Watching Gongyi Xiao leave, still clutching Binghe's outer robe around his shoulders, Shen Qingqiu is starting to have some doubts whether he shouldn't, actually, have prodded to see if Gongyo Xiao wasn't open to a bit of treasonous behaviour.
He surely will have more opportunities in the coming days, but - it has to be said, it has to be said, this would've been an excellent opportunity, wouldn't it?
Sighing faintly, he resettles himself on the platform. At least he's not cold any more, even if it's a little embarrassing, still, to be sitting around wearing the protagonist's post-sex robe. Why! does he! keep! being put! in! the love! interest's! role, ah!? Whatever, whatever, he'll live, which is more than he can say for his own ripped-up clothing.
Faintly, his stomach grumbles, and Shen Qingqiu frowns. His ability to withstand hunger is deteriorating about the same rate as his cold resistance, and hopefully someone will come by with some food soon. That might also offer him an escape opportunity! Preferably before he gets too exhausted from lack of food and water while his spiritual flow is stemmed that he just swoons during such an attempt. That'd just be embarrassing.
Comforted by this, Shen Qingqiu closes his eyes and then barely has the chance to try and meditate before the lock on the other side of the acid water curtain rumbles again. It's still the same evening! Do you people have nothing better to do than disturbing honest transmigrators while they're trying to rest!?
Is it Luo Binghe back again for some reason..?
But no - when Shen Qingqiu takes a peek, instead of his disciple's black shoes and black hem brushing the partially translucent white platform, it's a pair of immaculately sewn golden shoes, the robe hems above them gold and white. Shen Qingqiu looks up to the Old Palace Master's elegantly lined visage.
"Palace Master," Shen Qingqiu acknowledges after a beat of silence where they're just staring at each other. "Is there something this humble Shen can do?"
Haven't you already gotten enough from him, ah.
"Peak Lord Shen undoubtedly wishes to come out of this with both his reputation mostly intact as well as his position," the Old Palace Master says, smiling genially - if it weren't for the utterly ice-cold stare at the robe covering Shen Qingqiu. "I have an offer."
Is he being offered a plea deal? What was all this mess before for, then, if it's just going to come to this? Though - he's still doubtful, because if Luo Binghe wants him sentenced, then he will be sentenced, no matter what the Old Palace Master might try.
"What is the Palace Master suggesting?"
"Confess to having abused your disciple and jealously tossed him away when his true potential was revealed during the sabotaged Immortal Alliance Conference, and all other accusations will be disproven."
Shen Qinqiu almost says yes. It's not a bad deal - it'd hopefully give him a few extra years, like he'd originally planned! But before he can so much as draw breath to respond, the intense stare on the Old Palace Master's face makes him pause. Why does he want this? It makes no sense. As horrible as the abuse Luo Binghe was subjected to, he and other young disciples, and one that Shen Qingqiu certainly thinks should sink the scum villain into the depths of the Abyss for such behaviour, that alone won't condemn him - like the old Palace Master said, he might be able to leave with both most of his reputation and his position intact!
"... Why is this any concern of the Palace Master's?" Shen Qingqiu asks, squinting slightly.
The Old Palace Master humphs. "That disciple of yours... a shining star, an exceptional talent, and he looks so much like--- I want him. And you do not, Immortal Master Shen, but for some reason you've got the poor boy so twisted around he refuses to renounce you and properly join my Huan Hua Palace. He needs a push."
Eminently logical praise for the protagonist! Eminently reasonable desire of a stock mentor character to want the protagonist as his own protege, as standard! Shen Qingqiu would applaud someone willing to go such lengths to take up his role, except---
Except there is something in the Old Palace's Master's expression when he'd said I want him. Not 'as my disciple', though it's of course understood. Just, I want him. And the Old Palace Master is staring at the pockmarked wall with a misty expression, lips slightly parted - Shen Qingqiu's gut clenches.
Just a bit of a stomach ache from missing meals now that he's practically swathed in immortal-binding cables, of course. But...
"... Qingqiu will think about it," Shen Qingqiu finds himself saying, unable to take this seeming rescuing rope.
There is something here he doesn't like. Which is all the more clear when the Old Palace Master's expression snaps back into cool, slightly disdainful professionalism as he nods and leaves.
"Don't take too long to think about it, Peak Lord Shen."
Or what? Fuck, what had he done? Yet, thinking about the way the Old Palace Master had talked, how he'd looked while he talked... Shen Qingqiu's stomach cramps again and he frowns.
It's hard to meditate, after that. The rest of the night goes by in fits and starts, and so does at least some of the next day - at least so Shen Qingqiu supposes, because it's plain impossible to know the passage of time aside from how his hunger pangs grows slightly more insistent as time goes on. A fucking miscalculation. How is he supposed to keep track of how many days he has left on Shang Qinghua's fucking mess-up like this, ah!?
The grinding of gears and the water curtain ceasing to fall is almost a relief. Hopefully it's a disciple with food, and even more hopefully not that pockmarked asshole who'll be more difficult to convince. Gongyi Xiao again, would be best!
It's not Gongyo Xiao, because this world hates Shen Qingqiu.
The fortunate news is that it is a disciple with food. Even after everything, Luo Binghe is still that filial boy. He'd been angry when he stormed off (and truth be told, he's still angry), everything boiling over in his mind. He doesn't understand how Shizun could go from embracing him, telling him there's nothing wrong with being a demon, to throwing him into the Endless Abyss.
He'd fought his way out of the Abyss, entirely to demand an explanation from Shen Qingqiu. Ever since his shizun woke from his fever, he'd been a changed man. Kind and patient, even when he pretended to be otherwise. Suddenly though he'd still acted cruel and said harsh words, it became obvious to Binghe the entire thing was an act.
Their relationship improved, and Luo Binghe had been happy.
And then...
And then...
He doesn't understand! He doesn't understand why Shizun can't talk to him, won't look at him! It's not fair at all. All because of a heritage he didn't even know about?!
Well... at the end of the day, even through his hurt and anger, he still can't help his loyalty towards the man. So of course he brings food— cooked by himself, of course. "Shizun, I've brought your food." It isn't as nicely cooked as it could be; he's still mad, after all. But it's not like he'd give the man food that isn't nutritious.
And then he actually gets a look at Shen Qingqiu's expression. "Did something happen?"
There's something about this he really doesn't like, and he can't blame it on Shizun.
Luo Binghe steps onto the first stone on the pathway up to the platform, and Shen Qingqiu is struck by the desire to shrug the heavy black robe he's still got swathed around him off. It'd be a little embarrassing to be seen by it when he'd rejected it earlier, no matter that it had been for a good reason!
But even if his own clothes have long since dried by now, though it took an awfully long time in the damp of the Water Prison, they're still sporting a great many slashes and rips from the little brat's fucking refined iron whip. And then the whole top of all of his layers have of course died a dramatic Luo Binghe-related death.
He doesn't want to sit here tied up half-naked in front of his disciple again, okay!?
So Binghe's robe stays on as Luo Binghe steps upon the platform, announcing he's brought food. His stomach growls, unsightly loud, so Shen Qingqiu can't even make a gesture of not needing it without slapping himself in the face.
"Mm," he says instead, unable not to eye the tray. It's probably not Binghe's own cooking. Because why would his disciple, rightfully angry at how he's been betrayed, cook his scum shizun food!? "Nothing happened."
The denial is automatic, even as he tries to smooth his expression out from whatever his face was doing that apparently alerted Luo Binghe. He doesn't, after all, want to tip his disciple off that someone might, for however suspect reasons, want to help him when Luo Binghe wants to see him sentenced and fallen. Shen Qingqiu frowns, watching Luo Binghe from beneath his lashes as he keeps his head bent.
Binghe is limned in the wavering firelight from the remaining torches, glowing darkly, jade-skinned and stunning as always. And Shen Qingqiu can't stop thinking about how the Old Palace Master stood where Binghe is standing and said I want him.
It's hard to look at Shen Qingqiu right now. Not just because he's still angry, but because he'd torn his own shizun's clothes straight off his body! Luo Binghe doesn't even know how he did something like that!
It had been a complete accident, he'd only meant to grab his teacher's shoulders to force the man to look at him, to force him to answer the burning questions Luo Binghe needs to know the answers for.
They'd caught in just the right way that the wet robes tore, and showed off more skin than he ever should have seen! And to make matters worse, all Binghe could do was stare at those pale, naked shoulders, at the jut of Shizun's collar bone, at—
No, he really can't think about it anymore! So he looks up, at Shizun's face, and not at the shoulders he knows are still bare underneath the robes he'd tossed onto Shen Qingqiu himself.
His expression wavers at the denial. His instinct is to call his shizun a liar, but he doesn't. He frowns in return, clearly annoyed with the lie, though he doesn't call Shen Qingqiu on it, instead approaching with the tray.
"This disciple will answer every question his shizun has for him," Binghe says simply.
