Chapter Text
The room was filled with lively chatter and clinking of crystal glasses. High-class demons and humans alike roamed the grand hall as they conversed with one another. All were dressed in ornate silks and rare fabrics, adorned with the riches of precious pearls and stones as accessories. Faces were painted with an elegant air and regal stance, gold painted upon lips, eyelids, and foreheads. Soft music played live in the background as musicians with fiddles, flutes, zithers, and lutes performed a symphony of songs. The striking of the strings only added to the regal atmosphere.
At the center of attention was, of course, the xīnniáng and xīnláng; it was a marriage ceremony after all. The couple were in a large group of guests, talking cheerfully. They were both bathed in lavish red robes with gold accents. The two were hand-in-hand as they conversed, the wife leaning into the man’s space.
Shen Yuan watched this all from afar, doing his best to stay away from the festivities. Such events were the bane of his existence. Shen Yuan would often wander off into the undecorated halls for some much-needed space, but this time he couldn’t. It was his sister’s wedding after all, as much as he hated these gatherings, he would always be there for his sister.
Sipping from his glass, Shen Yuan watched his sister, Shen Yueling, look up at her soon-to-be husband as if he had hung the stars. Which Shen Yuan would have doubted, if her husband were anybody but Luo Binghe. Luo Binghe, the ruler of the realms, who merged both the demon realm and the human realm. Luo Binghe, who tore down entire armies with his sheer strength alone. Luo Binghe, who had survived five years in the Abyss, a place only inhabitable by the most fearsome creatures that roamed the earth.
Of course, Shen Yuan knew more about the emperor than most. Probably more than even his wives knew. While Shen Yuan was born here, in what he knew to be the Proud Immortal Demon Way, he remembered his life before. He was a young man of modern China, and a fierce fanboy of the character Luo Binghe.
His journey of pain and suffering to one of greatness and strength was one Shen Yuan had admired. He cheered and defended Luo Binghe as he took revenge against those who made him suffer. But despite his love for Luo Binghe as a character, in his new life, Shen Yuan had slowly begun to realize the reality of his actions.
His amalgamation of the realms was not one without consequence. With one fell swoop, Luo Binghe disrupted and destroyed entire ecosystems that were unprepared for the change in climate. Shen Yuan mourned the loss of hundreds of species of both plants and animals that couldn’t withstand the rapid shift. Even as a ruler, Luo Binghe wouldn’t have Shen Yuan’s vote. He was tyrannical, mercilessly killing his enemies and those who refused to bow down to his will. Luo Binghe was insatiable when it came to his conquest, spending most of his time and the empire’s resources on taking over neighboring nations.
Shen Yuan travelled the lands of this world often, exploring locations mentioned in PIDW, and what he found from the western to eastern borders of the land was poor governance from the empire. This was exacerbated by the fact that Luo Binghe had disbanded all cultivators from forming sects outside of Huan Hua. Cultivators were free to cultivate and to take on cases of civilians for monetary value, but without sects, their helpfulness was limited. There was no way for ordinary people to find and contact cultivators, and they had to rely on the luck of a cultivator stumbling across their problem, or pay the high prices set by Huan Hua.
A servant holding an empty tray walked by, and Shen Yuan set down his now-empty glass on the silver plate. He quickly grabbed another; they were non-alcoholic, and Shen Yuan had already had two, making this his fourth.
He tried to keep his stare on the couple of lights, knowing the consequences of looking at Luo Binghe the wrong way. Shen Yuan was deeply suspicious of this marriage, against it even.
His sister was not originally a wife in the book; instead, she was a background character meant to be a mere close friend of one of Luo Binghe’s wives. The only thing that had changed was Shen Yuan, so it was obviously due to his influence. For nearly two years, Shen Yuan had been the recipient of invitation letters from the palace and unwelcome envoys to his family home. He had ignored each letter after the first and spent as much time away from his family home to avoid them.
Only when the badgering had stopped did Shen Yueling come home speaking of a tall, handsome man whom she had met at a teahouse. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but be suspicious.
It was then that Shen Yuan’s attempt at merging into the wall in the corner finally failed. His eyes met with a familiar face, a nobleman who had reached out to Shen Yuan in the past. Seeing him, the man’s face brightened, and he immediately made his way towards him.
Shen Yuan groaned in his head, smiling lightly as the man approached. His only hope was that the man would remain conspicuous about recognizing him and be done with him quickly.
“The Liánhua Architect! I never imagined I would be graced with your presence after so many years!” The man exclaimed loudly, raising his glass in a moxy cheer.
