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The Bailu Forest of Huan Hua was not a popular destination for demon-kind. In fact, after their previous emperor had been sealed below its soil by the greatest cultivators of their time, and presumably left to decay — it sat pretty solidly as the worst vacation destination.
Despite this, Shen Yuan carefully picked his way through the many arrays guarding the outskirts. He bit down a grin as he recognized a few designed to alert the border patrol to any signs of demonic energy. Unfortunately for them, the Shen clan of the Southern Cloudforests were Cultivators of camouflage and passing through unnoticed.
Such an oversight was actually a bit stupid in Shen Yuan's opinion. They should count themselves lucky Shen Yuan was a true scholar, only interested in researching new entries for the human realm bestiary he'd started. There truly was such an unfortunate lack of information regarding the strange and horrific beasts of their sister realm, and it was a pity no demon had apparently deemed it worthy of studying before.
Regardless of Huan Hua's poor planning, Shen Yuan continued his path inwards to see what creatures of note were contained deep within the Bailu Forest.
Eventually, he'd found exactly that.
Here it sat, a natural defense system close to the edges of the array. Tall, with long sweeping branches that dipped into the water below. A shimmering golden ichor dripped down the branches in thin beads, casting ripples into the water below.
A Dripping Lake Willow. They were quite rare from what Shen Yuan knew of the human realm. This one in particular had been uprooted from its home deep in the forests of a more southern region of the Human Realm and transplanted into what Huan Hua had come to consider their personal gardens. Shen Yuan didn't even want to consider how much that had disrupted the natural ecosystem it had been removed from.
Shen Yuan tried to capture the gilded tree with his ink-stick, though the results weren't nearly as striking. A few stray animals sipped from the water below, drawn in by the clean spiritual energy it exuded on the breeze. Perhaps Shen Yuan would trail after them later, but for now, he figured he might as well finish his notes on the tree before he moved on.
He grew comfortable in the faint murmurings of life and soft drip of the tree.
A loud snap was his first sign that something was wrong. Shen Yuan jerked his head up from his seated position by the edge of the water. He flicked his head back and forth wildly, before darting away towards the underbrush and burying himself in the thick of it.
He tamped down even further on his spiritual signature, slowing his breath and lowering his heart rate as much as he could. Getting caught in Huan Hua territory was akin to a death sentence, and as far as he was concerned, he had much more living to do.
It was clear he wasn't the only one with that same thought on their mind, as most of the other beasts scattered wildly.
Just in time too, as a loud whooping noise echoed across the clearing. A young cultivator, most likely a lower level disciple burst through the main pathway.
His excited smile slowly turned a look of confusion. "There's nothing here." The toe of his boot dug into the fresh dirt as he kicked at the grass. "What's even the point of this place?"
"Zhang Wanyi," A more commanding voice called out. Though in volume it wasn't particularly loud, it drew Shen Yuan's attention with the quiet authority it held. "If one so loudly disturbs such a peaceful environment, can you truly expect the wildlife to remain?"
Said disciple froze in his footsteps, an embarrassed flush spreading across his cheeks.
Shen Yuan flicked his gaze over to see the older cultivator decked out in a fancier version of the gaudy marigold robes the young disciple wore.
Woah, talk about the ideal heavenly immortal cultivator! If Shen Yuan were to include a section on them in his bestiary, this would have been the perfect specimen to illustrate.
His long curls were perfectly swept back into a crown, though a few were left artfully draped over his shoulders. Speaking of shoulders, they were quite broad, but not in a bulky way— rather just solid enough to imply a hidden strength. His face was the true showstopper though. A beam of sunlight washed it in a warm golden glow as Shen Yuan momentarily gaped at him in shock. Dressing him in such ugly robes was like burying a diamond in shit!
"Sorry Su-Shixiong." The disciple ducked his head in response, quietly returning to his shixiong's side.
Another disciple — a young girl — tucked alongside their shixiong's robes giggled, a wicked little grin upon her face. "One should always observe before acting to avoid looking foolish."
She looked up expectantly at their teacher as though waiting for a reward.
Su-shixiong, as Shen Yuan now knew him, simply nodded with an unamused expression upon his face. "That's correct, now let's ensure we can still learn something from this experience."
Shen Yuan was genuinely a bit surprised by how much he learned as the man spoke. There were a few other students accompanying the cultivator who were equally entranced by his explanation of the willow. Their questions were expectedly childish given their age, and he had to fight the urge to crawl out from his hiding place himself to pose a few questions.
Instead, he contented himself with listening to the soft drone of Cultivator Su's voice as he explained how the vines would ensnare any fool who shed blood by its waters and nourish its roots with their bodies. There were a few horrified gasps at that one that had Shen Yuan biting back a huff of laughter. How soft the young ones of the human realm were.
Soon enough he let them explore the area, though most remained huddled around him like a flock of ducklings. A few tentatively poked along the edges of the pool, though with comically fearful expressions. It was cute in a way, and had they not been direct threat to revealing Shen Yuan's presence in the forest, he'd have likely welcomed the disturbance.
After what felt like far too long, Cultivator Su finally gathered his disciples together and led them away.
Eventually Shen Yuan groaned in relief as he slipped from his hiding spot, joints creaking and popping from freezing in place. He didn't dwell on the discomfort though, as he quickly pulled out his notes once more. He had quite a bit to update.
That turned out to be one of many times Shen Yuan found himself running into Su Binghe. Quite often he'd find the man with his little golden ducklings trailing behind him as they explored the forest floor.
So little of the human world was known or recorded by demonkind, as it was generally considered boring — if not useless — information. Here though, listening in on Su Binghe's lectures, he felt an almost kinship with the teacher.
While he enjoyed the lessons he received during this time about the different creatures residing here, he found that his favorite times were when Su Binghe was alone.
In these moments, the world seemed so much quieter. As though the forest itself welcomed him with open waiting arms. Shen Yuan did not understand exactly what it was about this young cultivator, but even he felt himself entranced by Su Binghe.
Not just for his beauty alone, of course. There was just something about him that Shen Yuan couldn't quite place. As it was, Shen Yuan was quite content to watch him sword dance under the sunbeams that broke through the dense foliage or trail after some creature or other. He knew better than to let his presence slip, but at times he desperately wished he could leap down from the boughs and pick the other's brain.
Perhaps in another lifetime.
"Su Binghe!"
Shen Yuan groaned, tucking his lunch away and brushing fallen leaves over the ground to hide the imprints of his shoes. At this rate, he'd need to head much deeper into the woods if he wanted to avoid any further possible confrontations with the cultivators of Huan Hua. Within the past two weeks alone he'd had to move his little makeshift shelter at least a dozen times!
As it were, this cultivator clearly had no sense of decorum; despite the lack of reply she continued screeching the same name into the forest. Respecting the sanctity of nature was apparently not considered important to whoever this was.
Birds called out, beating their wings in a flurry as they took off in fright. Shen Yuan watched on forlornly, wishing that he too could fly away or at the very least have finished his meal in peace. As it was, he knew he had to start moving.
Digging his clawed nails into the bark of a large tree nearby, he hauled himself up, and onto the large boughs above. Just in time too. He'd just settled into a proper notch in the branch as the flashy colors favored by Huan Hua began to come into view.
Bright pink silks fluttered about a young woman, and Shen Yuan would have thought her pretty if not for the scowl marring her features. A good looking young man trailed behind her with a pained expression.
"Xiao Gongzhu," he pleaded, "Su-Shidi said he'd return after he practices his sword forms. We'd best not disturb him. Please let me escort you back."