There's no anger in his voice, so at least he's doing a little better than he had earlier. Of course, he's still just as angry, his tone is simply more measured.
There's no way Luo Binghe isn't still (understandably) utterly furious with him. The measured response makes Shen Qingqiu's gums ache, but he has a goal here, so he ignores it. He can deal with it if his disciple lashes out again.
Shen Qingqiu still takes several long moments to answer, contemplating what to even ask - how to ask it as Luo Binghe approaches and sets the tray down in front of him.
To be entirely honest, he also isn't sure if he should ask. Luo Binghe should be at Huan Hua right now. It's his place! He needs this sect, and there's several wives, future or already acquired, here! Who is Shen Qingqiu to be a wet blanket about it? His disciple is an adult now - though not as old as Bing-ge was when he came to Huan Hua, and even that was not so very old - and surely... he's seen? He knows? He can't have missed it, and if he's seen how the Old Palace Master looks at him, he surely has a plan to deal with it.
Shen Qingqiu picks up the chopsticks, but he feels like a toddler just beginning to learn with how he's bound. Loosely enough he can hold and use the chopsticks, but - it's not graceful. Not graceful at all.
And he still can't stop thinking about that look on the Old Palace Master's face. Fuck!
"... Binghe has settled in well?"
This... is not the question he wants to ask. His gut squirms, trying to figure out a way to ask the actual question to save both of them face in case he's gotten everything completely fucking wrong. Implying the new mentor Luo Binghe is slowly warming up to is creeping on him would be a fine way to anger his disciple even more, ah!
... This is also definitely not Luo Binghe's food. Which! of! course! it's! not! Perhaps his disciple bullied one of the sect's better cooks to provide a meal for the prisoner? Not that it matters!
Luo Binghe watches Shen Qingqiu carefully. Mostly, to make sure his shizun can actually eat. He might not want to untie his shizun's hands, but his shizun should be well cared for. He's not satisfied, but he is satisfied enough, he supposes. Shizun won't be incapable of feeding himself currently.
And it's not like he wants to make this particularly easy on his shizun, when he hasn't even been given an explanation!
"Huan Hua Palace took me in," he says simply. It's not that simple, though. Truthfully, he's only here to gain power; the sect didn't reject him for being a demon. But he doesn't trust them at all, and especially doesn't like the Little Palace Mistress. It doesn't help that she'd bragged to him about hurting his shizun. Had that really been her attempt to get closer?
"But Shizun will be the only shizun I ever acknowledge," Binghe continues. It really, truly is that simple. At least he scared the girl off after destroying her whip. He doubts she'll bother him again anytime soon. And if she does, he'll frighten her some more.
Walls have ears, so he doesn't plan on stating he doesn't care for the Old Palace Master, that actually he'd be more than willing to kill the man if it came down to it. He doesn't like him, and Luo Binghe thinks that deposing the old man would be a net positive.
...Of course, if Shizun took him back...
It wouldn't be so simple, of course. He needs an explanation, an apology. Needs to know that he hadn't been lied to all those years, that there really is some explanation for his teacher's sudden betrayal.
Really? That's it? 'They took me in'? The Old Palace Master and his potential behaviour aside, Shen Qingqiu had expected... some gloating? Luo Binghe mocking and smug as he showed him how well he was doing, despite his scum teacher's cruel and unjustified betrayal.
Bing-ge, are you doing all right?
Shen Qingqiu frowns into his meal, which, also, is strange the more he eats of it. Every other bite feels like it must be made by Luo Binghe's hands, and every other he's equally sure it can't be Binghe's cooking. It's quite disorienting! It could be worse, though. What he wishes is that he could hold a bowl in one hand and the chopsticks in the other, to minimize the distance he has to navigate when he's as hampered as he is, but he can't. The bowls have to be left on the tray. At least he can hold his other hand underneath whatever he's ferrying to his mouth without that looking childish, but he does feel less put together doing this in front of his disciple than he'd quite desire, right now.
He flicks a glance up between one bite and the next, merely to make it clear he's listening. As much as he'd prefer to ignore Luo Binghe entirely, that hadn't exactly worked so very well yesterday. He's also trying to have a conversation! A very important one!
And then Luo Binghe confirms that the Old Palace Master's vinegar-wafting reasons for offering his suspicious plea deal is correct. He truly hadn't thought they were. Given how things ended between him and Luo Binghe, it'd make sense if the Old Palace Master was merely imagining things, all right!?
... Apparently he wasn't, however.
"Mm," he says, feeling he really must acknowledge that in some way even if it's shameless, terribly shameless, considering... everything.
Luo Binghe, have some self-respect!
"And..." Shen Qingqiu takes a breath. Frowning, he presses his lips thin and looks to the side. "No one is being... disrespectful?"
Fuck, that's useless to the point of meaning nothing! How the fuck does he---
"What Shizun means to ask is that he knows Luo Binghe shares his looks with a disciple that was very beloved and set to rise to the position of Palace Master herself, years ago. Sometimes, people react strangely to such similarities."
Shen Qingqiu cringes. Just strike him down right now, ah! That wasn't any better, was it?!
It's hard to know what his shizun is thinking. He thought he did, at one point. At least once he woke up from his fever, and treated Binghe so kindly. Before then, he strove to be someone Shizun would respect, would love. And then he woke up a changed man, and...
He really, really liked that changed Shizun!
But now...
His head tips as he thinks. "That old fool talks too much," he says in answer. In truth, Luo Binghe doesn't entirely understand the old man's motivation, but much of that has been his own inexperience. Meng Mo has told him some things; to be wary of the Old Palace Master, that he's cleary up to something unsettling. "If he tries something, I'll kill him."
It's a cold and ruthless answer, very unlike the boy who was so eager to please Shen Qingqiu.
Despite how violent of a solution it is, there is something worth noting: even at his angriest he never threatened Shen Qingqiu with bodily harm. He's still angry, but he'd never hurt his shizun. "The Little Palace Mistress won't be bothering Shizun again," he says abruptly. "If someone else tries to hurt Shizun, tell me."
...Watching Shizun struggle with eating makes him feel a little awkward. He can't untie Shen Qingqiu's hands, but it makes Binghe feel faintly uncomfortable anyway. It's obvious, because he has to keep looking away.
Luo Binghe's initial response makes Shen Qingqiu internally cringe again. His disciple is perhaps not too enamoured with the man, but Shen Qingqiu has probably taken away some face, asking what he did and this will be added to his crimes and the eventual punishment of them.
Except in the next breath, Luo Binghe says that, and Shen Qingqiu blinks.
"Oh. Good," he says weakly, though not from any fear, or, at all really, disapproval of Luo Binghe's harsh declaration.
It was just unexpected, okay!? Not so much because it wasn't what his bleating, grass-chewing little lamb of a disciple would say, or even because it absolutely is what this version of Luo Binghe would say. It was just not at all what he expected from what came before it!
Putting his chopsticks down for a moment, even if there's a vague urge to eat it all as quickly as possible just in case this conversation goes bad just like the first one the other day that, Shen Qingqiu purses his lips faintly.
"Yes, yes, this master will. I will not let anyone else take what belongs to you."
Sure, Shen Qingqiu hasn't... gotten actually hurt even if he was briefly in a lot of (excruciating) pain when Binghe stirred his blood into mites yesterday. And anyway, he's not so vulnerable! He'd been doing... all right until Luo Binghe (thankfully) interrupted her, hadn't he?
(Some stray breeze from somewhere brushes a damp, chilly breath against his face and down past the dark collar of Luo Binghe's robe, to tease over his very much naked shoulders underneath. Shen Qingqiu does not shiver.)
He doesn't understand how his shizun's thinking works. How can he act so calm around Binghe, after decrying demons? After abandoning him for being one?
Luo Binghe can feel his anger rising again, but tries to suppress it. He'd been trying to have a conversation yesterday before he got angry enough he stormed off, and accidentally ripping his teacher's clothes off his shoulders hadn't helped!
That had just been distracting and embarrassing, and not to mention erot— no, he won't be thinking about that. Now, or ever, given how thoroughly rejected he'd been.
Still, at least Shizun is eating. And won't be bothered, because anyone who tried to harm him would very quickly find themselves missing limbs.
And then his Shizun has to go and say that. And the words aren't even sarcastic! Despite his anger, despite the situation, Binghe flushes red. "B-belongs to me?!"
What is that supposed to mean!
How is he supposed to take that?!
And of course he has to say that, making it sound like he's decide to accept Luo Binghe after all, and then start shivering. "Shizun is cold," he says, looking and sounding grateful for the distraction, so he doesn't have to think further about what on earth Shen Qingqiu could mean by that. He pulls something from his qiankun pouch that can be used as kindling before conjuring a small flame and placing it close to his shizun. Being made from demonic qi, the dampness of the air won't extinguish the flame.
