#binghe realizes his shizun should be more loved

[roseunspindle]

Shen Qingqiu's harem (Binghe did his best!)

Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu manage to communicate better (by accident) (Shen Qingqiu may have been drugged (Zhuzhi-lang? Hualing? random wife plot that got way ahead of itself?) and so started crying when he saw his precious student again and kept squishing his "cute little face" asking him to not kill him because he didn't want to push him into the abyss but the system said he'd die which he should have for his sweet little bun but he knew Binghe would live....) Binghe is overjoyed that Shizun doesn't hate him and figures details are unimportant (and confusing).

Shen Qingqiu does take a bit to come around to the "Binghe wants me bad and I kinda want him back."

At some point Binghe has been approached by various demons and cultivators who want him to make a harem. Binghe is like "how dare, Shizun is enough for me"... but the cogs in his fluffy head start turning.

Shizun is amazing and perfect and has gone through so much! He deserves to be adored and worshipped!

(Also if he makes his Shizun a proper harem then that makes him the first husband and head of the harem so take that Liu Qingge)

Binghe starts with Liu Qingge and Mu Qingfang, both would be advantageous (and loyal) matches for his A-yuan.

He does not ask Yue Qingyuan at first...but after the poor man kept wafting about the Bamboo Cottage after hearing of Luo Binghe's plans, Binghe approaches and explains briefly about Shen Yuan and that he was not Shen Jiu.

(Yue Qingyuan wants to hate himself...for agreeing. For accepting even this, for all he knows, knows this man is not Shen Jiu...) (yet he is so dear, those eyes unburdened by things past...

Liu Qingge wonders if he's always going to be one breath away from a qi deviation now. First that wretched beast fights him, then informs him that due to his loss he will now become Shen Qingqiu's husband/concubine... that accounts for two but the rest...well...he not only has the thought of actually being in contact/touching Shen Qingqiu (so many near qi deviations) but then he'll actually...they'll he'll see. He'll there will be...touching....

Mu Qingfang is aware that Luo Binghe just wants him...closer to Shen Qingqiu. He's honestly willing though and well...if the Peak Lord of Qing Jing peak is going to keep coming up with new peril...having a closer relationship is only advantageous. (Nothing at all to do with long dark hair or playful eyes...oh no.)

Gongyi Xiao give's Binghe the equivalent of an apllication. The former/current first disiciple of Huan Hua Palace has become a tad jaded towards his sect. He does not resent being supplanted, Luo Binghe is superior to him that is simple, but Little Palace Mistress...her behavior, her abrupt switch from hanging on his arm and spending time in his company to Luo Binghe's...the truths of Luo Binghe's mother and father and how the Old Palace Master treated them... Being so easily replaced hurts. Not in exact positions but in affections. Also that one he had honored long could act so dishonoroably... Senior Shen is always a breath of fresh air when he meets him, the man's mourning his disciple...his open declaration of his wrong to said disciple... his manor of conduct (when not drugged out of his mind) Gongyi Xiao feels that whereever Senior Shen places his regard an affection, there it will stay. Perhaps he must share...but he will never be replaced.

Zhuzhi Lang can barely breathe over how happy he is. To be offered the opportunity to honor and appreciate Master Shen as he should be! To apporach him honeslty!

Tianlang-Jun remains miffed his son doesn't invite him. What could be more bonding than being co-concubines?

Mobei-Jun almost says no. He is not interested in sharing. Yet...he is not doing well in getting Shang Qingghua to understand his advances

Airplane can only squeak in shock but finds himself agreeing. (look, his king already said yes...and cucumber-bro really works that immortal cultivator thing)

Sha Hualing ends up the first female in it by sheer force of throwing a tempertantrum that she hadn't been invited and wailing at Shen Qingqiu that she had awesome tits! That he'd seen! (She's also pleased that besides Binghe she's the first one personally invited by him and ignores that she forced/brow beat her way in...)

Bing-ge shows up and finds himself absorbed into a harem. He... finds himself a bit more understanding of his numerous wives complaints. Who knows if he stays or heads off to find his own personal shen yuan...

[sunderwight]

SV fic where Shen Yuan transmigrates into the former sect leader, Yue Qingyuan's shizun, right before Yue Qi shows up at the selection trials.

Shen Yuan is not sure why he's in one of his all-time hate-reads, let alone why he's gone so far back before the story actually begins (his system appears to be malfunctioning? something about an error and emergency backup...?), but he's making the most of it. This despite the fact that being a sect leader is a much more prestigious and political role than he likes.

But Shen Yuan is, at heart, actually a pretty good teacher, and he's spent enough time witnessing administrative work secondhand that he can competently tackle most of his duties. Whatever he can't handle, luckily there are other masters on Qiong Ding who always seem eager to curry favor by volunteering at the least hint that they should. Apparently his predecessor was known for being kind of cold-blooded and ruthless. (Shen Yuan gets checked for possession and it's concluded behind his back that he most have lost some of his memories, again, but also everyone kinda prefers this version anyway, again.)

But, so, he picks Yue Qi at the trials without even realizing at first who he's selecting, but just because that kid seems really determined to get in and clearly has been through it. Reminds him of Luo Binghe. Even when he puts it all together, all he feels mostly is kind of bad about it? He never thought Yue Qingyuan was sufficiently villainous to merit his end, even though he didn't blame Binghe for it either. He was always a mystery, an apparently kind person who nevertheless had some inexplicable fondness for the scum villain, turned a blind eye towards his abuses, and got dragged down with him. Shen Yuan feels even worse when he actually gets to know his solemn, smiling, secretive little disciple.

Yue Qi is very determined to advance, and as quickly as possible. Shen Yuan admonishes him. Obviously this kid has a protagonist-like aura and a similar drive to get places quickly, but you can't speedrun your disciple era, Mr. Future Sect Leader! There's no montage mode! Most of his attempts at intervening meet a brick wall that is Yue Qi's impenetrable smile and polite deference if he even hints at displeasure (this kid's gonna make a great politician one day), but Shen Yuan changes tactics and starts manufacturing excuses for breaks, taking Yue Qi on him with trips off the mountain and finding reasons to stop at local festivals and hot springs and etc. He can tell something's off with the quality of frustration that his disciple sometimes expresses, with how there's fear to it, but he's at a loss for the cause and it's difficult to get Yue Qi to talk. Despite appearances, he's actually very distrustful of adults.

When Yue Qi asks to claim his sword early, Shen Yuan says no. He remember how reputedly powerful Xuan Su was, and his disciple definitely needs a stronger base if he's going to pull a sword of that caliber. But he suspects this won't go over well, and when he catches Yue Qi sneaking off to Wan Jian Peak on his own, his disciple finally breaks down and admits that he needs to get strong in order to save his most important person.

Shen Yuan is moved. The way Yue Qi speaks, he's certain this person is a young maiden whom his student has fallen in love with. Truly, the sect leader was so very similar to Luo Binghe at heart! He must have failed in the original story, and that contributed to his difficulties and sorrows later on. Of course Shen Yuan will help him rescue his sweetheart!

Even if his sweetheart is... surprisingly butch? And is a slave owned by the Qiu family, and, wait a second, that name is kind of familiar... oh.

Oh dear.

Shen Yuan is internally screaming even as he helps buy Xiao Jiu out of bondage, even as he gives Yue Qi money to get his newly rescued friend all cleaned up and suitably dressed for the trip back to Cang Qiong, even as he buys the boys tanghulu for a treat, even as the System cheerfully informs him that his new quest is to get Xiao Jiu accepted onto Qing Jing Peak, even as Yue Qi tears up for the first time when he thanks him for helping.

He can only get to sleep that night by consoling himself with the knowledge that his generation is going to retire well before Luo Binghe and The Plot actually show up.

The System: (〜￣▽￣)〜

5 Years Later:

Huan Hua Palace Master: Sect Leader, we need your help! A terrible Heavenly Demon has come to threaten the whole of human society!

Shen Yuan: That's not possible. He isn't even born yet.

HHP Master: What?

Shen Yuan: What?

[allpiesforourown]

Role reversal au again + qi deviation baby binghe... feat slight comp het and oblivious pining binghe

Thinking about binghe being so enamored with shen yuan (he does not realize hes in love) that he regularly ignores booty calls to stay on the peak and "train" his head disciple (he doesn't train shit, he just fends off anyone else who might want to spend time with shen yuan)

His regular fuckbuddies are starting to get so pissed off by being ignored by him. The few women who are unfortunate enough to get a night with him get one round and then hours of gushing about his sweet head disciple who's making sooo much progress!

One time he said shen yuans name in bed but his lover was too dazed to hear him, so that's a secret he keeps locked up in his heart

(Somehow, despite never meeting these women, shen yuan has become their biggest enemy)

After being chewed out by the nth person for neglecting them over his stupid job as a teacher, Binghe starts getting worried. It's one thing if one person is jealous, but I'd everyone is telling him he's too obsessed with shen yuan, should he be concerned...?

He wakes up the next morning in an inn next to a woman and finds out he qi deviated into a younger version of himself. He has no choice but to buy some children's clothes and hurry back to the peak, request time in the cultivation caves, and get back to normal asap.

Unfortunately he runs into... you guessed it, shen yuan.

At first shen yuan looks at this little boy who is an exact copy of his shizun and remembers that one chapter where binghe turned into a little kid so women would dote on him. Then he goes "if this is shizun, why the hell would the stallion protagonist be on the peak instead of surrounded by women?" Obviously this must be one of Luo Binghe’s long lost children, here to find his father!