Shen Yuan cringed at the title. Most didn’t know Shen Yuan’s real name, only referring to him as the ‘Liánhua Architect,’ a title that Shen Yuan loathed to be called. He had no clue who had come up with the ridiculous name. Liánhua! It wasn’t like he was some delicate beauty, so why did people insist on calling him a lotus?!
Several heads had swivelled at the name, murmurs running through the people nearest to him as their gazes looked him up and down. Several overly eager-looking people were quick to surround him, all speaking at once.
“I must say, the young master’s work on transport talismans has changed my life!” One woman exclaimed.
“This one heard you have a Three-Eared Lion in your possession. Is that true?”
“I would love to have you at my estate. I have many connections to important people, such as yourself.”
“My father has come down with a severe ailment of the mind. I heard you are the best there is. Would it be possible for the young master to come see him?”
“I heard you are crafting a mechanism capable of cleansing demonic energy. Would you be willing to build one at my home? I would pay you handsomely, of course. Just name a price!”
Shen Yuan’s head spun trying to listen to everyone all at once. They had backed him further into the corner, his back almost pressed against the wall. This was exactly why he didn’t come to such events.
“A-ah…please, everyone. I promise to converse with you all at a later time. If you could just…” His voice did little to stop the wild blabbering.
“I was wondering what all the commotion was about.” A calm yet commanding voice settled over the group. The voice was accompanied by a powerful presence marked with demonic energy. The small crowd was immediately silenced by the tense air.
They parted as a figure emerged before Shen Yuan. Tall, with dark brown hair and crimson eyes. He was the sole person Shen Yuan wanted to talk to the least in the entire room.
Shen Yuan jumped slightly as Luo Binghe rested a heavy hand on his shoulder as he stood by his side, facing the group. “This lord has something to discuss with the talented young master.”
The group stared numbly at the emperor, his proud smile slipping into a more dangerous one, his large hand tightening where it rested on Shen Yuan. “Privately.”
The group was as quick to leave as they were to come, hurrying off to engage in more meaningless talk with other nobles. Looking up at Luo Binghe, Shen Yuan almost thought he looked pleased to have Shen Yuan alone.
“This one is glad he has a chance to speak with you at last.”
Shen Yuan felt a shiver go down his spine. He put on what he hoped to be a pleasant smile, but it felt awkward and stiff on his cheeks. “It’s this one's honor to speak to Lord Luo.”
Luo Binghe smiled, his demonic teeth showing with a glint. While Shen Yuan would like to take a closer look at the mold of his teeth, he wouldn’t dare come closer than an arm's width away.
“Really? This one assumed you hated this lord, seeing as how you avoided every embassy I sent as well as not responding to any of this lord’s letters.” Luo Binghe said dangerously.
Shen Yuan scratched the back of his head and chuckled nervously. His eyes flittered from Luo Binghe’s piercing ones, unable to hold the intense eye contact. He wetted his lips before speaking, “This lowly one apologizes for not responding to Lord Luo appropriately. This one hopes he won’t hold it against him. I- this one is quite busy and rarely at my family home.” Shen Yuan stuttered through the formal speech, unused to using it. He bowed in apology before straightening to see Luo Binghe’s reaction.
He had a lax smile stretched across his face as he answered. “Now that we are family, I’m sure we will have plenty of time to discuss.”
Shen Yuan felt his heart skip a beat, not because of Luo Binghe’s handsome smile that gave a confident, cocky air, but out of fear. He nodded profusely, his hair ornament jingling softly as he did. “Of course, Lord Luo. This lowly one looks forward to our conversation. It is this one's honor to have Lord Luo’s attention.”
He bowed once again, this time low. Shen Yuan didn’t make eye contact before he shuffled away. It was improper and disrespectful to dismiss oneself from the presence of an emperor, but Shen Yuan couldn’t stand under the man’s harsh gaze for a moment longer. He could feel Luo Binghe’s eyes follow him as he slipped into the crowd.
The rest of the ceremony went well. Shen Yuan managed to discreetly join a small conversation about trade until the official ceremony started, even making suggestions about the best transportation method for certain delicate goods.
He watched as Shen Yueling and Luo Binghe bowed to heaven, earth, their ancestors, and each other. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but smile slightly at his sister’s radiantly happy face, her smile large as she bowed. The next step of the ceremony was the demonic part, the two presented their palm with one hand and held a gold dagger in the other. They sliced into each other’s hands, Shen Yueling wincing. Then, the daggers were set down, and the two balled their hand into fists above their own respective goblets.
Once the bleeding slowed and the cups had a sufficient amount of blood in them, the two swapped goblets and drank from them. Shen Yuan watched as Shen Yueling struggled to get the blood down, his eyes wandering to Luo Binghe, who…
Who was looking right at him.
