. She just–

“Shizun? This Disciple is coming in.”

Luo Binghe opened the door and turned to stare at her. Shen Qingqiu was abruptly aware of two things.

One: she was crying, the tears leaking steadily from her eyes in a way she hadn’t felt until forced outside of her own head.

Two: Luo Binghe was more beautiful than any of the fanworks could capture. She was dressed in the green and white of Qing Jing Peak’s disciple robes, but the rich cloth was in the style of demons, with high slits on the side of each leg and her ample bosom on display. It was fair in that men typically had just as much, if not more, of their chest out, but–

There was a scar. Right over Luo Binghe’s heart. 

Shen Qingqiu made a hurt sound at the sight and then collapsed to her knees, ready to beg for forgiveness she did not deserve. “My Lord Luo–”

“Shizun!” There was the sound of silk against itself as Luo Binghe came to her, hands on her shoulders keeping her from fully falling into a kowtow. “Shizun!”

“I– This one is unforgivable,” she said, head bowed as she fought to lower herself. What she had done, what she had chosen was– “I’m sorry.”

“Shizun…”

Shen Qingqiu could not look up, not as the pain and guilt she had locked away for years flooded back to her. She had cared for Luo Binghe deeply, had never wanted to hurt her, and, in betraying Binghe, had betrayed herself. 

And here she was! Not even able to face her Bing– face the woman she had hurt so thoroughly! Like those supplies in the Abyss meant anything while she was in the Endless Abyss! Shen Qingqiu just couldn’t stand the thought of Binghe growing to hate her body like she had read in Proud Immortal Demon Way, she couldn’t stand the thought of her disciple having nothing.

But it wasn’t enough. Nothing she had done was enough.

She might as well be resigned to being a human stick now.

Luo Binghe found herself once more not knowing what to do.

Her Shizun, her darling Shen Qingqiu, had looked so fragile, while sleeping, in a way Luo Binghe had never seen even while she had been unconscious. Her cheeks were thinner and she was more ethereal than elegant in a way that was rather alarming. Luo Binghe had heard tales of the Widow of Qing Jing, had heard whispers that her Shizun had suffered without her, but this…

And now she was crying in front of her, doing her best to hold in her sobs as she shook apart at Binghe’s feet. 

Any doubt she carried that Shen Qingqiu regretted her actions, that she really had been forced into pushing her into the Abyss, completely dispersed. This woman loved her, loved her so deeply that their separation pained them both.

But now, there was no need for pain. They were together again, and would always be together. There was no one in this world powerful enough to change that.

And it was time Shen Qingqiu knew that her suffering was over.

“Shizun,” she said, taking the liberty and gathering the woman into her arms. It clearly startled her, but not enough to stop her tears. “This Binghe is not angry. This Binghe could never stay upset with her Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu tensed in her arms but did begin to calm down slowly as Luo Binghe held her close and rubbed her back like she used to do for her. Binghe put her nose to the crown of her head and couldn’t resist a brush of lips against the soft skin there, the hint of a kiss. “This Binghe does not blame Shizun, knows she didn’t want to push this disciple away.”

“You… don’t? But I–”

“Shizun.” Luo Binghe put a hand under Shen Qingqiu’s chin and lifted her face gently. They were close enough to almost share breath, and her master’s dark eyes were wide with confusion and fear. “It was obvious it was not Shizun’s choice, and just as clear that Shizun cared for this disciple. And still does. Is this Binghe wrong?”

“I. I can’t…” Shen Qingqiu’s gaze went unfocused for a moment, a small furrow coming to her brow. 

“Shizun?”

She snapped back to attention, but her look of confusion remained. “This master has always sought to do her best for her disciple,” she said cautiously. “This master regrets. I regret any pain I have caused you.”

Luo Binghe was not one to waste an opportunity. She had her Shizun in her arms, closer than she had likely ever been to her, and she was not moving. Shen Qingqiu was not protesting on the basis of propriety or fighting to get away from her. She did not flee her touch. 

And Shen Qingqiu’s affection and the sudden absence of it in the Abyss had made Luo Binghe greedy, utterly ravenous for the woman in her arms. She would never have enough of her and would always push for more. She could do no less now.

“What pains this Binghe most is our separation,” Luo Binghe said, tone dropping into a soothing croon. “This Binghe has been so lonely, Shizun, has been so worried about her master.”

“You were? But. But doesn’t Binghe have many companions?”

That made her eyes narrow suspiciously. “Companions?”

Shen Qingqiu looked away from her and seemed to just notice their position. She blushed as she said, “It would be natural for a woman as powerful and beautiful as Binghe to have many admirers, some of whom she would find acceptable as. Companions.”

“Shizun thinks this Binghe is beautiful?” Luo Binghe asked immediately, causing a pretty blush to rise in her Shizun’s cheeks. “And Shizun seems to know more than she lets on about this Lord’s power, yet is clearly ignorant to what this Binghe has and has not been doing.”

Shen Qingqiu swallowed audibly and refused to meet Luo Binghe’s eyes. “Is Lord Luo not Emperor of the Demon Realm?”

“That is this Binghe’s title,” Luo Binghe said, the hand on Shen Qingqiu’s back beginning to move in wandering circles again. “Though won’t Shizun call her casually again? This Binghe prefers it.”

“Ah, you–” Shen Qingqiu looked at her face and then seemed frozen when she met her intent gaze. She licked her lips and said, “Does. Does Binghe not have many spouses already to keep her company?”

Furious denial rose in Luo Binghe and she felt her aura flare. “This Binghe has no spouse. Who gave Shizun this impression? Who told Shizun this lie?”

“N-no one.”

“Does Shizun think this Binghe’s affections so fickle?” Shen Qingqiu frowned again, but it was the frown she had when she was deeply confused and trying to hide it. “Does Shizun not understand where this Binghe’s heart lies?”

Her eyes flicked down to Luo Binghe’s chest only to look away in shame. “This one would never presume to know the Emperor’s inner thoughts.”

“Then allow this Binghe to tell you.” Luo Binghe picked up the hand that had guided her for years and put it to her chest, right over her scar, over her heart. Shen Qingqiu looked back at her with astonishment as she said, “Did this Binghe not say so on the edge of the Abyss? Was this Binghe not clear? Her heart belongs to her Shizun and her Shizun alone. No one else could compare.”

Shen Qingqiu was losing her goddamn mind. 

In one ear, she had the System blaring at her a warning against revealing her identity as Shen Yuan, but also offering her a way to escape her fate as a Scum Villain. 

It just required her to become the Love Interest.

Ah, when did the genre change so drastically!?

In the other ear, Luo Binghe, Emperor of the Demon Realm and Harem Master Protagonist, was confessing her undying love to her!

It really was too much!

The confusion left her staring at Luo Binghe in shock. “I… you don’t want to hurt me?”

“No!” Luo Binghe cried, holding her yet closer so that, rather distractingly, their chests were pressed together. She lifted Shen Qingqiu’s hand from the scar on the (soft) skin of her breast to her mouth. She pressed kisses to her fingers as Shen Qingqiu struggled to process the emotional and physical sensations that had rendered her brain useless. “Never. This Binghe wants to protect her Shizun, to always stay by her side.”

“You… but I’m your Shizun! Your teacher! You, you can’t love me!”

“Why not?” Luo Binghe asked, twining their fingers together as her other hand pressed against Shen Qingqiu’s lower back, forcing her to arch into the other woman. “Has this Emperor not proven herself powerful enough for a cultivation master’s regard? What more would my Shizun desire for this disciple to accomplish before seeing her as worthy?”

Oh, Binghe. “It’s not about worth, Binghe,” she said gently. “You never had to do anything to prove you were worthy of love to me.”

Luo Binghe’s eyes sharpened suddenly and she said, “You’re not the woman who brought me into Qing Jing Peak.”

Shen Qingqiu froze, panicked despite the System suddenly going quiet. “What?”

“I’ve had a lot of time to think, Shizun, about you and how you changed since your qi deviation. But it wasn’t you, was it?” Luo Binghe released Shen Qingqiu’s numb hand and cupped her jaw gently. “So much changed in how you valued things and people, in how you saw me. You were not my first master, but you are the only one I would call Shizun.”

…System, is this allowed!? I didn’t say anything! 

[Answering Host: as Host did not tell the Protagonist of Host’s identity prior to this moment, this knowledge is allowed ONLY if Host accepts the designation of Love Interest. Others beyond the Protagonist and User 1 cannot know that Host is a transmigrator.]

Good enough!

Shen Qingqiu would worry about the Love Interest thing in a bit! One thing at a time!!!

“Binghe is very smart,” Shen Qingqiu said with a small smile. “I have done my best for you, even though it wasn’t enough to prevent all of your pain. I’m sorry.”

“You should never apologize to me,” Luo Binghe said, leaning closer and putting her forehead against Shen Qingqiu’s. “You saved me, Shizun. You gave me joy and hope. You never have to be sorry for what you had to do to survive.”

A weight Shen Qingqiu had carried for years dropped from her shoulders, and she finally reached back for Luo Binghe. She put her arms around her neck and closed her eyes. “I’m not Shen Jiu. My name is Shen Yuan.”

“Shen Yuan,” Binghe breathed. “Shen Yuan.”

“I only wanted what’s best for you, Binghe,” she said, confessing. 

“You’re the best thing in this world,” Luo Binghe said softly. “Will you be mine, Shen Yuan?”

“What do you mean?”

“You were my teacher, but who could say you took advantage of me now that I am Emperor?” Luo Binghe said, brushing their noses together. “You’ve always looked at me with such kindness, such caring. You saw me, and allowed me to see myself. You have suffered so much for me, and even today called me beautiful. 

“I love you, Shen Yuan. I love you with everything I have. Be my wife, my Empress. Stay with me.”

Shen Qingqiu didn’t know what to do with herself, but her body felt warm and her heart was beating quickly and there was nowhere else she would rather be. 

“Whatever my Binghe wants,” she breathed before leaning forward to press her lips to Binghe’s.

Luo Binghe surged into the kiss, returning it with all the passion she had locked away for so long. Shen Qingqiu, Shen Yuan, made a noise as Binghe claimed her mouth, but she didn’t push her away. She was careful, almost shy, and Luo Binghe refused to let her question how much she was wanted. 

Unable to control herself, she bit and licked at and into Shen Yuan’s mouth, their teeth clacking against each other. It was then that Shen Yuan made a noise of protest and pulled away. “Bing-Binghe! Not so much, okay? Gentle. I’m not going anywhere.”

I’m not going anywhere. 

My Binghe.

Luo Binghe whined low in her throat and pressed her lips to Shen Yuan’s face over and over. Joy suffuced her and she held her Shizun close. “Shizun.”

“Ah, you kiss me like that and still use that title?” Shen Yuan said, scandalized over the tiniest thing. Oh, how Binghe loved her. 