At that Shen Yuan's ears perked up. Su-Shidi must be the same Cultivator Su he'd seen quite often. Attention now grabbed, he peered over his branch curiously to listen.
"Shut up Gongyi Xiao!" The young woman barked back, not even deigning to look his way. "Binghe is supposed to be escorting me to a luncheon. If that damned Qin Wanyue sees me enter all alone it's only going to further fuel her delusion that we aren't engaged!"
"I could escort you?"
At that this Xiao Gongzhu froze. "Gongyi-Shixiong, that would not help the situation in the slightest."
"Oh. Oh! I simply meant in his place, of course not actually in his place, but as his sect brother…"
The panicked ramblings faded off as they made their way further along the path and out of Shen Yuan's sight.
Were Shen Yuan a more sympathetic creature, he'd have considered warning the man of the rampaging storm headed his way. As it was, he did love a good drama. Love triangles weren't his favorite trope, but he'd make do.
That turned out to be one of many times Shen Yuan found himself running into Su Binghe. Quite often he'd find the man with his little golden ducklings trailing behind him as they explored the forest floor.
So little of the human world was known or recorded by demonkind, as it was generally considered boring — if not useless — information. Here though, listening in on Su Binghe's lectures, he felt an almost kinship with the teacher.
The light that seemed to dance in his eyes as he explained the many vicious ways a Quilled Oryx-Hippo could maim a man, had Shen Yuan nearly swooning out of his hiding place! Or the effervescent smile that had pulled at his lips as he detailed the many toxins included in the mucus of the Fire-forged Salamander! It was rare he'd seen someone show such affection towards his beloved creatures. It seemed he certainly had a preference for the more violent of creatures but that was alright! Everyone has preferences.
While he enjoyed the lessons he received during this time about the different creatures residing here, he found that his favorite times were when Su Binghe was alone.
In these moments, the world seemed so much quieter. As though the forest itself welcomed Su Binghe with open waiting arms. Shen Yuan did not understand exactly what it was about this young cultivator, but even he felt himself entranced by Su Binghe.
Not to mention, he was quite frankly pleasant to look at! At times, Shen Yuan almost felt as though he could not pull his gaze away from the man. There was just something about him, that not even his ugly gold robes could detract from.
The sharp set of his brow as he practiced his forms, the bright glint of his smile when he captured a movement just right! Were Shen Yuan a better artist he'd have considered trying to capture the man's likeness in his journals. Alas, he'd have to settle for memory alone. He didn't dare to mar the memory with his own meager skills.
Not just for his beauty alone, of course. There was just something about him that Shen Yuan couldn't quite place. As it was, Shen Yuan was quite content to watch him sword dance under the sunbeams that broke through the dense foliage or trail after some creature or other. He knew better than to let his presence slip, but at times he desperately wished he could leap down from the boughs and pick the other's brain.
Perhaps in another lifetime.
Shen Yuan struggled against the cables wrapped tightly around his limbs. Normally breaking free from a few ropes would be nothing for a demon like him, but the talisman dangling cruelly above his head ensured that wasn't a possibility.
In fact, the only thing his struggling accomplished was sending him spinning in a slow circle.
"Well, well. What have we here?" An unfortunately familiar voice called out.
Damn, this really was the end now wasn't it? He probably should have heeded Xiang Fei's advice to avoid anywhere humans spend time… or at the very least ensure there are at least three escape routes in advance.
It was a pity his favorite cultivator to watch was going to be the one to deal the killing blow, but at least he'd have something nice to look at before he closed his eyes for the last time. Before he could dwell on his imminent death much further, a hand caught his jaw and forced Shen Yuan's slow spiral to sudden stop.
His vision swam before finally merging the double vision of Su Binghe into one unfortunately handsome cultivator.
"You certainly don't look like a rotund sloth bear. What are you doing sniffing along my traps?"
Shen Yuan continued to stare, fear beginning to pool in his gut. Was Su Binghe playing with him before he killed him? He hadn't gotten that impression from the cultivator the many times he'd watched him, but that didn't mean he fully understood the cultivator's mentality towards demons.
"Come on now, aren't you going to explain yourself?"
He gulped, realizing he might be wearing the man's patience thin. Maybe he could convince Su Binghe not to kill him, if his brain could just catch up-!
"I'm trying to find the Golden-Tailed Lemur-cat!" He blurted out quickly and apparently a bit too loudly, if the cringe on Su Binghe's face meant anything.
A tense pause hung in the air. "A lemur-cat?" Su Binghe asked almost incredulously. "You're here for a lemur-cat?"
Shen Yuan nodded quickly, his movements slightly hampered by Su Binghe's fingers gripping his jaw. "Yes! I was tracking one through this area before I got, uh, tripped up…" He trailed off. He didn't want to make it seem like he blamed the man who'd caught him on the off chance it would infuriate him into immediately killing him.
Su Binghe's expression shifted from that of a dignified young master to something Shen Yuan wasn't quite sure of. Suddenly a loud bark of a laugh made him jolt to attention. Su Binghe covered his mouth and his shoulders shook, eyes scrunched and tightly closed.
He'd never seen the dignified Huan Hua cultivator like this before. Every time when he'd spied Su Binghe and his disciples, the man had seemed lofty, untouchable even. Like the cold jade immortals he'd only heard tale of. Yet right here in this moment, he seemed almost unbearably human.
He stared as Su Binghe caught himself, breaths coming in short puffs. He kept silent as the man rubbed at the corner of his eye.
Shen Yuan wasn't sure if he'd royally fucked up or not until Su Binghe managed to compose himself and braced a hand on the rope suspending him. He leaned in close, cocking his head just barely as he looked into Shen Yuan's eyes."Such a strange little fellow."
Before Shen Yuan could formulate a response to that, the flash of a knife dried his tongue. Almost as soon as he noticed it, he was tumbling down and crashing hard against the dirt.
"Shit!" He yelped in pain as he hit the ground. Instinctively, he curled in on himself, trying to shield his most vulnerable spots from Su Binghe's knife. He'd have thought Su Binghe would simply slit his throat whilst trussed up like a pig for slaughter, not whatever this was!
"Go on now," Su Binghe shooed him along. Shen Yuan blinked up in shock at him for a moment before the man continued. "Before I change my mind."
Shen Yuan did not require any further encouragement as he scrambled up from the ground and bolted away. He had no intention of allowing the cultivator time to rethink his decision.
Shen Yuan was not stalking the Young Cultivator Su. He swore. Yet, somehow he'd found himself draped across a cavern shelf as he watched the man sitting cross legged upon a mossy patch.
The glowing lichen bathed his features in a cold blue light that made him almost appear carved from stone. Shen Yuan might have thought he'd stumbled upon an abandoned temple of a god if not for the faint fall and rise of his chest. He was deep in meditation at this point, and Shen Yuan dared not move or risk awakening him.
Shen Yuan did not know much about Cultivator Su, in truth. At times he felt almost fake, as though a near perfect veneer had been pasted over him, just barely beginning to crack at the seams. There was the faint twitch below his right eye when asked one too many foolish questions, or the sharp tightening of his jaw when his fiance managed to find his latest glen to practice in. Almost impercetible. Except for Shen Yuan's keen eye.His students seemed to hold him in a strange mix of fear and awe. Untouchable, yet only a mere hairsbreadth away.
Such strange things humans were.
He'd seen the man sneaking away through the woods, a pensive look upon his face. Whatever troubled a young master of a sect was outside of Shen Yuan's specialty, but nonetheless it was clear that something burdened the man.