Over the golden metal ring of his cup, Luo Binghe stared directly at Shen Yuan, his eyes bright with red. While Shen Yuan couldn’t see his whole face, his eyes were enough to see the gloating within them.
His hair stood on end. As a reader, Shen Yuan knew what this meant; if he defied Luo Binghe too much, he had the power to use his blood to harm his sister.
The second the formal ceremony finished, Shen Yuan was out of there. He squeezed through groups of chatting guests and slipped through the wide arching doorway to his provided room.
.
.
.
The next day, Shen Yuan stayed in his room until midday. He had brought a new book with him and had spent the entire morning combing over its contents in bed.
There was a knock on his door, Shen Yuan immediately going rigid at the sound. Was Luo Binghe here to collect his promised conversation?
Slipping a modest outer robe on, Shen Yuan answered the door. Opening it to pleasantly find an unfamiliar, plain face. In the world of Proud Immortal Demon Way, the sight of a plain face was often the most auspicious one.
“Yes?” Shen Yuan prompted.
The man delivered his message; Shen Yuan was summoned by his sister. He was to meet her in her chambers as soon as possible.
After Shen Yuan had slipped back into his room to make himself more presentable, he emerged from his room and was led deeper into the palace. By the time they stopped, Shen Yuan was deeply grateful that the guard had led him instead of giving him directions. His head spun trying to think his way back to his room.
When he entered, he was immediately greeted with a warm hug. His sister smiled gleefully as she looped her arms around him. “Gege!”
Shen Yuan laughed as she collided into his chest, knocking the air out of him. He hugged her back. His smile was warm as they parted, Shen Yuan softly replying, “Meimei.”
He cared deeply for his little sister, and her happiness was of utmost importance to him. So as she excitedly told him all about her new marriage, Shen Yuan smiled along and asked engaging questions. She really was happy with Luo Binghe, and despite Shen Yuan’s suspicions of the reason they met, in all of Proud Immortal Demon Way, Luo Binghe had never treated any of his wives badly.
They were taken care of and pampered in every sense. If they so wanted, they would even be granted positions of power that they could lead outside their palace life. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, especially for a woman of this era.
“Gege, he’s just amazing!” Shen Yueling continued. “Oh! And this morning, he woke me with breakfast he had made himself! It was the most delicious meal I have ever had in my life!”
Shen Yuan smiled genuinely at that. To taste the protagonist's cooking was not an honor that every wife was lucky enough to receive. Shen Yuan recalled that it was usually a sign that Luo Binghe particularly cherished a wife if she were to make her food. Of course, Luo Binghe was no fool; his sister deserved to be one of the special few, he thought proudly.
“But why did you leave so early last night? I looked for you only to find you had already retired to your room.” Shen Yueling pouted, her painted bottom lip sticking out.
Shen Yuan scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck. He couldn’t just say her husband cornered him and threatened him, could he? That her whole relationship might possibly be a political play to get to Shen Yuan. “Sorry, Meimei. I was feeling a little tired and went to my room to rest.”
His sister nodded understandingly, “That’s alright. I know how much you dislike parties like this. You can join the later celebrations this evening and the day after as well. I’d love for you and Binghe to meet!”
Shen Yuan cringed slightly.
Seeing his face, Shen Yueling asked after him, “What?”
“I’m leaving today. I won’t be able to attend the other engagements.”
“What? Why? You just got here!” Shen Yuling protested.
Shen Yuan felt insurmountably guilty. “Sorry, Meimei. I have a beast at home that is about to hatch, and I have to be there for its hatching. If it wasn’t important, I would stay.”
Shen Yuling looked a bit crestfallen, her eyes a little wet. “I never even see you anymore. You never visit home and are always traveling. I thought this could be our time together before you disappeared again.”
Wrapping his arms around her and drawing her into his chest, Shen Yuan comforted her. “Don’t be sad, you just got married- and to the emperor no less!”
Shen Yuling let out a small laugh as she allowed Shen Yuan to dab her wet eyes dry. “I’ll send letters every xun. You know what my letters are like, you’ll be tired of my by spring,” He joked.
“And you’ll come visit if you’re nearby?” Shen Yueling asked.
He nodded, “Of course.”
Shen Yueling looked up at him and pulled from his hold, her eyes squinting at him as she could see through his lies. “Promise?” She asked, holding up her pinky.
Shen Yuan had taught her that when they were kids. She had been delighted by their secret handshake that her big brother had “made up.”
“And if you’re ever unhappy or need anything- anything at all. You tell me, and I’ll be there. No matter what.” Shen Yuan said sincerely. They locked their pinkies together and
Shen Yueling nodded with a smile, “I will.”
