Chapter Text
Luo Binghe has had a rough few years, but things were finally looking up. His beloved Shizun had said thrown him into Endless Abyss for the crime of being a heavenly demon.
Despite saying demons could be good.
Despite all of the devotion and love Binghe had offered to him for years. He had been the perfect disciple, but it hadn’t mattered when his mark of sin burned on his brow. His Shizun had said such horrible things before abandoning him to that hellish land.
But, the look on his face had haunted him. His face revealed far too much when he didn’t have the protection of one of his fans to hide him. His words had been so angry, but his face didn’t match. Shizun had been scared, had been worried, had been hurting.
But he wasn’t angry.
Binghe had spent so long revisiting that moment in his dreams. Every single time he could catch a few moments of sleep, he looked over his memories of that awful night. That face had given him the hope he needed to fight his way out.
He had come up with his plan during his rare downtime. He would prove to Shizun that he was good. That he didn’t need to fear him. Initially, he was just going to try to show Shizun he was still a righteous cultivator despite his vile blood. Then he had escaped to the demon realm and discovered why demons attacked so often.
The previous emperor was sealed under a mountain, and his empire had broken. The systems meant to prevent famine and drawing in cultivators had also broken. Desperate demons invaded the human world looking for food. Many demonic beasts were driven across the borderlands, some looking for food and others fleeing stronger demons fighting for territory. All in all, it had been a disaster for both sides of the conflict.
The plan came together then. He could help protect the human realm by taking his birthright as the new demon emperor. He was trying very hard not to think about the fact that he would be taking his father’s position. He wasn’t sure how to feel about the other demon. He avoided the topic for now.
He didn’t need some father who had been trapped under a mountain.
He only needed Shizun.
His conquest had gone so well, it was hardly a challenge. His Shizun had taught him so much, he was constantly using his lessons on his path to the throne. It had gone so well that he was almost ready to return to the human world.
The next part of the plan was a bit tricky, but Luo Binghe was prepared. He had to show Shizun he was righteous. The easiest way would be to gain the trust of a sect, show him that Binghe was still good. He had picked Huan Hua Palace for his target. They were one of the largest sects, and also had the most worthless disciples. He remembered how weak they had been at the Immortal Alliance Conference, how they had dragged him down. He could take over easily if that was their standard for such an important event.
He had even planned to shake down his former Shishu, that dirty traitor Shang Qinghua for information on Shizun.
The information came to him instead.
He overheard demons talking about a strange, lone cultivator. A cultivator who hadn’t harmed them, and had instead talked. A powerful, wealthy cultivator with a deep fascination for beasts, demons, and plants. A cultivator wandering the world to write bestiaries, and explore areas of spiritual power. A cultivator who matched Shizun’s description.
The idea of Shizun wandering for such a purpose did fit him. The issue was that Shizun had Without-A-Cure, and he had been alone! He may have hated Liu Qingge for daring to lust after his Shizun, but he wouldn’t let him wander by himself in his state. Neither would the rest of his martial siblings.
So Binghe had temporarily dropped his plan for Huan Hua to investigate. He was good at hiding his demonic traits, so he could even track Shizun to the tiny villages he had been visiting.
He found that his Shizun was indeed alone, and had seemingly lost so much of his finery. Shen Qingqiu wore his finest clothes like armor, always careful to maintain his image in public. He had only dropped his guard when it was just the two of them, cozy in the safety of the Bamboo House.
Yet his Shizun was walking around, wearing clothing barely befitting a good rogue cultivator! His Shizun belonged in silk, draped in jewels. Yet he was in rough, worn robes without a single mark of his status! Something had happened.
He had immediately used Xin Mo to cut his way to the Northern Palace. He demanded that the cowardly Peak Lord come to him immediately, and settled down to wait. It wasn’t long before Mobei-jun dumped the mousy man before him. The ice demon stuck close, but he ignored his presence. He didn’t want to touch whatever those two had going on. “You, why is Shizun so far from Qing Jing?”
The man paled, hands shaking as he looked back to the demon. “Ah, Junshang, how did you find out.”
He growled at the blatant attempt to avoid the question. “That doesn’t matter. Why is he wandering, alone? Was he ejected from Cang Qiong?”
Shang Qinghua waved his hands in front of himself rapidly. “He wasn’t ejected! I promise! Shen-shixiong is just gathering information for a bestiary. He asked for permission about a year after the Immortal Alliance Conference. He hasn’t been back since, but one of us checks on his every other week. He’s very, very fine!”
Binghe digested that for a moment, “But, why? Shizun hardly left the sect before. And he was afflicted with a dangerous poison that needs regular treatment.”
“Well, Liu Qingge visits him often to clear his meridians and deliver medicine. He was in good health last month when Mu Qingfang checked up on him.” Shang Qinghua paused here, only continuing his answer after he growled again. “Ack, wait! I was just thinking of how to put it. Shen-shixiong was not doing well after that disaster at the Conference. He stopped eating, barely slept, he was like a living ghost. He only perked up when he left the mountain. He asked to go on a journey, alone. We worked out what he would need and let him go. He’s doing better at least. He seemed much happier the last time I saw him. He can still come back any time, but he doesn’t want to. Right now, he just wants to travel without all the attention that would be on a Peak Lord.”
That bit about how Shizun had been acting had gotten his attention, so he bullied the information about that time out of the An Ding Peak Lord. While he hated to think of how sad his Shizun had been, Shen Qingqiu had mourned him! Getting back to him may be easier than he thought!
Which led to his current plan: Find Shizun.
They needed to talk, but first he had to find him. He had thought about trying through dreams, but he didn’t want to use demonic powers to contact him. He may reject Binghe immediately if he did. So, his only choice was to look in person.
He dispatched the few demons he could trust to gather information, and hunted himself.
However, Shizun was slippery. He always seemed to miss the man, no matter how fast he moved. He was always one step behind. But he was determined to find his Shizun and prove that he was still his beloved disciple.
It was only a matter of time before he found Shen Qingqiu. In fact, he had a good lead that he had entered a hidden realm not long ago. He hadn’t left yet either. The only challenge was finding the entrance.
But, well, Binghe had time. He couldn’t enter, but he was happy to wait outside for his Shizun.
He was ready for their reunion.
He wouldn’t let them be separated again.