Chapter Text
Luo Binghe, the Saintly Ruler of the Demon Realm, sighed while resting his head on his closed fist. He slumped over his throne in the Demon Realm and stared off into a dark corner.
Sha Hualing and some of his other underlines looked at each other in dread and confusion. Mobei-Jun was the only one who seemed unaffected by their leader's mood and remained impassive. For some reason, Mobei-Jun's human partner, Shang something, was attending their meeting. Luo Binghe ignored him unless he had something interesting to say. The human remained quiet and tense behind Mobei-Jun.
"Is something the matter, my lord?" Sha Hualing asked tentatively after another sigh.
Luo Binghe turned cold black eyes on her. "If there was, there's nothing any of you could do about it."
His followers trembled underneath such a glacial stare and at the feel of his powerful aura. Sha Hualing nodded hurriedly. Then, she noticed Shang Qinghua.
"Why is he here?" She pointed at him.
Mobei-Jun narrowed his eyes on her, and she took a few steps back.
"Why do you care?" Luo Binghe asked. It was an honest question. He never understood why Sha Hualing was always asking about Mobei-Jun's companion. She must have thought it was a reprimand because she trembled and lowered her head, unwilling to say more. Luo Binghe sighed again and glanced over the same group gathered in front of him. Suddenly, he sat up and leaned forward.
"One of you can help. Mobei," Luo Binghe called out his second firmly. Mobei-Jun raised his head. "How are things between you and the human you're with?" He nodded to the smaller human man.
The man stared at him with a fearful look on his face, which Luo Binghe ignored. He was always looking at him strangely. If it wasn't because he knew that the man was loyal to his second, he would pummel him for even thinking that Luo Binghe wasn't devoted to his Shizun.
"Good," his second said with a raised eyebrow.
"Ok," the man responded at the same time. Luo Binghe finally remembered that his name was Shang Qinghua.
Mobei-Jun and Shang Qinghua looked at each other. His underlines murmured to each other at the incompatible answers.
"Ok?" Mobei-Jun raised both eyebrows at his human and crossed his muscular arms.
"Well, we've talked about this, my king," Shang Qinghua said nervously. "I think a little more private times between the two of us will be nice."
Luo Binghe narrowed his eyes after spotting the blue spots of colors on his second's cheeks. "More private times?" He asked in confusion.
Open mouthed, his underlines glanced between him and the couple. Mobei-Jun glared at his ruler. "Do you have to know such things?"
"He was the one who came to my house and asked all sorts of private questions," Luo Binghe pointed to the fidgeting Shang Qinghua. "I get to ask some of my own." His underlines trembled in fear at the force of his voice.
"I did it for an article I was writing!" He said nervously.
Luo Binghe glared.
"Demon King Luo Binghe, please ask what you want, and I'll try to answer," Shang Qinghua bowed in respect, while Mobei-Jun glared down at him. Luo Binghe turned his eyes to his second who grudgingly nodded.
Luo Binghe steeled himself and asked what he really wanted to know, "How often do you have intimate relations?" He refused to blush at the murmur and grins his question evoked. One hot glare silenced them all.
Mobei-Jun looked so shocked that he couldn't answer, but Shang Qinghua didn't seem to have such a problem. He looked down pensively. "I would say like once a day, if I can get Mobei-Jun to agree. If not, every other day."
Luo Binghe struggled to contain his shock and dismay. Almost everyday, and he had to beg his Shizun to allow him every three days? He knew that he was doing something wrong, and that as hard as he tried, his techniques weren't getting better. But to hear that Mobei-Jun, whose idea of romance was beating his intended three times a day, was more successful than he was and refusing to get it daily was a mighty blow to Luo Binghe's ego.
His underlines must have thought something similar because they grinned and sent Shang Qinghua lewd air kisses. Mobei-Jun flickered an ice arrow into one of their thighs. That quieted them.
Shang Qinghua continued as if he hadn't caused chaos in the demon realm, "Demon sizes are different from humans, so everyday can be kind of painful." He shrugged and glanced up at Mobei-Jun, "But I don't mind sometimes." His second looked away with a deeper shade of blue.
Luo Binghe identified the curling sensation in his stomach as longing. He wanted his Shizun to look at him like that, to desire him every single night, instead of acting like it was another peak lord responsibility he had to take care of. He also wanted his Shizun more than every three days.
He stood up from his throne. "Leave!" He roared at his underlines. They hurried out his throne room with desperate yelps. He glanced at the two remaining individuals and sighed. "My Shizun," he started, not knowing how to continue and sat back down.
"I know," Shang Qinghua said with a gentle nod of understanding. "You're a young stallion, he's only letting you enjoy the good stuff once in a while. My heart weeps for you."