Obviously his pain, and blood, and whole fucking life belongs to Binghe! Aren't you pleased your scum shizun recognizes that!? Ah, whatever, whatever.
Shen Qingqiu picks up the teacup, something which is at least a simple matter and, even if his other arm and hand must still hang somewhat awkwardly underneath the other, he can still drink without looking like an idiot. It gives him a good reason to ignore Luo Binghe, too, ah!
If he didn't knew the anger that lurked behind those cold, cold eyes, though their stare was often boiling hot when aimed his way, he'd almost think Luo Binghe looked like a blushing maiden in that delicate shade of red on his fair skin.
He! even! stuttered! When does Luo Binghe stutter!?
A bit of warming tea helps against the chill, too, certainly. Shen Qingqiu ignores the comment about being cold. Of course he is, even if Binghe's robe is very warm! But then his disciple steps in close and Shen Qingqiu freezes, cup clutched near his lips.
"Oh."
Glancing at the merrily burning little flame, Shen Qingqiu doesn't understand. Why would Binghe try to look to his comfort? He's the one that helped stick him here! He still has to resist the urge to shuffle even closer to it.
"And what if someone comes in and sees it?" he says, cool and firm before taking another sit of tea, no matter how little he actually wants to give up this little fire.
It really is helping a lot!
And of course he knows from Gongyi Xiao that Binghe has forbidden anyone else from entering, which should keep anyone else out - aside from such elders of the sect as the Old Palace Master himself, who can go wherever he pleases as long as the protagonist doesn't know anything about it. But he's not supposed to know Luo Binghe has forbidden anyone but himself to see his shizun!
Well, maybe it's a good thing that Shizun doesn't clarify!
He's not curious, anyway. It's not important! He's still mad at his shizun, but he doesn't like seeing the man sitting in the prison all wet and cold, anyway. He'd been hoping to have a better conversation for the last several days, and now this damn prison...
Huan Hua Palace is next to useless, anyway. They'd helped him out, that much Luo Binghe cannot deny, but this whole trial, blaming Shizun for things Luo Binghe does not blame him for? It's ridiculous.
"Who cares if someone sees?" Luo Binghe snaps, though he does glance towards the entryway all the same. Of course, the curtain of water keeps falling, with no sign that it's about to part and let someone inside.
He'd been hoping that Shizun would apologize, would explain himself...
Getting the man out of the prison would be trivial for someone like Luo Binghe.
Though he's still angry, he does continue after a moment. "Shizun is cold. Am I supposed to watch you shiver?" He has his own reasons for wanting to stay with Huan Hua Palace, but he's regretting siding with them, for everything that's come after. Who cares what his shizun did a long time ago in the past?!
Oh, so that is how they're doing this. What's one more association with the Demon Realm, if someone comes in and sees Shen Qingqiu, accused as he's been of selling out his fellow humans and the cultivation world, sitting next to a fire made by demonic qi?
It makes an unfortunate amount of sense. Maybe even more than some other things that's happened lately - if it weren't for Luo Binghe pouting and throwing a little tantrum over being questioned about it.
No smug teasing, no flippant comment about how if Shen Qingqiu is innocent this will surely not change that, nothing but snapping and foot-stomping like his disciple is an angry ten year old, not a young man of two decades. A young man Shen Qingqiu would've held the guan li for this year, if things were different. If this was a different story.
Throat suddenly too thick to swallow anything more, Shen Qingqiu puts the teacup down. It's almost empty anyway.
"This master would've thought that's what Luo Binghe would want, seeing as he helped put him in here." Shen Qingqiu glances to the fire, happily burning away. "So this master didn't expect such solicitousness."
Perhaps especially with how yesterday went! And yet, admittedly, Luo Binghe still came with food...
He did say hurtful things, and not so very long ago— just yesterday, even— but he hadn't meant any of it. Isn't that why he's here now? Isn't that why he's still cooking for his shizun, keeping him warm? No ordinary flame could stay lit in this place, is even that too close to demons for Shen Qingqiu?
Is the food not enough? Is that not enough to show his sincerity? Is it because it wasn't cooked so nicely, because Luo Binghe wanted to show off his displeasure with how his shizun acted? "I thought you understood me, but Shizun doesn't know me at all," he says. His voice wavers slightly, but he keeps it as even as he can.
Was it really not enough to say he did all of this to see Shizun again, that he genuinely does not believe it's possible for the trial to find Shen Qingqiu guilty of anything?
It's so very frustrating.
The blood he forced his shizun to ingest can be made to do many things, some very painful as the man has already experienced. Some not at all. He manipulates it subtly, to warm him up. Not in a sexual way; this is purely to raise his body temperature, so he's warmer than with the fire alone.
Isn't it clear what it means?? Shen Qingqiu is silent for a baffled moment, frozen in the middle of attempting another awkward mouthful of stir-fried vegetables (the sauce slightly too salty, but the vegetables still crisp and tender).
The thing is, he was expecting smug agreement, some sly comment, much like had happened after Binghe chased him down.
Instead, once again Luo Binghe is angry like a child throwing a tantrum.
It makes no sense. Shouldn't it be obvious? Does he really need to spell it out, to ask if Binghe intends to keep all others out so they can't see - again to his own purpose of course, which may make up for loosing such an opportunity. Shouldn't the protagonist be smarter than this, ah!? He knows for a fact that he is!
"Luo Binghe..." he says slowly, thin brows knitting together.
And then the System pops up again.
[ System tip: please peruse the following dialogue options and make your choice. A. (softly, robe partially off your shoulders) Binghe must forgive this master for his assumptions. Shizun is merely afraid of what will come of this. B. (coldly sneering) Exactly what it sounds like, you unfilial beast. C. (maintain silence) ]
What! The! Fuck!
Fuck!! Off!! Weren't they done with the dumbfuck dating sim dialogue option-style interference!? Shen Qingqiu is about to cough up at least five liters of blood, see if he don't!
He'd choose B if the tone of the answer wasn't so blunt and it didn't include that 'beast'. Luo Binghe might have been acting a little beastly the last couple days, but it's not unexpected and anyway, he's not going to insult him while so firmly in the blackened protagonist's power, okay!? He's not stupid, thank you! The first option doesn't bear thinking about. His skin is crawling with embarrassment and his gut hot at the thought of such a... shameless and cringe response.
System, what do you think this is, a danmei on Green JJ where the shou gets menaced and roughed up by the arrogant and cruel gong while chained up in prison!?
Fuck! C it is! Again.
Mentally slamming that option, Shen Qingqiu turns his face away. He can't quite clear his expression in time, so the slightly troubled - even confused - tinge to it remains.
Luo Binghe looks away, half-tempted to storm off again. It's only because Shizun looks confused that he doesn't, because Binghe thinks that maybe this is an opening. "Why does Shizun think I want to see him found guilty?" he asks, though he can't keep the petulance from his voice.
Because he doesn't! He really doesn't!
He also doesn't think it's possible; he doesn't care what the Old Palace Master thinks, and as much as he doesn't care about the other peak lords, he's quite certain most would side with his shizun. Though he is still grateful he'd been rescued, the whole situation makes him think that he'd be much better off in charge of Huan Hua Palace.
If he overthrew the place, then his shizun wouldn't be treated so poorly. It doesn't change how angry Luo Binghe is, and neither the conversation yesterday nor the current one is doing anything at all for his mood. He can't even feel satisfied to see the man who betrayed him reduced to this state, because it doesn't make him feel good at all. It actually makes him feel like shit!
Should he just carry Shen Qingqiu out of the prison instead? Many people would be unhappy with such a situation, but frankly Luo Binghe doesn't care.
It's the tone of voice that has Shen Qingqiu glance back at Luo Binghe out of the corner of his voice.
The petulance - weirdly adorable even if it makes the vaunted blackened stallion protagonist sound like a maiden insulted by her careless boyfriend - is strange enough, but within reasonable limits, even if the situation it's being applied to doesn't fit. The shimmer of tears in those pitch-black eyes, making them sparkle even more and the rims just barely reddened, however...
OOC! OOC off the map, ah!
'Great master' Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky confirmed it loud and clear; the last time Luo Binghe cried for any reason was when 'Shen Qingqiu' dropped that cup of hot tea on him! So! why! is! the protagonist! almost! crying!?
Something that feels vaguely like panic crawls up Shen Qingqiu's throat, but the confusion, vaguely tinted by archly wry tone, wins out.
"Wasn't that what Binghe said the other day? That he couldn't wait to see my fall from grace?"
Does he know what this conversation is any more? No! At least he did accomplish what he'd wanted, and his disciple seems aware of the Old Palace Master and his skin-crawling looks and words, so that... well, if nothing else, Shen Qingqiu will be satisfied with that. (And at least he's gotten his warmth up again. Not just without, from the fire, but his blood has warmed up as seems to be moving a little more vigorously - perhaps thanks to all the anxiety and confusion this is stirring up.)