Shen yuan pats binghes head and says his shizun is off the peak at the moment, but little didi is welcome to stay until he returns!

Why doesn't shen yuan pat binghes head when he's in his adult form? What can binghe do to make shen yuan pat his head regularly?

Binghe doesn't know the trial he's in for. Shen yuan is making his life HELL.

"Didi, where will you sleep tonight? Come, let's share my bed."

"Didi, are you ready for your bath? I'll wash your back."

"Didi, come sit in my lap, I'll read this book for you."

Luo Binghe wakes up in bed a week later (cuddled by shen yuan, who is wearing nothing but one thin layer) and realized he's back in his adult form. He hurries out of bed, and shen yuan wakes up soon after

Shen Yuan: didi? Where did you go- oh, shizun! Welcome back!

Binghe: mhm. I met your 'didi' and dealt with him.

Shen yuan: Oh did you figure out his living arrangements? I didn't get to say goodbye....

Binghe: ..... one more thing

Shen yuan: ?

Binghe: you are no longer allowed to invite anyone into the bamboo house. You will bathe only using the peak lord's private bath, and no one else is allowed there.

Shen yuan: ?????

Binghe: dismissed.

Shen yuan doesn't know wtf happened. Binghe is staring at the sun, wondering what he needs to do to qi deviate again

[nyoomerr]

A drabble about Bingge realizing his children’s beloved Head Imperial Tutor has the same soul as the ‘nice Shizun’ from that other world he once visited could be fun.

“Local man must compete with his own children for the attention of their very cute teacher!”

ahhh i love scenarios like this!! pitting bingge against his own kids is always so fun lol, hope you enjoy!

---

When Luo Binghe manages to find him, he isn’t even looking properly. He’s still spending his free time trying to find a way back into that weird mirror dimension, not scouring his world for anyone. After all, why would he look here? He already knows exactly where the Shen Qingqiu of his own world is; every bloody, rotten part of that body and soul is accounted for. Luo Binghe wants the other Shen Qingqiu, the one he’d gotten only a taste of, the one that had been so unfairly given to his doppelganger.

Perhaps, Luo Binghe thinks, watching through the doorway into the classroom his younger children use for self-study, he should have bothered to spend a bit more time looking at home before trying to force himself back into the mirror world.

“Ah, what are these tears?” One of the tutors is asking, tutting as if in disapproval even as he so gently wipes the face of one of Luo Binghe’s children. “You’re getting much better with your arithmetic, there’s no need to cry over a mistake now.”

The child hiccups, her little hands coming up to pull on the tutor’s robes, clearly trying to worm her way into his lap so she can wipe her face on his shoulder instead of on the perfectly fine handkerchief the tutor is trying to use.

Luo Binghe doesn’t even know which daughter of his that is. He doesn’t know who this tutor is, either, and yet -

The tutor raises his free hand up to pat soothingly at the child’s hair. He doesn’t try to unhook her hands from his robes, or stop her from shoving herself persistently closer to his person; he only pets her hair and wipes her face and tuts at her.

And yet somehow, Luo Binghe thinks, I’m sure that’s him.

It doesn’t make a great deal of sense to find this soul in a body unrelated to Shen Qingqiu, but at the same time it makes a whole world of sense to think of this kind teacher as someone entirely different from the cruel master Luo Binghe had grown up under.

Luo Binghe steps into the room properly, releasing the hold he’d been keeping on his qi to keep it held close to his body. The tutor looks up at the doorway, and frustratingly, the look of indulgence he’d been wearing just moments ago closes up. He stands and bows in unison with the other tutors in the room, and Luo Binghe flicks his hand dismissively so they know to ignore him and return to his duties.

The tutor - the kind Shizun’s soul - stands from his bow but does not immediately return to helping the girl he’d been working with. He only watches Luo Binghe a bit warily, clearly aware of Luo Binghe’s rapt attention on him, and continues to absently pat the hair of Luo Binghe’s daughter. The girl herself doesn’t seem to mind, as she’s managed to get close enough to the tutor to shove her face in his stomach and nuzzle in there, perfectly content and no longer crying. 

Well, no matter; if this man is already aware of Luo Binghe’s attention, no need to hide it further. Luo Binghe approaches without hesitation. 

“And what tutor has brought this Lord’s child to tears?” Luo Binghe asks after having reached the table that this tutor and child had been working at. He knows perfectly well that this man was not the cause of his daughter’s tears; he wants to know how he’ll respond anyway.

“This lowly one is Shen Yuan, my Lord,” Shen Yuan dutifully replies, and though he bows deeply he does not raise his hands from Luo Binghe’s daughter. “My most sincere apologies; I will accept punishment.”

Luo Binghe hums, satisfied. Good, he thinks, he’s already loyal to me. Very good.

Before he can say anything else, though, the girl buried in Shen Yuan’s robes shouts, “No!”

When Shen Yuan stands again, Luo Binghe can see his daughter peeking out, her face half turned away from Shen Yuan to glare up at Luo Binghe. 

“No?” Luo Binghe asks.

“No!” She shouts again. Her demonic huadian flares, and Luo Binghe raises his brows - this girl really dares issue such a threat to her father, knowing who her father is?

Shen Yuan, seeming to catch the very same thing, quickly moves the hand that had been in her hair to cover up her demonic huadian. This does not stop the girl herself from talking.

“If you try to punish Shen-ge, I’ll stab you!”

“Ah, wait -” Shen Yuan protests, pressing the girl further into him as if that will hide her away. He glances nervously at Luo Binghe, expression a bit pinched, and then -

“Who’s threatening Shen-ge?!” Comes a cry from across the room.

“Someone’s threatening Shen-ge?!”

“Lord Luo is threatening Shen-ge!!”

Suddenly, it seems like half the children in the room are gathered up in Shen Yuan’s robes, clinging to him and glaring at Luo Binghe as Shen Yuan frantically tries to soothe them with head pats and hushed whispers of Ah, don’t yell at him, anyone else is okay, but don’t yell at him!

Luo Binghe watches, amused and irritated and hungry all at once. Clearly, this Shen Yuan is already a treasure of his palace, and he hadn’t even known it - his own children have found this man before he himself did. 

Well, Luo Binghe thinks, watching Shen Yuan fluster more and more the longer Luo Binghe stays quietly watching the commotion, they may have him first, but I will be sure to have him last.

[coolshadowtwins]

I love the ways fanfiction gets around the problem of nicknames.

In canon, Zhou Zishu introduces himself under a fake name, Zhou Xu, so Wen Kexing calls him A-Xu for the rest of the series, even after learning that not actually his name. There’s so many Word Of Honor fanfics where it wouldn’t make sense for Zhou Zishu to use a fake name tho- be it a modern au, or just an au where he has nothing to hide- and then the author has to figure out what WKX is calling him now. A-Shu? It’s said the same, but does it work when you read it? Or do you make up a reason for the nickname?

There was one fanfic that I can’t remember anything else about where ZZS introduces himself with his actual name, and WKX is just like, “Hm…. I hear you, I do. But you’re so bendy that you remind me of catkins, so I’m just going to call you A-Xu!” (Xu is written with the character for catkins, for reference)

And don’t get me started with SVSSS lol. Every story where SY isn’t SQQ for whatever reason gets it’s own justification of why Binghe calls him Shizun. Off the top of my head, these range from “You have taught me so much more than my actual Shizun(SJ)” and “Wow, you taught me two (2) facts, and I think you’re neat. Shizun it is!”

And then there’s the modern ones where Shizun absolutely doesn’t make sense, since I’m pretty sure it’s an older term. A lot of fics get around this by having Binghe call him “laoshi”, meaning teacher, while some of them just go, “Yeah, Binghe just decided one day that SY is Shizun, even though they are the same age in this au, and no one is able to get him to stop”.

As I write these out, I’m realizing that most of the Shizun problem is apparently just solved by Binghe deciding, “Hm… That one is Shizun shaped.”

In the same vein, Shang Qinghua calling MBJ “My King”, even in modern aus. Because what else would he call him??? His name???? Never. This one is funny, because unless MBJ is still royalty somehow, the authors I’ve read never addressed this. SQH just shows up one chapter, calling this random guy he may or may not be dating “My King”, and then leaving SY to his own devices with no explanation lol

Lesser issue is shixiong and Shidi. Mostly YQY? Because what should he call SJ other than Shen-Shidi, or Qingqiu-Shidi, when SJ inevitably yells at him for being called Xiao Jiu? This one does come up less, because of most modern aus I’ve read focused on Bingqiu, and so Qijiu were having a much better time than canon in the background, if they were even brought up lol

What are your stories about nicknames in fanfic lol

[mamaclownhunter]

Hello current Hyperfixation October that means it is whumptober time. Plus I am not confident enough yet with how the characters speak or the names to write. And also my fav identity reveals

So in some scrapped plot Airplane-Shooting-towards-the-sky about a Mirror that showed your soulmate. It was from a younger time where he humored the idea of Bing-ge getting a one true love.

Fast forward and his Anti-fan has bent his protagonist and they are currently on permanent honeymoon.

Binghe is for once is unstuck from his Husband and sent to go check on ancient treasures from some vault or something and he sees a mirror.

Idk how he knows the legend enough what the mirror is about. So he doesn’t have an issue picking it up knowing in his heart it is his beloved Shi- it isn’t Shen Quingqui that stares back at him.

Slash cut!

Luo Binghe is quite when he contemplates and even sticker then usual but not really talking much. So obviously that is suspicious and worrying as fuck.