Shen Yuan said his goodbyes, then left for his room. He immediately began packing; the sooner he got out of the palace, the safer he was. After talking with his siter, he had confirmed she had gone down the same rinse and wash wife plots as all the others. It wouldn’t matter if Shen Yuan ran from Luo Binghe; his sister was as safe as his wife.
Once his things were gathered, She Yuan quickly left his room and made his way through the complex and ornate halls. It took him longer than it should have to find the entrance. The stall arching doorway gaping before him. A fresh breeze swept from the outside, chilling the entrance hall. There were two guards posted on each side of the door, and their eyes kept strictly forward.
Shen Yuan passed through the door, only making it two steps before a voice called out from behind him. “Master Shen.”
Shen Yuan froze, stiffening as he turned around with a smile pasted on his face. Approaching him, much to Shen Yuan’s displeasure, was Luo Binghe. His regal robes swept behind him as he walked, his dark curls bobbing with each step.
“The festivities don’t end for another three days. Where is Master Shen off to?” Luo Binghe asked.
Shen Yuan swallowed heavily, giving the same answer he had given his sister. “This one must hurry home to care for my beast that is ready to hatch.” Shen Yuan said with a bow. “This one regrets not being able to stay longer.”
Luo Binghe narrowed his eyes, “Well, there’s no helping it if Master Shen must go. This lord does hope that since we are now family, Master Shen will grace this lord with a way to contact him in a form he will respond.”
“This lowly one wouldn’t have it any other way. I will try my best to answer my lord’s call.” Shen Yuan bluffed. He didn’t plan on keeping any contact with Luo Binghe.
“As long as Master Shen agrees.” Luo Binghe said. “This Lord will need to know of Master Shen’s place of residence, so this Lord may pay him a visit.” He stepped closer, a wide smile revealing his white fangs.
Shen Yuan felt a shiver run down his spine once again, straightening instinctively at the thought of Luo Binghe knowing where he lives. His brain spirals, trying to think of a way to politely and politically decline without ricking Luo Binghe’s wrath.
Luo Binghe waited patiently for his answer like a wolf waiting for its prey to reveal itself.
“Well… It’s just…That is to say that this one-”
“Lord Husband!” A feminine voice interrupted.
Luo Binghe turned, and Shen Yuan peeked around his body to see a beautiful woman in stark blue robes. Her hips swayed as she walked, the various shades of blue fabric giving the illusion of rushing water. She wore her hair down, the dark black locks swept to the side from the light breeze.
As she reached Luo Binghe’s side, she wound her body around his arm, clutching it to her chest in an appealing way.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” She said, only sparing Shen Yuan a glance before batting her eyes back up at Luo Binghe.
Luo Binghe frowned with annoyance for a split second before it smoothed out into a face of tender caring. “I apologize for being hard to find. Hopefully you didn’t look for long.” Luo Binghe said pleasantly.
Before the wife could reply, Shen Yuan bowed and quickly blabbered out, “Thanking Lord Luo for his attention, but this one must go. I wish both my Lord and his wife a pleasant evening.”
He turned and rushed down the steps leading to the palace, not looking back to face the piercing gaze he felt targeting his back. Once outside the palace grounds walls, Shen Yuan hailed a carriage to begin his travel home.
He purposely lived a great distance from the palace. The further away he was from the main plot, the safer he was. As was the life of an unmentioned background character in a stallion novel. The travel home took him two nights by carriage, staying at taverns during the night, and one whole day hiking up a back trail leading up a mountain.
As his popularity had grown from his inventions in talisman creation, artifacts, potions, fauna, and knowledge of spiritual and demonic beasts, Shen Yuan had searched for a home where he could find peace in secrecy. He had remembered a throwaway plot line in Proud Immortal Demon Way that mentioned an abandoned sanctuary of an ancient sect. He had searched the mountain where it was rumoured to be for years before he found it, but it was beyond worth it.
Shen Yuan reached the base of a large rocky cliff that jutted from the mountainside. Its base was crawling with green and purple vines that scaled its towering surface. Sliding his hand along the rocky face, Shen Yuan’s hand slipped under a thick tangle of vines. Hidden underneath was a faded ruin carved into the rock. Pushing his qi into the ruin, it pulsed a glowing red before the heavy stone rumbled. Outlines of an arched doorway appeared on the rock in front of him, the pulsing continuing as it sank in before rising to reveal a stony passage way lit by purple and white light.
Shen Yuan stepped inside, finally home.
• ────── ✾ ────── •
The air was damp and smelled of rotting flesh and mold. The quiet of the underground was only disturbed by the occasional moan of pain or shuffling of chains.