"...Thanks," Luo Binghe shared a confused glance with Mobei-Jun. "How can I encourage him to like it more? What can I do?" He examined his second closely. What secret demonic things did he know how to do to this human?
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," Shang Qinghua recited knowledgeably and with confidence.
Luo Binghe and Mobei-Jun stared at him.
"What about this? Deny, deny, and deny until Shen Qingqiu is begging for your... heavenly pillar," Shang Qinghua offered with a smile.
"Shizun..." Luo Binghe's eyes grew big at the thought of his Shizun begging for his special attention. Telling him that every three days wasn't enough. Ordering him to do things to his beautiful body. "Yes, I want that," he panted.
"You'll have your Shizun begging for crumbs!" Shang Qinghua crackled sinisterly, making Luo Binghe frown. Mobei-Jun rolled his blue eyes. "Um, sorry," he coughed. "But my lord, if you decide to go through this route you must be strong. For one month, you must not have any sexual relations of any kind with Shen Qingqiu," he giggled a little at the end.
"One month!" Luo Binghe flew from his throne.
Mobei-Jun made a noise of surprise.
Shang Qinghua blinked, "How long were you thinking?"
"One week," Luo Binghe confessed. One whole month without making love to his beautiful Shizun. How could he survive?
Shang Qinghua shook his head. "One month. If this guy," he jammed his thumb at the ice king behind him, "ignored me for a month, I would lose it."
Mobei-Jun stared at him thoughtfully.
"One month without any sexual contact with your Shizun," Shang Qinghua said eagerly.
"What should I say when he complains?" If he complains, a little voice in his head pipped up.
"That you're tired, working on yourself, whatever. Don't let him know that there's a time limit. Let him think that you just don't want sex with him. It's going to be great!" The human began to crackle again. "He's going to be so deprived. No more heavenly pillar for you, peerless cucumber! Hahaha!"
"Is he all right?" Luo Binghe wondered if he should follow advice form such an unstable looking man.
"He'll calm down after a few minutes," Mobei-Jun said tonelessly.
"Do you think this could work?" He asked his second as the human continued to giggle.
Mobei-Jun thought about it for a few seconds. "Yes, but can you control yourself for a month?"
Luo Binghe sighed again.
He hoped.
--
At home, Luo Binghe hummed as he cut the vegetables for the stew. His Shizun had come home from his peak lord meeting, and they were going to enjoy a nice, tranquil dinner together. Luo Binghe stirred the pot happily. He knew his Shizun was going to enjoy this. It was a new recipe but made with the flavors he knew his master loved.
Still humming, he brought out the steaming pot.
"Smells delicious," Shizun said as he put down his book and went to the table.
"It's a new recipe," Luo Binghe smiled tenderly as the man served him, then himself.
"It's delicious, Binghe," Shizun sighed in delight after swallowing a spoonful.
Luo Binghe stared bashfully down at his plate as he continued eating. He gave his Shizun pleased glances as they continued their meal.
"How was the Demon Realm today?" Shizun asked, wiping the corners of his mouth with a cloth.
"Boring. Demons are getting lazy and insolent," he pouted, thinking of his underlines.
Shizun smiled softly, "I'm sure you'll think of an exciting, torturous activity for them."
Hm, not a bad idea. Torture would bring the demons back in line and firmly remind them who was boss. Plus, it was a good exercise and practice. He made a mental note to ask Sha Hualing to bring out a demon or two from the pits for a public torture session. He beamed at his master, "Thank you, Shizun!"
The other man raised an eyebrow, "For what?"
"For your help just now," he laid a tender hand over the back of his Shizun's hand. His heart beat faster when Shizun turned his hand over to entangle their fingers together. "How is Cang Qiong Mountain?"
"The same. Liu-shidi wants me around more often," he paused when Luo Binghe growled, "but I told him I have to be around here."
His eyes widened. "Are you happy here, Shizun?"
Shizun released his hand to grab his ever present fan. "As if that question even needs to be asked, disciple."
Luo Binghe grinned, then remembered that he'd discussed today with Mobei-Jun's Shang Qinghua. He traced an aimless pattern on the table. "It's been three days." He watched his shizun's face pale, and his hand tighten on the fan. He looked down at the table sadly. He was such a failure. Would Shizun ever look at him like Shang Qinghua looked at Mobei-Jun?
"You've been very good, Binghe," Shizun said with his open fan covering his mouth.
He felt a rush of familiar pleasure at the words, but it wasn't enough. He wanted his Shizun to burn for his touch like he did. He wanted him to be lost in desire.
"Deny, deny, deny..."
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder..."
Luo Binghe was about the find out if any of that was true.
"Shizun, let's not do that today," he grinned at his surprise expression when he lowered the fan. "Let's do something else. Can you read to me again?"
"...Sure," he replied slowly with a relieved smile.