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delicioussshame · 1 year ago

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So I was going to post what is, sigh, part 4 of the TLJ/SY/OLBH AU, but then I saw that I hadn’t posted the previous parts here despite it being in the tumblr compilation? So have links: main fic, part 1, part 2.

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Shen Qingqiu will be kind. He will not mock Liu Qingge to his face. He, after all, understands how delicate the situation they were thrust in can be. It’s not his fault Shen Qingqiu finds the idea that Liu Qingge of all people is being courted by not one, but multiple demons hilarious.

Shen Qingqiu sets his poker face before making his presence known. “Shidi, hello. You haven’t stopped by in a while, so I thought I would check on you for once. How are you doing?”

Liu Qingge pokes out of another room, a frazzled look on his face. “Shen Qingqiu.”

“Indeed.”

He frowns. “Is there something wrong? Do you need help”

“No, I’m fine. Your disciples are doing a fine job of keeping demons away from my peak. Send them my regards.” They’re not doing a perfect job, Shen Qingqiu has had to send enterprising demons away, more or less violently, himself to protect his own disciples from their overeager pursuits a few times, but he can manage this much. It’s harder to explain to some people why they should not be encouraging members of another race with varying levels of comprehension regarding human morals to court them. “I’m not here about myself. I was wondering if Shidi needed support? You’ve been so busy fighting intruders, have you had any time for your own problems?” He’s not stupid enough not to recognise the deflection technique. Liu Qingge has to be busying himself with his preferred activity, fighting, not to think about the sect master writing appropriately diplomatic refusals to offers of bloody, bloody marriages.

Liu Qingge’s expression instantly darkens. “I’m fine.”

That was the least enthusiastic “I’m fine” Shen Qingqiu has ever heard. “I’m sure you are. Why wouldn’t you be? It’s nice, being popular.”

…Ah, damn it. He told himself he wouldn’t poke the wound. “I’m sorry. I spoke too much. I just wanted Liu-shidi to know he could count on me if he needed someone.”

He can see the storm clouds gathering around Liu Qingge. “I don’t need help. I’m busy. Leave.”

It would be nice if there was a way of telling Liu Qingge that Shen Qingqiu was one of the few people that actually were not there to witness his shame, but then he would have to explain to him why he wasn’t. Liu Qingge seems like he’s one of the few peak lords who have not figured it out. He would rather keep it that way, thanks. The chances of Liu Qingge attempting to distract himself by trying, and quite possibly failing, to slaughter the current dynasty of the demon realm are much too close to a hundred percent for Shen Qingqiu’s liking. “Fine. I see I’m disturbing Shidi. I’ll take my leave. Shidi can just remember he can visit whenever he wishes.” Shen Qingqiu might miss their sparring sessions just a little bit, okay? He gets that in his current mood, Liu Qingge might be too angry for him to handle, but still.

Well, he’ll leave for now. Liu Qingge will end up beating enough demons to soothe his bruised ego someday.

Hopefully soon, because there is a demon in his bamboo house when he returns.

Shen Qingqiu inwardly sighs. This isn’t even the first time this happens. Demons who manage to enter Cang Qiong often have little idea of who they want to reach, or which peak hosts them. Some spots the bamboo house and figure it’s as good a starting point as any. “I understand that we are currently negotiating peace, but by human standards, showing up uninvited in someone’s home is quite rude. Please return to your realm and wait until the negotiations are over with. We will be in a better position to receive a delegation properly once the terms are settled.”

The demon looks strangely nervous, lost in a somewhat endearing way? He’s obviously high-ranking enough to have been at the banquet, though Shen Qingqiu does not remember him. “Junshang shouldn’t have to wait that long.”

…Nothing about this comment is good. “I haven’t introduced myself. I am Shen Qingqiu, peak lord of Qing Jing. You are?”

“My name is Zhuzhi-Lang.”

…Yep, he’s in trouble. That’s Tianlang-Jun’s beloved nephew. Rumor has it they are closer than Tianlang-Jun and his own son.

A high-ranking demon indeed. “Can I ask why you are visiting? Maybe you are looking for the sect master? I will escort you to Qiong Ding right away.” As much as he hates having to do this, Yue Qingyuan is better positioned to handle this than he is.