Shen Qingqiu’s body was filled with agony. It never was. Feeling the sensation of your own flesh rotting and your muscles atrophying was its own torture. He felt phantom pains of where his mibs used to be. His aching elbow and knees– they shouldn’t hurt; they were gone, but they did. Lashes actively bled on his back, cutting into his old ones.
Luo Binghe had never asked– never bothered to care why his Shizun had scarred lashes running down his back. Not when he restrained him and viciously cracked a barbed whip over and over again over his rough skin until it ripped and bled. The dungeon walls had been splattered with his blood. Each new whip strike snapped back like a brush dipping into crimson ink.
Shen Qingqiu never cried. He never moaned in pain or pleaded for his life. It made Luo Binghe rip out his tongue in anger, robbed of hearing his pain. His life-ending injuries were kept at bay by the bloodmites crawling through his system. If his tongue hadn’t been removed, he would have bitten it off from sheer disgust. He could feel them. Shen Qingqiu was sure Luo Binghe made it so he did. They kept him unwillingly conscious at all times, leaving him to bask in his agony for every second of every day.
Each day, he hoped– wished the beast would tire of him and let him die. That he would forget his Shizun for even just a shichen and allow his body to fail him.
With his eyes stabbed and plucked from his bleeding skull and his tongue ripped from his mouth, all he could do was listen. Listen to the other prisoners through the rock walls. Listen to the guard’s simple exchanges as they changed shifts. He could hear the sounds of a fight breaking out over his head.
Swords clashed, and the halls above him were noisy with running footsteps and crashing violence. His body tensed as he heard a group of men run into the dungeon. They paused by each cell, presumably looking in before they continued on. They were looking for someone in specific.
His cell door blasted open, the metal bars clanging against the wall as it slammed into the ground.
“This is him.” One said.
“We should just escape while we still can. Why risk taking a prisoner when we might not even escape ourselves!” A younger man argued, his voice barely concealing his panic.
“Calm down.” An older voice said.
The first one began speaking again. “We failed to get one of his wives. We need to leave here with something, or the whole mission will be in vain! We’ve already lost three of our men, let’s follow through.” He reasoned.
“That’s suicide! I say we just go-!”
“You’re carrying him. Strap him to your back, and let’s go.” The older voice interrupted with authority.
Shen Qingqiu felt impending dread as one of them approached him, throwing him face down to the floor to tie a rope around him. With no limbs to tie together, they simply tied his torso and gagged him. He was lifted and strapped to the back of one of the men, the ropes digging uncomfortably into his tender skin.
The men seemed to know the way out of the palace. They ran through the halls, their cultivations allowing them to silence their footsteps until they exited the palace. Through the forest they ran. Branches were tearing and scraping against Shen Jiu as he was lugged along.
It wasn’t long until the palace guards caught up to them. Arrows whizzing through the air, one narrowly missing Shen Qingqiu as he heard it fly past his ear. The man carrying him didn’t look back, his chest heaving as he ran faster.
They veered to the left, and Shen Qingqiu could hear the distinct sound of running water. They ran along what seemed to be a rushing canyon of water, the powerful flow thunderous even from above.
“Fuck!” One of them swore. “If we don’t speed up, we’re all dead!”
The one carrying him yelled back, “I can’t go any faster with him on my back!”
“It isn’t worth it! Get rid of him!” Another yelled.
Shen Qingqiu held his breath, listening attentively for the response. The man carrying him seemed to deliberate whether he was worth it, swearing under his breath. Shen Qingqiu imagined the face of his captor, his face red with exertion, a heavy frown of contemplation pinching his brows.
The one carrying him murmured something. With how fast they were moving, his words were lost in the wind, but Shen Jiu had heard them.
“What did you say!?”
“I’m dumping him in the river! Maybe the guards will dive in after him!” The man carrying Shen Qingqiu answered, confirming Shen Qingqiu's fears. The ropes holding him to the man’s back loosen, the threads slumping against his ruined robes.
“Sorry.” The man whispered in his ear. The stub of his arm was pulled roughly, and Shen Qingqiu could barely comprehend what was happening before his body was weightless.
It was a long fall into the roaring canyon below, the sharp whisking of the air replaced by the muffled silence of the water. He struggled as he sank; his limbless body was fruitless in his struggle to the surface. His sealed lips break from the pressure behind them, bubbles of precious air escaping into the water around him. His lungs burned as they seized around nothing. Water filled his mouth and forced its way into his lungs.