He's able to wipe the tears away before they actually fall, but there's no hiding them just the same. Luo Binghe doesn't comment, not willing to acknowledge that sort of weakness in front of someone he's still mad at.
"Shizun really doesn't know me," he repeats bitterly. He'd been angry, that's all! And he's still angry, but he also hates that people have been taking advantage of his anger in order to torment his shizun. He isn't doing any of this to harm the man, how dare the Little Palace Mistress strike his shizun?! He's made it abundantly clear that he will not be changing his mind on this, that he never will.
He glowers, but doesn't storm off again. "I came out of the Abyss for you, why won't you believe me?" His tone is gentle, if a little sorrowful.
He's still angry, but he doesn't really have it in him to get viciously mad again. It's down to a simmer as he stares at the man. With his hands bound, he really looks quite weak. It's more upsetting than Luo Binghe thought it would be. He wants, needs to know why.
"Is it really too much, to say why you did it? Why you told me there's nothing wrong with being a demon and then changed your mind?"
Binghe says he doesn't know him, and then he goes and says something that is exactly what he know he'd say at this point, in that sort of gentle, fake-sorrowful tone? Shen Qingqiu ignores the chill racing down his spine that raises all the fine hairs on his body as it goes, and bites down the urge to ask how Luo Binghe can tell him he's wrong.
He! knows! you! did! What's all this for, otherwise, ah!?
It's almost a surprise when Luo Binghe neither storms off nor immediately activates his blood again, and instead asks... that.
Shen Qingqiu frowns. Yesterday, he didn't get a chance to say anything because of the way the fucking System popped up and gave him dating sim dialogue options, like it did again just before. Maybe, now that it's done so, perhaps Shen Qingqiu might actually say something?
Even if he has no idea what to say. That he regrets it? Luo Binghe had asked that the other day and of course he fucking regrets it! But what does that matter!? Cautiously, Shen Qingqiu draws breath---
And almost outright physically flinches when the System pops up again, its screen so large and up close he can't focus on Luo Binghe beyond it at all. Fuck!! Bullshit!
[ Please peruse your options: A. I never changed my mind. B. I never changed my mind, and these past few years, there wasn't a moment that I did not spend racked with remorse, though it was far too late. C. (A sneer.) The only lie this master ever told was that I didn't want to kill you back then. Clearly I should've done a better job rather than trusting that a place as lethal as the Endless Abyss could kill even a half-heavenly demon. ]
... How about you go die, again. He thought they were done with this, okay!? How many more times is he going to be tormented by these shitty dialogue options!? The System is being exceptionally lazy, too, recycling part of one of the earlier options for this latest set. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit (important things must be repeated three times!) - but even if there is no option to maintain his silence this time, at least one of the options is something he feels half-way all right about saying.
"I never changed my mind," Shen Qingqiu says, cool and aloof as he stares up at Luo Binghe evenly, finally putting the chopsticks down.
Forget being able to contain his anger. Luo Binghe explodes. "Then which was the truth?!" The control of his blood drops off abruptly, though it won't immediately drop Shen Qingqiu's body temperature. He doesn't get violent, doesn't use the Heavenly Demon blood to inflict pain again.
"Don't you stay stay silent again, Shizun," he growls, even though the threat is entirely empty. What's he going to do, use his blood again? It didn't get his shizun to talk last time. He just acted like he thought Luo Binghe would... would.
Gods, he knows he's been angry and violent, but his shizun, the person he trusted the most, threw him into the Endless Abyss.
The only thing that has kept him sane all these years was the thought that he'd escape, that he'd confront Shen Qingqiu and be told why this all happened!
He can't exactly keep the demonic qi from radiating from him, though it's contained. At least he shows no killing intent, but he's angrier than he'd been when entering the prison.
In all honesty, he's not sure what he'll do if Shen Qingqiu does remain silent. Leave again? He even cooked for his shizun, and it wasn't even acknowledged! "Why did you do it?! Why did you abandon me!"
There isn't - quite - a flinch when Luo Binghe explodes. Shen Qingqiu rather sways backwards a little, loosely bound hands falling to his lap and tightening in the (only slightly ripped) fabric.
He sort of wishes he'd got up to his feet earlier. Getting up now would be too much like a retreat. The child is a practically basket case and the only one he can blame is himself.
"Contain yourself," he urges quietly, yet forcefully, glancing towards the uneven opening that serves as the entrance to this cave cell.
Hopefully Luo Binghe's orders really are being followed to the letter. Forget anyone seeing the demonic qi-fuelled flame at Shen Qingqiu's knees; that's nothing compared to if Luo Binghe is seen radiating this massive amount of demonic qi, just like the other day. Binghe can't be found out to be a demon yet - the protagonist won't reveal himself for a few years yet, and this Luo Binghe is certainly not ready for such a reveal yet even as - especially if! - he speedran the Endless Abyss arc, ah!
And what can he say? That he didn't want to do it? True as it might be, that's not an answer to why he did it! That there was no option? Wrong! Because there was one!
And he chose - if not wrong, then the worse one for Luo Binghe. Ten thousand satisfaction points to buy the protagonist another path. Then twenty thousand... he was never going to be allowed to do it. It was the Abyss, or his death. That he was afraid? A lie. That Binghe had no other way out? True, but that's a cold calculation that still seems to throw a child into a hell he had no way to escape or survive. That the plot demanded it because without such a pointless meat grinding arc the protagonist can't rise from the muck with his golden finger in hand? He can't fucking say that!
"Sometimes... there are no good answers, Luo Binghe. Can you live with that?" Shen Qingqiu finally says slowly, having swallowed hard before he decided on it, and isn't sure whether he's relieved or feeling strangely abandoned when the System doesn't stop him with another set of dialogue options.
Despite everything that happened, this man is still Luo Binghe's shizun. It means he listens when Shen Qingqiu gives him his warning, and then demonic qi vanishes.
His breathing evens out, even though he's clearly no happier, and not much calmer. But his breathing has evened out, and that's... well. He doesn't appear murderous. He crouches down in front of Shen Qingqiu, certainly not entirely to make himself look less threatening (because he's aware that he's threatening on a good day), but this seems a better to way this conversation.
"Tell me the truth."
He beckons with his hand, about the only sign that he's using his blood to compel an answer.
It's not possible to lie when compelled with Heavenly Demon blood. It's possible to resist if a cultivator is strong or determined enough, but it's incredibly painful. Telling the truth isn't painful at all, of course. Well, it might hurt his shizun's pride to have the truth come out this way, but Luo Binghe really doesn't care much about that. "Do you hate me, Shizun?"
After everything, he can't bring himself to believe that he does, but Binghe doesn't know how else to take everything that's happened. Wouldn't he explain himself by now, if it was all a misunderstanding? Not that Binghe thinks it could be— he'd been shoved into the Abyss.
Despite his healing abilities, the scars on his chest and hand have never faded. It's entirely intentional on Luo Binghe's part.
The relief of Luo Binghe calming down is short-lived.
Shen Qingqiu watches his (former?) disciple take the few short steps to cross the platform to crouch before him, and despite that he clearly is calmer and there's no sense of murderous intent about him at all, Shen Qingqiu contemplates urging him to calm down again. Otherwise, why would he be so close!?
"Luo Binghe..."
Shen Qingqiu sighs, faintly exasperated - at least right until he realizes that the demand, so quietly but firmly said, isn't just words. There's a crawling heat - not painful, just a warm pressure - around several spots in his head, his brain; there's a tightening in his throat, and throughout his insides, like thin, thin threads of hot oil that might at any point turn boiling.
Wait. Wait, wait, wait--- Fuck!
He'd forgotten Heavenly Demon blood had this ability! Bing-ge barely ever used it, preferring other methods to find out the truth, but that didn't mean it wasn't a thing, just like that one absolutely unscientific incident of Luo Binghe brainwashing someone with the blood had still happened.
"No."
Blinking, Shen Qingqiu feels a little embarrassed about how quickly and easily the denial spilled out of him. To be sure, the immortal-binding cables strangle his cultivation and thus greatly hamper his ability to even try to resist, especially to the point of it starting to hurt, but, look---
"Of course Shizun doesn't," his brain for some reason sees fit to add under that gentle, warm (threatening) pressure of the foreign blood currently cradling it, and Shen Qingqiu presses his lips thin.
Sure, that's an easy thing to say, but this is going to give his disciple the wrong idea for any other answers he can get out of him like this!
Luo Binghe breathes out in what is almost certainly relief. His shizun doesn't hate him. Given the impossibility of lying, he merely nods, satisfied. It's the most important question out of the way. His Shizun doesn't hate him, which means he doesn't hate Luo Binghe for being part demon.
It means there are now plenty more questions— but the one he feared the most was answered, and now he knows. The Heavenly Demon blood curls around Shen Qingqiu almost gently. A little reward for telling the truth, though Luo Binghe does nothing else, not wanting to make the interrogation more unpleasant than it needs to be.