“Shen Yuan. A-Yuan. Wife,” Luo Binghe said apologetically, each name punctuated with a kiss to her cheek, each kiss getting closer to her mouth.

“We. We’re not married yet,” Shen Yuan said shakily, breath uneven against Binghe’s lips in a way that thrilled her.

“Hn,” Luo Binghe hummed in acknowledgement. She lightly nipped at Shen Yuan’s lower lip and was pleased when that made her gasp. “This Binghe would never willingly dishonor her Shizun, but cannot help herself now, not when A-Yuan tastes so good and trembles in her arms. A-Yuan won’t leave this Binghe?”

Shen Yuan had to blink a couple of times to focus enough on the question which filled Binghe with base pride and a need to distract her more. “I. I will have to return to Qing Jing, Binghe. But I would not see us separated, if that is what you want.”

It was enough. It was everything.

“There’s nothing stopping us from bowing to each other now.” Shen Yuan’s eyes widened suddenly and Luo Binghe frowned. “Doesn’t Shizun wish to marry this Binghe?”

“Ah. Yes,” Shen Yuan said with a blush. “This one… Binghe, I’ve never been so close to someone else. This is all new to me. I thought you would kill me the next time we met and never dreamed that you would actually want me. Allow me some time to adjust, hm?”

“Is A-Yuan really so surprised by this Binghe’s devotion and regard,” she asked, hand moving from Shen Yuan’s face down to her neck. She felt as her breath hitched and her pulse sped. “Did she not think how this Binghe would react to having such a kind, attentive, beautiful Shizun giving her the love she had so craved? Did she not think this Binghe would grow to want to keep her all to herself?”

“I…” Shen Yuan’s already dark irises were quickly becoming swallowed by her pupil and, gods, she was gorgeous like this. An immortal master, so eager to be taken apart by her demon disciple.

“You were so unaware of your own charms, that perhaps this Binghe shouldn’t be so surprised,” Binghe said, hand moving down her neck then flattening against her upper chest. “So quick to fall into casual language, like that wasn’t a privilege only a close confidant or a spouse should have. Flashing the bare skin of her arms and neck and legs when it grew late and Shizun became careless. Strong yet so soft, Shizun. You always smelled so good, it made me never want to leave your embrace, to seek out any opportunity to be closer to you.”

“I didn’t know! I never intended–”

“And yet, I fell in love with you. I would have been happy to serve you my entire life, as long as you praised me and kept me by your side.”

“You deserved better, Binghe,” Shen Yuan said, lowering her eyes. “You were meant for better.”

“What is better than this?” Luo Binghe braced herself and finally lowered a hand down to cup one of Shen Yuan’s breasts. The woman gasped and shivered in her grasp, but didn’t push her away. Binghe gently massaged the enticingly giving flesh through her robes and said, leaning in again, “What is better than giving the woman I love pleasure, than seeing her full of my food, dressed by my hands, pleasured by my attentions?”

Shen Yuan didn’t seem to have an answer for that beyond kissing her again. Luo Binghe answered her kiss in kind, careful to not be too aggressive, remembering that her beloved was human and would want more human affection. 

Shen Yuan moaning helplessly into her mouth was her prize and she kept up her careful ministrations against her chest. Binghe couldn’t hold back her own eager noise and felt herself respond in her skirts. 

Still, after a few moments more of kissing Shen Yuan breathless, Binghe pulled away, not forgetting her purpose. “Would A-Yuan let anyone else touch her like this?” she asked, brushing a thumb over a pert nipple she could feel through the fabric. “See her like this?”

“Ah, who do you think I am?”

“Then why should we not marry now? What difference does it make between now and later?” Binghe kissed her gently when she thought she was getting ready to protest, which quickly and gratifyingly had Shen Yuan losing her train of thought. She continued after a moment, “This Binghe would love nothing more to claim Shen Yuan as her wife, her Empress and partner. We could of course have a more formal wedding, crowning you as my Empress. But I wish to touch you after so long, to feel you after years of imagining you to maintain my sanity, A-Yuan. Won’t you let me?”

“...”

Shen Yuan stared at her and then nodded her head minutely. “Do you have cups?”

Luo Binghe stood quickly, causing Shen Yuan to yelp as she was held securely in her arms. She strode over to the bed where they would soon consummate their union and set Shen Yuan down on it carefully. With a quick kiss, she released her. “I will return shortly, A-Yuan.”

Then she left, full of haste because she scarcely believed that had worked! Her Shizun had consented to become her wife! She didn’t have a moment to waste!

Shen Qingqiu was a bit overwhelmed. 

Sure, she adored Luo Binghe and never wanted anything awful to happen to her! But like. Did she even like women!?!

Of course, Luo Binghe was the most gorgeous woman ever. With her red eyes and perfect skin and sharp features… and strong arms and legs and… and claws and fangs and perfect breasts and…

What was she thinking about?

Right! She wasn’t sure if she was like. Gay. Because, yes, women were objectively pretty; everyone thought that. And girls smelled so good! And the curves of their bodies were something she admired not out of envy but just appreciation!

Shen Qingqiu was a feminist, okay? Who wouldn’t appreciate women the way she did? No one!

But, well. Binghe had kind of. Made her react in a way she wasn’t used to. Her underthings were warm and a bit wet, and her nipples were sensitive against the silk of her robes, but that was just the power of the Protagonist, no? It said nothing about Shen Yuan herself. 

She had just about talked herself around to not freaking out over marrying Luo Binghe when the woman in question returned. Shen Qingqiu watched her approach from the bed with careful eyes, seeing the tray in her hands with cups and presumably a small jug of wine but choosing to focus more on her former disciple.

Luo Binghe was just… so beautiful. Breathtaking in motion, her aura free and warming in her power. She looked so right in demonic robes, but Shen Qingqiu couldn’t hope but long for a different color palette, one that suited her station more.

Gay or not, Shen Qingqiu knew that being Luo Binghe’s wife was far from her worst ending and most definitely not a hardship. Was she enthused about her Binghe losing interest in her and growing her harem? No.

But she was in no position to complain. She would take what she would get.

Shen Qingqiu sat up and stood, allowing Binghe to set her tray on the bed. She held Binghe’s eyes and put a soft hand on her wrist. “Shall we?”

With eyes shining with something as improbable as tears, Luo Binghe nodded. They stepped away from the bed for the sake of room, and faced each other. Shen Yuan turned to one side, figuring it didn’t really matter and saw Binghe doing the same. 

As one, they knelt and bowed, the first ostensibly to the Heavens and Earth. They bowed again, this time ostensibly to their ancestors. 

Then they faced each other and Shen Qingqiu met Luo Binghe’s eyes with her heart in her throat. It beat rapidly and left her mouth dry, but not from fear. She truly had never expected to be married, never expected to find anyone who would want her in this life or her previous one.

Yet, as they bowed a third time to each other, it was done.

She stood shakily and Luo Binghe quickly stepped into her personal space and put a claiming hand on her waist. “The wine now. I trust Shizun is familiar with the minimum requirements for a demonic wedding?”

She licked her lips again, looking away from her wife’s intent stare. “The blood exchange, accepting your parasites.”

“Is A-Yuan opposed?”

Shen Qingqiu didn’t answer. She poured wine into both of their cups and offered Luo Binghe her finger to prick with her claws wordlessly. Binghe drew in a harsh breath but complied, pressing one of her sharp claws to the tip of her index finger and barely letting a drop spill into her cup before bringing it to her mouth to lick.

The movement had Shen Qingqiu shyly looking up at Binghe’s face, only to flush and look away at the frankly overwhelming want there. She had to lock her unstable knees to keep from faltering, body betraying her in a way she had never experienced before. 

…was she behaving like a blushing virgin? Ah, what a stupid trope to fall into! But what else could she do with Binghe looking at her like she wanted to eat her!?

With a surge of defiance at her own discomfort, Shen Qingqiu looked up and met Luo Binghe’s eyes after she had bled lightly into Shen Qingqiu’s cup. She held it as they took the cups in hand and crossed their arms, as she fought to breathe steadily before taking a deep sip of the wine as Luo Binghe drank hers. She drained her cup, feeling the burn of the alcohol and the heaviness of the blood parasites settle in her belly. 

Luo Binghe stared at her, eyes beginning to glow and fangs peeking through her smile as she seemed to lose control over her arousal as only occasionally happened in the novel. Shen Qingqiu trembled but said as she finally lowered the cup, “My wife.”

Binghe growled and pretty much tackled her into the bed, cups dropped and forgotten on the floor. She kissed her like she was the air she needed to breathe, hand cradling her head so she didn’t knock it against the bed. Shen Qingqiu made a sound of relief under her, back arching and hands clinging to her back as she shook apart. 

They were pressed closely together and Shen Qingqiu felt the Heavenly Pillar against her belly with a jolt. She didn’t know if Binghe would have chosen to keep this part of her after having access to Qian Cao’s expertise earlier on in this timeline, but she wasn’t put off by it. Binghe was Binghe, and she would take her as she was any day.

…she just never expected to take her as it seemed she was about to.

Gods, would the Heavenly Pillar even fit?!?

Shen Qingqiu’s sudden apprehension was noticed by Luo Binghe who pulled back with a troubled look on her face. “A-Yuan? Is this…”

“Binghe is perfect,” she said quickly, rubbing her body against her wife’s in reassurance. She really was so pretty like this, with flushed cheeks and kiss swollen lips. “This Shen Yuan was just… worried. That Binghe would have trouble fitting. Inside her.”

She felt her twitch, even through the layers of robes between them. “I’ll fit,” she growled before taking her mouth again.

Shen Qingqiu kissed her back and felt herself grow uncomfortably wet beneath her clothes as they kissed and kissed and kissed. No longer able to deny her own arousal, she tugged at Binghe’s clothes and ran her hands through Binghe’s hair. She parted her legs and welcomed the weight of her wife between them, both of them gasping as their hips connected.

“A-Yuan,” Binghe said as she kissed down her neck, leaving biting bruises that would no doubt mark her as taken to others. Shen Qingqiu offered her neck to her wife of course, whimpering as she sucked at a sensitive spot. “A-Yuan, let me–”

“Yes, yes,” Shen Qingqiu said, knowing Binghe could have whatever she wanted. 

There was the rip of fabric and sudden feeling of air against her skin as Luo Binghe carefully used her claws to cut through the robes Shen Qingqiu was wearing, then ripped them away from her body. She sat up with hands still on her robes and stared down at Shen Qingqiu’s suddenly exposed torso. 

She made a scandalized noise and instinctually went to cover herself, but Binghe caught her wrists and raised them above her head. Shen Qingqiu shivered under her attention as she kept them captured in one large hand while the other splayed over her ribs. 

“Don’t hide, A-Yuan,” she murmured, licking her lips as she raised her hand and cupped her breast. Heat traveled down Shen Qingqiu’s chest as her wife squeezed her experimentally and rubbed at her nipple. “You’re so beautiful, my love. Allow me to worship you.”