He'd trailed him to the hidden pool purely out of curiosity. He'd yet to see any other cultivators come to this cavern, most favoring the manicured pools closer towards the path. Likely a foolish decision, but Shen Yuan enjoyed untangling the threads of a mystery, and Su Binghe certainly was one.
Why had he let him go? He was a cultivator and Shen Yuan was a demon. Logically, that should have been the end of it. Yet here Shen Yuan was, living and breathing. For what reason he was unsure, but he felt drawn to know. At the very least, his entry on the human cultivation sect of Huan Hua would be packed with information.
Suddenly Su Binghe's brow twitched. It was minute, barely even visible from where Shen Yuan perched, but out of place. It seemed to be only the beginning though, as the muscles surrounding it spasmed. His fists clenched tight, nails digging crescents into his palms where they lay against his thighs. Small red beads of blood welled up after them.
A strange scent welled up in the air, a crackling energy pulsing like a heartbeat.
Was this a human qi deviation? Shen Yuan wondered to himself. He scrunched himself further back against the crevice, unsure what he should do.
"Damnit!" Su Binghe yelled, the words echoing off the walls. His breaths came in short bursts as his body further curled in on itself. A moment passed as Shen Yuan slowly began to crawl his way forward on the ledge. Nails dug into the rocky ledge, he weighed the choice of leaping down to check on the man.
Normally, Shen Yuan made it a point not to interfere with nature during his studies, but something in him ached at the idea of this man succumbing to whatever it was that wracked his body.
Just before he could slip down, Su Binghe launched himself upright with a look of fury. He stomped over to where his sword lay gently against a rocky outcrop and snatched it. He grumbled to himself, and Shen Yuan could just barely make out bits and pieces about how mother was going to lose it and how he'd need to remain hidden.
How interesting. Perhaps Shen Yuan's gut was right about something being wrong with the perfect young master of Huan Hua. What he would do with this information, he was not yet certain, but he would certainly be tucking it away for later.
The thick miasma of energy was suffocating long after Su Binghe left the meditation pool.
Shen Yuan waited until he was sure he would not be disturbed and clambered down off the wall. Curiously, poked a finger into the pool, finding a grungy film had formed upon the surface. "What are you?" He questioned aloud as he strung the mucus like substance between his thumb and forefinger.
Digging through his packs with a free hand, he pulled out a small vial to scoop more of the film into it.
He lingered a bit longer, watching as the cloudiness slowly dissipated into nothingness. The only evidence that remained was the small amount trapped in his vial.
Shen Yuan sighed to himself scratching a note in beside his Huan Hua entry. Human Qi Deviation Residue. What gross creatures they were.
The pungent smell of blood hung heavy in the air. From what Shen Yuan could tell, it was definitely that of a cultivator, if the softer human note combined with the pure scent of iron were any indicator. Normally Shen Yuan would ignore, or in fact, even avoid such a scent. Something about this one had drawn his attention more than the others before.
A strange peppery scent seemed to mix within it, one that Shen Yuan just couldn't place. At the very least, he wondered what other creatures from the Bailu forest might be drawn in by such a scent. From the intensity of it, surely the cultivator themselves were near dead if not already passed.
Ensuring his own spiritual signature was cloaked, he slid in between the raised roots of a tree. From his hiding place, Shen Yuan peeked out towards what he was sure must be a cultivator's corpse.
Instead, he had to bite back a gasp as he realized it was none other than his favorite cultivator to watch, laying propped against the base of the other tree. Blood ran in rivulets down his chest from an unsightly wound. Were Shen Yuan not a demon, he'd likely have vomited from the amount of innards exposed.
Yet, that strange scent that mixed with Su Binghe's own grew stronger here, as though it were leaking out alongside the blood itself. More flesh seemed to split of it's own volition, spilling further down his torso as though intent on splitting Su Binghe in two. A normal wound would not continue growing like this with no weapon to continue tearing it. Perhaps some type of poison? Shen Yuan gnawed at his lip, debating if he should reveal himself. Sure; it wasn't a smart idea by any means, but he felt a tad remiss simply allowing the man to bleed out in front of him.
Suddenly a wave of nausea hit him like a brick. He keeled over clutching at his skull as the intense pressure threatened to crush it like a mere child's toy.
His own control flickered rapidly as his mind went blank from the pain.
As his conscious finally managed to catch up with the physical reality of his body, Shen Yuan froze. Something was very, very wrong.
That strange smell from earlier had blossomed. Demon. Not just any demon either, but a heavenly one. Shen Yuan had never met one himself, but the Bailu forest did house what he could only imagine was the corpse of one. The scent was faint but lingered in the soil of the lands, enough that Shen Yuan had come to recognize it seeping through the forest he's made a temporary home.
This though, this felt alive in a way he'd never experienced.
He jerked his head up quickly, fixing his gaze upon Su Binghe with horror. Right before him, he could make out the flesh pulsing as it shoved a thick sap like mucus out from the cavity. It hit the ground with a sickening plop.
Then, it stitched itself back together. Muscle sought out muscle, weaving itself back together as fat spread neatly overtop like a blanket. The sounds were stomach-churning.
Su Binghe's expression was that of abject agony as his body fought against itself. A million questions ran through Shen Yuan's mind, most along the lines of What was he? He did not have much time to dwell upon this though, as a low rumble of a laugh caught his attention.
"Spying again, little demon?" Su Binghe's eyes were now focused on Shen Yuan's small hiding spot. While it was unlikely the other man could actually see him, Shen Yuan knew without a shadow of a doubt that his eyes had nailed his exact location. His earlier pain had likely let his own signature slip, and it'd be near impossible for him to escape a heavenly demon's notice after that. Even injured as he was, if Su Binghe truly was the source of that demonic energy, Shen Yuan did not stand a chance.
Giving up on remaining hidden, Shen Yuan crawled out from under the root. His robes caught on the sharp ridges of the bark, as though the tree itself were begging to him to reconsider, to run while he still could. He remained cautiously crouched, still far away enough that he might have a chance to flee if Su Binghe lurched at him. "You're a demon?" He asked, voice barely loud enough for the other to hear.
He sniffed at the air and recoiled. Now that his flesh was beginning to close, the smell more cleanly mixed into something he could only recognize as a blend of human and demon, though the latter was rapidly fading.
Su Binghe bared his teeth, as though the mere mention was offensive to him. "Say that aloud in front of anyone else and I'll ensure those words are your last."
Shen Yuan gulped and nodded quickly. "I won't, I swear it!" The words tumbled out so fast they were nearly intelligible. Finally, it seemed as though only a small stream of the demonic energy that had overwhelmed him earlier remained, trickling from Su Binghe's core. Curious.
"Were you sealed?" He finally asked, trying to be careful with his words and tone to not upset the other. Even as a cultivator, Su Binghe was likely a strong threat against Shen Yuan. As a heavenly demon, even more so.
The glare he got in response was almost enough to send Shen Yuan fully into fight or flight mode."That's not your business."
"Apologies!" He squawked, already beginning to scoot backwards ever so slightly towards his first exit plan. "This one did not mean to presume! Your demonic qi is quite potent, as though it's been held in, and then there's the crack-"
"The crack?"
Shen Yuan paused. Eyes flicking back to Su Binghe quickly. "Yes the crack?"
Did he really not know his seal was cracked? Shen Yuan was surprised he had not noticed it himself before. This new injury had likely worsened it with how potent the steady stream of demonic qiwas now. Before it had been barely noticeable, something Shen Yuan himself could not even place.
Su Binghe's eyes were wild, his breath coming in quicker bursts. "It's cracked?" His nails dug at the closing wound on his chest as though he could somehow reach in and examine the seal himself. "It can't crack!"