Shen Quingqui can’t even tease him! He is too worried! Thin face be damned! Shen Quingqui is full mom fussing! Wife fussing! That kind of fussing you get when the person you love is silent!! There isn’t tears! There is no anxiety! No scheme of foreboding feeling!!

No his husband is just smiling sadly and staring into middle space looking thoughtful.

Shen Quingqui just keep promising he is there for Binghe. Binghe just smiles and kisses him.

Now I will fight- Luo Binghe is in that struggling middle ground of Abandonment and self loathing.

A storm of thoughts because he does not care- he loves Shen Quingqui and that is never going to change- but no that means his husband has someone else- and he worries if he is being selfish. Shen Quingqui has a soulmate that isn’t Binghe and what if he wanted to meet them? Binghe knows he can’t share and he wants them dead- but how can he deprive his love?

Shen Quingqui told Luo Binghe he would wait for Binghe to tell him.

He also shook down a few demons to learn about the Mirror, then Shang to know more.

Soon we have two sad husbands just pressed close huddled so close Shen Quingqui can’t even fight why he is doing it. He needs his husband. They barely seperate, go through their routines with smiles masking and I need you to know- they are on the same page of the exact same book but refuse to look up and realize that.

Same copy paste thoughts- why did he think his stallion protagonist husband would have him as a soulmate- he wants Binghe to be able to meet them, he wants to know- no it is purely fodder and added to his pile of comforts he can provide to his husband that he will stay with him! Oh he is the scum villian why should he Etc etc

But they are both just saying things they love about each other- better of SQQ starts it.

They need it.

Of course the mirror is a quiet covered thing sitting on their table. The brilliant top student Luo Binghe of course realizes Shizun figured it out and knew what it was. So he just quietly put it there one day. A quiet statement.

Binghe comes in one day and Shen Quingqui had an impulse and was going to use it just to get it over with. Not knowing when Binghe knew and it tore him up- his dumb gay ass was going to feel it too so he can comfort his husband.

So Binghe comes it to his husband just staring confused and relief.

It tears at him on the inside- Binghe feels like he is stabbed again- and Shen Quingqui looks up confused and down that the Mirror.

“Shizun don’t-“

“I see you?”

Don’t get Shen Quingqui wrong! His husband is almost tripping over himself to see- but Shen Quingqui sees Binghe staring back at him. Which- first there is an old fanboy hater in him that is preening seeing Binghe stare back- but who the fuck is Binghe seeing if not him! Who the fuck?! When Binghe is on his shoulder looking at the mirror-

And Shen Quingqui is half way through his angry bitching about who the fuck his husband reflecting?! And Roasting him- he realizes with embarrassment he will never admit- it is more the context clues of the outfit (an old worn loved outfit of his he would wear when he would have to go out - but modern clothes) and Modern styled hair. Short and -

It takes him a moment to realize it is him- and longer to recognize his own face- old face?

There is Shen Yuan staring in the same awe and confusion.

Shen Quingqui ends up hysterically laughing and sobbing. Dragging Binghe into a kiss.

(Eventually he ends up explaining it is his face and then Binghe is glued to the mirror so he can compliment his husband again! With new loving compliments! Suddenly this face is the face of someone who saved him! Who loves him! Who came for him from another world! This face is all for him and only him!!! (Aka he is better now and swooning for Shen Yuan))

I know I just wrote the thing- but if anyone ends up getting inspired- all I ask in payment is a link- pls- this is my Starbucks order actually-

[lovefrombegonia]

THIS IS A HEADCANON:

I do not claim this to be canon at all. It's just a personal headcanon, bro. LOL

tw // references to childhood abuse, gore, torture

That Binghe vs Bingge extra did give me a PIDW scenario more bingge whump and qijiu angst:

Listen...I love badass, glorious, powerful cultivator Yue Qingyuan. I don't remember if it is canon or not if he is a serious threat to LBH and xin mo but I do like to think that he was the only cultivator capable of actually beating PIDW LBH, and LBH knew that. He knew YQY could rock his shit. He also hated YQY for enabling SQQ's gruesome abuse towards him. So, in his mind, YQY is like a corrupt, enabling sect leader who is also powerful enough to fight a pure-blooded heavenly demon like Tianlang jun while just being a disciple. He also knows that YQY, for some reason he decided isn't important to explore, really cares about SQQ. So, LBH decides to set a trap for YQY. He tears SQQ's legs off, tortures him into writing a letter, and decides 10,000 cursed arrows is enough to atleast seriously injure YQY, and then if he is somehow still alive, Xin Mo can take care of the rest.

Everything...goes as planned. ALmost. YQY rushes towards HHP to save SQQ in a maddening, suicidal rage. LBH cannot help but be a bit shocked at this vicious level of devotion this powerful, powerful sect leader has towards a scum like SQQ. He watches as YQY doesn't even really fight off all the arrows. It's like... it's like he really WANTS to be killed. It's like YQY is punishing himself. And yet, every tiny essence of life in YQY is trying its best to walk towards HHP. He will not stop until he dies. And...LBH can't help but laugh a little. A lot. Actually. 'This is the man you're willing to die for Sect Leader?!', LBH thinks, 'A scum who tortured his own disciples? A lecher who lusted after his own disciple? A filthy dog who killed how own shidi?? YOU WILL RIP YOURSELF APART FOR A WORTHLESS SCUM WHO NEVER EVEN RESPECTED YOU!! You're the dumbest human I have ever come across...'

He watches in awe as even pinned to the ground by several arrows, YQY is willing to tear him own flesh apart to try and move forward towards SQQ... One can't even recognise the esteemed CQMS leader anymore. He is two steps away from looking like a blob of flesh. As another round of hundreds of arrows rained on YQY, LBH watched the pathetic man turned to mush, and the magnificent Xuan Su vibrated wildly one last time before breaking into many pieces.

The sect leader was no more. LBH is a bit surprised at everything that just happened. His plan worked though. It's all that mattered. YQY was no longer a threat to him, and him empire. Now, he has to pay a visit to his shizun. He wanted to bring a piece of YQY's body to SQQ but the poisoned arrows had made sure nothing remained of him. Only the broken shards were left behind. He decided that Xuan Su would be a better "gift" anyways, after all, it was the symbol of YQY's might. The mighty that shielded SQQ for so long. It was the only thing that would matter to the scum, after all, SQQ did not really care about YQY. He insulted him every chance he got. With that thought, he went to the special prison. He couldn't wait to feel the rush of satisfaction as he imagines SQQ's face of horror.

'This...this is not...this is not right.', LBH thought as he watched SQQ's face froze in horror but...it's was a horror of different kind. 'He...should not be looking like that. Why is he looking like that!? Why is he...' and LBH couldn't clearly think for a moment. He was expecting SQQ to cry pathetically at a loss of a powerful backing. He wasn't expecting SQQ to have so many myriad of emotions...confusion, realization, shock, terror...guilt, sorrow...despair, HEARTBREAK, and then...madness. Submission. Submission of a man who has nothing to lose anymore. SQQ looked like... He was ready to die. No. No no no. This is not how it was supposed to be. NO!! SQQ SHOULD BE BEGGING FOR LBH TO SPARE HIM NOW! Crying and screaming instead of laughing hysterically like he was giving this mutilated piece of shit a funny stage show. “Luo Binghe, you’re a bastard, did you know that?”

He is still laughing. Still laughing but you can tell, Oh! You can tell that SQQ is in pain! LBH has ripped his left arm apart now and that pain is nothing compared to the agony that YQY's death has caused him. He is laughing, but his eyes already look dead, they look like they are already mourning! Already far away, only the body remains, trembling and seizing in pain to reach the departed soul.

“Luo Binghe, hahahaha…oh Luo Binghe, you…"

There is no satisfaction here. Because. Because... LBH looks on as he realises... This evil, abusive, traitorous, perverted scum of a man...was capable... Of love?? His shizun loved. He loved someone. SQQ...was capable of affection. Loving...truly loving someone so much. Loving someone so much so as to push him away. So... that's why YQY never tried to break SQQ out of prison. Loving someone enough to surrender himself to HHP so that YQY won't lose his status and honour by starting a sect war. Oh yes, YQY, was so ready to start a sect war for this scum...this... This scum who loved him. Something heavy, something unexplainably cruel and cold grips LBH's heart so tightly, he feels like if someone so much as pokes at him now, he will break apart. All SQQ ever did was torment everyone around him, spreading his miasma everywhere, and insulted YQY any chance he got...and YQY still loved SQQ all the same. SQQ was supposed to be a lecherous swine incapable of caring for anyone. He was supposed to be evil, and villainous to EVERYONE. A monster to EVERYONE. Because if he is a monster to EVERYONE then of course, he will be a monster to his own disciple, right? LBH found himself getting lost in these turbulent thoughts. He can't do that right now. No, not infront of SQQ.

'He is trying to provoke me into killing him. He will not have an easy way out like that.' thought LBH, as he told SQQ, in a calm, gentle voice, "You want to die? You can’t expect it to really be that easy. Shizun, after all the evil things you’ve done throughout your life, hurting those hostile towards you, hurting those with no malice whatsoever towards you, barely clinging to life and still able to throw a zhangmeng in with the lot—if you don’t die a little slowly, get a chance to suffer all the misery everyone else did, how else could you make it up to them?" After that, SQQ stopped laughing but his expression was unexpected. He looked almost...he looked like he understood. He looked like he was ready. For what? LBH didn't want to know anymore. Xuan Su felt heavier and heavier in his hand. It was no longer just a symbol of YQY's power. It was also a remainder of the genuine and unconditional love his shizun got from someone. He threw the damned sword at SQQ, walked away in a daze.