His mind was lulled by the lack of oxygen. After the panic, his mind was calm. His body seemed to be preparing his mind for death. This was a better end than to die by Luo Binghe’s hands. The thought was euphoric; he would finally have the last laugh. He wouldn’t give LUo Binghe the pleasure of being the source of his last moment of pain.
.
.
.
Shen Qingqiu woke. He didn’t expect to, nor did he wish to. His chest was tight with the horror of being alive. He was sure any moment the beast would realize he was awake and torture him some more.
But there was something off. Something that unsettled him more than the prospect of torture. The air lacked the stench of mold and rotting flesh. Rather, it was clean and carried a fresh scent of early blooming flowers. His core wasn’t shivering as it always did. His back wasn’t scraping against the harsh rock wall; instead, it rested upon soft fur pelts that tickled his spine.
It was quiet, unnaturally so. The silence lacked the occasional moans of pain familiar with the dungeon.
His ears picked up the slow sound of someone walking closer. His body tensed as wooden doors slid open and the person approached him. They stilled by his side, a soft clack sounded in the quiet room as something that sounded like a tray was set down not far from his head.
A gentle voice broke the silence. “Are you alright? Can you hear me?” The voice was male. He sounded young, possibly in his early twenties, but voices could be deceiving when dealing with cultivators.
As his questions hung in the air, Shen Qingqiu contemplated responding. Should he pretend to be deaf as well?
He decided against it; there was nothing he could gain if the man didn’t talk to him. Taking a deep breath, Shen Qingqiu nodded slowly. His neck protested slightly at the movement.
The man sighed in what sounded like relief, “Oh, good. I was worried we would have no way to communicate with each other.”
The man knew he was blind, Shen Qingqiu surmised.
“I found you on the bank of a river. If I had come even a moment later, I doubt I could have revived you. When I found you, your heart had already stopped.” The man continued.
The man had medical knowledge then. Deep knowledge, it was Luo Binghe’s blood mites that had kept his body from failing and his heart beating; it would take a talented healer to maintain his body.
“I patched up your external wounds the best I could, but the internal ones will take longer to heal. I can’t imagine how isolating it is to not be able to see or communicate, but I should be able to figure out some way to regrow it soon.”
This catches Shen Qingqiu’s attention. Was this man a healer capable of regrowing body parts? Those who were capable of such feats were few and far between.
“As for your eyes…” He trailed off, humming and contemplating to himself, “No, I should be able to heal those as well, but it will most likely take me more time.” The unknown man said.
‘How can he be so confident?’ Shen Qingqiu thought. There were only a few healers in history capable of restoring such extreme injuries. And even for those healers, the task was one of much difficulty that required much attention. These healers, the most talented of their time, usually only served the emperor himself. So why was this man spending his time and precious materials to heal Shen Qingqiu?
“Oh! You must be thirsty! I can help you drink some water, if that would be alright?” The man offered.
Shen Qingqiu found that he was thirsty, his throat dry and protestful. He nodded slowly, unsure of how the man planned to have him drink.
“Ok, I have a glass. I’m going to press the rim’s edge under your lower lip.” The man narrated his movements as Shen Qingqiu felt something cold and smooth against his chin and lip. It was as if the man were dealing with a wild animal, projecting his movements as if he didn’t want to startle the beast. But it worked. Even if Shen Qingqiu was untrusting of the mysterious man’s every move, his words matched his actions, so nothing left him startled.
“I’m going to tip it forward so you can drink.” The man said gently. The glass slowly angled down, and Shen Qingqiu opened his mouth as cold water slowly trickled from the glass. It was heavenly, even more so than the faded memory of the water on Qing Jing Peak. “I’ve imbued the water with rich spiritual energy as well as healthy microscopic plankton that help the body break down the spiritual energy for your sensitive meridians.” The man explained as he drank.
Shen Qingqiu didn’t know what microscopic plankton were, but the water seemed to chill the heat inside his core and soothe his aching spiritual veins. His muscles unconsciously tensed by the time he finished the cup. The glass was dutifully set down away from him. Shen Qingqiu could hear him shuffle, and the bed rose as the man sat back up to maintain a proper distance.
Shen Qingqiu hadn’t even noticed him sitting down next to him; he realized with alarm. He would make sure he didn’t make such a mistake in the future. No matter how peaceful the atmosphere here was in comparison to that of the underground dungeon, he was still at the mercy of a man.
“I apologize, but I have a few things that demand my attention at the moment. I’ll be back soon, please do not worry.” The man said suddenly. Shen Qingqiu found himself nodding to show he had heard him, and with that, the man quickly swept from the room.