“Bing–ah!” Shen Qingqiu cried out as Luo Binghe lowered her head and heat suddenly engulfed her neglected breast. She couldn’t help arching into the lewd caress, suddenly shameless as that warmth seemed to directly translate to her core and left her needy. She screamed in pleasure as her wife teased her with her lips and teeth, the slightest hint of pain thrilling her. 

Luo Binghe, encouraged by her response, focused on mouthing at her other breast, both hands migrating now to nearly encircle her waist and then move down to grab at her still-clothed hips. Shen Qingqiu didn’t pay much mind to it, hands too busy holding Binghe to her chest and arching her hips in a desperate effort to get some relief to her cunt. Her robes still hung from her arms, and it just emphasized how debauched she was with her clothing only torn away enough for her wife to get to her tits. 

It made her feel incredibly desired in a way she never had experienced, and she wanted more.

“Binghe, wife,” she implored, raising her head to kiss at the top of hers. “Please.”

“Anything,” Luo Binghe promised, looking up at her before kissing her reddened nipple. “Anything.”

“Let us undress; I’m getting too hot.”

Binghe’s eyes darkened and she gave her breast one last, sloppy kiss that left Shen Qingqiu shaking. “Far be it for me to let my Empress be uncomfortable. Let your wife serve you.”

Luo Binghe stared down at a flushed and wanting Shen Yuan and felt herself on the edge of losing control. The long, leanly muscled lines of her did little to show just how strong Binghe knew her Shizun, her A-Yuan, her wife was, but fuck if it didn’t make her absolutely gorgeous. 

Shen Yuan looked at Binghe with poorly disguised hunger, eyes jumping from her face to her breasts to her cock in rapid succession, almost like she didn’t know where to begin. Thankfully, Luo Binghe didn’t have time to doubt how her wife wanted her, her thighs rubbing together restlessly in a way that the woman seemed utterly unaware of. For a woman who confessed to being utterly inexperienced, it was fascinating to see just how erotic she was.

Not that Luo Binghe had any experience to speak of beyond some key, detailed but only theoretical lessons from Madam Meiyin on how to please another woman. She had wanted to save all of her practice for her Shizun and had already misstepped once in her eagerness to kiss her earlier.

But Luo Binghe knew better. And she would do her best to show her wife why she would never need to look to another for pleasure.

“Binghe’s so beautiful,” Shen Yuan breathed, meeting her eyes again. 

“Not as beautiful as A-Yuan,” she said as she climbed back onto the bed. Shen Yuan watched her come with hazy eyes and Luo Binghe started kissing her knees, aiming to begin working her way towards her wife’s cunt. Shen Yuan responded just as wonderfully as she had to everything else. Her knees parted a little, then all the way as Binghe kissed and bit gently at her inner thigh. 

Shen Yuan smelled so good , even to Luo Binghe’s heightened senses, that it made her mouth water to taste her core. The hair of her mound and lips kept Binghe from seeing all of her, but even that camouflage didn’t hide how flushed her inner lips were, or how they glistened with her arousal. 

Desire made Binghe grip Shen Yuan’s hips tight and pull her more firmly onto her back with her legs spread wide. Shen Yuan gasped her name, but Binghe paid it no mind as she carefully used her fingers to spread her A-Yuan apart. She groaned at how pretty her wife was here, clit swollen and twitching as her entrance clutched at nothing. “Cute,” she said thoughtlessly.

“It’s not cute!” Shen Yuan screeched above her and Luo Binghe lifted her eyes to see her embarrassed face looking down at her over the swell of her breasts.

What a sight. A perfect view.

“Beautiful, then,” she said soothingly before leaning in to put her mouth against those lips. Shen Yuan froze as their gazes held, almost as if shocked by Binghe’s actions, her entire chest flushed at this point. Binghe kissed her here, using her lips and tongue to explore her as her cock leaked against the sheets at her rich taste. 

Shen Yuan’s breath began to speed and small, wanting sounds emerged from her mouth as Binghe ate her out. It was only as Binghe finally turned some concentrated attention to her clit did she begin to moan, head falling back and a hand coming to Luo Binghe’s hair. 

Binghe doubled her efforts then, tasting as her wife grew wetter and wetter and began nearly riding her face as she chased her own pleasure. “Good girl, Binghe,” she started babbling at some point as her cunt clutched at her invading tongue. “So good, baby.”

The praise had Luo Binghe humping the bed and moaning into her. Unwilling to leave the entrance to paradise, she carefully transformed one of her hands to not have claws and put a circling thumb to her clit. Shen Yuan’s back arched suddenly and she began chanting her name as she tongue-fucked her.

It took very little until she screamed and went stiff as a small wave of liquid gushed from her entrance. Entranced, Luo Binghe did her best to drink her down, to not let a single drop of her pleasure be wasted. 

Binghe gentled her attentions until Shen Yuan relaxed back against the sheets and looked down at her with an open mouth and fucked out expression. Binghe lightly licked over her still twitching hole and she said, breathless, “Come here.”

Luo Binghe was no fool and went, both of them moaning into the kiss as they finally laid bare against each other and Shen Yuan tasted her own pleasure in Binghe’s mouth. Binghe couldn’t help rutting against Shen Yuan’s love-bitten thigh, making them gasp into each other’s mouths. 

“Binghe hasn’t gotten any pleasure,” Shen Yuan said, widening her legs and using her hands to urge Binghe’s hips up. Luo Binghe’s instinctive protest at the statement melted away as she hissed as her cock met the wet, welcoming heat of her cunt. “Let me help.”

“A-Yuan–” she gasped but was helpless to do anything but brace herself as Shen Yuan blushed but began to rub herself against Binghe’s length. 

“It’s… I’m not prepared to take Binghe. But this feels good, right?” Shen Yuan asked timidly, like she wasn’t rubbing her pussy over Binghe’s cock. “You’re so big,” she said almost to herself as she worked her hips up and down, the glide yet texture of her making Luo Binghe lose her mind.

She couldn’t help thrusting against her, making Shen Yuan shudder and moan. Her eyes were unfocused with pleasure and what was Luo Binghe supposed to do? Not rut against her when it was so blatantly offered?

Shen Yuan mewled under her as Luo Binghe chased her own pleasure against her sex. She then took Luo Binghe’s breasts in hand and squeezed, massaging both of them with dazed yet fascinated eyes. “Oh, they’re so soft,” she said, squeezing harder when she realized it made Binghe tremble with want.

The tip of Binghe caught against Shen Yuan’s rim and both of them shuddered, Binghe close to coming. “Let me,” she begged. “Let me–!”

“Just the tip,” Shen Yuan said. “Just a little. It will hurt, otherwise.”

“Don’t wanna hurt you,” Luo Binghe slurred as she took her wet dick in hand and held herself to her wife’s entrance. “Love you, won’t hurt you.”

“Binghe!” Shen Yuan bucked her hips in a way that forced Luo Binghe to enter her just a bit, enough for her to feel how tight and hot she was inside against her sensitive slit. “Love you. Love you!”

Luo Binghe came with a shout, emptying her spend into Shen Yuan as best as she could while her wife did her best to fuck herself open on her cockhead, as if she wanted to take as much as her seed as she could. 

The thought alone had her coming harder, doing her best not to bully her way inside the small, still unprepared opening. A base part of her wanted to push her spend deeper, wanted to mark her inside the way no one else had before. It saw her pleasure at this small breach, at being pumped full, and wanted more. Her perfect little cunt squeezed at her tip as if to milk her for all she would give, and Luo Binghe wasn’t surprised that she had only barely softened when her orgasm stopped.

She pulled out and watched as her wife’s tight pussy leaked white, and saw red. She needed to be inside her yesterday, but had to wait just a little longer. 

She would do all she could to make that wait fun.

Shen Qingqiu was surprised at herself. She felt her core ripple at the hint of warmth that shot into her from Luo Binghe’s orgasm, felt herself nearly follow her at the sensation. Her body ached from that small invasion, but in a way that had her wanting to demand more.

If she thought too long about what she was doing or why, she would start second guessing herself. So she made sure not to sit idly as her wife recovered, half-sitting up to press kisses to her chest and suck small bruises along her breasts. Binghe gasped at her attention and Shen Yuan opened her eyes as she wetly licked at her nipple. 

Her wife watched her with wide, slightly crazed eyes and Shen Qingqiu felt how hard she (still!) was against her leg. Possessed by an unnamed urge, she looked up at her through her lashes and asked, lightly nipping at the skin of her underboob, “Did this Shen Yuan please her wife?”

Binghe growled and pulled her head back by the neck to kiss her again. Shen Yuan melted into it, clinging to her, and jolted as she felt blunt fingers work their way through her folds. Luo Binghe smiled into her mouth and said, “Wife is wonderful, letting this Binghe get her even wetter, letting me mark her. But I know she wants more, doesn’t she? She was so insistent just moments ago of taking me into her. Surely you haven’t changed your mind now?”

Shen Yuan shook her head then gasped as two of Binghe’s fingers pushed into her cunt. It was a stretch but a welcome one, her body relaxed by her own orgasm and persistent arousal. She spread her legs wider and tilted her hips, encouraging her wife to go deeper. “Binghe!”

“Hm? What is it A-Yuan?” Luo Binghe asked as she pushed further into her, arm flexing with the movement. The fingers curled up then moved down, brushing against a spot that had Shen Yuan jumping. “Tell me. Tell your wife what you need.”

“Hm, more,” she panted as Binghe started a smooth rhythm in and out of her. “More.”

“I’ll give you more, as much as you want,” she said against Shen Qingqiu’s open mouth before licking into it. She was unable to respond consciously, left sucking on her wife’s tongue as she let her body be worked open. Two fingers became three and she suddenly needed her mouth free to get enough oxygen. Binghe didn’t seem to mind, moving down to kiss her neck and play with her breasts some more. Her lips seemed so gentle as she fingerfucked her with increasingly lovely brutality, leaving Shen Qingqiu shaking and screaming in pleasure.

“My wife enjoys my hands so much,” Luo Binghe paused her attentions to say in Shen Qingqiu’s ear. “Like she loves that I’m fucking my seed deeper into her.”

Oh. Oh, Shen Qingqiu hadn’t even considered that, but now that she had–

She let out a high, pathetic whine, and moved with her wife’s hand.

It was only when a fourth finger entered her to her wife’s honest praise that she came again, part of her mind immediately concerned by what felt like a gush of liquid escaping her while the other was lost in the orgasm that her wife continued to coax her through. 

She went limp and Binghe’s fingers stopped moving inside her but remained, keeping her feeling wonderfully full. Shen Qingqiu panted as Binghe kissed her face. “You came so much, A-Yuan,” she said gently. “Made such a mess.”

“S-sorry,” she said, flushing. “I don’t know– that’s never happened before!”

Luo Binghe froze, then removed her fingers from her body and rolled on top of her completely. “You didn't know you could squirt?”

“I could what?”