"What does Shizun think I mean to do to him?"
Better to ask it straight away, without hesitation.
Though he hasn't handled any of this well— he's handled it quit poorly, even though Binghe wouldn't considered it such— he has actually calmed down quite a bit. Which will probably actually be all the more chilling, even if he doesn't intend it.
Before he can answer, Luo Binghe continues. "I don't want to hurt you, Shizun." Which would be well and good if he hadn't roughed the man up, but really, such interactions aren't unusual when it comes to demons. He'd been angry, and now he isn't as angry.
It's strange how different this use of the blood feels compared to when it's shaped into mites that will move around and bite, bite, bite. He's utterly aware of it, every foreign drop of it as it flows through him, half like a set of ropes on the inside to match the many immortal-binding cables wrapped around him on the outside and half like being cradled, almost.
Shen Qingqiu is utterly caught, completely surrounded, but the panic and disgust doesn't quite take root. He feels like he's floating, a little, in fact. Probably the effect of this particular use of the blood, though.
Which! is! a little! worrying!
"System, what is Luo Binghe's anger points at?"
[ 35, down from 50 earlier. ]
Mentally, Shen Qingqiu squints. That's up from the thirty of yesterday but again far, far less than Shen Qingqiu feels those points surely should be at, ah! But it accords well with this sudden calm. The protagonist is just hiding it. Anyway, he's asked another question, and Shen Qingqiu can't help but frown, resisting as well as he's able, but not because he's necessarily afraid of laying the truth out plain between them.
It's more... he can't help but remember the tears that'd briefly shimmered in the corners of Luo Binghe's eyes earlier. His anger, so blatantly - childishly, even! - on display.
And then he says something that has Shen Qingqiu thoughtlessly scoffing, just a little, and he stops resisting the slowly sharpening sensation in his veins, as if his blood is about to start cutting him up from the inside (it might well be!) as well as the slightly gentler but no less weighed urge to not just speak, but speak the truth.
"To kill me, of course. Eventually. What else would be the outcome of pushing Luo Binghe into the Abyss?"
And to stab him, however lightly, in the heart. And that cut he - not intentionally! - gave Luo Binghe on his hand just a few days ago!
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Water prison AU shenanigans!
He surely will have more opportunities in the coming days, but - it has to be said, it has to be said, this would've been an excellent opportunity, wouldn't it?
Sighing faintly, he resettles himself on the platform. At least he's not cold any more, even if it's a little embarrassing, still, to be sitting around wearing the protagonist's post-sex robe. Why! does he! keep! being put! in! the love! interest's! role, ah!? Whatever, whatever, he'll live, which is more than he can say for his own ripped-up clothing.
Faintly, his stomach grumbles, and Shen Qingqiu frowns. His ability to withstand hunger is deteriorating about the same rate as his cold resistance, and hopefully someone will come by with some food soon. That might also offer him an escape opportunity! Preferably before he gets too exhausted from lack of food and water while his spiritual flow is stemmed that he just swoons during such an attempt. That'd just be embarrassing.
Comforted by this, Shen Qingqiu closes his eyes and then barely has the chance to try and meditate before the lock on the other side of the acid water curtain rumbles again. It's still the same evening! Do you people have nothing better to do than disturbing honest transmigrators while they're trying to rest!?
Is it Luo Binghe back again for some reason..?
But no - when Shen Qingqiu takes a peek, instead of his disciple's black shoes and black hem brushing the partially translucent white platform, it's a pair of immaculately sewn golden shoes, the robe hems above them gold and white. Shen Qingqiu looks up to the Old Palace Master's elegantly lined visage.
"Palace Master," Shen Qingqiu acknowledges after a beat of silence where they're just staring at each other. "Is there something this humble Shen can do?"
Haven't you already gotten enough from him, ah.
"Peak Lord Shen undoubtedly wishes to come out of this with both his reputation mostly intact as well as his position," the Old Palace Master says, smiling genially - if it weren't for the utterly ice-cold stare at the robe covering Shen Qingqiu. "I have an offer."
Is he being offered a plea deal? What was all this mess before for, then, if it's just going to come to this? Though - he's still doubtful, because if Luo Binghe wants him sentenced, then he will be sentenced, no matter what the Old Palace Master might try.
"What is the Palace Master suggesting?"
"Confess to having abused your disciple and jealously tossed him away when his true potential was revealed during the sabotaged Immortal Alliance Conference, and all other accusations will be disproven."
Shen Qinqiu almost says yes. It's not a bad deal - it'd hopefully give him a few extra years, like he'd originally planned! But before he can so much as draw breath to respond, the intense stare on the Old Palace Master's face makes him pause. Why does he want this? It makes no sense. As horrible as the abuse Luo Binghe was subjected to, he and other young disciples, and one that Shen Qingqiu certainly thinks should sink the scum villain into the depths of the Abyss for such behaviour, that alone won't condemn him - like the old Palace Master said, he might be able to leave with both most of his reputation and his position intact!
"... Why is this any concern of the Palace Master's?" Shen Qingqiu asks, squinting slightly.
The Old Palace Master humphs. "That disciple of yours... a shining star, an exceptional talent, and he looks so much like--- I want him. And you do not, Immortal Master Shen, but for some reason you've got the poor boy so twisted around he refuses to renounce you and properly join my Huan Hua Palace. He needs a push."
Eminently logical praise for the protagonist! Eminently reasonable desire of a stock mentor character to want the protagonist as his own protege, as standard! Shen Qingqiu would applaud someone willing to go such lengths to take up his role, except---
Except there is something in the Old Palace's Master's expression when he'd said I want him. Not 'as my disciple', though it's of course understood. Just, I want him. And the Old Palace Master is staring at the pockmarked wall with a misty expression, lips slightly parted - Shen Qingqiu's gut clenches.
Just a bit of a stomach ache from missing meals now that he's practically swathed in immortal-binding cables, of course. But...
"... Qingqiu will think about it," Shen Qingqiu finds himself saying, unable to take this seeming rescuing rope.
There is something here he doesn't like. Which is all the more clear when the Old Palace Master's expression snaps back into cool, slightly disdainful professionalism as he nods and leaves.
"Don't take too long to think about it, Peak Lord Shen."
Or what? Fuck, what had he done? Yet, thinking about the way the Old Palace Master had talked, how he'd looked while he talked... Shen Qingqiu's stomach cramps again and he frowns.
It's hard to meditate, after that. The rest of the night goes by in fits and starts, and so does at least some of the next day - at least so Shen Qingqiu supposes, because it's plain impossible to know the passage of time aside from how his hunger pangs grows slightly more insistent as time goes on. A fucking miscalculation. How is he supposed to keep track of how many days he has left on Shang Qinghua's fucking mess-up like this, ah!?
The grinding of gears and the water curtain ceasing to fall is almost a relief. Hopefully it's a disciple with food, and even more hopefully not that pockmarked asshole who'll be more difficult to convince. Gongyi Xiao again, would be best!
It's not Gongyo Xiao, because this world hates Shen Qingqiu.
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He'd fought his way out of the Abyss, entirely to demand an explanation from Shen Qingqiu. Ever since his shizun woke from his fever, he'd been a changed man. Kind and patient, even when he pretended to be otherwise. Suddenly though he'd still acted cruel and said harsh words, it became obvious to Binghe the entire thing was an act.
Their relationship improved, and Luo Binghe had been happy.
And then...
And then...
He doesn't understand! He doesn't understand why Shizun can't talk to him, won't look at him! It's not fair at all. All because of a heritage he didn't even know about?!
Well... at the end of the day, even through his hurt and anger, he still can't help his loyalty towards the man. So of course he brings food— cooked by himself, of course. "Shizun, I've brought your food." It isn't as nicely cooked as it could be; he's still mad, after all. But it's not like he'd give the man food that isn't nutritious.
And then he actually gets a look at Shen Qingqiu's expression. "Did something happen?"
There's something about this he really doesn't like, and he can't blame it on Shizun.
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But even if his own clothes have long since dried by now, though it took an awfully long time in the damp of the Water Prison, they're still sporting a great many slashes and rips from the little brat's fucking refined iron whip. And then the whole top of all of his layers have of course died a dramatic Luo Binghe-related death.
He doesn't want to sit here tied up half-naked in front of his disciple again, okay!?
So Binghe's robe stays on as Luo Binghe steps upon the platform, announcing he's brought food. His stomach growls, unsightly loud, so Shen Qingqiu can't even make a gesture of not needing it without slapping himself in the face.
"Mm," he says instead, unable not to eye the tray. It's probably not Binghe's own cooking. Because why would his disciple, rightfully angry at how he's been betrayed, cook his scum shizun food!? "Nothing happened."