While alone, Shen Qingqiu pondered his situation. While it seemed the man had no agenda for Shen Qingqiu, that made him all the more suspicious. What kind of renowned healer, who was surely busy working for high-class nobility and the emperor, would take it upon himself to rescue a stranger, reviving them from the dead? There was nothing for him to gain. If this were the past, Shen Qingqiu would have assumed the man to have the most nefarious of intentions, but Shen Qingqiu was sure he was the cold beauty he was once described to be.
So what did the man gain by helping Shen Qingqiu? His words were soothing and kind, and his actions gentle. It didn’t make any sense.
Footsteps approached his room once again, and Shen Qingqiu heard the man come to his bedside once more. He had only been left alone for a shichen.
“Sorry for leaving so abruptly!” The man apologized. “While I was out, I was thinking that it must be awfully dull to be unable to see or do anything. Then I thought how miserable I would be if I couldn’t read! So, if you are up to it… I was wondering if you would like me to read to you? I know it’s not the same, but I’m sure the time would pass by faster.” The man rambled.
Shen Qingqiu could barely stop himself from nodding immediately. He was a scholar at heart. A scholar who had been denied any source of anything to stimulate his mind for a long time. Even when he was a slave, he had never gone more than a month without learning new words or deciphering characters without formal training.
He nodded slowly, just once to feign uninterest.
The man seemed pleased by his response, stepping away a few paces to sit in a chair. Shen Qingqiu listened as he opened a book and flipped through a couple of pages. Then he began to read. His voice was steady as he voiced the words from the pages, inflection coloring his tone at the appropriate scenes. The man read to him for a long time, long enough for an illustrious story about a crane who gains immortality to unfold.
After over two sichen, the man’s voice was hoarse from speaking non-stop. He coughed lightly to clear his throat before speaking again. “If I keep going, my voice will be gone in the morning.” He joked.
Shen Qingqiu hears him close the book before standing. “If it pleases you, I’ll read to you tomorrow as well.” The man said- an offering once again.
Shen Qingqiu didn’t hesitate to nod this time.
.
.
.
The next day, Shen Qingqiu had woken to find himself in what he felt to be a long dream. He was still far away from the underground dungeon. Far away from Luo Binghe. His body no longer hurt, the traces of discomfort still present but manageable.
He had been awake for a while until the man returned just as he promised. He greeted Shen Jiu pleasantly, closing in on his bedside.
A soft touch ghosted his neck, and Shen Qingqiu flinched harshly, his torso twisting from the jolt. The touch disappeared as fast as it came, the man immediately apologizing. “Sorry! I’m so sorry, I forgot to say something before I touched you. I’ll ask next time. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
‘This one sure does like to apoligize’ Shen Qingqiu thought to himself. The man caring for him was quite peculiar. The more time he spent by Shen Qingqiu’s side, the more he was certain of it. For what kind of man asks before touching? What kind of man is aware and regretful when his touch is unwanted?
“If you were to allow me, I could assess your meridians and see their state before I begin treatment?” The man cautiously said.
Shen Qingqiu nodded, preparing himself for the foreign touch. Two fingers rested lightly against the side of his neck, sending probing spiritual energy through his veins. It was much less invasive than his past experiences with meridian checks. The man’s Qi was as gentle as his touch, moving through his body like a light breeze in the spring.
The fingers pull away along with the soft tickling of his spiritual veins. “Could you open your mouth for me? Once I assess the damage properly to see if the potion I have is fit for your injury or if adjustments are needed.”
Shen Qingqiu didn’t bother to nod, compliantly opening his mouth for the man to view. He waited for a few breaths as the man leaned in to see inside. After a moment, he drew back, “I think the one I’ve made should suffice, of course, each body is different and adjustments might need to be made down the line.” He said, almost to himself.
“I have brought it with me. I’m putting it up to your mouth.” Shen Qingqiu felt the cool glass against his lip. “I’m pouring it in now.”
The man talked as Shen Qingqiu slowly sipped the potion. It was much thicker than he had imagined, more of a pulpy juice than the refined liquids he was used to drinking. “Keep the potion in your mouth, but do not swallow. For it to work, you must keep it in your mouth for several hours. If you can, I think it would be best to aim for three sichen.”
Shen Qingqiu listens as he keeps the liquid in his mouth. The potion caused an odd tingling sensation along the scarred tissue where his tongue used to be attached.
When the man is finished explaining to him, he nods, confident in his ability to keep up with the simple ask. “I know it is unpleasant, perhaps I could read to you? I’m sure a bit of distraction would help.” The man suggested. He was clearly eager to read to Shen Jiu again, doing a poor job at hiding the hopefulness in his voice.