“I’m not. I’m here for Peak Lord Shen.”

Sweat rolls down his back. “And why is that? I cannot conceive of a reason for us to meet like this.” If only Liu Qingge had followed him home, he would not be in this mess. Liu Qingge would have taken one look at this one and pulled out his sword. He would have taken all the fallout, and no one would have blamed him for it because what else is Liu Qingge supposed to do when he’s faced with a demon? One intruding on a peak lord no less?

Shen Qingqiu is not Liu Qingge. He has no idea whether he can take on Zhuzhi-Lang, but he doubts it. He’s not a defeating-heavenly-demon type of cultivator.

“Junshang wants to see you. He’s been waiting, but since you won’t come, I’ll take you to him.”

Nope. Not happening. “I’m afraid I can’t come with you. As I’ve said before, the negotiations aren’t over. We are still enemy factions. I will not be visiting the demon realm on its ruler’s whims, especially not by myself. If my presence is absolutely needed, then it should be requested via formal channels.” It won’t be a marriage proposal, right? There’s no way, right? Sure, the ruler of the demon realm is a known widower and thus available, but he has options. Many, many options. Hell, Shen Qingqiu is certain some sects have offered some of their own to get an advantage.

Shen Qingqiu freezes when something cool and… scaly? slides up his ankle.

He looks down. “What is that?”

Zhuzhi-Lang seems genuinely remorseful when he replies. “One of the many snakes that follow me around. This one is poisonous. Please don’t try to remove it.”

“Could you please get it off?”

“I can’t.”

“Allow me to doubt that.”

Zhuzhi-Lang does not address this. “If Peak Lord Shen follows me back to the realm, it should get bored and leave without issue. If he doesn’t, it will get lonely. Friends will surely join it.”

For fuck’s sake why is this his life. “If Tianlang-Jun wanted to see me so badly, why send someone to… invite me in this way? I still don’t understand why a formal request wasn’t made. My disappearance will cause issues between our realms.”

“I’m sure Junshang will explain everything.”

That does not fill Shen Qingqiu with confidence, but nothing about this exchange does, especially not what he believes to be a second snake settling around his other ankle. He has no trust in his ability to resist poison just because he’s a cultivator, because he is a cultivator in Proud Immortal Demon Way.

“Let’s say I do not want to follow you. What then?”

Zhuzhi-Lang looks even more remorseful. “I can’t disappoint Junshang.”

Shen Qingqiu supposes that’s answer enough. “I will be sure to explain your role in this situation when the sect demands reparations.”

Zhuzhi-Lang shrugs. “Junshang will smooth things over.”

Of course he will.

Maybe he should let the snakes bite him. It would be less painful for everyone than whatever Yue Qingyuan will decide to do when he learns that Shen Qingqiu was kidnapped from his own home.

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Zhuzhi-Lang probably did not lie regarding his identity. If Shen Qingqiu gets more than a few second glances while they wander the palace, no one dares ask questions of Zhuzhi-Lang.

Maybe the snake curled around his neck also makes his situation clear enough that they figure he’s not a threat. It’s a shame, really, because if his life did not hang on not pissing off the seven snakes he’s now carrying, he might try to pet them. Some of them look friendly.

Not friendly enough to calm his rising anxiety at returning so close to the scene of the crime. Treading familiar grounds is a clear reminder that this isn’t just about surviving kidnapping via misguided snake handlers; it’s a return to one of the worst moments of his life, and to the side of at least one of the most dangerous individuals he has had the displeasure of meeting.

Their journey ends in what looks like a study. A very fancy study, with shelves of books Shen Qingqiu really wants to take a second look at, except there is an individual sat at the desk and that stops him from wandering around.

Tianlang-Jun looks politely surprised. “Peak Lord Shen. What an unexpected pleasure.”

Shen Qingqiu steels himself. He had guessed that this was an independent action from Zhuzhi-Lang, because he got the idea that the young man might be a bit strong-headed. “The feeling is reciprocated. You have a very… insistent nephew. Who might wish to take his snakes back now that he has me where he wanted me.”

He’s sure even Tianlang-Jun could feel his complete lack of bafflement when snakes start sliding out of his clothes to instead curl all over Zhuzhi-Lang.