As he walked away, he couldn't help but think: why...? Why did this happen? If SQQ was always capable of loving then why couldn't he-- He was writhing in pain and heartbreak for YQY, a man who couldn't even protect him, who was so indecisive even at crucial moments, that he couldn't even rescue him from the water prison despite knowing he was capable of it!! Why mourn for the death of someone who failed to protect him when it mattered the most? Who didn't even really try, to be honest. YQY came here to die! Things started falling into places, and LBH hated this picture. Because the picture depicted a story he didn't even know he was a part of. A story of two people who didn't deserve the genuine and unconditional love and loyalty they gave to each other... And he played a side part. He hated himself for thinking this but he couldn't stop himself: if shizun was always capable of loving...why couldn't he love me back? It wasn't fair. IT WASN'T FAIR! IT'S NOT FAIR!! IT HURTS!! IT HURTS!! WHY?! WHY ME?! WHAT DID I DO WRONG?! What was my fault... WHY!!! LBH didn't even realise when he started crying.

[darlingpwease]

?? Wdym??? /neu

You felt like something was very... off... ever since your shizun got his fever. You've even tried to bring it up a few times, wondering if he's okay because it's a very sudden change. However, every time you try to bring it up, he shuts it down. Why are you bringing up how he was before? Isn't he better now? Don't you like him more the way he is right now?? He treats you do much better, he treats you the way you deserve. Is he not treating you as nice as you want?? He can do better!! He will do anything to make you feel happy and content, especially with him <333 You're his favorite, after all. Don't you see how well he treats you? It's so much better than before. Don't you know?? It's very disrespectful to bring up the shizun from the past. You should only focus on how he is to you right now. When he slips up a bit too many times, talking about things that have yet to happen, and acts shocked when it happens. When he talks about stuff from the past that you yourself blocked out from memory, only to remember once he brings it up. How does he know your favorite food..? Your favorite drink, your favorite color, favorite book, favorite hobby, shit, even your favorite smell?? Why, you are his favorite character prized student!! What do you mean you didn't tell him this before? Of course you did!! Silly, he's the closest person to you, of course you tell him everything. That's why he knows you better than yourself!! You definitely told him before. Definitely... When by the time you realize that this isn't the shizun that you originally met all those years ago, it's too late. Shen Yuan has already solidified his presence in your life. He's the only person who was willing to stay with you, willing to keep you safe, even when everyone had left you when you returned from your closed door cultivation, only he stayed, never wanting to harm you unlike the others, but is that even true anymore?? Did they want to harm you like your shizun said?? He tells you that it was a white lie, a necessary one, but that everything else is the truth. You want to yell at him, berate him, you trusted him, and he was lying to you for years!! But when you look at his face, a crazed, paranoid desperation but utterly faithful and twistedly kind gaze set on you, you don't have the strength to do it. Whenever you would get upset, your shizun? would pull you into his arms, holding you close. You're upset now. Your shizun? lied to you, you should be angry at him, furious, but you can't help but go into his arms again. He even let you squeeze and bite him to your hearts content. Just as you have him wrapped around your finger, Shen Yuan has long made sure since the moment he set his eyes on you that you will be wrapped around his too. And as you bite him harshly, but gently rub his waist, pressing gentle kisses after every bite,, he can't help but smile. He's happy to see that it's turned out that way.

Uuwbaidwj Luo Binghe following you around, looking up to you as his elder sect member, pure admiration and worship in his eyes whenever he'd look at you <333 You love hugging your precious little bun!! It's just.... well... he definitely, grew...? You honestly didn't recognize him at first. It caught you off guard when he came up to you, calling you the nickname only he has for you. You wanted to question him at first, but once you saw the way he looked at you, how he trotted behind you, lightly clinging to your clothes so he doesn't stray too far from you,,, you can tell it's your bun. It just seems that he's well,,,, sprouted?????

-panna cotta

... it's good that at least some things in the world don't change pfff sjdhdhdhdhdh

but listen,,,, shen yuan for whom you were the most adored character in this cheesy novel. there were a lot of flaws, but you? you were one of the things he adored — perhaps his most adored character. surely there is a printed screenshot above his desk with his favorite phrase said by you, and maybe he is a little hyperfixed on you, to the point that there are a lot of art in his gallery with you in the interpretation of fans, and a few curves that already belong to him and are stored only with him — but that's nothing too weird, okay??? you are just his... comfort character, even if his favorite art is on the screensaver of his phone, depicting you in your final scene where you die. perhaps your death, which was not even depicted properly in the novel, for a moment made him want to abandon it, but he reached the end, feeling even more dissatisfaction and anger, knowing that his... uh-huh, waifu? husbando? spousu?... was killed like cannon fodder, which you were, but his fan heart can't stand it. surely there are a lot of saved screenshots with your description or speeches so that he can then brainstorm, developing you as a character if the airplane killed such a precious baby like you for the sake of drama<////3

but when he see you alive? with your face, your voice, your words, your tone and these features, some of which he guessed, while others he did not even think about. he has a lot more problems and necessary things to do - and spending at least twenty points was definitely damn irrational on his part, definitely - but he just couldn't resist wanting to see you as soon as he figured out where Luo Binghe was, seeing his pet so close and knowing that you really are alive and exist??? absolutely blows his brain, even the fact of his transmigration does not bother him so much anymore, realizing that as soon as he deals with bullying, he will be able to return to you.

bite him,,,,, dhdh,,,,,,,,,,,, but listen,,,,,, shen yuan is very indulgent and submissive, so he doesn't mind at all if you take control, even encouraging you to take both control and him as you want, allowing you whatever you want, as long as it it is not connected with the desire to move away from him. you want something? you will get it. he is the lord of the peak, he has more than enough opportunities to pamper you and teach you that you should not try to distance yourself from your beloved and caring shizun. he knows the world of this novel perfectly, he knows everything and everything, his information is almost absolute, especially with the help of the system that more than considers everything that is happening canonical and normal, providing explicit and active support to him, sometimes even giving tasks even before you want or do something (especially if it is it is connected with escape or distance from him). what can you do at least theoretically? even if you clearly hold power and authority, more than realizing that there are not many things that he will not do for you, for some reason absolutely adoring you, as if you are the only thing that matters to him, only wanting to follow you everywhere and learn about you as much as possible and in more detail, as if you were for him, the center of the world. it was confusing at first, especially when you doubted whether it was worth moving in with him - after all, it's awkward - but over time you even adjusted. he didn't demand anything from you, just treated you like the most precious and important one, and at some point you even accepted that it was... soothing. when you comb his hair, take care of his food, do small things around the house - even if he always seems to be trying to catch a glimpse of you and touch, even during training fights blocking instead of dodging, just to feel your warmth, you just nod and think "well, he's weirder now, but it's kind of harmless?". everyone on the mountain (and in the sect) exhaled calmly - he finally became less sharp-toothed, safer, even gently elegant, with a warm temperament, and there is no one who is against such changes. although you can't ignore the fact that now you have no one but him - an amazing situation, because how is this possible when you all live and work at the same peak, right? - but you don't mind too much. even if at first you are gently isolated from students of the gender in which you show a more vivid interest (shen yuan says to himself that, well, he cannot allow you to get close to those who are unworthy of you, you should only be with a really good and great person, while on there are no such peaks), then he says that he will fully train, without the need to interact with other students, and, in the end, you yourself are no longer drawn to them, knowing full well that no one likes favorites, while shizun is so favored by you, that this is already becoming shameful.

(... perhaps I will stop here for the moment sjdhdjgdhdhd AHA—)

it's like before/after, only "before" you had a little white lotus that looked at you with heart-shaped pupils and fit perfectly on your hands when you took him, being a tiny cutie that ran after you like your tail and almost purred when you looked at him, while "after " he... well, he's still a cutie, and he clings to you and walks after you, just, um, just now you have more of a "big tiddy goth bf" than a little white lotus who said he would always be with you, looking like he needs to be protected and cared for, while now he looks as if it is not him who needs to be protected and not "he will protect you now", but rather "now you need to be protected from him". he's still the same needy and clingy, it's just that now he's not a "little crybaby", but "huge", and now calling him a "little white turnip" as when he looked up at you seems like an insult to all vegetables at once, because now you've become a cabbage, while he's a pig. but it's still your Luo-Luo, right? right?... you are not sure, but you continue to stroke his hair and praise as before, intertwining your fingers with his fingers, even if now it feels much more strange, as if his fingers, hot as an oven, were already clinging to you not with sweet adoration, but with burning despair and delight. in the end, you don't find the strength to ask what happened to him after he returned from the abyss, even if you see that he wants you to ask - it's much easier to behave as if nothing happened.

especially when you are a transmigrator and realize that the plot looks very... bad, given that the line does not correspond to any variant, and especially when the second main character behaves as abnormally as "luo luo".

[greentrickster]

Loving the Hopeful Hybrid’s Househusbanding System, and wondering if you have any further thoughts regarding LBH wingmanning for MBJ, or the matchmaking shenanigans LBH and LQQ get up to (or if I’m remembering correctly MBJ gets involved at some point bc why not?)