“Oh, my A-Yuan,” Binghe said, eyes bright and fangs flashing. “It means I’ve served you well, wife. Let me continue to do so.”

Luo Binghe knelt over her and lined herself up to Shen Qingqiu’s entrance. She felt her just at the threshold of her body, and resented the distance. She met her wife’s gaze and said, “Fuck me.”

The entry was otherworldly, as in it felt like nothing that big should be in her in this world. Perhaps she had ascended, or died and gone to hell, but the Heavenly Pillar was bigger than even four of Binghe’s fingers. No way she was going to fit, even with their foreplay!

But.

But the stretch was unreal and so fucking satisfying. For this moment, Luo Binghe was hers. She found a home in her body, was pleasured by her sex. She was giving her Binghe a pleasure that she had presumably never felt before, a first time that no one else would ever share.

And that was fucking amazing. 

Tears slipped from Shen Qingqiu’s eyes at the intensity of her wife fucking into her, and Binghe paused in clear panic. “A-Yuan!”

“I’m okay,” she said shakily. “I’m okay. Don’t stop, Binghe.”

Luo Binghe didn’t seem completely convinced and watched her face carefully as she continued her slow entry. Shen Qingqiu looked down to see how much of her was left and—! She really wasn’t going to fit!

…maybe this was like a cold water situation? She should just jump in to get adjusted to it sooner?

She had been laying still, body in a kind of shock since Binghe first began fucking into her. Now, she braced herself then pushed back into Binghe’s hips as much as she could, both of them crying out by how deep Binghe suddenly was in her. 

“A-Yuan!”

“Give me all of you,” she said, strangled. She slit her eyes open and caressed Binghe’s face. “I want all of you, right now, Binghe.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said a bit brokenly, and Shen Qingqiu knew then that she would give this girl anything, everything that she could. 

“You could never. My Binghe would never hurt me,” she said soothingly. 

“Let’s start with this, okay?” she said, still worried. “Let me fuck you like this.”

“Okay.” Luo Binghe pulled back then… rolled her hips, creating a wave of motion inside Shen Qingqiu in a way she wasn’t expecting. She made a startled noise and was unable to gather her thoughts properly until Binghe did it several more times, each one pushing her deeper inside. 

At that point, Shen Qingqiu tensed her stomach and began matching Binghe’s motions, making room inside herself for her wife and reveling in the pleasure on her face.

Their hips finally met at the same moment that she felt Luo Binghe brush something so intense it was nearly painful deep inside of her. They both gasped at that moment, presumably for different reasons. “What’s that?” Shen Qingqiu asked, confused and too dick drunk to really think.

“Your womb, I think,” Luo Binghe said, looking down at her in awe. “I’m just the right size to fill all of you to the entrance of your womb. Like you were made for me.”

Shen Qingqiu didn’t know about that, but she did know the Original Luo Binghe had never had children. She had been capable of siring children (the blood parasites had made sure of that), but she never chose to have any of her partners carry her heir, presumably leaving that honor only for her Empress, the last person she vowed to marry.

…would that mean that Shen Qingqiu could keep this precious woman to herself if she found herself knocked up with the Protagonist’s baby?

The minute that thought occurred was the exact moment that she wanted it. She never had really thought about children before, seeing that as very closely tied to finding someone who would want her and thus an impossibility, but…

Maybe.

…was it possible to babytrap someone who was already balls deep inside you without protection?

Shen Qingqiu supposed she was about to find out.

She felt her expression harden in resolve as she wrapped her legs snuggly around Binghe’s waist, resting her thighs on her plush hips. “Feels good,” she said, not knowing how to approach dirty talk but knowing what her Binghe liked all the same. “Binghe’s so good for me, hm?”

She felt her wife twitch inside her at that small praise and knew she was right. “A-Yuan–”

“Won’t Binghe be a good girl and fuck me?” Shen Qingqiu said, blushing at her shamelessness. 

Still, she couldn’t argue with its effectiveness.

Luo Binghe’s jaw dropped then she smiled brightly. She moved her grip on Shen Qingqiu’s hips to have her legs rest helplessly over her arms, raised her to an angle were most of her weight was on her shoulders, and began fucking her like she meant it.

…maybe the virgin shouldn’t have teased the Harem Master Protagonist her first round, but it was too late to take it back. 

Luo Binghe fucked her like it was her calling in life, causing Shen Qingqiu to scream at the deep, maddening pleasure. Her easy and bruising hold on her hips kept Shen Qingqiu from having too much of her weight on her shoulders, but she felt the conclusion of each thrust up her spine. It was far rougher than Shen Qingqiu remembered Luo Binghe’s first time being in PIDW, but it was also more honest, Luo Binghe seeming just as lost in it as she was, truly giving her everything she could. 

And Shen Qingqiu loved her.

Her orgasm took her by surprise, an assault to her senses as her muscles locked up and she wordlessly screamed her pleasure. She distantly heard Luo Binghe saying her name over and over with clear desperation and barely managed to say, “Come in me, baby.”

The near instant flood of warmth deep in Shen Qingqiu’s belly extended her orgasm, leaving her shaking and clenching around the flesh buried inside her. 

Binghe carefully lowered her to the bed and Shen Qingqiu blinked her eyes enough so she could focus on her wife. To her surprise, she found her crying. 

Alarmed, she sat up as much as possible and put gentle hands to her face. “Binghe?! Binghe, what’s–”

“You’re so beautiful,” she whispered, staring at Shen Qingqiu like she was the best thing she had ever seen. “And you’re all mine.”

Shen Qingqiu inhaled sharply but leaned forward enough to pull a pliant Luo Binghe into a kiss. “Yes,” she whispered against her mouth. “I’m all yours.”

Even though you’re not all mine. Not yet.

For the first time since she had transmigrated, Shen Qingqiu circulated her qi around her womb. We’ll see about later.

Chapter Text

Luo Binghe did not require a lot of sleep now and was unashamed to watch her wife sleep nestled in her arms.

She was always beautiful, but there was something about Shen Yuan sleeping curled in Binghe’s arms that was just so soft that it made her want to cry. 

Binghe had made it! She was married to her Shizun who loved her too! She had achieved her wildest dream!

She had been hesitant to push for more rounds of sex following the consummation of their vows because Shen Yuan was nodding off and Luo Binghe knew that she had been through an emotionally trying day. Even with her restraint, even through the clean-up and seeing Shen Yuan’s sudden modesty over the aftermath of their union, Luo Binghe wanted nothing more than to bend her over and take her again and again.

But she had some self control, despite finally seeing her nude wife in motion reminding her that she really hadn’t yet paid due attention to her lovely ass. Luo Binghe had ensured that her A-Yuan was clean and comfortable and warm. She had preened at how easily Shen Yuan fell asleep, and still felt the desire to seek her body’s warmth.

While Luo Binghe had slept eventually, she also found herself waking after only a few shichen. Shen Yuan breathed deeply and easily, oblivious to her wife’s rousing, and Binghe wanted to keep it that way. She propped herself up carefully and looked over Shen Yuan, the lax lines of her body and dip of her waist beneath the sheet. To her sharp nose, she smelled like bamboo and honey and sex, even after bathing. She carried a hint of Binghe’s own spicier scent, likely would continue to do so as long as they maintained a sexual relationship. 

She had more color to her cheeks now, and Binghe remembered how Shen Yuan had known the entire time the cure to her poisoning was simply laying with Binghe, but she never would have said a word to not pressure her. For all that Shen Yuan truly had sacrificed and done for Luo Binghe, she took it as her duty, what Binghe deserved rather than the miracle that she would forever appreciate.

Luo Binghe would not lose this woman. She knew she had surprised her yesterday, not quite strongarming her into their marriage but certainly rushing the situation out of a need to be tied as closely as possible for it. Shen Yuan had obviously consented even knowing the properties of her blood parasites, and certainly had been enthusiastic while they had been fucking.

But what if she grew to regret it? What if time passed and Shen Yuan realized the full ramifications of being her Empress and got cold feet?

What if she didn’t love her as much as Luo Binghe wanted her to?

She knew herself well enough at this point. After having tasted this happiness, after holding her wife in her arms, she wouldn’t be able to accept anything less. Luo Binghe wanted her A-Yuan to be happy, but she was a greedy, craving thing, instinctually possessive and protective of her wife. She would go insane if Shen Yuan changed her mind about her. It seemed unlikely, but even the smallest possibility had Luo Binghe wanting to press her into the mattress and pleasure her until she couldn’t think anymore. 

There was one option, however. One way to tie her to her in a way that couldn’t be undone. 

Her A-Yuan adored children; that much was evident in how she treated Binghe’s younger shidimei that were recruited after she became Shen Qingqiu. They had already laid together and her wife had been far from opposed to having Luo Binghe fill her with her seed. If she could get her pregnant, could leave that undeniable claim on her wife so that no reasonable person would be able to separate them. Their public marriage would need to happen well before the baby arrived, and just the thought of her A-Yuan carrying their child, of seeing a small child that resembled her wife in her arms…

She wanted it. 

Luo Binghe looked at her slumbering wife and felt her low-level arousal spike. She licked her lips and slowly moved to put a hand on Shen Yuan’s lower belly. She didn’t know the medical details of having a womb well so she didn’t attempt to mess with anything internally, but she vowed to herself that she would do her best to see this part of her wife grow with new life very, very soon.

Almost as if sensing Binghe’s intense focus, Shen Yuan made a noise and wiggled herself closer, her ass nestled firmly against Binghe’s swelling cock. She was still asleep, but Binghe bet it wouldn’t take much to change that.

She pressed closer against her wife’s generous ass and contorted herself to kiss her neck, wanting to wake her gently. Shen Yuan shivered but still didn’t wake. Luo Binghe pushed her hand against her lower stomach and lifted her leg so that her cock was more firmly nestled between her legs. She kissed up her neck to her ear and nipped at the lobe. “Wife? Won’t you wake for me?”

Shen Yuan made a small sound and groaned a little. “Binghe?” she questioned, tone soft with sleep. 

“Hm, yes, your Binghe.” She moved to cup her breast and rubbed herself against her cunt, gratified to feel the first sign of wetness against her. “Want you.”

“Oh!” she gasped only to move with her, body quickly warming to the idea. She turned her head and offered her mouth, which Binghe happily took in a kiss. When they separated, Shen Yuan murmured, “Whatever my wife wants. I’m all yours.”

Luo Binghe groaned and pulled her closer. “Don’t say that,” she said between kisses to her face, her neck and shoulder. “I’ll give you no peace.”

“If I wanted peace, I wouldn’t have married you,” she said simply, devastatingly. “You’re worth all the trouble in the world.”

Luo Binghe moved quickly, bed creaking as she found herself between Shen Yuan’s thighs, face buried against her chest while her fingers sought her entrance. She probed her, testing to see how wet she was, how much she would need to prepare her. 