Shen Qingqiu nodded. After a moment, the man sat down where he had sat the previous day and began to read. He picked up where he had left off last time. His steady voice filled the quiet room, bringing a serene air to the space. As pages flipped and the story progressed, Shen Qingqiu found himself relaxing. Relaxing in a way he hadn’t in a long time. He was no longer hyper-vigilant of his surroundings. His ears weren’t strained to hear the most subtle of movements. He simply let the soothing sound of the man’s voice fill his head and reverberate in his mind.
The man read until the book was finished. The ending was melancholic, yet sweet. The crane that gained immortality gave it up to save a village of humans from a flood.
The man rose and brought the glass back up to Shen Qingqiu’s lips for him to spit out the potion. It left a tangy aftertaste in his mouth that the man helped wash out by pressing a glass of water against his mouth for him to swig.
Two days passed in a similar manner. The man would help Shen Qingqiu to his spiritually enhanced water, then read as Shen Qingqiu held the potion in his mouth. In that time, Shen Qingqiu could feel his tongue growing back. It was an odd sensation of frayed nerves and the ticklish feeling of an incomplete muscle. He didn’t dare speak until the growth was complete, fearing he might harm the results. The man would check his mouth daily, asking pointless questions like, “Is it uncomfortable?”
It was late in the day when the man had tilted Shen Qingqiu’s chin up to see better into his mouth. He had done so after asking, just like he had promised. He had just set down a book about an empress who planned to assassinate her tyrannical husband. The plot was riddled with cliches and abandoned plotlines, but the man seemed to enjoy it. He stopped during particularly obtuse scenes to complain and criticize harshly, but his voice still picked up an eager inflection as he read.
“Oh! It’s fully healed!” The man exclaimed with excitement. “Try sounding out vowels. If it hurts or is too uncomfortable, stop. There is no need to push yourself.”
If Shen Qingqiu hadn’t been used to being mute for long, he would have snorted at the man’s worry. He treated Shen Qingqiu, a stranger, as if he were someone special who deserved to be treated like a delicate flower.
But as much as he wanted to deny any emotion that rose in what should be a dead chest, he was eager to test out his tongue. It was one of the few weapons that people couldn't take away from him- even as a slave. That was at least until the beast had come along.
His lips formed each character as his tongue pressed and pulled to form each sound. Once he had finished those, he moved on to other sounds. The impressions were off, some of his sounds blending into one another and slurring, but it was enough to speak. It was enough to be heard.
“Perfect.” The man breathes. “I think it would be all right to try to speak now.”
Shen Qingqiu hesitates at that. Questions had swarmed his mind since he first woke under the care of this stranger, but what to start with? But there was one question that stood at the top of his mind, one that Shen Qingqiu wondered most often after every odd occurrence or act of kindness.
“Who are you?” His voice was scratchy from disuse and barely more than a whisper. His question hung in the air, and now more than ever, Shen Qingqiu wished he could see the man before him. The silence was tense; had he stepped too far? Would he finally see the man’s true colors for the first time?
The silence is broken by a noise that sounds vaguely like a squeak. It’s followed by an embarrassed groan as the man finally speaks up, “I- I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t believe I never introduced myself!”
“This one is Shen Yuan. I’m pleased to make Peak Lord Shen’s acquaintance.” The man– Shen Yuan said.
That makes Shen Qingqiu freeze. This man, Shen Yuan, had known who he was the whole time?! His thoughts raced. ‘Why has he treated me in such a way if he knows who I am? Why hadn’t he turned him in to Luo Binghe?.’
His next words threatened to tumble out of his mouth in a rush. “Why?” It sounded pathetic even to himself. His voice trembled in a way that wasn’t caused by its use, but rather the emotion teeming in his words.
“Well… Peak Lord Shen was from one of the most illustrious sects before their disbandment. His trial was also quite- ah popular.”
Shen Qingqiu thought for a moment, accepting the words for what they were. His next words were sure and steady as they left his lips. “Why?”
Despite his vague question, Shen Yuan seemed to know what he was asking. “Even if the trail was a true one, which I doubt, no one deserves years of torture and abuse from Luo Binghe.” He said surely, his voice firm.
Shen Qingqiu let the words wash over him. Shen Yuan not only knew who Shen Qingqiu was, but also knew his fate within the steely walls of the palace. But if he had known, why risk it? He was familiar with Luo Binghe’s anger– his vengeful personality that left hundreds dead. Yet, he risked a fate worse than death for a stranger. A stranger who had been convicted and sentenced in front of the entire cultivation world.
Shen Qingqiu couldn’t voice any of this. His words stuck in his throat as if his tongue was still a stub hanging limply in his mouth.
So he chose a simpler path, “What happens to the empress?”