"Don't do that!" Shen Yuan panicked, watching fresh muscle tear and bleed. "That's not going to to help!"
"It needs to close! I'll stop it up myself if I have to!"
Shen Yuan understood the animalistic fear in Su Binghe's expression. He was a demon. If Su Binghe tried going back to his sect with demonic qi dripping from him like sweat, he'd likely be imprisoned or killed. Forcibly trying to reopen the wound in the hopes it would somehow cover it up was not the answer though. If anything, his heavenly demon blood was what was healing it in the first place. He'd only be darkening the cloud of energy around himself.
You couldn't mask demonic qi with itself. Most demons struggled to suppress their own qi in the first place.
Most.
Shen Yuan knew damn well his clan were the outliers. As a young child, he'd been warned to take care if he ever dared to travel to the human realm.
Apparently, in small doses, their qi infused venom or blood acted as a sort of copycat for the natural talents of his kind. Camouflage. While someone using their venom would not be able to minutely shift the tones of their flesh to blend seamlessly with the foliage as Shen Yuan could, they would be able to slip past wards and other arrays that searched for spiritual energy. Rather than merely suppressing one's own qi, it was as though it had completely vanished. A very desired ingredient for any sort of disguise or seal.
It wasn't unheard of for cultivation sects to capture his brethren to milk their venom. What happened to them after the fact was anyone's guess, though Shen Yuan sincerely doubted they were sent on their merry way back to the demon realm. Shen Yuan could just barely detect the familiar signatures of the venom in the original seal itself.
"Cultivator Su has done me a kindness before. Would you allow this one to return the favor?"
That seemed to stop Su Binghe's attempt to reach his own internal core for at least a moment. "What?"
"I can't guarantee it would be any sort of success," Shen Yuan responded. "And it'd be temporary at most until you can get back to the person who created that seal in the first place."
Su Binghe narrowed his eyes at Shen Yuan, chest heaving under the exertion of his body trying to heal itself while half of his spiritual energy was trapped.
Shen Yuan cautiously picked over the scattered rocks and made his way over to Su Binghe with a curious look. Was this essentially a case of a mouse approaching an injured lion? Probably! Yet for some reason, Shen Yuan still found himself approaching.
"I can hide my own qi signature," He added. "You've probably noticed this by now."
Su Binghe did not take his eyes off of Shen Yuan but nodded slowly in response. Ah, he knew Su Binghe was smart! At least if anyone were to be aware of his presence in the Bailu forest it was him.
"Good, good. Now has Cultivator Su heard of the Shen Clan of the Southern Demon Realm?" There was a flash of recognition in in Binghe's eyes as Shen Yuan continued on."If you will allow it, this one would be willing to attempt to shield yours."
"If you try anything funny, I will gut you." Despite the clear threat in his words, Su Binghe thrust his hand out towards Shen Yuan.
He stared down at the offered hand, a small pit of apprehension forming in his guts. Tentatively, he leaned forward and opened his mouth just barely hovering over the meat of his palm. The muscles of his jaw pulled his fangs taut and out of their rested position against the roof of his mouth.
He chanced a glance up at Su Binghe and shuddered under the intensity of the man's gaze. It felt more like Su Binghe was the one about to bite Shen Yuan and swallow him whole.
The muscles of his throat jumped involuntarily, and the edge of his fangs caught and hooked onto the skin there. Su Binghe let out a noise of discomfort. Panic overtaking him, Shen Yuan lurched forward and buried his fangs in deep.
Almost immediately, he felt the pulse of his venom try to slip out, and he tamped down on that instinct as much as he could. Instead, he allowed a small stream of qi to trickle in with just the barest amount of his venom. He had to time this perfectly, or else he'd risk actual harm to Su Binghe. How much harm? He wasn't quite sure with the whole 'heavenly demon healing' thing, but with the strength of the cracked seal, he wasn't sure his healing abilities were fully accessible.
Focused upon the task at hand, his eyes jolted open as he felt a hand cup against the fat of his cheek. Su Binghe pressed the thumb of his free hand into the joint of Shen Yuan's jaw, as though testing its give. His heart jack-rabbited against his ribs. A friendly reminder.
The muscles surrounding his venom glands tensed and fluttered, not used to trying to envenom someone at such a minimal pace.
Shen Yuan glanced up, eyes meeting Su Binghe's. The other's gaze was intense, tracking Shen Yuan's every movement. Swallowing dryly, he tried to keep his other teeth from scraping the delicate skin of Su Binghe's palm.
He finally jerked away, venom and blood drooling from the tips of his fangs as his muscles relaxed. His jaw ached with the release of tension, and the nerve endings at the base of his fangs burned with something unknown as though they had been bit in turn.
Su Binghe meanwhile vacantly glanced down at his palm, flexing his fingers as though testing that they were still able to move. The stream of demonic energy that had been leaking from him was no longer detectable in the air.
"Interesting," He hummed to himself.
Shen Yuan took his chance and bolted as Su Binghe continued to examine the oozing bite mark. As much as he wanted to confirm he'd done it right, the fear of what would happen if he'd fucked up was far stronger than scientific curiosity.
He'd simply have to hope he hadn't accidentally left Su Binghe in an unfortunate coma in the middle of the forest.
A strange burning sensation pricked at the edges of Shen Yuan's senses. He shifted slightly, hoping to dislodge whatever may have been nibbling at him, but the sensation only worsened. "Rude little fucker." He grumbled to himself, twisting again to see if he could scratch at the area of his back once more.
Whatever it was, it was certainly starting to distract him from his attempt to watch the Lily-Plume Bird nesting in a nearby bough.
A loud greeting from below had him nearly tumbling off his perch upon a large tree branch.
"We meet again," Su Binghe grinned up at him, teeth flashing a dazzling white. "This one would like to express his gratitude."
Fuck! He knew he'd been entirely shadowed under the dappled sunlight and abundant moss. Had he accidentally given Su Binghe the ability to see past his skills with that tiny venom dose? If so that was certainly a downside! He's have to jot that note down later as a reminder to never ever do that again.
The venom itself should have long worn off considering at least a xun had passed, if not more. Still, he could no longer sense any demonic energy on the man. In fact, everything seemed to be perfectly in line with the same spiritual signature he'd clocked on the man previously.
"Daozhang does not owe this humble one any thanks." Shen Yuan stumbled out, as he dug his claws into the bark to avoid tumbling off. "Were it not for your first mercy I would already be dead."
"I suppose we are even then."
"If Cultivator Su considers us even then we are." He agreed, then waited expectantly for Su Binghe to continue on his merry way.
Instead, the cultivator continued to stand below the tree, head cocked, and eyes narrowed on Shen Yuan's dappled form.
He gulped, hunching down into the moss bed a bit more. Being watched was not something he was used to, and he found it quite unnerving. At the very least he had the decency to make it as unnoticeable as possible when he spied!
"Do you require further assistance?" He finally asked, upon realizing that no awkwardly long period of silence would be enough to send the cultivator away. "I can't guarantee I will be able to, but…" He trailed off.
"Would you come down?"
Shen Yuan blinked. He wanted Shen Yuan to come down? Down where there was no cover? Frowning to himself, he slowly released some of his camouflage and draped himself further across the branch and into view. "Daozhang wants me to come down?"
Su Binghe nodded. "It's a bit awkward speaking to someone at such a different height. I believe it'd be much more preferable to speak at the same level."
Perhaps the fear instinct inside him had been irreparably damaged, but Shen Yuan found himself slinking down the trunk of his tree and crouching near the roots with a cautious expression. He scanned the surrounding area, wondering if Su Binghe had perhaps hidden a few other cultivators nearby, but was pleasantly surprised to find they seemed alone.