Thank-you so much! ^U^ And, for starters? After Liu Mingyan's latest work comes out after Binghe's return (suddenly involving characters with some very interesting and elaborate tattoos), Binghe uses his 900 IQ to put two and two together and figures out who wrote it. Then super calmly doesn't tell anyone he knows. Then even more super calmly starts feeding Liu Mingyan a few stories about spicy forbidden romance that he encountered while in modern Japan and, once he's established his cover as a fellow connoisseurr of the finer things in life (aka spicy p*rn with lots of romance thrown in for flavouring), he mentioning that, hey, wouldn't a human-demon love affair be romantic? With lots of tension and potential for betrayal, but really neither of them want to betray their homes, they just want to be together, only the world won't let them? Think of the drama - think of all the opportunities to get excitingly spicy!

And boy howdy does Liu Mingyan think of them. Three volumes of a new series worth in the space of six months worth of thinking of them.

So anyway, that's Liu Mingyan and all her devoted readers set up to play spin doctor/damage control/shut up-it's-so-romantic arguments for when the Mobei-jun/Shang Qinghua romance eventually comes out in the open, because Shizun likes Shang shishu, so keeping him in the sect is important.

(For all his intelligence, Binghe does not at any point realize that Shen Yuan is an avid reader of Liu Mingyan's work (especially since it doesn't currently involve him), and has a strong hunch who it's about and is just waiting for the right opportunity to give Airplane so much cheerful grief over it. Mostly because he knows nothing spicy has happened with him and Mobei-jun yet and it will absolutely kill that shitty author to know that his fictional double is getting it when he isn't.)

Beyond that, Binghe’s primarily giving Mobei-jun some quick remedial courses on human romance and dating culture, while also slipping Shang Qinghua a few tidbits on demon courtship habits, especially for the Northern realm. Thanks to his exposure to modern media, he’s gained that most dangerous and OP of powers - levels of genre-savvy! He can spot a miscommunication plot when he sees one now! So he’s working to clear up the miscommunication, and he’s using the simplest methods possible to make it harder for them to go awry by mistake.

His modern experiences with the dating scene does get a little jumbled with his memories of his home dimension’s practices, though, meaning Binghe absolutely sets his most loyal bro and his shishu on a tea date (since coffee isn’t an option). It doesn’t go very well since Mobei-jun isn’t really into tea and Shang Qinghua is still confused out of his mind at the mixed signals he’s getting at the moment. (Though, ironically, he absolutely uses it as coffee-date fantasy fodder after the fact, because an author-god can dream, you know?)

This having not worked, Binghe switches tactics and finagles Sha Hualing into creating the xianxia version of an insulated travel mug (“Okay, but why should I waste time making something that won’t help me destroy my enemies?” “...it’ll keep your hot drinks warm longer so the blood doesn’t congeal if you forget about them while you’re in your workshop and you don’t have to waste time yelling for someone to bring you more when you want it now?” “Oh dang, sold!”) Binghe then ensures that Mobei-jun gets ahold of one and tells him to give it to Shang Qinghua, since the guy drinks so much tea while trying to get all his work done, and to tell him that, since he won’t tell Mobei-jun what sorts of things he wants, Mobei-jun’s just going to have to start guessing (with an addendum to start paying attention to what sorts of things Shang shishu likes so that he can do a good job of it - paying attention to what sort of things your beloved likes and doesn’t like is important in a good relationship).

Mobei-jun is skeptical, but follows Binghe’s plan to the best of his ability, and it bears shockingly good fruit. Shang Qinghua is stunned, not his usual loud, flustered stunned, just... this is such a nice, useful gift, and it’s something he’ll be able to use with minimal explanation for how he got it, just say it’s something he found on a trading expedition, and dollars to donuts he’s missed having a nice, big travel mug with a secure lid and- oh, oh it has a little flap you can flip up to drink from it without taking the lid off. And it’s in An Ding blue. He’s a peak lord, he’s used to certain people trying to pander to him or buy him off, but this is a really thoughtful gift, and he’s not used to those in any of his lives. He’s absolutely touched. He’s making an expression Mobei-jun’s never seen before and it’s making his heart stutter.

And- oh, oh, I bet gifting is one of Mobei-jun’s big love languages, he’s just never learned how to do it properly, and it’s also part of why it’s so frustrating that Shang Qinghua never freaking asks for anything. Binghe teaching him how to spot what would be a good gift without having to be directly told is going to be invaluable to him! So by the time Tianlang-jun arrives at the Sect, Mobei-jun and Shang Qinghua are actually doing pretty well for themselves, it’s been... let’s say a year since Binghe got back?, everyone knows, no one can do much about it because half the sect shipped it even before they knew it was a real ship, Shang Qinghua’s gotten some slap-on-the-wrist punishments because 1) he does 64% of all paperwork in Cang Qiong and it would collapse without him and 2) he’s besties with Shen Qingqiu and Yue Qingyuan is still simping hard. And Binghe’s only had to use his extra-special ‘oh no, I’m such a clumsy shidi’ technique to ‘trip’ and ‘try to catch himself’ by grabbing onto Shang Shishu only to ‘accidentally’ just grab his clothes and absolutely shred the top half of them by mistake in Mobei-jun’s presence twice.

Binghe, with big, dewy eyes full of (false) unshed tears: “This Luo Binghe is so sorry, Shishu, he’s still learning to master his demonic heritage and suddenly having claws is so confusing-!”

Shang Qinghua: Ah-haha, it’s okay, shidi, we all make mistakes! (internally swearing because how much do you think these robes cost, and do you really think this author can’t see through your crocodile tears, why are you humiliating me in front of my king like this-?!?)

Mobei-jun: (can see one (1) entire nipple on Shang Qinghua’s chest and would like to get to know it better, maybe if he’s good he’ll get to see the other one too...? Also why is this so exciting, he’s a demon, from the demon realm, he sees people wandering around half-naked/all naked all the time, so why is it different now-?!?)

Mobei-jun is learning how tantalizing things can be when you don’t get to see them all the time, and he’s very confused and also rather aroused. And he’s going to take this knowledge and accidentally melt Shang Qinghua’s brain by showing up one day wearing his robes at a level of chest coverage that humans deem appropriate, then shuck an outer layer partway through the visit and loosen the ones underneath to show usual levels of chest again. Congrats, Mobei, you’ve accidentally gained two levels in seduction and have ensured that incident is all Airplane’s going to be able to think of for a week.

(Note: this probably wouldn’t have worked on anyone else, because Mobei-jun’s starting out with a -1 in seduction, he just has the home field advantage with Shang Qinghua.)

As for Liu Qingge and Mobei-jun meeting up and the resulting shenanigans as all three of these goofs get up to as they try to match-make for a sect leader and once-demon emperor? I think I’ll put that in another post at a later time - this one’s already gotten pretty long!

Thanks for the ask!

[weirdocat83]

This gives me the brainworms so now I must give my ideas.

Shen Jiu thinking Shen yuan died when in actuality he probs just got transported to modern china where he eventually grew up and forgot a lot about where he came from in the first place. He only has vague memories of Shen Jiu until the system realizes “oh shit, he isn’t supposed to be here” while he’s ranting about PIDW. Cue him being yeeted back to a world he has had no affiliation with since he was very little. No ooc feature because he’s an actual character.

Airplane did try to write Shen yuan at some point but wanted to keep the original “heartless scum villain” that was Shen Jiu so Airplane never really got around to writing what happened to Shen Yuan. Just that something happened and he was never seen again. Shen Jiu mourned his brother privately and became cold and refused to let anyone in. Potentially airplane meant Shen Yuan to be brought back to give Binghe some humanity and really heal the hurt that Shen Jiu inflicted while being a great transition into Shen Jiu’s backstory after realizing Shen Yuan was alive. Unfortunately nobody wanted that and he had bills to pay. This ends in confusion for the system and inevitably causing a malfunction where Shen Yuan was thrown to modern China and picked up by the Shen family. He got interested in PIDW because subconsciously he was still thinking about his brother.

Shen yuan ends up coming back to PIDW as airplane originally intended around the time Binghe is thrown into the abyss leading to a lot of confusion and relearning things. The system helps him learn cultivation leading to him nearly catching up to his brother by the time Binghe crawls out of the abyss. Cue a very very confusing and violent first meeting. They meet and as Binghe does, he falls in love with Shen Yuan over time while Shen Yuan is freaking out. Their relationship is more open and starts off more as a best friendship more than a shizun/disciple thing seeing as they are of a similar age. Eventually they meet Shen Jiu and that is also a shit show but there’s more talking things out and Binghe isn’t as bloodthirsty. Still very murderous but not as much. Shen Jiu has a slight mental breakdown over his supposedly dead twin reappearing after how many years next to the person he probably hates most (clearly very smitten he might add). At first Shen Yuan genuinely doesn’t recognize his brother but eventually certain things click into place.

Idk how it would end, I just know many conversations would have to be had, various mental breakdowns would ensue and Shang Qinghua and Yue Qingyuan would get pulled into everything very quickly.

Also some funny things so thought of:

Shen Jiu giving his begrudging blessing to Shen Yuan and Binghe getting married. Because, yes, Shen Jiu did want his brother to get married to someone good who can take care of him and adore him in all the ways he should be. But did it really have to be the disciple he hates most who hates him back in equal measure?

Airplane realizing his #1 hater is one of side characters he probably loved the most. I could see Airplane fiddling around with Shen Yuan in his free time and thinking of intricate things to add to him that never made it into the novel. Like Shen Yuan’s love of strange flora and fauna leading to several discoveries being made alongside his social attitude while being just as judgmental as his brother and simultaneously claiming to be “antisocial”. Or possibly some of the quests he went on while learning cultivation being what Airplane wrote in his notes. Like acquiring a special ore to make his sword or having picked up a few habits that seem strange but are actually mostly from fending for himself.