In the dark, Shen Yuan just blinked up at her and smiled before widening her legs and reaching for her. Gods, that smile, one she never imagined seeing on her Shizun’s face but so natural on her A-Yuan, was something she never wanted to lose.

It was only a matter of moments before she had pushed into her wife, swallowing her gasp in her need to taste it. She moved slowly, not wanting to break the calm of the moment, but it quickly wasn’t enough for the bottomless greed inside her. “Wife,” she panted, licking against her open lips. “Let us dual cultivate in truth.”

Shen Yuan’s legs tightened around her with a moan. “H-how?”

Luo Binghe demonstrated, words too ephemeral at the moment to even attempt to explain. She began feeding Shen Yuan her spiritual energy through where they were connected, making her back arch sharply as she cried out in startling pleasure. “Oh oh oh, Binghe!”

Before Luo Binghe could recover from her wife’s reaction and the resulting pulsing of her pussy around her, Shen Yuan’s energy reached back for her. The sudden sense of being invaded by her wife so intimately, of feeling the essence of her inside her , had Luo Binghe thrusting harder than she intended, causing Shen Yuan to claw at her back.

Binghe tried to control her energy, to regulate it to something she could think around, but Shen Yuan’s qi betrayed a desperation for her she didn’t expect. Shen Yuan wanted, no, needed Luo Binghe to fuck her like she was the only thing she wanted in this life. Despite how Luo Binghe literally filled her perfectly, Shen Yuan wanted more, delighted in feeling desired just as much as she seemed to need that desire proven to her. 

Shen Yuan always denied herself so much, never would have been able to articulate this feeling out loud, likely never would have told Binghe how much she needed. But, like this, she could hide nothing and certainly not her nearly feral desire to be kept and claimed and possessed. 

Like Luo Binghe didn’t have the exact matching well of need inside herself.

She lost it. She pulled out of her to Shen Yuan’s verbal and visible dismay, but didn’t dally as she flipped her wife over and raised her hips so she was on her knees. She entered her again swiftly, both of them crying out at how deep she was, the way she met the end of her with every thrust. Luo Binghe leaned over her wife so that she rutted against her presented ass and bit down on a shoulder nearly against the mattress. 

Shen Yuan shrieked as she came harder than she had before, body squirting against Binghe and squeezing her so tight it was nearly painful. It was a pain Binghe welcomed as she swiftly followed her into orgasm but didn’t let up her thrusts, knowing she could keep fucking her until her wife overflowed with her seed. 

She licked at the bite and felt her wife’s satisfaction through the energy connection that remained between them. Luo Binghe felt utterly feral, slamming into her A-Yuan over and over, determined to fuck her full, to make it take, make her stay hers. Shen Yuan screamed and clawed at the sheets even as she did her best to meet Binghe’s thrusts from her extremely limited position. 

Time faded to her senses, only to be marked by whether she was orgasming or her A-Yuan was. Since emerging from the Abyss, since her fight to claim Xin Mo, Luo Binghe had not given into her demonic instincts so completely. The thing was, Shen Yuan loved it, loved that Luo Binghe was a demon just as much as she was human, and encouraged her lack of control. 

What else could Luo Binghe do but give her wife exactly what she wanted?

Shen Qingqiu felt somewhere above her body, endorphins from their recently finished marathon sex session leaving her buzzing and not quite present. Binghe was still inside her but finally soft, using her body to warm her cock even as she kept her plugged with her copious spend. Shen Qingqiu was utterly sated, feeling loved and desired and relaxed even though she knew she would be deeply embarrassed about all this later. 

She also had never felt so powerful, having her notoriously controlled wife lose it only the second time they had had sex from the pleasure she gave her alone. Not to mention the qi that lit up her no longer clogged spiritual veins that left her fingers tingling just as much as her afterglow.

Binghe was awake, with her arms wrapped tightly around her waist and her face buried against her neck. She periodically kissed the bite mark she left on Shen Qingqiu’s shoulder their first round and was releasing a low hum of pleasure that reminded Shen Qingqiu very much of purring. She combed her fingers through Binghe’s curls, legs still cradling her hips, and smiled to herself, extremely satisfied with the state of things. 

“Love you,” Luo Binghe said, licking at the bite. “Love you.”

“I know, baby,” she cooed. “I love you, too.”

Maybe, Shen Qingqiu thought as she concentrated on the persistent fullness of her lower belly, you may love me for more than a moment. Maybe you’ll let me keep this a little longer. 

Even if she was wrong and a baby didn’t keep Binghe with her, then at least Shen Qingqiu would have a manifestation of this love to remember and nurture. At least she would have one person who needed her. 

“A-Yuan?” 

Shen Qingqiu blinked and looked at Luo Binghe, surprised to see her staring at her from so close. “Yes? Sorry, lost in thought.”

“Why are you sad?” Binghe asked, frown on her face. “Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you?”

Shen Qingqiu’s heart broke and she did her best to smile at her, “No, sweetheart. You did nothing wrong.”

“...but something’s still bothering you,” she said, eyes blinking back to full awareness and she pulled out of her completely. Shen Qingqiu made a scandalized noise at the sudden and unignorable mess between her thighs, but Luo Binghe gently held her jaws between her fingers, quietly insisting she look at her. “Tell me so I may fix it.”

Shen Qingqiu met her burning, determined gaze and cursed herself for wanting too much. She should have been silently grateful for what she had! She—

“Shen Yuan, wife,” Binghe coaxed, moving them so that Shen Yuan was sitting fully in her lap while Luo Binghe leaned so their eyes were bare centimeters apart. “How can I make you feel better, take care of you if I do not know the problem? That’s all I want to do; won’t you let me?”

Shen Qingqiu didn’t know what to say. How did you explain to the Protagonist who thought she was in love with you that you doubted she would feel that way in six months, nevermind forever. “Binghe—“

“It’s me, isn’t it?” Luo Binghe insisted. “I’ve failed you—“

“No! No, Binghe, I just…” Shen Qingqiu sighed and said, “I just want to enjoy what we have, okay? I don’t want to forget a moment of this.”

“You talk like this, our marriage, is temporary,” she said, hands tightening on her hips then sliding around to her lower back to hold her closer. Her eyes glowed with the strength of her hurt. “We’ve only just married and you’re already planning on escaping me, is that it?”

“How could I?!” Shen Qingqiu snapped, emotions choking her. “What business would I have with another!? I’m not the Emperor!”

That had Binghe freezing. “What?”

Shen Qingqiu shifted restlessly and looked away. “Emperor Luo will no doubt have many spouses, with this one just being the first. Countless beauties at her disposal, gained through her travels and various peace treaties. Excuse me for enjoying your attention while it lasts!”

Luo Binghe was silent and unmoving and Shen Qingqiu couldn’t take it. She felt flayed open and couldn’t stand it a minute longer. She tried to crawl off of her wife, but didn’t even manage to leave her lap before she was pulled solidly back, thighs spread wide to accommodate her wife’s hips and hands held in front of her.

“Let me go,” she said, pushing weakly at Binghe’s shoulder.

“No,” she said, taking her wrists in one hand and using the other to cradle the back of her head tenderly. “Never. This wife has indeed erred if she has not made herself clear enough that there remained doubt in her A-Yuan’s mind. I am yours just as much as you are mine.”

The words made tears spring to Shen Qingqiu’s eyes because, oh, how she wished she could believe that. “Binghe—”

“Say it, Shen Yuan. You’ve begged me with your body and words and soul to claim you. Why can’t I do the same? Why won’t you take me as your own?”

Shen Qingqiu met dark, determined eyes and said quietly, “What if you grow to resent me for it? I want you to be happy, even if it’s not with me. I can deal with so much, but not you hating me.”

“Oh, my love.” Binghe’s expression softened and she kissed away Shen Qingqiu’s tears. “My life, my heart, never. Never. Claim me as yours, my wife, my Empress, my one and only Shizun.”

“Who are you calling Shizun…” she grumbled, fearfully beginning to hope that Binghe meant it. 

“You,” Binghe said shamelessly as she drew her into a kiss. Shen Qingqiu felt her hard (and truly, what was Heavenly Demon stamina!?) length against her cunt. Praying that her cultivation had done enough healing to prevent the soreness and chaffing that would have been guaranteed otherwise, she freed her hands from Binghe’s grasp. Maintaining their kiss, she raised herself up on her knees and used a hand to guide her wife back inside her. The entry was easy because of how much fluid was in and around her entrance and how fucked open she was, but they hadn’t tried this position before and she couldn’t help weakly clenching around her cock as she took her to the root. 

Binghe kept their lips close and they gasped into each other’s mouths as Shen Qingqiu used her muscles to begin to ride her gently. “That’s it, A-Yuan,” she breathed, eyes somewhat dazed as she held her eyes. “Take me. I’m all yours.”

This position, with Shen Qingqiu in Binghe’s lap and Binghe pressing their torsos together, was shockingly intimate. Shen Qingqiu couldn’t deny the awe and pleasure on her wife’s face as she seemed to truly exalt in the act of being claimed by her. It was so different from what Shen Qingqiu had read, that dominant Harem Master only a faint echo of the woman who was her wife. 

It was only then that it fully clicked that her Binghe and the Original Luo Binghe were different people. All her assumptions about what would make Binghe happy, all her fears about Binghe torturing her, were all based on the actions of a completely different person. 

It made her feel rather silly, honestly.

But, then… that meant that this Luo Binghe really could be hers. Shen Qingqiu could keep her, they could stay together with the threat of a future harem completely nonexistent.

“You really are mine?” Shen Qingqiu asked, fingers tangled in Binghe’s hair as she watched her eyes for the smallest hint that she was unsure or lying.

“Yes,” Luo Binghe breathed in utter and complete surrender. “Please, yes. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to be.”

Shen Qingqiu kissed her hard and accepted what she said as truth. Luo Binghe’s mouth went slack under hers as she bullied her tongue in and attempted to ride her harder.

Frustrated at the lack of leverage, Shen Qingqiu pulled away and pushed Binghe flat onto her back with rarely-used cultivator strength. Binghe let out a grunt at the impact but watched as Shen Qingqiu rose onto her knees and then dropped herself onto her cock, throwing her head back at the feeling.

“Fuck!” Shen Qingqiu cried as she began bouncing on her wife’s dick, riding her hard and fast as urgency overtook her. Binghe stared up at her with swaying breasts and a slack jaw for a long moment, apparently overwhelmed as she watched and felt her. 

Eventually, she recovered and started to help, holding her hips steady and meeting her more passionate than skilled thrusts. “That’s it, A-Yuan,” she said, eyes rapt on her form. “I’m all yours. So happy to be yours. Wanna let everyone know.”

“So quick to please,” Shen Qingqiu panted before her eyes fluttered shut when Binghe began rubbing gently at her clit. “So good to me.”

“Yes, yes, let me serve you. Tell me what to do and it’s yours,” Luo Binghe offered. “I’ll be your servant, your pet, anything, as long as I’m yours.”