Instead, Su Binghe held out his hand, palm outstretched with two small pinprick wounds that had scabbed over. "I'm afraid I never caught your name, but it appears you know mine?"
Shen Yuan could feel a burn of embarrassment at the clear fact that his spying had not gone unnoticed. Tentatively, he grabbed the other's hand and stood up. "Shen Yuan of the Southern Cloudforests."
So began an unlikely friendship of sorts.
Shen Yuan was under no illusions, he was fully aware that Su Binghe was studying him in turn with barely concealed interest. Perhaps it was merely a result of Su Binghe never having interacted in depth with another demon, but the barrage of questions were endless.
The interrogation went on and on as Shen Yuan tried to answer to the best of his ability. It was a bit jarring to be the one being studied.
He couldn't judge him though. Shen Yuan's own interest in not just a heavenly demon, but one that was half human as well was clearly on the forefront of his mind. Obviously, he couldn't just break the other's seal to fully study him, it'd be unethical of course, but the temptation to see what would happen was certainly there.
Would he heal as quickly as a full-blooded heavenly demon? How did the two spiritual veins tie, if at all? At the very least, Su Binghe appeared interested in that too as he pestered Shen Yuan for assistance in circulating the stagnating demonic qi in his veins.
Shen Yuan wasn't stupid. He had a very good idea of exactly how Su Binghe had come to be. There had only been one full-blooded heavenly demon known to traipse about the human realm, and said demon was presumably buried below this exact forest.
"My mother sealed me," Su Binghe had finally offered up one morning as the two of them sat by the bank of a river deep within the forest. Small jewel like minnows darted past their feet as he flexed his foot in the pebbled riverbed. "It was the only way to pass me off as a normal human child."
"Oh." It certainly answered his most pressing question of how a half-demon, one of heavenly blood no less, had been able to survive in Huan Hua. "She did a very good job. I'm surprised it's lasted this long."
Su Binghe nodded. "As far as she's concerned, it should last forever."
Shen Yuan cocked his head and blinked questioningly at Luo Binghe. "Forever?" He echoed. "You won't be able to advance in your cultivation if that is so."
As it were, his spiritual qi was already beginning to catch and knot whenever Su Binghe tried to breakthrough to the next level of his cultivation. His withering demonic veins were choking the life out of them. Unless both were properly nourished, it was clear to Shen Yuan that Su Binghe had met the peak of his abilities unless something changed.
Water splashed as Su Binghe abruptly turned to face Shen Yuan. "What did you just say?"
That was curious. Surely Su Binghe could tell that he wasn't advancing any further, especially considering the frustration he'd shown again and again in the meditative pools? "Was Cultivator Su unaware?" Su Binghe's look of horror quickly made it apparent that was the case. "You're already exhausting your spiritual qi reserves to hold back the demonic qi and expel it."
A tense silence hung in the air after Shen Yuan's explanation. Shit, he'd really messed up by pointing that out hadn't he? This was clearly a sore point for Su Binghe, especially considering his struggles to meditate in that secluded pool.
"Of course Cultivator Su is already incredibly strong! You've already greatly surpassed many other cultivators of your time—"
"I'm afraid I must take my leave." Su Binghe cut him off before he could further try to smooth his ego. He pushed up from the ground, quickly sliding his boots back upon his feet. Shen Yuan frowned. There was nothing he could truly say to make the situation any better.
Shen Yuan had carefully perched upon a log, watching the small honey-drunk ants crawl through the moss. He'd only just reached forward to pluck one of the ants up as Su Binghe cleared his throat. "What if we broke the seal?"
Nearly tumbling off the log in shock, Shen Yuan lurched forward and slammed his hand down. He grimaced at the sticky sensation of dozens of plump ants bursting and coating his hand in fermented honey. The others scattered in shock, burying themselves into the tunnels they'd burrowed. No sweet treat for Shen Yuan.
Forlornly, he licked a stripe up his palm, eyes closing in bliss. Such things were a delicacy in the demon realm, and Shen Yuan had always wanted to try them fresh. He sucked absently on the tip of his finger as the globs of honey dripped further down his wrist.
He startled as Su Binghe let out a noise of strangled shock nearby, tearing his attention away from his treat. He hummed out a questioning noise around his sweet mouthful of ant and honey, cocking his head.
Su Binghe turned away quickly, a bright flush staining the edges of his ears and cheekbones. He dug through his pouches, pulling out a jug of water and a dainty embroidered cloth.
He scrunched his brow in confusion as Su Binghe's marched over with the wetted cloth. Brusquely, Su Binghe snatched his hand and scrubbed at every inch of it.
"Don't just… Don't do that where anyone could see you!" Su Binghe admonished. Shen Yuan remained quiet as Su Binghe's continued to ramble on about propriety. Such strange things humans were.
"Pardon this one," Shen Yuan finally interrupted him. "But what were you asking?"
Su Binghe paused, a look of confusion crossing his face as he tried to remember what he was even asking in the first place.
"I need you to help me," Su Binghe did not meet his gaze as he stared at the ground with a look of conviction. "If you keep masking my qi signature, I should be able to use both, right?"
"Cultivator Su!" He squawked in disbelief. "That's an incredibly risky gamble. There's a very good chance you will be caught."
"Not if you're helping me though."
Shen Yuan merely shook his head. He wasn't interested in endangering Su Binghe's life over a split second decision! Such things needed far more consideration.
Despite his objections, Su Binghe was bound and determined to break his seal. Over the next few days, nearly every time he ran into the young Cultivator during his observations it would devolve into Su Binghe requesting the same thing. Break the seal.
He was about to lose his mind over this! Couldn't he see how this was an absolutely foolish idea? What would happen if he was found out by Huan Hua Palace? Surely he'd be thrown into the water prison for his deception! Shen Yuan had only just learned about that tortorous place after Su Binghe had excitedly explained the many torture methods contained down there and he'd already been having nightmares! Or worse, what if they upended a whole new mountain just to seal him? Clearly they had a track record of doing so already! What was going to stop them this time?
All of this continued to spiral through his head as Su Binghe slid his silk inner robe open to expose his torso.
Shen Yuan was not well versed in breaking seals. He'd never even considered it a skill he needed to learn, truthfully. Yet as he sat slotted between Su Binghe's thick thighs and traced a hand over his golden core, he felt a small bit of confidence. Beneath the muscle, he could feel the pulse of spiritual qi circulating and feeding the seal itself. Just beneath it, faint demonic qi oozed.
"Cultivator Su, are you sure?" He asked once more, peering up at Su Binghe's face.
Su Binghe scoffed and cupped his hand over Shen Yuan's to press it further against his ribs. "I already told you to go ahead with it. Don't back down on me now."
He tried desperately to ignore the burning heat of Su Binghe's eyes instead focusing upon the soft inward dip right beneath the man's solar plexus. Su Binghe's middle dantian.
"Alright, Alright," He grumbled under his breath. Concentrating on channeling his qi, he fed it through his fingertips and into Su Binghe's skin. It was strangely intimate, the way his energy mixed and blended with Su Binghe's own. Su Binghe let out a small gasp at the sensation. Shen Yuan paused for a second, but hearing no other sign of distress, pushed forward.
Surprisingly, he felt little resistance as it skimmed past his spiritual qi and slid into the cavity surrounding the core. There though was a completely different story. A thick miasma of demonic energy sluggishly churned about it, sealed just behind a thin barrier. Shen Yuan skimmed over the seal, stopping shortly where he could feel the newly closed crack. His own demonic qi caught there, attracted by the energy below.