Idk just some thoughts

Anyone interested in my Shen twins au????

They are totally fine~

[rarepears]

Have another Shen Jiu X Shen Yuan idea ft. SY dating his son's teacher without realizing just who this teacher actually is

Because every fandom needs a "fall in love with your son's teacher"/"teacher falls in love with student's parent" cliche, have this idea:

Shen Yuan transmigrates into a cultivation world. He doesn't yet realize it's SVSSS because he doesn't recognize the names of all the big name celebrities in this ancient China world. He builds a business, learns some cultivation, gets married (because he's, for better or worse, not an orphan in this world and his family arranges a marriage for him), has a child or two, wife dies (from disease or childbirth, whatever), the usual routine of being an average man in this Ancient China setting.

(Shen Yuan fails to recognize he's still very much not "average" in this world - most people don't have the time OR money to go disappear for weeks on end to travel and check out XYZ cool plants and animals in XYZ region for fun. And he might be a "businessman" but he's a nobleman who's able to just lay down on the ground and the money comes rattling in like a fireman's waterhose. Ah, the delight of being from the modern world and being able to give vague ideas to the employees to figure out!)

His routine breaks when his son goes off to Cang Qiong sect to become a cultivator. At this point, Shen Yuan has been in PIDW world for a couple decades, so he's sort of forgotten about things. He finds it amusing about Cang Qiong name, but he hasn't heard Shen Qingqiu or Yue Qingyuan, so he brushes it off as a coincidence about the sect name. Or maybe he's just so far pre-canon that he doesn't have to worry about anything!

His cultivation isn't that great anyways, so it's not like he's going to be some superstar or ascend. (Or so he says despite having so many pouches full of ultra rare herbs that he could mix together to create pills that would boost his cultivation base by 10... once he finally admits to himself that he has indeed transmigrated into PIDW.)

One day, Shen Yuan finally gets to go visit his son at the sect. It's because his son's shizun is ascending and a new generation is about to be sworn in, so a celebration open to the public is being held. In other words, his son is about to have a new teacher.

Pity Shen Yuan was too distracted to remember his son's peak, but whatever. That thousand lotus blooming in Shenzheng was more interesting since it attracted XYZ animals to the area and Shen Yuan just needed to really go there to see for himself, alright? That's where Luo Binghe met wife 284!

But he makes time or the celebration since he's too curious to not go, and he starts up a great conversation with head disciple Shen Jiu. They started chatting due to having the same last names (and Shen Jiu wants to see if he's in any way related to this Shen Family).

Like the idiot that he is, Shen Yuan walks away that night not realizing Shen Jiu is his son's future peak master nor that the next generation is to be named "Qing". Nor does he realize that he left a blushing and starstruck Shen Jiu behind.

What Shen Yuan does know is that the quality of teaching has dramatically improved with the new generation of peak masters! He enjoy receiving detailed weekly reports on his son's progress. The little informal notes at the end of the message are a nice touch, asking about his day, but Shen Yuan knows better than to think it's in any way special - it's a standard tactic for building up a good and close relationship with rich people before asking for some donations.

Eh, he should donate something to his son's peak, shouldn't he? But he doesn't know if the peak has some sort of financial aid office that handles donations, so he just sends it to the peak master who handles all the weekly reports. Easy peasy.

Shen Yuan gives himself a pat on the back for using this donation exercise to also empty out one of the storage rooms that he cluttered up with dried plant cuttings last year that he was hoping he could turn into nice smelling potpourri. With the sheer amount he sent to the peak, they can figure something out with that, surely? He knows some of them are good for cooking, but the other ones can be turned into bookmarks or something artsy?

Whatever. He now has space for some other projects now. Two birds with one stone.

(Shen Jiu's face turns red upon seeing the very very expensive courting gift he has received. Even Cang Qiong's annual profits is worth less than this!)

[More in #shen yuan unknowingly is dating his son's teacher au]

[sunderwight]

Thinking about a situation where SQQ gets a look at Luo Binghe's package (post-Abyss but pre-Maigu Ridge, or in an AU where Maigu Ridge doesn't happen) through like, the outline of his pants or whatever (maybe Binghe took a wardrobe tip from Jareth of Labyrinth), and then got to thinking about how huge Luo Binghe's meat is, like in an actually non-sexual way this time just his brain gets onto a tangent about a bunch of scenes from PIDW where the descriptions varied wildly, and then he starts wondering about exactly what size it is, because to go by the novel's descriptions it's either bigger than average but not insane or there's another arm stuffed into that codpiece somehow. Surely it's closer to the former than the latter? SQQ doesn't have any other evidence that physical limitations in this world are that different from his own world, but then again, would it come up in any of his conversations if women in this world have sufficiently cavernous vaginas for damn near every virgin Bingge met to accommodate a dick that big? Does it at least make childbirth easier? He hasn't exactly polled anyone on it, so it could be the case. But what about the back door, so to speak? There were a few sex scenes that went in that direction, forbidden tunnel of love type stuff and it was all incredibly bad and cheesy, but of course, SQQ actually has a "back door" too and surely he would notice if it was possible to stick his own arm up it. Although it's also not as if he's tried, and as a peak lord with a fantasy metabolism he doesn't actually have to take a shit either, his body processes everything extremely efficiently and it's been years since... well anyway it's not like he's had occasion to investigate it much, now that he's thinking about it. Maybe he can? Not that this is relevant information to anything though and given the inconsistencies the probable limitations of the numerous people PIDW Binghe had sex with, his package, though prodigious, is probably not actually that big of a weapon. How could he even comfortably keep it contained otherwise...? Etc etc etc.

Meanwhile the entire time he's having this internal spiel, he's just... staring. At Luo Binghe's dick. Really blatantly. It doesn't even occur to him that he's doing something incriminating about his interests or possible attraction precisely because he's not, for once, getting flustered about it (much) but is in fact genuinely vexed by the mystery. This is not so much a case of imagining Luo Binghe's dick as wondering about fantasy physiology. So he's lost track of where his gaze has wandered.

The longer it goes on for though the more flustered Luo Binghe gets though. Like, should he say something? Is this a prelude to Shizun making a move? Is there... something wrong with it? Why is he staring so intently? Is Shizun aware that he has just been looking straight at Luo Binghe's dick for almost ten minutes now...? He should definitely say something, right? Maybe this is his chance! Or maybe he should wait and see what Shizun does next? Should he try a line? Something suave? Ask if he wants to see it! Shizun can absolutely see Binghe's dick if he wants to! No wait, but what if Shizun is planning on making a move and he ruins it by being impatient? He should wait and see where this is going.

...How long is it going to take, though...?

Luo Binghe's brain frazzles between trying to decide if he should make a move or prepare to be receptive towards one, or maybe check and make sure his dick hasn't turned into tentacle or something without him noticing, while Shen Qingqiu slooowly (very slowly) begins to realize that yes, he has been staring at Luo Binghe's dick while lost in thought for such a long time that now it's weird. It's definitely weird. He should look away now, at once, except now if he stops staring at Binghe's dick it's going to end whatever stalemate this is and he's probably going to have to explain why he was ogling it in the first place, and he definitely cannot explain anything, so he just keeps staring while furiously trying to think of a non-gay explanation for why he's now glaring intensely at Luo Binghe's crotch.

...He can't think of anything. Oh god. This is a disaster. Luo Binghe is going to kill him for being a perve!

(Good luck, Binghe.)

[monsieurboyardee]

So I was listening to the frankenstein musical and now I can't stop thinking about a bingqiu Frankenstein AU.

Shen Yuan finishes reading Proud Immortal Demon Way, a book about how luo Binghe, a young assistant of Shen Qingqiu (local college dropout obsessed with bringing the dead back to life) is murdered by sqq so that sqq can bring him back from the dead for his experiments. In the book, Binghe is reborn again without his memories, and reaches out to sqq. Sqq is so horrified by his creation however that he sets fire to his lab and runs, thinking that lbh died in the fire. He returns to his home and his fiance yqy, only to find that yqy has been murdered. Eventually all of the people who sqq knew were murdered by lbh, who had survived the fire and now remembered (idk how maybe he read the documents that sqq took down during the experiments that lbh saved from the fire) his death, and swore to destroy everything sqq ever loved. The rest of the novel is about how lbh destroys everything sqq ever loved, and sqq chases after him in a blind rage. When sqq is found in the Arctic and dying on a ship, lbh finds him and murders him too, making sure that sqq understands how his actions brought his own undoing.

After reading this novel, shen yuan trashes it for being long and boring and stupid. "If I was sqq I wouldn't have been so disgusted!! That's your goddamn assistant!! If you thought he was so hideous you shouldn't have killed him in the first place!!!"

Shen yuan dies.

He wakes up in the body of sqq, a month after lbh becomes his assistant.

Sy, now sqq, realizes just how awful things are about to get for him.

Sy always rather liked Binghe though, and always hated how sqq abhorred and abused his assistant for being naturally brighter than himself. In fact, the reason why sqq had killed lbh in particular was because lbh was the one who finally figured out how to bring people back from the dead, while sqq had been trying to figure it out for years.

So instead, sy forgoes the constant abuse sqq constantly put lbh under and instead treats him with kindness and affection. He trusts lbh with his methods and procedures and he confides in lbh when he's stuck on an issue. He talks with lbh about love, and how lbh should never be afraid of it, that he deserves only the best. He begins to see lbh as not just his assistant, but as a close confidante.

Lbh falls in love with him.