Shen Qingqiu looked down at her and remembered fanart from a lifetime ago. “Binghe would be so pretty with a collar,” she said, causing her wife to buck uncontrollably into her and making Shen Qingqiu cry out. “But I just want my wife. I want you as you.”

“Ah! A-Yuan, I’m–”

“Come inside me,” she said, clenching tight around her and eager to watch her come apart from this angle. 

Luo Binghe came, renewing the significant amount of cum inside her, and she was so beautiful in her pleasure with teary eyes and a strained face. Shen Qingqiu undulated against her to keep her orgasm going and was satisfied with that. She had already orgasmed so many times she had lost track during the day and wasn’t immediately pressed to have another one. It was just pleasure for the sake of it; maybe it was okay to not chase a climax.

“Good girl,” she praised as Binghe came down. “So good, baby. You filled me so well, Binghe.”

Her wife whimpered under her and a thrill went through Shen Qingqiu. Ah, she always was weak to giving Binghe what she liked; she would definitely spoil her before long.

She didn’t mind it. And, at this point, didn’t Luo Binghe deserve to be spoiled?

Shen Qingqiu spent a few moments just sitting on top of Binghe with her wife still inside her as she pet along her torso and arms, admiring her body while also helping her calm down. After several long moments of Binghe just smiling absently at Shen Qingqiu’s care, she frowned. “Did you find your pleasure?”

“I had a very good time,” Shen Qingqiu soothed. “I’m alright.”

Luo Binghe pouted. “A-Yuan!” she cried, whining and put out like Shen Qingqiu hadn’t just given her what looked like one hell of an orgasm.

“Come now, Binghe. It doesn’t matter. Besides, you’ve certainly given me more climaxes than I’ve given you.”

“Considering all the years I touched myself to thoughts of you, that actually isn’t true.” Shen Qingqiu had no response but to stare at her. “Besides, it matters to me. My wife will never have sex with me that doesn’t result in at least one orgasm.”

“Binghe, really it’s– oh!” Shen Qingqiu found herself on her back abruptly, legs still in the air from the sudden movement. Luo Binghe pulled out and Shen Qingqiu said hastily, “Cultivation or not, I’m pretty sure my body needs a break from, you know.”

Luo Binghe looked down at her with a smirk. “From getting fucked hard and fast with my cock, my love?”

Shen Qingqiu grew flustered and said, “Something like that, yes.”

“Don’t worry, wife. I won’t hurt you.” Luo Binghe kissed her lips before putting her hands on her thighs in a way that would force them to stay spread wide. “I had something else in mind.”

“Wh- Binghe!” She shouted as Luo Binghe moved at a speed to bury her face in her pussy that was an utter mess with their pleasure intermingled. “What the fuck? Binghe, that’s too… that’s–!” 

From her position between her legs, Luo Binghe looked up at her with smug eyes as she lightly sucked on her clit. She hummed against her in acknowledgement then began to eat her out unabashedly. 

Unfortunately for Shen Qingqiu, it was the lighter touch that was just perfect against her oversensitive sex. She quickly found herself helpless under her lips and tongue, too busy gasping for breath to remember why what her wife was doing was something she needed to stop. 

After everything, she was keyed up enough that her body was likely ripe for distraction and she came fast, making broken noises as Binghe licked her through it. Shen Qingqiu had simply had too many orgasms that day and felt that she had to tap out after that one, her mind in a haze that had her nearly dropping into unconsciousness. 

She felt Luo Binghe’s thumb brush against her lower lip and she blindly opened her mouth to lick against it. She surprisingly found another mouth against hers and the sudden influx of salt-wet-musk in her mouth. 

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes flew open as Luo Binghe kissed her with her mouth full of their shared ejaculate and she just!!! Couldn’t handle it!!

She struggled a little in outrage, but Binghe just hummed, content against her and unaffected by the sudden flailing. Shen Qingqiu found herself swallowing out of sheer self defense and then quickly bit at Luo Binghe’s lip.

Her stupid, lovely wife was too much of an M and just moaned at the sudden burst of pain!

Then, she felt her Pillar begin to stir again!

Absolutely not!

Shen Qingqiu finally turned her mouth away and tried her best to climb out of bed with a lower half that hadn’t yet recovered fine motor functions. “No, Binghe! I’m tired and sticky and need a break! Gah, at this rate my cunt is just going to be gaping all the time!”

“Wife has the best ideas,” Luo Binghe said with a chin still wet with their pleasure, watching her like a predator did their next meal. 

“That wasn’t a suggestion! I need a break! My old hips need a rest!” Shen Qingqiu insisted, trying to put a foot on the floor only to immediately and unceremoniously crumble to the hard wood. “Shit.”

Before Shen Qingqiu could even begin to pick herself up, Luo Binghe had already come around to the side of the bed and scooped her into her arms. “This Binghe will stop teasing and tend to her beloved Empress.”

Shen Qingqiu huffed but didn’t fight her, knowing it was the fastest way she was going to get clean. “You’re ridiculous. I can’t believe you did that.”

“A-Yuan didn’t mind it when I kissed her the first time after I tasted her.”

“That’s different!”

“This Binghe does not understand how.” 

Shen Qingqiu gave up with a groan and Luo Binghe laughed in delight. 

That sound was worth the world to her, and she decided to let it go.

Her plan was to bathe and sleep with her wife wrapped around her. Only then would she worry about anything else.

But honestly? It felt like the world was right here, carrying her with love and joy. And that world was enough for her.

Chapter Text

The outside world came knocking three days after Luo Binghe had unceremoniously absconded with Shen Yuan from Qing Jing Peak. 

Binghe was honestly surprised it took them so long. 

Of course, she and Shen Yuan were thoroughly married by that point, with the only thing missing for them the public ceremony and coronation. Luo Binghe had yet to present Shen Yuan to her court as her Empress, but knew that the Xiu Ya Sword was respected, even among demons. Dual cultivation had actually increased Shen Yuan’s power levels beyond what they had been prior to her poisoning, to Luo Binghe’s pleasure, making her wife even more deadly than she had been before. Plus, she was sure of Luo Binghe’s commitment to their relationship now and was open about wanting to stay by her side!

Altogether, Shen Yuan was so sexy that Luo Binghe had a difficult time concentrating on anything else when she was around. 

Not to mention the tantalizing possibility that she may be pregnant with their child at this very moment. It was far too early to tell, but Luo Binghe had done her best during sex to coax Shen Yuan’s body to be more receptive to such a condition. Time would tell if it worked, but she was hopeful.

Had she talked to Shen Yuan about it? No, but her wife was so particular about the strangest things! She figured that pregnancy was a natural consequence of their activities and Shen Yuan would have said something if she was worried. If she was surprised when she came up pregnant, Binghe would just have to do her utmost to convince her to see their child born.

While she hoped that Shen Yuan would be just as excited as she was by the possibility, Binghe was rather looking forward to that specific begging session.

In any case, when Liu Qingge and Yue Qingyuan came rather forcefully to her palace doors and asked after Shen Yuan, Luo Binghe was more than happy to grant them an audience. It was also a perfect opportunity to introduce Shen Yuan (though she knew that no one else could have the privilege of even knowing that name) to their court. 

Luo Binghe had not yet had a chance to commission a proper throne for her Empress and was pleased that she consented to sitting on her lap.  She carried a small fan that Luo Binghe planned to be her first courting gift if it had come to that. It was black with embroidered red silk depicting a simple bamboo and lotus pattern, the outer guards a glossy black jade. 

Shen Yuan was resplendent in the red and black robes of her court, the swath of skin on display in a rather modest demonic style had Binghe’s mouth watering. She had balked at having any marks of their marital relations visible, so her skin was pristine under the light, her collar bones and only the very tops of her breasts visible in her floor-length robes. The side slits only came up to mid-thigh and her wife had insisted on multiple layers underneath, even if they were translucent. Her inkstone hair was pulled into its usual style, but the crown was that befitting her new station as the first, only, and equal spouse of the Emperor. 

Again, modest for demonkind. For cultivators, however, it would be utterly scandalous to see her dressed like this. Luo Binghe looked forward to her former martial uncles’ reactions, especially as she knew they both coveted her Shizun.

Shen Yuan sat primply on Luo Binghe’s lap as she relaxed against her throne and welcomed in the interlopers. Voices around the court, loud in their speculation of their Emperor’s lover, went silent as the two obviously powerful cultivators walked into the throne room. They both faltered as they understood what they were seeing and Shen Yuan fanned herself lightly. Luo Binghe could picture her expression perfectly, cold and imperious with a slightly raised eyebrow at their reactions.

Both of the men’s faces turned an interesting shade of red and Luo Binghe called out, “Sect Leader Yue and Peak Lord Liu wished to have an audience. State your business and be gone.”

“You–” Liu Qingge started with a step forward and hand already reaching for Cheng Luan. Yue Qingyuan stopped him with a hand to his chest. They walked forward and Yue Qingyuan bowed slightly to Luo Binghe. Despite protocol requiring that Liu Qingge bow lower than his Sect Leader, he made no such move, eyes fixed on Shen Yuan.

Luo Binghe did not like that.

“Emperor Luo,” Yue Qingyuan began respectfully, eyes also stuck on her wife. “We seek to retrieve a member of our Sect who sits before us. There were rumors she was here, but we hesitated to credit them. Now… what is the ransom for her return?”

Shen Yuan snapped her fan closed in a way that Luo Binghe knew denoted her irritation. “Yue Qingyuan,” she seethed, leaning forward. “Do not speak of me as if I am not here.”

“Qingqiu-shimei?” He asked, clearly confused. “You are… yourself?”

“Obviously.”

“What’s obvious?” Liu Qingge scoffed. “You go missing for four days, we find you here dressed like. Like that. And you claim nothing is wrong?”

“Dressed like what?” Shen Yuan said slowly, dangerously. Neither man answered, just flushing deeper. Shen Yuan stood and Luo Binghe immediately reached for her. Without looking she took her hand. “Is there something wrong with being dressed in the manner of this master’s wife’s court?”

Luo Binghe adored her.

“Wife!?!” Liu Qingge shouted, stepping forward while Yue Qingyuan went utterly still. Luo Binghe watched him carefully, knowing her wife could handle the wayward “war god.” “You actually would lower yourself to marry and lay with a–”

There was a rapid wave of sharp spiritual energy that lashed out almost too fast for Luo Binghe to track. From one blink to the next there was a line of singed marble just in front of where Liu Qinghe had been standing before jumping back. Shen Yuan snapped her fan closed once more and said, tone frigid, “Disrespect my wife again, and I may lose my temper. I consider you a friend, Liu-shidi; that’s why you get a warning. One warning.”

They both stared at her and Luo Binghe spoke from her throne, smiling and sure to project her voice to the back of the room. “This Lord is proud to present Master Shen Qingqiu as her sole wife and Empress. A public ceremony and coronation is to be arranged in short order.”