Perhaps this was a poor idea, but they had come this far. He took in a deep breath, then plunged it forward, piercing the seal, and feeling it violently crack through the surface. Su Binghe's demonic qi stuttered, then began to spill out, pushing Shen Yuan's own curious energy out forcefully.
"Oh!" Shen Yuan exclaimed, pulling his hand back quickly as though bitten. Left behind in the wake of his hand, a dark stain bled through Su Binghe's skin.
A slurching sound followed by an agonized grunt from Su Binghe was Shen Yuan's only warning before the flesh split and began to expel the ooze. "Fuck!" He screeched, reeling back and away from the gelatinous mucus. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Before he could get very far, Su Binghe's hand shot out and gripped Shen Yuan's wrist tightly. "Don't, don't go." He grit out as Shen Yuan could feel the bones creak under the pressure.
Shen Yuan's heart beat in his throat as he forced himself to stay in place. "Shh… Shh, just breathe," He tried to comfort him, though he knew he was doing a poor job of it. Dragging his talons through Su Binghe's hair, he tried to hum a tune his mother had once soothed him with. "It'll be over soon."
Eventually Su Binghe's chest rose and fell at a more regular pace, as the skin once more closed itself off. This time though, a bright huadian glowed on Su Binghe's forehead. Whatever Shen Yuan had done, it certainly had done far more damage to the seal than the natural cracks that had formed.
"Su Binghe?" He whispered, worried to upset the other man more, but curiosity getting the better of him. "Do you feel okay?"
Su Binghe's lashes fluttered in response, as bright red eyes blinked open to stare into Shen Yuan's. "Feel like shit." He grumbled back, the words slurring with exhaustion. Despite that, Shen Yuan could feel the pulse of his demonic veins just beneath Su Binghe's skin. His qi, finally no longer stagnated, flowed through the veins with only minimal hiccups.
"Well after that, I'm not surprised," His throat tightened around the high pitched burst of nervous laughter that escaped him. "I think it worked though."
Su Binghe shot him a tired grin as his body began to stabilize. "Think it worked? I'd hope you would be a bit more confident."
"Many apologies, this one hasn't experienced unsealing a half demon before. Results may vary." He replied, looking over the rest of Su Binghe's body. Nothing else seemed to be too out of place. The rest of his qi circulated smoothly and there didn't appear to be any snarls, bar the demonic veins slowly filling back out. "Is Cultivator Su ready for the next step?"
Su Binghe's brows furrowed as he blinked sleepily back at Shen Yuan. "Hmm?"
"You reek of demon."
Su Binghe finally released Shen Yuan's wrist. He tried to ignore the painful twinge as he rotated his hand, trying to encourage blood to return to his fingertips.
"Your hand please?"
Su Binghe offered his unblemished wrist up with little complaint as Shen Yuan examined the faint veins beneath the thin skin. "Apologies in advance for the pain," Shen Yuan added before biting down.
He had a better idea of how to control his glands this time as he carefully dosed Su Binghe the mixture of his venom and qi. Slowly but surely, the demonic energy that he could feel radiating off the other man dissipated into nothingness. All that remained was the bright red huadian.
Shen Yuan pulled back, swiping his tongue over the twin bites his fangs had left. He could hear Su Binghe swallow audibly above him and the muscles of his arm pull taut as the man's fist clenched.
"Nu-uh," He tutted, "I'm trying to stop the blood flow. That's only going to make you bleed more." Lapping at the blood bubbling up from the bite once more, Shen Yuan fixed him with a glare. His saliva would only work so well at closing the wounds if Su Binghe kept reopening them!
"You didn't do that last time?" Su Binghe bit out as he stared back at Shen Yuan. Despite the toll the breaking of his seal must have taken upon his body, he was quickly waking back up again. Heavenly Demons must truly be OP to be able to take such things in stride! His expression was unreadable, but Shen Yuan didn't really care. He was no doctor and Su Binghe should be pleased enough with the bedside manner he was getting!
"Last time, I was worried you would crush my head," Shen Yuan retorted. "Now cover up your demon mark, and get home quickly. Your mother will likely worry."
"Not just her," Su Binghe grumbled as he pulled his robes shut with almost a pout formed upon his lips. As he made to go, he paused. "See you tomorrow?"
Shen Yuan found himself smiling despite himself. "See you tomorrow."
Su Binghe was surprisingly interested in learning more about demons, but the topic seemed to veer further and further into Shen Yuan himself. He almost felt a bit embarrassed having so much attention on himself, as he detailed his journey through the borderlands and into the human realm. His work wasn't well respected by his fellow demons, but Xiang Fei entertained his long rambling letters about the many things he'd stumbled across in his travels.
Quite frankly though, it was a little flattering. Su Binghe even began to seek out strange little creatures to present to Shen Yuan for their envenomation meetings. Which seemed to be happening with a greatly increasing frequency.
He let the scroll snap itself shut on his lap with a sigh.
"Give it here," Shen Yuan demanded whilst thrusting his palm out expectantly.
Su Binghe frowned, his lips pulling into a tight pout. "Shen Yuan, is it truly such a burden?"
"Of course not, Binghe!" He huffed. "You just keep needing it more and more often. I'm starting to worry you're becoming immune."
It was quiet between the two of them as Su Binghe seemed to ponder his words.
"This one was thinking. Perhaps if Shen Yuan were to bite me closer to the source, it could last longer?"
He furrowed his brow in consideration. That was certainly a good point. It wasn't like there had been any studies in regards to the efficacy of his clan's venom when performed in different locations on the body relative to their core.
"It could, did Binghe have any suggestions?"
A flash of something unknown crossed Binghe's eyes for merely a second before disappearing. "If it's not too much of an inconvenience, this one thought perhaps Shen Yuan could try here?"
Su Binghe motioned in the general area of his chest and Shen Yuan considered it for a moment. Humans tended to be odd about things such as chests but surely if Su Binghe was offering it, it couldn't be that odd of a position. Besides! He was right that it would likely be a more direct source to h demonic qi.
Shen Yuan nodded, deciding such a thing must be true. "This one is willing."
That was how Shen Yuan found himself leaned up against the trunk of a tree with a cultivator settled heavily in his lap. Shen Yuan wasn't a small man by any means, in fact he was quite lanky by his own clan's standards, but Su Binghe was certainly more filled out than he was. Internally he bemoaned the fact his lean muscle mass would never be able to reach the same heights as a human. As it were he could feel his brain beginning to cloud under the realization of just how close Su Binghe was to him.
"Ready?" Su Binghe continued, a look of excitement clear across his face. Shen Yuan nearly bit his tongue off in response as Su Binghe shifted his weight forward on Shen Yuan's lap to bring his chest closer. "Is this position good enough?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's great," Shen Yuan mumbled out in a daze. Su Binghe obviously didn't know what he was doing, especially since he kept wriggling around. He just hoped his own dick would remained sheathed so things didn't get awkward.
Half out of desperation, he reached forward to grab Su Binghe's hips to pin him in place. "I said it's perfect!" Shen Yuan bit out.
Su Binghe nodded awkwardly in response, a slight flush upon his cheeks. Ugh, Shen Yuan had upset him hadn't he? He hadn't meant to be so harsh! He knew cultivators tended to be quite a bit more reserved, so he wouldn't be surprised if poor Su Binghe truly had no clue.
"It's alright," he soothed, "Now are you sure about this?"