The denial is automatic, even as he tries to smooth his expression out from whatever his face was doing that apparently alerted Luo Binghe. He doesn't, after all, want to tip his disciple off that someone might, for however suspect reasons, want to help him when Luo Binghe wants to see him sentenced and fallen. Shen Qingqiu frowns, watching Luo Binghe from beneath his lashes as he keeps his head bent.
Binghe is limned in the wavering firelight from the remaining torches, glowing darkly, jade-skinned and stunning as always. And Shen Qingqiu can't stop thinking about how the Old Palace Master stood where Binghe is standing and said I want him.
"... Only, would Luo Binghe answer a question?"
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It had been a complete accident, he'd only meant to grab his teacher's shoulders to force the man to look at him, to force him to answer the burning questions Luo Binghe needs to know the answers for.
They'd caught in just the right way that the wet robes tore, and showed off more skin than he ever should have seen! And to make matters worse, all Binghe could do was stare at those pale, naked shoulders, at the jut of Shizun's collar bone, at—
No, he really can't think about it anymore! So he looks up, at Shizun's face, and not at the shoulders he knows are still bare underneath the robes he'd tossed onto Shen Qingqiu himself.
His expression wavers at the denial. His instinct is to call his shizun a liar, but he doesn't. He frowns in return, clearly annoyed with the lie, though he doesn't call Shen Qingqiu on it, instead approaching with the tray.
"This disciple will answer every question his shizun has for him," Binghe says simply.
There's no anger in his voice, so at least he's doing a little better than he had earlier. Of course, he's still just as angry, his tone is simply more measured.
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Shen Qingqiu still takes several long moments to answer, contemplating what to even ask - how to ask it as Luo Binghe approaches and sets the tray down in front of him.
To be entirely honest, he also isn't sure if he should ask. Luo Binghe should be at Huan Hua right now. It's his place! He needs this sect, and there's several wives, future or already acquired, here! Who is Shen Qingqiu to be a wet blanket about it? His disciple is an adult now - though not as old as Bing-ge was when he came to Huan Hua, and even that was not so very old - and surely... he's seen? He knows? He can't have missed it, and if he's seen how the Old Palace Master looks at him, he surely has a plan to deal with it.
Shen Qingqiu picks up the chopsticks, but he feels like a toddler just beginning to learn with how he's bound. Loosely enough he can hold and use the chopsticks, but - it's not graceful. Not graceful at all.
And he still can't stop thinking about that look on the Old Palace Master's face. Fuck!
"... Binghe has settled in well?"
This... is not the question he wants to ask. His gut squirms, trying to figure out a way to ask the actual question to save both of them face in case he's gotten everything completely fucking wrong. Implying the new mentor Luo Binghe is slowly warming up to is creeping on him would be a fine way to anger his disciple even more, ah!
... This is also definitely not Luo Binghe's food. Which! of! course! it's! not! Perhaps his disciple bullied one of the sect's better cooks to provide a meal for the prisoner? Not that it matters!
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And it's not like he wants to make this particularly easy on his shizun, when he hasn't even been given an explanation!
"Huan Hua Palace took me in," he says simply. It's not that simple, though. Truthfully, he's only here to gain power; the sect didn't reject him for being a demon. But he doesn't trust them at all, and especially doesn't like the Little Palace Mistress. It doesn't help that she'd bragged to him about hurting his shizun. Had that really been her attempt to get closer?
"But Shizun will be the only shizun I ever acknowledge," Binghe continues. It really, truly is that simple. At least he scared the girl off after destroying her whip. He doubts she'll bother him again anytime soon. And if she does, he'll frighten her some more.
Walls have ears, so he doesn't plan on stating he doesn't care for the Old Palace Master, that actually he'd be more than willing to kill the man if it came down to it. He doesn't like him, and Luo Binghe thinks that deposing the old man would be a net positive.
...Of course, if Shizun took him back...
It wouldn't be so simple, of course. He needs an explanation, an apology. Needs to know that he hadn't been lied to all those years, that there really is some explanation for his teacher's sudden betrayal.
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Bing-ge, are you doing all right?
Shen Qingqiu frowns into his meal, which, also, is strange the more he eats of it. Every other bite feels like it must be made by Luo Binghe's hands, and every other he's equally sure it can't be Binghe's cooking. It's quite disorienting! It could be worse, though. What he wishes is that he could hold a bowl in one hand and the chopsticks in the other, to minimize the distance he has to navigate when he's as hampered as he is, but he can't. The bowls have to be left on the tray. At least he can hold his other hand underneath whatever he's ferrying to his mouth without that looking childish, but he does feel less put together doing this in front of his disciple than he'd quite desire, right now.
He flicks a glance up between one bite and the next, merely to make it clear he's listening. As much as he'd prefer to ignore Luo Binghe entirely, that hadn't exactly worked so very well yesterday. He's also trying to have a conversation! A very important one!
And then Luo Binghe confirms that the Old Palace Master's vinegar-wafting reasons for offering his suspicious plea deal is correct. He truly hadn't thought they were. Given how things ended between him and Luo Binghe, it'd make sense if the Old Palace Master was merely imagining things, all right!?
... Apparently he wasn't, however.
"Mm," he says, feeling he really must acknowledge that in some way even if it's shameless, terribly shameless, considering... everything.
Luo Binghe, have some self-respect!
"And..." Shen Qingqiu takes a breath. Frowning, he presses his lips thin and looks to the side. "No one is being... disrespectful?"
Fuck, that's useless to the point of meaning nothing! How the fuck does he---
"What Shizun means to ask is that he knows Luo Binghe shares his looks with a disciple that was very beloved and set to rise to the position of Palace Master herself, years ago. Sometimes, people react strangely to such similarities."
Shen Qingqiu cringes. Just strike him down right now, ah! That wasn't any better, was it?!
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He really, really liked that changed Shizun!
But now...
His head tips as he thinks. "That old fool talks too much," he says in answer. In truth, Luo Binghe doesn't entirely understand the old man's motivation, but much of that has been his own inexperience. Meng Mo has told him some things; to be wary of the Old Palace Master, that he's cleary up to something unsettling. "If he tries something, I'll kill him."
It's a cold and ruthless answer, very unlike the boy who was so eager to please Shen Qingqiu.
Despite how violent of a solution it is, there is something worth noting: even at his angriest he never threatened Shen Qingqiu with bodily harm. He's still angry, but he'd never hurt his shizun. "The Little Palace Mistress won't be bothering Shizun again," he says abruptly. "If someone else tries to hurt Shizun, tell me."
...Watching Shizun struggle with eating makes him feel a little awkward. He can't untie Shen Qingqiu's hands, but it makes Binghe feel faintly uncomfortable anyway. It's obvious, because he has to keep looking away.
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Except in the next breath, Luo Binghe says that, and Shen Qingqiu blinks.
"Oh. Good," he says weakly, though not from any fear, or, at all really, disapproval of Luo Binghe's harsh declaration.
It was just unexpected, okay!? Not so much because it wasn't what his bleating, grass-chewing little lamb of a disciple would say, or even because it absolutely is what this version of Luo Binghe would say. It was just not at all what he expected from what came before it!
Putting his chopsticks down for a moment, even if there's a vague urge to eat it all as quickly as possible just in case this conversation goes bad just like the first one the other day that, Shen Qingqiu purses his lips faintly.
"Yes, yes, this master will. I will not let anyone else take what belongs to you."
Sure, Shen Qingqiu hasn't... gotten actually hurt even if he was briefly in a lot of (excruciating) pain when Binghe stirred his blood into mites yesterday. And anyway, he's not so vulnerable! He'd been doing... all right until Luo Binghe (thankfully) interrupted her, hadn't he?
(Some stray breeze from somewhere brushes a damp, chilly breath against his face and down past the dark collar of Luo Binghe's robe, to tease over his very much naked shoulders underneath. Shen Qingqiu does not shiver.)
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Luo Binghe can feel his anger rising again, but tries to suppress it. He'd been trying to have a conversation yesterday before he got angry enough he stormed off, and accidentally ripping his teacher's clothes off his shoulders hadn't helped!
That had just been distracting and embarrassing, and not to mention erot— no, he won't be thinking about that. Now, or ever, given how thoroughly rejected he'd been.
Still, at least Shizun is eating. And won't be bothered, because anyone who tried to harm him would very quickly find themselves missing limbs.
And then his Shizun has to go and say that. And the words aren't even sarcastic! Despite his anger, despite the situation, Binghe flushes red. "B-belongs to me?!"
What is that supposed to mean!
How is he supposed to take that?!
And of course he has to say that, making it sound like he's decide to accept Luo Binghe after all, and then start shivering. "Shizun is cold," he says, looking and sounding grateful for the distraction, so he doesn't have to think further about what on earth Shen Qingqiu could mean by that. He pulls something from his qiankun pouch that can be used as kindling before conjuring a small flame and placing it close to his shizun. Being made from demonic qi, the dampness of the air won't extinguish the flame.
"There. That's a little better."