“Junshang–!” Someone cried and Shen Yuan froze beside her. 

“Oh?” Luo Binghe asked, sly and dangerous. “Someone dares question this Lord?”

The room got very, very quiet. Yue Qingyuan said quietly, “Qingqiu-shimei. Is this truly your choice?”

Luo Binghe watched him carefully as Shen Qingqiu once more perched on Luo Binghe’s lap. “Yes.”

“You are abandoning your vows to Qiong Cang Sect? Qing Jing?”

Shen Yuan replied smoothly, “Nothing was said about that. This master is still Peak Lord of Qing Jing Peak and the second ranked Peak Lord in the Sect. Unless Sect Leader Yue is unceremoniously removing this master from her position, which she will fight vehemently. This master would not abandon her precious disciples so quickly.”

“Precious indeed,” Yue Qingyuan said, eyes finally finding Luo Binghe’s with something like banked hatred. “Qingqiu-shimei plans to be both Empress and Peak Lord?”

“Perhaps the Sect Leader should inform the others to expect a treaty proposal from Qing Jing during the next gathering,” she said. “Now, as you can see, this master was not kidnapped nor is she in any danger. As this is not a social visit, this master will see her fellow Peak Lords at another time.”

Neither of them moved. “Your poisoning–” Liu Qingge started through his teeth. 

“Cured,” Shen Yuan responded.

“Surely Peak Lord Liu would not think this Lord so neglectful as to not see to her wife’s health,” Luo Binghe said, tone sweetly venomous as both men stared at her in shock. Neither seemed happy with her interjection or how she hugged Shen Yuan back against her, hand comfortable holding her waist.

“Qingqiu-shimei’s Peak is in disarray,” Yue Qingyuan said, eyes not leaving Binghe’s hold on her.

“This master will handle her Peak,” Shen Yuan said pointedly before relaxing back against Binghe. “This master appreciates the concern, but there is nothing for you to do here. Don’t you both have other things to do?”

Yue Qingyuan opened his mouth to stall further, but Luo Binghe said, “The Empress of this court dismissed you. Do you really want to provoke her wrath?”

With searching and enraged looks to Shen Yuan, both men gave perfunctory bows and left. Some tension drained out of Shen Yuan as she relaxed at last.

“Well?” Luo Binghe called out. “Prepare to introduce yourself to your future Empress.” 

The demons that made up her court jumped to obey her, the higher ranked nobles assembling first, with Mobei-Jun at the front. The Northern Queen gave nothing away in her expression, but Luo Binghe recognized a flash of curiosity in her gaze, perhaps wondering about their quick courtship while she struggled with Shang Qinghua.

The precession of introductions proceeded, Shen Yuan tapping her hand when she recognized someone notable that she had information about. Luo Binghe marked those people for discussion later, as well as any individuals who seemed displeased at their new ruler.

They would learn. 

After a shichen of introductions, she and Shen Yuan retired to the second bamboo house. Luo Binghe didn’t wait before kissing her wife and sliding a hand up her robes, but her A-Yuan stopped her. “Binghe!”

“Wife?” Binghe asked, pressing kisses to her face, pleased to have her melting against her. 

“Wait. We. I have to go to Qing Jing Peak before Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge say gods know what. If I get there, then any alarm will be discredited.” At Binghe’s whine, she offered, “You can come with me and fuck me in the bamboo house?”

…that was acceptable. 

After traveling to Qing Jing Peak courtesy of Xin Mo, Shen Yuan traveled around the Peak with Luo Binghe close at her heels as always. With them both dressed as the master of Qing Jing and an adult (human) disciple, no one had any reaction but relief and surprise at Luo Binghe’s return.

Well. There was some shock that Luo Binghe would become their shimu officially soon, no matter their unofficial rites. It was all very upright and proper and Luo Binghe took great joy in fucking pleasured screams out of her wife not even shichen later in the bed that had been the setting for many a youthful fantasy.

Shen Qingqiu thought that things could have turned out a lot worse than they had. Barely a month after their private bows, Shen Qingqiu was officially the wife of Luo Binghe and Empress of the Demon Realm. A week after the formal wedding and ceremony, a strikingly familiar demon presented himself to court, begging for an audience with Empress Shen on account of their prior acquaintance. 

While Shen Qingqiu had been unavailable (i.e. very much enjoying her makeshift honeymoon), the demon was desperate enough in his pleas that he actually waited for her to return. She scarcely remembered the now moot adventure to find the Sun-Moon Dew Mushroom, but the somewhat disturbing snake demon was easily identifiable. While he was still unable to speak, he did his best to spell things out by creating a temporary communication link with one of the more empathetic demon species that acted as an interpreter. 

While the attendance at court had been small that day, a number of nobles reacted with clear shock to hearing the snake demon’s name was Zhuzhi-Lang. From there, it was rather quick to ascertain he was Luo Binghe’s blood cousin who had searched for a way to free her trapped uncle from a prison cultivators forced him into twenty-one years prior.

It was obvious that this imprisoned Tianlang-Jun was Luo Binghe’s father. It was utterly believable that the fallen royal hadn’t even known to expect a child, let alone that he had a daughter running around.

Even more surprisingly, Zhuzhi-Lang claimed loyalty to Shen Qingqiu for the kindness she once showed him in protecting him from another cultivator. In his own (rather embarrassing) words, “You valued me as a person more than any other had in two decades. You stood against your brethren for my sake when you owed me nothing, and asked for nothing in return. Only you and Junshang have treated me thusly after seeing my true form. Only to you and Junshang do I give my complete fealty.”

…Shen Qingqiu didn’t know what to do with that information and Zhuzhi-Lang rushed to say his fallen uncle had little interest in ruling and would probably be happy to step aside and support his daughter as long as he got to be part of their family. It sounded too good to be true, but Luo Binghe offered her kin accommodations as she and Shen Qingqiu jointly decided to think the situation over.

It was only the day after that Shen Qingqiu felt became aware of an energy other than her own inside her. She concentrated carefully on circulating her qi around her meridians and yes, there but faint. A possibility of new life already growing.

A baby.

It took everything Shen Qingqiu had not to rush to her wife and tell her. She wanted confirmation from an actual doctor. She wanted to be sure.

She wanted to be further along before telling her wife. If she were further along, then it would make it more immediate for Binghe, more real. And while she no longer doubted Binghe loved her, her possible reaction to growing their family would tell Shen Qingqiu a lot.

And that scared her a little. 

Traveling between the demon realm and Qing Jing Peak was easy with Luo Binghe having few heart demons to wrestle the cursed sword over. With Zhuzhi-Lang settled comfortably as Shen Qingqiu promised to seek more information about what happened twenty years ago, the Peak Lord and Empress was shameless in seeking Mu Qingfang the moment she was free from any other obligations on her Peak.

“Shijie?” Mu Qingfang greeted her, one of the few who did not protest when she proclaimed herself both Peak Lord and Empress at that first Peak Lord Meeting. “Is there something this shidi could help shijie with?”

“Yes, in fact,” she said, doing her best to hide her excitement. “It’s a rather routine examination.”

Mu Qingfang hustled her into his office, took her wrist, and then stared at her with wide eyes. “Routine, shijie said?”

“This master is a recently married woman,” Shen Qingqiu said blandly. “Is it not routine to seek a medical professional once certain suspicions arise?”

“...Indeed.” Mu Qingfang schooled his face and bowed to her. “Shijie is indeed with child. I suspect congratulations are in order. If they are not–”

“They are,” she rushed to say, suddenly breathless with the confirmation. She put a hand to her lower stomach and smiled. “Thank you, shidi.”

“...this master apologizes, Shen-shijie, but he must inform the Sect Leader of shijie’s condition as it will impact her ability to govern Qing Jing and provide strategic advice to the Sect.”

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes sharpened. “Is Master Mu implying that simply being pregnant renders this Peak Lord incapable of doing her job?”

Mu Qingfang bowed to her with more haste this time. “No, shijie. Simply that there will be a period of time several months from now when shijie will be physically incapacitated and preoccupied with recovering from childbirth, as is to be expected. The Sect must prepare for the absence of such a prominent member.”

“Ah. And in about how many months would Mu Qingfang suspect the birth to occur?”

“...this master is no expert in these matters, but would estimate that shijie is less than two months into her pregnancy.”

Shen Qingqiu took a deep breath and sighed. “Allow me to inform my wife and Emperor first before the Sect Leader is informed. We must discuss this before it becomes widely known, and this master would loathe for her to find out from another source.”

“As Shen-shijie wishes.”

Shen Qingqiu left Qian Cao Peak with a list of changes to make to her daily routine and a warring sense of nerves and joy. She had done it! She was pregnant!

But how would Binghe react? Their marital relations were… vigorous. Would she be upset that Shen Qingqiu was pregnant? Would she be excited?

Shen Qingqiu already knew that she wouldn’t abandon them for sure, but was there something she hadn’t guessed? Something that would make her Binghe turn from her?

She didn’t know, and the uncertainty was nauseating. She wanted the best for her unborn child. She wanted to make her wife happy.

She never considered what she would do if those two things were opposed to each other. Luo Binghe was now tied to her in a way they couldn’t break, but what if it backfired?

It was too late now. Luo Binghe was too honorable, too devoted in her heart to turn away from the mother of her child. Shen Qingqiu could only hope it would be enough for them both. 

Luo Binghe knew that there was something her A-Yuan was hiding from her and didn’t like it.

Oh, she was working on giving her space and did her best to shower her with love every time they were near each other. Still, the question of what her wife would possibly want to hide from her haunted her thoughts. She had clearly been disturbed after researching what had happened to Tianlang-Jun, but the nerves never quite disappeared after that. 

At first, Binghe thought it was the idea of something like that happening to her, but Shen Yuan seemed more than aware of her wife’s strengths. Then she thought that she started to regret their union, which had led to a very convincing night of Shen Yuan proving her wrong with her body.

Shen Yuan insisted that nothing was wrong, that Luo Binghe hadn’t done anything to upset her. Luo Binghe had made her favorite foods and massaged her scalp and ate her out, but nothing she did made that uneasy look in her eyes go away.

Binghe reached the end of her rope after only a week of this uncertainty. 

“Gods, A-Yuan!” Her sudden outburst caused Shen Yuan to startle as she sat on the side of the bed, only just undressing for the night. Binghe knelt beside her and pressed her forehead to her thigh. “Please, please. Whatever has been bothering you, making you nervous. Could you please just tell this Binghe, this wife? Haven’t I proven to you I can be reliable? That I can help provide anything you need?”

“Binghe?”

“I can tell something’s been bothering you, ever since you were on Qing Jing last! Did someone say something to you? Try to hurt you?”

“No, baby. Nothing’s wrong.”

Luo Binghe looked up at her, frustrated and worried. “Then what’s had you so afraid?”

Shen Yuan’s eyes seemed to search her face, then she took a deep breath. She reached for Luo Binghe’s hand where it rested on her knee and slowly brought it up to her stomach. “I’m pregnant,” she breathed. “Six weeks.”