The speed with which Su Binghe tore open his robes would have been alarming if Shen Yuan's sight wasn't immediately filled once more with Su Binghe's generous chest. Now! Shen Yuan wasn't a pervert of course! But, as someone with working eyes, he could clearly see what a nice chest it was. It was a bit of a shame to have to mar such perfect skin, but Su Binghe's safety was of course more important.
His needle-like fangs pierced the taut skin, and Su Binghe inhaled sharply. Shen Yuan chanced a glance up at Su Binghe's face, prepared to pull back if needed. Instead, he felt a gentle hand cup the base of his skull and push him in closer.
The soft blend of camellia oil and sandalwood bloomed around him as he breathed in. He knew it would likely feel more intimate this way, but he hadn't accounted for the heat. Su Binghe's safety was like a furnace on top of Shen Yuan, and he struggled to keep his eyes open. Were it not entirely inappropriate by the standards of what Shen Yuan knew of the human realm, Shen Yuan would have wrapped himself around Su Binghe and fallen asleep right then and there.
As it was, he carefully timed the dosing of the venom, focusing on the soft push and pull of the other's breathing. His jaw ached from the tension, but Su Binghe's gentle kneading of the back of his neck was a good enough distraction.
By the time he was done, Shen Yuan was blinking sleepily. Pulling away, he lazily licked over the bite mark. There was more blood bubbling out this time, and Shen Yuan frowned at the coppery taste. He was sure his face was a mess of drool and blood. Regardless, Su Binghe seemed pleased if the soft expression on his face meant anything.
He yawned, then quickly cupped a hand over his mouth in embarrassment as he ducked his head away. Su Binghe's face twisted in thought for a moment, before his smile turned almost wicked.
"Apologies Cultivator Su. It's just very warm," Before he could continue, Su Binghe's body blanketed over him like a heavy weight, pinning him to the trunk of the tree.
"This one is tired." Su Binghe mumbled, burying his face into the crook of Shen Yuan's neck. "Surely Shen Yuan does not mind?"
Well, if Su Binghe himself was tired, who was Shen Yuan to question it? If his lean muscle was soft enough a pillow for the other than Shen Yuan certainly wouldn't complain!
"I suppose a short rest couldn't hurt." He trailed off, wrapping an arm gently around his waist. He couldn't have the young lord sliding off and hurting himself of course. Besides, if Shen Yuan himself was sleepy, he couldn't really complain.
Shen Yuan lay sprawled in the grass, sunlight streaming through the leaves and painting his skin golden. He'd long since opened his robes to expose his chest to the warm air. His eyes were lazily half closed as he dozed in and out of consciousness.
"Shen Yuan, you will be the death of me."
Peering up out of the corner of his eye, Shen Yuan could see Su Binghe entering the glade with an odd expression upon his face. "Did this one improperly dose the venom?" He called out, unwilling to move from his patch of sunlight. Had it been a truly dire situation, Shen Yuan was certain Su Binghe would not be near so relaxed.
His only response to that was a laugh as Su Binghe settled himself upon the ground next to Shen Yuan.
"So what will Shen Yuan be studying next?" He asked, eyes fixed upon Shen Yuan's relaxed form.
Shen Yuan hummed in response, shifting just barely so he could better see Su Binghe. "Not sure. Maybe the cavern systems? This one sensed an underwater stream below the ground and it seems to be feeding into the caves."
He shuddered at the idea of going in too deep though. Surely it would be quite cold. Perhaps he'd have to ask Su Binghe to loan him a few winter robes before trekking so deep.
"Interesting," Su Binghe nodded. "This one was thinking about searching below the mountains as well. Perhaps we can explore it together in the future."
Even better! Were it to get too cold, Su Binghe would surely allow Shen Yuan to warm his chilled fingers in between the layers between his robes. Warm up his hands for him like he'd done previously. "That would be agreeable."
The sun lazily crossed the sky, dragging it's golden warmth across the mossy ground. Shen Yuan found himself unconsciously pouting as it left his little patch and focusing more heavily upon where Su Binghe sat. He wasn't so shamelessly self-indulgent though as to ask Su Binghe to move. Instead he fiddled with his open robes to pull them shut.
"Is Shen Yuan cold?" Su Binghe questioned, reaching a hand out to stop Shen Yuan. "Your temperature runs so much lower, it'd be a shame not to sit in the sun while it's out."
He certainly wasn't arguing that. Shen Yuan's only plan for the day was to sunbathe and lazily gnaw on some of the delicate pastries Su Binghe had given him the other day. If Su Binghe wanted to offer him the patch of sunlight he wasn't going to complain.
Pushing himself up from his sprawled position, he waited for Su Binghe to shuffle over. And waited.
Su Binghe beamed expectantly back at him from his seated position while Shen Yuan grinned awkwardly in turn. They sat that way for moment before Shen Yuan broke the silence. "This one is confused," he started before Su Binghe cut him off.
"Please, rest your head Shen Yuan. We can share the warmth." He patted his thigh expectantly as Shen Yuan stared at him like he'd grown another head. "Unless of course Shen Yuan is unwilling to share."
Shit, poor Binghe was going to think Shen Yuan self-centered and spoiled! He quickly shook his head no, grasping Su Binghe's wrist. "Apologies Su Binghe! This one did not want to seem presumptious. He knows humans are much more reserved about such things and did not wish to taint your honor."
Su Binghe's face twisted in quite a funny manner as he seemed to attempt to hold in a laugh. After catching himself in whatever fit had come over him, Su Binghe nodded sweetly. "It's so kind of Shen Yuan to consider this one's reputation, but I assure you this is actually quite common amongst humans."
Was it truly? Shen Yuan wracked his brain for past occurences he'd witnessed between humans, and he supposed he'd seen such closeness between some of the young women before. Perhaps Shen Yuan needed to reconsider his own biases towards humankind!
For the moment though, he really was starting to get a bit chilled with his robes draped open over his chest. If Su Binghe allowed it, surely he was just overthinking such things. Cautiously, he scooted over across the space between them and situated himself awkwardly in a curled position near Su Binghe's knee.
Not comfortable exactly, but this way they could both embrace the sun.
Before he could drift off once more, he heard Su Binghe tut above him and scoop a hand beneath Shen Yuan's cheek. "Come on now, don't be silly." He admonished, tugging Shen Yuan to rest his head properly in his lap. "That surely wasn't comfortable."
Which, to be fair, Su Binghe was entirely correct. Cushioned upon Su Binghe's thick thigh, he shifted himself to curl halfway upon his lap. Far warmer too. He was truly jealous of such warm blooded creatures for having such wonderful natural insulation!
He'd nearly drifted off to sleep once more, Su Binghe carding gentle fingers through his hair when his gut clenched. Something felt off.
A high pitched gasp cut the silence. "Su Binghe?" Shen Yuan jolted, head whipping to see the a fairy-like figure dressed in peach-pink silks. Shit! It was that same young maiden from before. He froze, feeling his heart beat against his ribs as though trying to escape his still body. He'd become so comfortable with Su Binghe's presence, he hadn't even thought to try to hide himself.
There was absolutely no doubt that he was a demon. Patches of scaly skin were freckled across his cheeks, and the small horns jutting from his temples were a clear give away. This young girl surely had realized exactly what he was, and he was about to pay the price for his existence.
Shen Yuan's gaze flicked between Su Binghe and the young maiden before finally catching Su Binghe's hand inching towards his sword.
Fuck, fuck, Shen Yuan had definitely just become a liability and was about to become a dead one. With a quickness, he lurched up from the ground and shot past Su Binghe.
"Hey!" Su Binghe called out after him. Before he could chase after him, Xiao Gongzhu was at his side, grabbing at his robes.
"Binghe!" Xiao Gongzhu wailed. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you? How did he even get passed the wards?"