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Shen Qingqiu picks up the teacup, something which is at least a simple matter and, even if his other arm and hand must still hang somewhat awkwardly underneath the other, he can still drink without looking like an idiot. It gives him a good reason to ignore Luo Binghe, too, ah!
If he didn't knew the anger that lurked behind those cold, cold eyes, though their stare was often boiling hot when aimed his way, he'd almost think Luo Binghe looked like a blushing maiden in that delicate shade of red on his fair skin.
He! even! stuttered! When does Luo Binghe stutter!?
A bit of warming tea helps against the chill, too, certainly. Shen Qingqiu ignores the comment about being cold. Of course he is, even if Binghe's robe is very warm! But then his disciple steps in close and Shen Qingqiu freezes, cup clutched near his lips.
"Oh."
Glancing at the merrily burning little flame, Shen Qingqiu doesn't understand. Why would Binghe try to look to his comfort? He's the one that helped stick him here! He still has to resist the urge to shuffle even closer to it.
"And what if someone comes in and sees it?" he says, cool and firm before taking another sit of tea, no matter how little he actually wants to give up this little fire.
It really is helping a lot!
And of course he knows from Gongyi Xiao that Binghe has forbidden anyone else from entering, which should keep anyone else out - aside from such elders of the sect as the Old Palace Master himself, who can go wherever he pleases as long as the protagonist doesn't know anything about it. But he's not supposed to know Luo Binghe has forbidden anyone but himself to see his shizun!
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He's not curious, anyway. It's not important! He's still mad at his shizun, but he doesn't like seeing the man sitting in the prison all wet and cold, anyway. He'd been hoping to have a better conversation for the last several days, and now this damn prison...
Huan Hua Palace is next to useless, anyway. They'd helped him out, that much Luo Binghe cannot deny, but this whole trial, blaming Shizun for things Luo Binghe does not blame him for? It's ridiculous.
"Who cares if someone sees?" Luo Binghe snaps, though he does glance towards the entryway all the same. Of course, the curtain of water keeps falling, with no sign that it's about to part and let someone inside.
He'd been hoping that Shizun would apologize, would explain himself...
Getting the man out of the prison would be trivial for someone like Luo Binghe.
Though he's still angry, he does continue after a moment. "Shizun is cold. Am I supposed to watch you shiver?" He has his own reasons for wanting to stay with Huan Hua Palace, but he's regretting siding with them, for everything that's come after. Who cares what his shizun did a long time ago in the past?!
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It makes an unfortunate amount of sense. Maybe even more than some other things that's happened lately - if it weren't for Luo Binghe pouting and throwing a little tantrum over being questioned about it.
No smug teasing, no flippant comment about how if Shen Qingqiu is innocent this will surely not change that, nothing but snapping and foot-stomping like his disciple is an angry ten year old, not a young man of two decades. A young man Shen Qingqiu would've held the guan li for this year, if things were different. If this was a different story.
Throat suddenly too thick to swallow anything more, Shen Qingqiu puts the teacup down. It's almost empty anyway.
"This master would've thought that's what Luo Binghe would want, seeing as he helped put him in here." Shen Qingqiu glances to the fire, happily burning away. "So this master didn't expect such solicitousness."
Perhaps especially with how yesterday went! And yet, admittedly, Luo Binghe still came with food...
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"What is that supposed to mean?!"
He did say hurtful things, and not so very long ago— just yesterday, even— but he hadn't meant any of it. Isn't that why he's here now? Isn't that why he's still cooking for his shizun, keeping him warm? No ordinary flame could stay lit in this place, is even that too close to demons for Shen Qingqiu?
Is the food not enough? Is that not enough to show his sincerity? Is it because it wasn't cooked so nicely, because Luo Binghe wanted to show off his displeasure with how his shizun acted? "I thought you understood me, but Shizun doesn't know me at all," he says. His voice wavers slightly, but he keeps it as even as he can.
Was it really not enough to say he did all of this to see Shizun again, that he genuinely does not believe it's possible for the trial to find Shen Qingqiu guilty of anything?
It's so very frustrating.
The blood he forced his shizun to ingest can be made to do many things, some very painful as the man has already experienced. Some not at all. He manipulates it subtly, to warm him up. Not in a sexual way; this is purely to raise his body temperature, so he's warmer than with the fire alone.
Is that not enough to show that he's sincere?!
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The thing is, he was expecting smug agreement, some sly comment, much like had happened after Binghe chased him down.
Instead, once again Luo Binghe is angry like a child throwing a tantrum.
It makes no sense. Shouldn't it be obvious? Does he really need to spell it out, to ask if Binghe intends to keep all others out so they can't see - again to his own purpose of course, which may make up for loosing such an opportunity. Shouldn't the protagonist be smarter than this, ah!? He knows for a fact that he is!
"Luo Binghe..." he says slowly, thin brows knitting together.
And then the System pops up again.
[ System tip: please peruse the following dialogue options and make your choice.
A. (softly, robe partially off your shoulders) Binghe must forgive this master for his assumptions. Shizun is merely afraid of what will come of this.
B. (coldly sneering) Exactly what it sounds like, you unfilial beast.
C. (maintain silence) ]
What! The! Fuck!
Fuck!! Off!! Weren't they done with the dumbfuck dating sim dialogue option-style interference!? Shen Qingqiu is about to cough up at least five liters of blood, see if he don't!
He'd choose B if the tone of the answer wasn't so blunt and it didn't include that 'beast'. Luo Binghe might have been acting a little beastly the last couple days, but it's not unexpected and anyway, he's not going to insult him while so firmly in the blackened protagonist's power, okay!? He's not stupid, thank you! The first option doesn't bear thinking about. His skin is crawling with embarrassment and his gut hot at the thought of such a... shameless and cringe response.
System, what do you think this is, a danmei on Green JJ where the shou gets menaced and roughed up by the arrogant and cruel gong while chained up in prison!?
Fuck! C it is! Again.
Mentally slamming that option, Shen Qingqiu turns his face away. He can't quite clear his expression in time, so the slightly troubled - even confused - tinge to it remains.
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He'd prefer insults to his shizun saying nothing.
Luo Binghe looks away, half-tempted to storm off again. It's only because Shizun looks confused that he doesn't, because Binghe thinks that maybe this is an opening. "Why does Shizun think I want to see him found guilty?" he asks, though he can't keep the petulance from his voice.
Because he doesn't! He really doesn't!
He also doesn't think it's possible; he doesn't care what the Old Palace Master thinks, and as much as he doesn't care about the other peak lords, he's quite certain most would side with his shizun. Though he is still grateful he'd been rescued, the whole situation makes him think that he'd be much better off in charge of Huan Hua Palace.
If he overthrew the place, then his shizun wouldn't be treated so poorly. It doesn't change how angry Luo Binghe is, and neither the conversation yesterday nor the current one is doing anything at all for his mood. He can't even feel satisfied to see the man who betrayed him reduced to this state, because it doesn't make him feel good at all. It actually makes him feel like shit!
Should he just carry Shen Qingqiu out of the prison instead? Many people would be unhappy with such a situation, but frankly Luo Binghe doesn't care.
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The petulance - weirdly adorable even if it makes the vaunted blackened stallion protagonist sound like a maiden insulted by her careless boyfriend - is strange enough, but within reasonable limits, even if the situation it's being applied to doesn't fit. The shimmer of tears in those pitch-black eyes, making them sparkle even more and the rims just barely reddened, however...
OOC! OOC off the map, ah!
'Great master' Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky confirmed it loud and clear; the last time Luo Binghe cried for any reason was when 'Shen Qingqiu' dropped that cup of hot tea on him! So! why! is! the protagonist! almost! crying!?
Something that feels vaguely like panic crawls up Shen Qingqiu's throat, but the confusion, vaguely tinted by archly wry tone, wins out.
"Wasn't that what Binghe said the other day? That he couldn't wait to see my fall from grace?"
Does he know what this conversation is any more? No! At least he did accomplish what he'd wanted, and his disciple seems aware of the Old Palace Master and his skin-crawling looks and words, so that... well, if nothing else, Shen Qingqiu will be satisfied with that. (And at least he's gotten his warmth up again. Not just without, from the fire, but his blood has warmed up as seems to be moving a little more vigorously - perhaps thanks to all the anxiety and confusion this is stirring up.)
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"Shizun really doesn't know me," he repeats bitterly. He'd been angry, that's all! And he's still angry, but he also hates that people have been taking advantage of his anger in order to torment his shizun. He isn't doing any of this to harm the man, how dare the Little Palace Mistress strike his shizun?! He's made it abundantly clear that he will not be changing his mind on this, that he never will.
He glowers, but doesn't storm off again. "I came out of the Abyss for you, why won't you believe me?" His tone is gentle, if a little sorrowful.