There's two things that absolutely must happen though, according to the irritating system that guides sy through his new life:

1. He has to push luo Binghe from the roof of the lab, and watch him fall and die.

2. He has to bring lbh back to life, and then abandon him.

As the days go on and the two get closer and closer to the secret of resurrection, sy gets more and more nervous. If he doesn't kill lbh, then he himself will die. If he kills lbh, he doesn't know how he's going to live with himself.

Finally the day comes where lbh figures it out. The final secret to bringing back the dead. Sqq immediately feels like he's going to be sick.

In the original book, sqq asks lbh to follow him to the patio jutting out from the fifth floor of the building. When they get up there, sqq pushes lbh off the patio, where he then falls to his death.

Sy is shocked when lbh is the one to ask him to join him on the rooftop patio.

Sy follows lbh to the rooftop patio. The system is blaring in his head, if he doesn't kill lbh he's going to die, but his hands are shaking and oh God he can't do it.

Lbh takes sy's hands in his. "Why are you upset, Shizun?" He asks, cupping sy’s face in his palm and smiling tenderly. "You should be happy, we finally did it!!"

Amongst the screeching warnings from the system, the giant red warnings blocking his vision, and the pounding in his ears, sy is too busy trying to find any way out of this to hear lbh's confession of love. The system blares in his ears, and a countdown appears before his eyes. 3....2....

Sy looks at lbh for the last time. "I'm so, so sorry," he says.

Then he shoves lbh off the rooftop patio and watches the shock, the confusion, and the devastation consume lbh's face as he falls to his death.

For days, weeks, months, sy works on bringing lbh back to life. Some of lbh's body was too damaged from the fall, so sy goes grave robbing. He takes only the finest body parts that he's able to, only the best for lbh. He isn't able to find any body parts close to how lbh originally looked though, so lbh gains an extra foot of height, his arms and legs become stronger, larger. Whoever comes out of this is not going to be his lbh.

But it will, at the end of the day, be lbh. And that is all that matters.

Sy documents everything through film (a historically inaccurate detail that had driven sy insane when he'd first read the story. Now it's the only thing that gets him out of bed in the mornings). He talks to Lbh as he works, the way they used to when he was still alive. He tells him about the procedures, asks for his opinion. He talks to him about the things sqq sees out the window, about the letters piling up on his doorstep that he has not replied to and doesn't intend to. Multiple times sy throws himself upon lbh's body and just lies there, shakily murmuring over and over again "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry." Everything is caught on the films.

Finally, there's a lightning storm. The experiment works. Lbh, or what was formerly lbh, sits up for the first time completely on its own. When he opens his eyes, his irises glow crimson. "S,,,Shizun?" He croaks, reaching out to sy with large, white fingers.

It is only then that sy remembers that in the original book, lbh comes back from the dead and murders sqq.

The guilt and the fear finally overtake sy and he dodges lbh. He runs straight out of the lab and out the door, running and running from his lab, from lbh, until he finally catches a ride to Qing Jing Peak, the only other place he remembers. He forgets to set the lab on fire.

Despite everything, he is glad he didn’t.

He returns to Qing Jing Peak. Yqy is waiting for him, a man who sy does not know and does not love. Sy is haunted by the acts he's committed, and confines himself to his room for several weeks.

As winter begins, yqy comes into his room one night and tries to kind of push sy into sleeping with him, or at the very least staying the night ("I don't understand why you have shut yourself away ever since you came back," he says. "I don't understand and you won't tell me. Aren't we engaged?? Didn't you swear that we would belong to each other from that point on??"). He kisses sy.

Sy pushes him away and demands that he leave his room. A few hours later, sy is startled awake by a ruckus in the other room. When sy walks in to see the cause of it, he finds lbh in the middle of strangling Yqy.

Sy yelps in shock. Lbh turns at the sound, his hands loosening as his eyes alight on sy. Yqy takes the opportunity to slam his fist into lbh's face and attempts to fight him off, screaming at sy to run. Lbh retaliates by slamming his fist back into yqy's face again and again and again, until yqy is on the brink of death. Sy rushes forward and grabs at lbh, telling him that if he spares yqy then sy will do whatever he wants. Lbj tells him to come away with him. Sy agrees.

Lbh allows sy to pack whatever things he's accumulated over the past few months. Then he takes him by the waist and steals off into the night.

Lbh brings him back to the lab. He tells sy that if he tries to abandon him again then lbh will kill him, before he leaves to let sy unpack.

Sy and lbh live their days together. Sy is confused, bc in the original novel lbh brought sqq back and demanded that he make a wife for lbh, then another, and another, forever forced to create wives for lbh until sqq, horrified by the idea of more of these monsters running around, destroys them all.

But lbh doesn't ask him to make him a wife. Instead he brings sy meals, brings him his old papers, forces sy to fix any parts of him that have fallen into disrepair over time or develop things to make lbh more comfortable. As time goes on sy forgets that he is a prisoner, and as the days go by he begins falling in love with Lbh, though he does not realize it himself.

Lbh apparently does not remember how he died, or even that he did. But even though they for the most part operate as per normal, lbh sometimes looks at him with worlds of hurt and anger in his eyes. One night, yqy sends him a letter, saying that he is coming with a mob to kill lbh and bring sy home. Sy hides the letter without reading it, as he does not want lbh to think that he's been corresponding with yqy. While lbh is out, he goes to the nearby neighborhood to get ingredients for a recipe lbh had been talking about, picking up a pretty jade necklace for lbh. Lbh and sy go to the market together often so he doesn't think much of going on his own.

He isn't prepared for yqy to appear and drag him into a carriage. Yqy hugs him, tells him he's so glad he's safe, tells him not to worry, they'll kill the monster soon and he'll never have to worry about him again.

Sy rips aways from him. "You're going to kill him???!!"

Yqy relays the plan out for him. Sy is horrified, tells him to call off the plan, that they can't kill lbh. Yqy thinks that he's been tricked by the monster into falling for lbh. Yqy locks him in his room and sets off with the mob.

Sy breaks the window in his room and, grabbing a pistol from his drawer, grabs a horse and rides it back to the lab. He arrives while the mob is trying to batter down the door. He sneaks in through the back and finds lbh standing on the fifth floor patio, the letter from yqy that he'd hidden in lbh’s hand.

Lbh thinks that sy was sent up to murder him. He had come back from his own short trip to an empty house, and had assumed that sy had abandoned him again. He found the letter while trying to find sy and assumed that sy had been secretly plotting to kill him with yqy behind his back, just when things between them were starting to get better.

Heartbroken twice over, he and sy fight. He tells sy that in the time after sy had run away, he had found a couple of the tapes sy had documented lbh's revival on. He had watched the very beginning of the tape, depicting sy with deep, deep bags under his bloodshot eyes, looking straight into the camera and saying, "I killed Luo Binghe. I pushed him off of the patio roof on the fifth floor, and I watched him fall to his death. This is Log 1, Day 1, of me trying to bring him back from the dead."

After seeing that part of the tape, lbh remembered everything leading up to his death. In a rage, he threw the tapes in a box and shut them all away.

"You MURDERED me Shizun. You pushed off that roof and watched as I fell. You told me that it didn't matter who I loved, because what mattered was that I loved them with all of my heart through the bad and the good, and yet you turned around and you murdered me with your own two hands. I loved you, Shizun. And you hated me for it. I was dead long before I hit the ground."

Sy in his shell-shocked state can't find the words to respond. The mob finally breaks through. "Xiaojiu!" Yqy exclaims, shocked at the sight of sy facing off the monster.

But the crowd is too bloodthirsty, and when they see the monster they immediately charge. A pitchfork aims at lbh's heart.

There's a collective gasp, and a cry of "XIAOJIU!!!"

Lbj stands, mouth agape, blood pounding in his ears, as sy falls to the floor, the pitchfork protruding through his body and dripping With his blood.

Lbh loses it. He kills more than half of the mob, and the others retreat, dragging a screaming yqy with them. Lbh wants to absolutely destroy them, burn their village to the ground and salt the earth with their blood, but his Shizun's corpse is growing colder in his hands.

Sy coughs up blood. “Ah…how stupid…” he mumbles, his eyes fluttering shut. “That wouldn’t have hurt you in the first place…it’s not like you can die…”

“Then why?” Lbh sobs, brushing sy’s hair out of his face. “If you knew it wouldn’t hurt me, why did you do it?”

Sy smiles.

Lbh watches as sy dies in his hands.

Months later, there's a lightning storm. Sy sits up on his own, his once deep black, now jade-green eyes opening wide as he gasps for air.

He had once brought lbh back from the dead. Now lbh had done the same for him.

Lbj tells sy that he's sorry for bringing sy so much suffering. He tells sy that he had never really hated him, even despite all the hurt and the heartbreak sy had put him through. He tells sy that he loves him. Then he runs away to the Arctic.

Sy, newly awoken and very confused, rummages through the lab and finds the box of tapes. He watches through them and he slowly remembers everything.

He visits yqy. Yqy breaks down when he sees him, and apologizes. He hands sy the jade necklace that sy had bought all those months ago, and tells him that he forgives sy, and he hopes sy forgives him in return. They break off the engagement, and yqy promises not to search for sy when he goes.

Sy follows Binghe to the Arctic, constantly on the lookout for his former assistant. He gets hypothermia, and is picked up by a whaling ship. While recovering, binghe finds him. Binghe angrily tells sy to stop following him. Sy steps forward and wraps his arms around Binghe and hold him tightly. He tells him he's sorry. He explains as much as he can about everything, about his grief and his regret and his shame. Finally, he tells Binghe that he loves him, in his own sy way.