Shen Yuan did not remain close by to hear what tale Su Binghe would spin for her. As far as he was concerned, he'd be camping it out for the night in one of his better hiding spots before beginning the long trek out of Bailu for good. He'd clearly overstayed his welcome and had no interest in further pushing his luck.
His heart twinged though at the idea of leaving Su Binghe behind with no way of protecting himself. With his demonic veins fully fledged out now as they were, he doubted his mother would be able to seal them away again without causing harm.
Cursing his attachment, later that evening, Shen Yuan milked his fangs into a small jar. Stupid Binghe.
Shen Yuan had barely gotten more than a shichen of sleep before he felt himself being shaken awake. He jerked awake, and reflexively struck out, sinking his teeth into the closest bit of flesh. He might be about to die but he wasn't going down without a fight.
"Shit!" A familiar voice hissed, trying to pull their hand away from Shen Yuan's death grip. "It's me, Shen Yuan. Let go."
Shen Yuan's eyes adjusted as he quickly realized it truly was just Su Binghe and not the entire Huan Hua entourage at his bedside.
Sheepishly, he retracted his fangs and released Su Binghe's forearm from his jaws. The incisions he left behind were nothing like the ones he had previously. These ones had torn the skin and drug his fangs through like butter. Had Shen Yuan not milked his venom glands dry last night, he was certain there would be fizzing blood left in their wake. As it were both of Su Binghe's arms were streaked in dirt and blood. His poor robes would likely need to be burned.
Slowly before his eyes the skin knit itself back together, tying it back into neat little pinpricks much like his normal bite.
"Shh," Su Binghe soothed, brushing Shen Yuan's hair out of his face with his uninjured hand. "It's just me, you're safe."
Shen Yuan's eyes adjusted as he realized he'd been shaking. Su Binghe pulled him in close and rubbed soothing circles into his shoulder blades. "That damn Xiao Gongzhu, she must have terrified you."
Despite Su Binghe's offered words of comfort, his eyes darted about the forest, looking for others who might have followed behind.
"Cultivator Su," Shen Yuan finally spoke, forcing his heartbeat to slow to a more normal pace. "This one will leave, I swear. The forest is large and it is a many day walk to leave without crossing closer to Huan Hua."
Su Binghe's hand paused. "Shen Yuan does not need to leave."
What? Shen Yuan squeaked out a strangled laugh. He could have sworn Su Binghe's arms were wrapping tighter about him. "Of course I'm not leaving you empty handed! This one wouldn't," He struggled against Su Binghe's grip to grab at the vial he'd stowed in his robes. "I prepared you venom of course. It should last you a good while until you get the whole hiding your demonic energy figured out!"
He finally managed to wriggle out of Su Binghe's arms, and produced said vial. "I wouldn't just abandon you to them of course."
Su Binghe stayed silent, gaze locked on Shen Yuan as he continued to explain how he would need to administer it to himself. Were Shen Yuan not so lost in his words, he might have thought Su Binghe was shaking.
"It's incredibly important you don't use too much-" Before he could continue that thought, the vial was flying out of his hand and shattering against the ground. The venom bubbled and fizzed amongst the cracked pottery shards before sinking into the soil below.
"Binghe!" He shrieked, desperately trying to scoop up what he could with one of the larger shards. "I can't just make more! It'll take me at least a xun to replace that!"
Before he could dig at the sinking venom any further, Su Binghe grabbed his hand. Shen Yuan dropped the pottery shards out of reflex while Su Binghe tried to get Shen Yuan to look at him. "Shen Yuan can't leave."
"Binghe don't be ridiculous!" Shen Yuan's voice was surely reaching new pitches as he felt hysteria bubbling up within him. "I clearly can't stay here now that Huan Hua is aware there is a demon traipsing about their forest!"
"I'll handle it!" Su Binghe yelled back, eyes wide and truthfully a bit frightening. "Just don't leave!"
Before Shen Yuan could argue back, Su Binghe gripped either side of his head and pulled him forward. Shen Yuan wasn't entirely sure what was happening at first as his brain slowly picked up on the fact that Su Binghe was in fact kissing him. His movements desperate as one of his sharp incisors sliced through the plump fat of Shen Yuan's lower lip.
He'd almost have thought Binghe was trying to swallow him whole with the bruising grip on his jaw and the bullying press of his tongue against Shen Yuan's lips.
"Stay," He pleaded between pressed kisses as Shen Yuan tried to get his brain back online. "Don't leave."
"Binghe, I can't stay." Shen Yuan finally managed, twisting his head to the side. Truthfully he found he liked the kisses more than he'd ever care to admit, but he needed to make sure Su Binghe understood. Besides it would be quite improper of Shen Yuan take advantage of Su Binghe in such an emotional state.
"Then I'll come with you," Su Binghe continued pressing kisses against Shen Yuan's cheekbones. "Don't leave me behind."
Giving up his place in Huan Hua? That was an incredible ask to make of Su Binghe. He had an entire life here! Young disciples that looked up to him, his mother, and possibly a fiance? And for what, Shen Yuan? He had absolutely nothing to offer in turn.
"Binghe," He breathed out. "You can't just give up your life. You're a cultivator! Everything you've worked for is here!"
That paused Su Binghe's insistent pecks. Instead he stared right into Shen Yuan's eyes with an intensity he had not seen in quite some time. "Oh yes. There's so much for me here, if I was human."
That seemed to open the flood gates as Su Binghe continued. "Surely there must be so much going for me in a place where I had to stunt my own cultivation for their sake. Where I'll need to bury the other half of myself far under a mountain and leave it to rot. A gilded little cage. I can see how well that turned out for my mother."
"Binghe," Shen Yuan attempted to interrupt to no avail.
"You've accepted every other piece of me, can't you accept this one too?" Su Binghe leaned in, resting his forehead against Shen Yuan's. "Please. This one is selfish, I can't lose you."
Words continued to run like water out of Su Binghe's mouth as Shen Yuan began to consider, truly consider the situation at hand. The thing was, Binghe was right. If he were to remain in Huan Hua Palace he really would have to give up on ever learning more about his demonic half. Shen Yuan was in hiding now, sure, but he could leave. If Su Binghe remained, wouldn't he be forced into hiding forever?
Selfishly though, Shen Yuan liked Su Binghe. He enjoyed their time spent together, and the indulgent days they'd spent exploring the flora and fauna around them. Truly he'd had no reason to humor Su Binghe other than the mere fact that he had been enchanted by the princely cultivator.
Besides, with the venom already sucked into the soil, his poor Binghe had no way of hiding himself. It wasn't his fault he'd been slow to learn how to mask his demonic qi.
Shen Yuan sighed, and ran his hand through Su Binghe's curly locks. "Stop crying now," He cooed, swiping a thumb at the thick tears that had begun to gather and drip from Su Binghe's eyes. "I suppose I really am responsible for you, aren't I?"
Su Binghe froze underneath his gentle motions, as Shen Yuan continued to pet the top of his head. "If you truly want to follow this one, I suppose I have no choice but to allow it. You're certain you won't regret it?"
"Never!" Su Binghe cried. "I swear it!"
After reassuring him that Shen Yuan would indeed wake Su Binghe in the morning and had no intention of leaving him behind, Su Binghe curled tightly around him and drifted off to sleep. Shen Yuan couldn't help the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Tomorrow they'd have to continue their journey out of the Bailu Forest, but for tonight he would simply bask in the aftermath of it all.
He laughed a bit at the absurdity of how far off the tracks his simple scientific exploration had gone. For Su Binghe though? It was worth it.