He's still angry, but he doesn't really have it in him to get viciously mad again. It's down to a simmer as he stares at the man. With his hands bound, he really looks quite weak. It's more upsetting than Luo Binghe thought it would be. He wants, needs to know why.
"Is it really too much, to say why you did it? Why you told me there's nothing wrong with being a demon and then changed your mind?"
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He! knows! you! did! What's all this for, otherwise, ah!?
It's almost a surprise when Luo Binghe neither storms off nor immediately activates his blood again, and instead asks... that.
Shen Qingqiu frowns. Yesterday, he didn't get a chance to say anything because of the way the fucking System popped up and gave him dating sim dialogue options, like it did again just before. Maybe, now that it's done so, perhaps Shen Qingqiu might actually say something?
Even if he has no idea what to say. That he regrets it? Luo Binghe had asked that the other day and of course he fucking regrets it! But what does that matter!? Cautiously, Shen Qingqiu draws breath---
And almost outright physically flinches when the System pops up again, its screen so large and up close he can't focus on Luo Binghe beyond it at all. Fuck!! Bullshit!
[ Please peruse your options:
A. I never changed my mind.
B. I never changed my mind, and these past few years, there wasn't a moment that I did not spend racked with remorse, though it was far too late.
C. (A sneer.) The only lie this master ever told was that I didn't want to kill you back then. Clearly I should've done a better job rather than trusting that a place as lethal as the Endless Abyss could kill even a half-heavenly demon. ]
... How about you go die, again. He thought they were done with this, okay!? How many more times is he going to be tormented by these shitty dialogue options!? The System is being exceptionally lazy, too, recycling part of one of the earlier options for this latest set. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit (important things must be repeated three times!) - but even if there is no option to maintain his silence this time, at least one of the options is something he feels half-way all right about saying.
"I never changed my mind," Shen Qingqiu says, cool and aloof as he stares up at Luo Binghe evenly, finally putting the chopsticks down.
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"Don't you stay stay silent again, Shizun," he growls, even though the threat is entirely empty. What's he going to do, use his blood again? It didn't get his shizun to talk last time. He just acted like he thought Luo Binghe would... would.
Gods, he knows he's been angry and violent, but his shizun, the person he trusted the most, threw him into the Endless Abyss.
The only thing that has kept him sane all these years was the thought that he'd escape, that he'd confront Shen Qingqiu and be told why this all happened!
He can't exactly keep the demonic qi from radiating from him, though it's contained. At least he shows no killing intent, but he's angrier than he'd been when entering the prison.
In all honesty, he's not sure what he'll do if Shen Qingqiu does remain silent. Leave again? He even cooked for his shizun, and it wasn't even acknowledged! "Why did you do it?! Why did you abandon me!"
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He sort of wishes he'd got up to his feet earlier. Getting up now would be too much like a retreat. The child is a practically basket case and the only one he can blame is himself.
"Contain yourself," he urges quietly, yet forcefully, glancing towards the uneven opening that serves as the entrance to this cave cell.
Hopefully Luo Binghe's orders really are being followed to the letter. Forget anyone seeing the demonic qi-fuelled flame at Shen Qingqiu's knees; that's nothing compared to if Luo Binghe is seen radiating this massive amount of demonic qi, just like the other day. Binghe can't be found out to be a demon yet - the protagonist won't reveal himself for a few years yet, and this Luo Binghe is certainly not ready for such a reveal yet even as - especially if! - he speedran the Endless Abyss arc, ah!
And what can he say? That he didn't want to do it? True as it might be, that's not an answer to why he did it! That there was no option? Wrong! Because there was one!
And he chose - if not wrong, then the worse one for Luo Binghe. Ten thousand satisfaction points to buy the protagonist another path. Then twenty thousand... he was never going to be allowed to do it. It was the Abyss, or his death. That he was afraid? A lie. That Binghe had no other way out? True, but that's a cold calculation that still seems to throw a child into a hell he had no way to escape or survive. That the plot demanded it because without such a pointless meat grinding arc the protagonist can't rise from the muck with his golden finger in hand? He can't fucking say that!
"Sometimes... there are no good answers, Luo Binghe. Can you live with that?" Shen Qingqiu finally says slowly, having swallowed hard before he decided on it, and isn't sure whether he's relieved or feeling strangely abandoned when the System doesn't stop him with another set of dialogue options.
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His breathing evens out, even though he's clearly no happier, and not much calmer. But his breathing has evened out, and that's... well. He doesn't appear murderous. He crouches down in front of Shen Qingqiu, certainly not entirely to make himself look less threatening (because he's aware that he's threatening on a good day), but this seems a better to way this conversation.
"Tell me the truth."
He beckons with his hand, about the only sign that he's using his blood to compel an answer.
It's not possible to lie when compelled with Heavenly Demon blood. It's possible to resist if a cultivator is strong or determined enough, but it's incredibly painful. Telling the truth isn't painful at all, of course. Well, it might hurt his shizun's pride to have the truth come out this way, but Luo Binghe really doesn't care much about that. "Do you hate me, Shizun?"
After everything, he can't bring himself to believe that he does, but Binghe doesn't know how else to take everything that's happened. Wouldn't he explain himself by now, if it was all a misunderstanding? Not that Binghe thinks it could be— he'd been shoved into the Abyss.
Despite his healing abilities, the scars on his chest and hand have never faded. It's entirely intentional on Luo Binghe's part.
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Shen Qingqiu watches his (former?) disciple take the few short steps to cross the platform to crouch before him, and despite that he clearly is calmer and there's no sense of murderous intent about him at all, Shen Qingqiu contemplates urging him to calm down again. Otherwise, why would he be so close!?
"Luo Binghe..."
Shen Qingqiu sighs, faintly exasperated - at least right until he realizes that the demand, so quietly but firmly said, isn't just words. There's a crawling heat - not painful, just a warm pressure - around several spots in his head, his brain; there's a tightening in his throat, and throughout his insides, like thin, thin threads of hot oil that might at any point turn boiling.
Wait. Wait, wait, wait--- Fuck!
He'd forgotten Heavenly Demon blood had this ability! Bing-ge barely ever used it, preferring other methods to find out the truth, but that didn't mean it wasn't a thing, just like that one absolutely unscientific incident of Luo Binghe brainwashing someone with the blood had still happened.
"No."
Blinking, Shen Qingqiu feels a little embarrassed about how quickly and easily the denial spilled out of him. To be sure, the immortal-binding cables strangle his cultivation and thus greatly hamper his ability to even try to resist, especially to the point of it starting to hurt, but, look---
"Of course Shizun doesn't," his brain for some reason sees fit to add under that gentle, warm (threatening) pressure of the foreign blood currently cradling it, and Shen Qingqiu presses his lips thin.
Sure, that's an easy thing to say, but this is going to give his disciple the wrong idea for any other answers he can get out of him like this!
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It means there are now plenty more questions— but the one he feared the most was answered, and now he knows. The Heavenly Demon blood curls around Shen Qingqiu almost gently. A little reward for telling the truth, though Luo Binghe does nothing else, not wanting to make the interrogation more unpleasant than it needs to be.
"What does Shizun think I mean to do to him?"
Better to ask it straight away, without hesitation.
Though he hasn't handled any of this well— he's handled it quit poorly, even though Binghe wouldn't considered it such— he has actually calmed down quite a bit. Which will probably actually be all the more chilling, even if he doesn't intend it.
Before he can answer, Luo Binghe continues. "I don't want to hurt you, Shizun." Which would be well and good if he hadn't roughed the man up, but really, such interactions aren't unusual when it comes to demons. He'd been angry, and now he isn't as angry.
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Shen Qingqiu is utterly caught, completely surrounded, but the panic and disgust doesn't quite take root. He feels like he's floating, a little, in fact. Probably the effect of this particular use of the blood, though.
Which! is! a little! worrying!
"System, what is Luo Binghe's anger points at?"
[ 35, down from 50 earlier. ]
Mentally, Shen Qingqiu squints. That's up from the thirty of yesterday but again far, far less than Shen Qingqiu feels those points surely should be at, ah! But it accords well with this sudden calm. The protagonist is just hiding it. Anyway, he's asked another question, and Shen Qingqiu can't help but frown, resisting as well as he's able, but not because he's necessarily afraid of laying the truth out plain between them.
It's more... he can't help but remember the tears that'd briefly shimmered in the corners of Luo Binghe's eyes earlier. His anger, so blatantly - childishly, even! - on display.
And then he says something that has Shen Qingqiu thoughtlessly scoffing, just a little, and he stops resisting the slowly sharpening sensation in his veins, as if his blood is about to start cutting him up from the inside (it might well be!) as well as the slightly gentler but no less weighed urge to not just speak, but speak the truth.
"To kill me, of course. Eventually. What else would be the outcome of pushing Luo Binghe into the Abyss?"
And to stab him, however lightly, in the heart. And that cut he - not intentionally! - gave Luo Binghe on his hand just a few days ago!
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