The two go off and rent a cottage in the woods. One day, Binghe goes back to the lab and digs out that old box of tapes. He watches through all of them. When sy comes back from his trip to the market, Binghe is sobbing at the image of sy on the screen.

And the two live happily ever after and love each other a lot and they live forever bc they're undead the end!!! ✨

[scribblestatic]

This is part of the reason I headcanon that Bingge is kinda thin and paler, full of lither muscle because he wasn't fed well as a child. He's strong more because of his connection with Xin Mo than his body. His qi is constantly fighting him, hence his propensity to use sex and violence to calm the sword. Meanwhile, Bingmei is big. Like, *big*. Well-fed with naturally glossy hair. He's fluffy, with sunkissed skin. Love is stored in his bosom. While he doesn't have the boost he'd get from Xin Mo, he makes up for it with raw body power and a better handle over his qi. And ain't that a whole bitch? He's as powerful as a Xin Mo wielder simply because of the power and effects of his Shizun's love. How did SQQ mistake them? ...Well, that's the only part where my headcanon doesn't work, but I don't care. Maybe SQQ was less "Oh, Binghe is acting different" and more "fuck fuck fuck act natural". Maybe Ning Yingying was like "A'Luo, what happened to you?! You should see--ah. Well. Maybe Mu-shibo would check on you? He probably would if Shizun asks him to." Maybe everyone who saw him was silently thinking he'd gotten very sick from something that basically sucked the life out of him. And maybe Shen Qingqiu immediately fought after Bingge kissed him, causing the latter to realize he always knew he was different, but still tried to treat him kindly. "How did he know?" he wonders. Then Bingmei returns. "How could he not know," he seethes, frustrated.

I feel like we don't give Binghe enough credit, at least in regards to squaring him up against Bingge.

It seems like people will see that Binghe is more open with his emotions (being willing to cry, pout, smile, laugh etc.) and call him 'soft' or even 'weak' in comparison to Bingge.

It's like people forget; Binghe was actually formally trained by his Shizun and peak, something Bingge wasn't. He also went through the same challenges in the endless abyss, but overcame them much faster; years faster in fact! And he possesses the same level of strength and skill.

Remember, when they met in the extra, they were perfectly matched; neither able to beat the other. And the moment Shen Qingqiu stepped in; the instant even a little bit of outside interference got involved in Binghe's favor, he won.

It didn't take much for Binghe to ultimately win that fight; just one extra person to tip the scales in his favor, and he had Bingge beat.

He's as strong, capable and deadly as Bingge, and I'd even argue he's stronger; not physically, but simply because he has a lot more worth fighting for.

You fight harder, more viciously, and for longer when you have something worth fighting for, and because of that I honestly think Binghe would ultimately win in a one-on-one against his counterpart. He's not weak because he cries; I'd even say he's stronger because of it.

[emingx]

on an A/B/O kick rn so

lou binghe is an alpha and shen qingqiu is a beta

lou binghe is literally drooling over sqq bc he smells so good all the time, but sqq is just 😐 bc he can barely smell others scents, just enough to determine their secondary gender and thats it, he can't smell himself at all bc hes so used to it. and their first time is when lbh has his first rut and sqq offers to help him through it bc he feels guilty for what hes put lbh through (the abyss, etc. even if he didn't rlly have a choice and lbh doesn't blame him like that.) so he volunteers to help binghe through his first rut, on the condition that hes muzzled, bc sqq would feel even more guilty if lbh lost control and got stuck mated to sqq bc surely he will find some lovely omega to settle down w later in life and sqq doesn't want to ruin that. and besides, this is a way for him to atone for what he's done to lbh. but the rut comes and lbh doesn't react well to the muzzle, pushing his face as far into sqq's neck as it can go despite the muzzle, jaws open and snapping, whines falling out of his mouth bc why cant he mate his pretty shizun, he's all lbh has ever wanted. and sqq can feel the drool on his neck amd he should probably be disgusted but he's too distracted to notice (not bc the sex is good, it hurts and he feels so so guilty)

but don't worry too much, after they talk and sqq realizes that its okay to want binghe, to want this, and binghe learns how to look after a partner, the sex gets better. it just feels true to their dynamic for the first time to be Awful for everyone involved.

[chaoticgoodlawyerwrites]

Preview for DYK Chapter 21!

So um. This chapter will be a lot. Brace yourselves!!

---

When Ning Yingying heard of her Shizun being carried by Liu Qingge into the hospital area from a random disciple excited to share the news, it had taken everything she had not to rush to him.

She knew that meant her precious brother was now gone for an unknown period. She knew that her beloved Shizun and brother-in-law would be in immense pain.

She just hadn’t expected it to be physical.

Gongyi Xiao, who she generally respected and liked, seemed just as shaken by the news. She knew he loved Shen Qingqiu in his own quiet way, deterred by her brother’s rather aggressive protection of his mate, now husband. Still he said softly and fretfully under his breath, “I just saw him. He and Disciple Luo were in good health and spirits. What could have happened?”

Now was as good a time as any to start her charade. It wasn’t like she would have to fake her grief; she would be without her closest family member for years, after all. But she would need to make a show of being surprised.

“You were?” She asked, anxiety in her tone. Ning Yingying then turned to the gossiping disciple with fear in her voice. “And what of Luo Binghe, my didi? He wouldn’t have left Shizun, not for anything!” 

The disciple looked uncomfortable. “This one… apologizes and cannot say.”

“Go, Head Disciple Ning,” Gongyi Xiao said to her with a bow. “I can manage things here. You should be with your brother and Shizun; I know your presence would be a comfort to them both.”

…he really was quite likable. 

“Thank you!” She exclaimed with a fast bow before running out the room.

Ning Yingying, for all that direct combat was not her strength, was a cultivator and a damn good one at that. Her Shizun after his qi deviation saw to that. 

Not that her Shizun before did not treat her with extreme kindness. He was simply too indulgent of her, like he needed a place to dump all the affection he could easily show and chose her as its recipient. That had all but disappeared as Shen Qingqiu recovered.

The shift in personality, coupled with what had to be a sudden, immediate knowledge and acceptance of Luo Binghe being a demon had Yingying questioning more than a few things.

But her theories about her beloved Shizun were not important at the moment. What was urgent was the speed at which she moved, using her qi to its best advantage and blurring her surroundings as she ran to him.

The medics let her into the building without fuss, silently pointing to a side corridor. She followed their directions at a more moderate pace, aware that she was surrounded by the injured. 

It wasn’t hard to guess which room was Shen Qingqiu’s; Master Liu would not stand so protectively outside of anyone else’s save, perhaps, his sister’s. She marched up to him, not having to fake her worry because Shizun was not supposed to be hurt—only grief-stricken.

“Liu-shishu,” she started, walking up to him. “Shizun is…”

“Alive,” he said, tone much softer than usual. “Injured but resting. Mu Qingfang is with him.”

“And my didi? Head Disciple Xiao said he saw them together in the Gorge and… what? Is A-Luo not with Shizun?”

He seemed really, really uncomfortable as he said carefully. “…no, he is not.”

“Well, where is he?! He never would have left… Shizun if…” she trailed off, eyes widening as if in horrible realization. 

As gently as the man probably could, he said, “Head Disciple Ning, my condolences. The only remnant of him was a shattered Zheng Yang.”

“No,” she said, staring at him in horror. “No, he was just here! And Shizun would never let anything happen to him!”

“Sect Leader Shen had been grievously injured and nearly drained of energy when I found him. He likely had no choice.”

She burst into tears, the show of emotion easy. She had wanted to cry for her brother for so long that it was almost a relief. She put her face in her hands and crumpled to her knees.

To her surprise, Liu Qingge gently touched her shoulder. “I am sorry, Ning Yingying. If it had been Mingyan… I’m sorry. No one should have to lose a younger sibling.”

She cried harder at that and leaned into his touch. It felt good to cry, to shake with he barely contained sobs. She knew she was in public and very well known. Between Shen Qingqiu’s injury and her reaction, people would begin to speculate and eventually realize that Luo Binghe was nowhere to be found. It would save them time of lying about his death later; people would draw their own conclusions.

Ning Yingying knew all this as she let herself miss Luo Binghe and grieve his loss for these next few years. She did her best to let it out now, knowing that Shen Qingqiu would need her to be strong.

She loved her Shizun, and knew he loved A-Luo beyond all reason or sense. Prepared or not, she doubted the weight of her brother’s absence would be felt fully until they returned to Qing Jing Peak, until he returned to the bamboo house alone.

And that was when the real grief would start.

Yingying cried and slowly stopped, pulling herself together. She wiped at her face, wanting to appear a mess. She looked up at Liu Qingge and said, “Could I see my Shizun? Please? Even if he is unconscious; just to lay eyes on him, to see that he’s here.”

Liu Qingge looked at her with sympathy and helped her stand. “Let me ask Qingfang.”

He knocked and a besieged Mu Qingfang opened the door a bit. He looked at Liu Qingge, looked at Ning Yingying, and sighed. He stepped aside, “You alone, Head Disciple Ning. Don’t disturb him; he’s finally resting as peacefully as possible.”

Ning Yingying nodded firmly to him and stepped inside.

Shen Qingqiu was resting on his back with blankets covering him all the way to his neck. He was not relaxed in his rest, seemed drawn and pale. He seemed to be breathing evenly enough, but it was obvious he was far from fine.

First, there was a shining tear track running down from the corner of his eye.

Second, there was a prominent white streak in his once perfectly black hair.