Binghe’s eyes widened dramatically and she gently pressed her hand to her wife’s body. “Pregnant?” she said slowly, brain not quite processing the news, wanting to believe it but afraid to.

Shen Yuan nodded jerkily. “Is. Is that okay?” she asked, uncertainty clear in her voice.

Luo Binghe looked up at her beautiful, wonderful wife’s nervous face and started to cry. “Oh, A-Yuan,” she whispered as she moved just enough that she could kiss her lips, hand remaining on her stomach protectively. “Yes, my love. Yes.”

“Really?” Shen Yuan asked but a relieved grin was already overtaking her expression.

Binghe couldn’t do anything but kiss her again. “I’m so happy,” she promised, moving to sit on the bed and pull her into her lap. “I love you so much. I’ll take such good care of you; you and our baby. I promise.”

Shen Yuan turned to hug her tight. “I know. I was just so nervous about telling you–”

“Our child could only be a blessing,” Luo Binghe promised as she comforted her, a deep sense of happiness and triumph filling her. She held her close and allowed herself to smirk. She had gotten Shen Yuan pregnant. Now, now, she would never leave. She was Luo Binghe’s extremely well serviced wife, and soon everyone would be able to see it with a glance to her stomach.

…

“Will sex hurt the baby?” Shen Yuan laughed, loud and free. “I’m serious! I’ll survive without it for their sake and your comfort, but–”

“We can have sex,” Shen Yuan reassured her, amusement clear in her voice.

“Great! Let’s do that now!”

“Binghe!”

Of all the things Shen Qingqiu hoped to achieve after transmigrating into her life, she never expected fucking Luo Binghe’s brains out to be on her list of accomplishments. It made sense at the time, but she really should have amended her list once they had gotten married.

At least this was one thing she was quick to rectify.

The thing was, Shen Qingqiu would alway want to spoil Luo Binghe and it very much looked like she would have two babies on her hands in five and a half months. That said, she wouldn’t want her sticky wife any other way, especially if it meant that Shen Qingqiu could give her something that no one else could offer. 

Binghe had been so stressed lately. Between nearly going to war over the false imprisonment of her father, fussing over her pregnant wife, and, you know, being Emperor at age twenty-one, she had a lot on her mind. It was Shen Qingqiu’s privilege to ease that burden whenever she could. And while nothing she said stopped Binghe from being worried over her and their growing child, sex proved a perfect distraction for the would-never-be Harem Master.

And they had found many ways to enjoy that particular activity. 

The most effective way to get Luo Binghe out of her head (outside of outright restraining her with Immortal Binding Cables), was strapping up and making her scream in pleasure.

The design was a bit… anachronistic with the world, but Shen Qingqiu did her best not to ask questions about that, even internally. Like this, her first concerns were making sure her eager puppy of a wife allowed her to prepare her hole properly and then selecting a false cock appropriate for the situation. 

Only then did she wholly devote herself to fucking her wife well.

Even though both of them defaulted to Luo Binghe inside her, they had done this enough in their three months together for Shen Qingqiu to have a decent idea of what her wife liked. She teased her by sliding in and out of her shallowly from behind, knowing she both hated not being filled and craved Shen Qingqiu’s control over her pleasure, even if it meant being denied momentarily.

Shen Qingqiu undulated, making room inside her wife’s prepared but still tight body. She worked hard to make these nights memorable as she knew they would need to stop once her belly grew too large, and part of that meant savoring her powerful Binghe’s pathetic little whines of want.

She leaned down to kiss the curve of her spine. “You need something?”

Luo Binghe nodded and shivered beneath Shen Qingqiu’s lips. “More,” Binghe said, staying still like a good girl. “Please, Empress.”

Shen Qingqiu rewarded the words by pressing deeper into her, nearly halfway all at once. That made Binghe throw her head back in pleasure, her long hair falling softly against Shen Qingqiu’s shoulders. “Yes!” she cried out. “Thank you, Empress!”

“Good girl,” Shen Qingqiu praised, feeling the slight increase of resistance on her polished wood cock as she started sliding in and out of her. She straightened her back to get more leverage, but ran her hands along her sides in recompense. Then—

“Oh!” Binghe exclaimed as Shen Qingqiu purposefully thrust against her prostate. Her wife liked her a little cruel, so she moved her hips in small, precise circles, doing her best to keep the maddening pressure against that lovely organ.

Luo Binghe sobbed beneath her as Shen Qingqiu worked her to a prostate orgasm. She crooned, “You take me so well, Binghe. Are so responsive, babygirl. You gonna come for me?”

Brokenly, Luo Binghe cried, “E-Empress, this Binghe can’t.”

“Yes, she can,” Shen Qingqiu gently contradicted. She started fucking her harder, deeper, but made sure to brush against her prostate. She found it fun, keying Binghe up like this, giving her pleasure without being distracted by her own quite so much. She leaned over and filled her hands with Binghe’s breasts. “My baby’s so good to me. She can come without me touching her cock.

“Can’t she?” She twisted Luo Binghe’s nipples harshly as she fucked into her, hard and deep enough that the soft cheeks of her ass cushioned her lower belly. 

Luo Binghe tensed beneath her, breath utterly still for a moment, Then, she shouted as she came, losing control and fucking back against Shen Qingqiu a little to ride out her orgasm. Shen Qingqiu forgave it easily, sure to fuck her through her climax and gently massage her lovely tits, praising her all the while. 

Shen Qingqiu pulled out once Luo Binghe relaxed under her. She ignored her whine and coaxed her onto her back (avoiding the mess of her spend). She admired her with a soft smile, saying, “My baby’s so pretty. Look at yourself.”

Shen Qingqiu knelt between her spread thighs and touched her gently wherever she wanted. Her fingers trailed the arch of her eyebrows and the dip of her waist. She traced her lips and nice while dipping into her navel. She petted her breasts and lush, strong thighs simultaneously, reveling in how the most powerful being in the world looked at her like she was her god, just from making her feel good.

If only ascension was so easy. Though if becoming a god meant leaving Binghe, then Shen Qingqiu wanted nothing to do with divinity.

She lightly stroked Binghe’s half hard cock as she leaned over to place a lingering, loving kiss on her lips. Binghe absolutely melted beneath her, opening her mouth passively to invite Shen Qingqiu in if she wanted. She accepted the invitation, tasting her wife’s mouth and savoring it like a fine wine. Luo Binghe’s thighs tightened around her hips as was allowed in this position, and Shen Qingqiu smiled. “Is my baby ready for more?”

She nodded. “Yes, my Empress.”

“Good.” Shen Qingqiu maintained her soft smile as she moved them so that Binghe’s knees were almost level with her ears and her hole was exactly where she wanted it. “I’m not nearly done with you yet.”

Luo Binghe didn’t know happiness like this existed.

She stood beside her heavily pregnant wife on the day they were set to finally release her father from his prison. She was Emperor of the Demon Realm, “graduated” disciple of Cang Qiong Sect’s Qing Jing Peak, expectant mother, and, again, wife to Shen Yuan. Her wife, her Shizun, was the most beautiful woman alive and was entirely devoted to ensuring Luo Binghe’s happiness despite her having done nothing to deserve it. 

She was utterly fascinated with her large belly, eager to feel any sign of their child’s movement and giddy with pride that Shen Yuan had allowed her to have such a role in life. Their baby was more than an heir, more than a vehicle to tie her wife to her in more uncertain times; the child of Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan was loved and a manifestation of the love between their parents. Binghe’s child would never experience the hardships that she did, and being able to provide that made her happy enough to cry.

And now, today, she was to finally save her father, doing her best to end the harm caused by machinations of an arrogant cultivator years prior. Months of investigation into the time of Luo Binghe’s birth and Zhuzhi-Lang’s assertion that the only person who could be her late mother was Su Xiyan of Huan Hua Palace had led them to unraveling the truth of the Huan Hua Palace Master’s treachery. 

Even with the Sect’s influence, no other cultivation Sect was able to stand by Huan Hua’s side once evidence was revealed in a trial against the Palace Master, something that Shen Yuan had orchestrated with the fury of a hormonal pregnant woman avenging her spouse. Zhuzhi-Lang, who could exist as a snake rather than a strange human/snake hybrid, openly approved of Shen Yuan’s behavior and his loyalty alone silenced the biggest detractors against Luo Binghe’s choice of spouse.

Not that anyone really did anything to make their displeasure known. Shen Yuan was more than capable of doing her own killing after months of dual cultivation with Luo Binghe and her near militant protectiveness of both Binghe and their unborn child. Still, Binghe did her best to cut any dissent off before it could gain traction and demons had rather quickly learned to accept Shen Yuan as Empress if they did not want to accept death.

Shen Yuan as well as Zhuzhi-Lang, Yue Qingyuan and a few key representatives of both the demon realm and the cultivation Sects were present. Zhuzhi-Lang had gone ahead a shichen prior to communicate in his own way with Binghe’s father, and had returned in snake form.

To everyone’s surprise, he transformed into a mostly human-looking demon. “Emperor Luo, Empress Shen. Junshang wishes to speak to you first.”

It took some negotiating with those present and Mobei-Jun staying behind to make sure no war broke out, but Binghe eventually traveled to have a private meeting with Tianlang-Jun with an ever-loving Shen Yuan at her side.

The path was winding and narrow enough that Luo Binghe made her qi into a white-hot knife to cut through the rock enough that Shen Yuan could walk comfortably. Xin Mo was with her, though she did her best to use it sparingly because of Shen Yuan’s anxiety over it taking over her mind. Despite this, she ended up just cutting through the last few sections of rock with it to get the journey over so her wife could get off her aching ankles sooner. 

“My, how bold an entrance.”

Luo Binghe helped Shen Yuan into the dark cavern and her wife used qi to softly illuminate the space. Tianlang-Jun was crushed under a mountain, with all the gore and horror that implied, and he hissed as he instinctively flinched away from the light in the extremely limited way he could. “Excuse this Binghe’s entrance, Father,” Luo Binghe said formally. “My wife is heavily pregnant, and this daughter did not wish for her to fall against the rocks.”

“...come closer.” Luo Binghe did while holding Shen Yuan's hand and met the eyes of a handsome face that mirrored hers. Her father gasped then coughed painfully, Zhuzhi-Lang doing his best to comfort him by stroking his hair. His next words were, “You look like my Xiyan. You’re my daughter. And she carries my grandchild.”

“Yes,” Luo Binghe said after Shen Yuan squeezed her hand in support. “My name is Luo Binghe and this is my wife, Shen Qingqiu. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Tianlang-Jun started to cry and Luo Binghe found herself leaning on an ever-strong Shen Yuan. She was loved, she had a growing family, and they all would very soon be safe and happy.

Shen Yuan kissed her hand and Luo Binghe met her eyes. Everything was going to be okay as long as they were together, and she knew they would be for a very, very long time.