Shen Qingqiu grits his teeth when Tianlang-Jun’s response is only amusement. “You’ll have to forgive him. My dear nephew is very loyal. He does whatever he thinks best for me at all times, no matter the consequences.” He turns toward Zhuzhi-Lang, gracing him with a fond smile almost out of place on him. Not enough manipulative charm. “As always, I appreciate the lengths you go through for my sake, though I sometimes do wish you’d think things through before you act. Let’s talk more about this later? I apparently have a guest to entertain.”

Yeah, no. “Please don’t bother yourself on my account. I want nothing more than to return to Cang Qiong. Let me go, and I’ll be gone before you know it. This way, no one has to learn about this incident, and negotiations can continue as planned. Surely you agree this is the best plan?”

The door closes behind him to announce Zhuzhi-Lang’s departure. “Nonsense. Why would I waste my nephew’s kind attention in this way? You’re here. This,” as he gestures to whatever paperwork he was working on, “is unimportant. I can certainly afford to welcome a guest from Cang Qiong Sect properly.”

Shen Qingqiu has no desire to be around him, or his son and his control over Shen Qingqiu’s body by way of a terrible plot device. “I still don’t understand why you would bother with me. I might be a peak lord, but I’m not anyone particularly important to the current talks. Why would your nephew take the time to… accompany me here?”

“My nephew does not concern himself with the talks. He trusts I will lead them to fruition, as I will. He is, however, very concerned with my wellbeing, and does like to go out of his way to please me. I might have mentioned you a few times, and it was all it took.”

In what terms, pray tell? Is Zhuzhi-Lang even old enough to learn of the details of their acquaintance? Probably, since Luo Binghe certainly is, but he does feel younger than his cousin. “Please don’t mention me anymore then. Many would enjoy the attention; how about you turn yours toward them?” Seriously, beside radiating evil-mastermind energy, the man has it all: the looks, the wealth, the power. Shen Qingqiu still has no idea why he’s bothering with him.

This also means Shen Qingqiu can’t afford to anger him, because he would not survive it.

“Your insistence on evading me is starting to be hurtful. I do believe I did right by you in your time of need. You certainly showed all signs of enjoyment, and I do mean all of them. Why are you so reluctant to be in my presence?”

And he tried so hard to keep his composure, but it is now a lost cause. He knows he’s blushing, but he can’t help it. “I can’t believe you don’t understand why the situation is embarrassing to me, or why I would prefer to keep it quiet.”

“I don’t, actually. You were not the target of the event. Everyone from your delegation was also affected. If anything, considering you felt the symptoms quickly enough to leave the feast, you were probably more sensitive to whatever was used than most; all your actions can easily be forgiven in such circumstances. Not that I would spread tales of your deeds. I would much prefer to keep them to myself.”

Shen Qingqiu does not choke on dark laughter, but it’s a close one. Keeping it to himself was doomed from the start considering Luo Binghe’s role in all this. Now, many at Cang Qiong are also aware. Secrecy is impossible.

Not that he wants to share that fact. His cheeks are already red enough without revealing that their… indiscretion is somewhat public knowledge.

Shen Qingqiu pulls the fan he brought with him to fight the rising heat away, “You are not just another member of the demonic delegation, and neither is your son. I could be considered compromised. I just want to put this behind me and move on.”

Tianlang-Jun reaches for his cheek, and for some reason Shen Qingqiu lets him. It’s as if he’s rooted to the spot. “As I said, I don’t plan on making our relationship public, but I don’t see why that stops the two of us from getting better acquainted. I remembered you reveling in every minute. I’m sure it would be just as delightful the second time around, especially since there would be no interloper coming between us.”

Shen Qingqiu is outraged he even dared voice that option out loud, but for some reason his tongue is like lead in his mouth. Punching the man might be possible, but it seems like that would take so much effort, not to mention there are parts of him that don’t disagree as much as…

The. Complete. And. Utter. Asshole.

The shock of the discovery allows him to step on Tianlang-Jun’s foot as hard as he can manage. “You! The blood! That was you!” Because he is certain that is what is happening to him right now. This insufferable viper has been playing him for so long and still dares to try and seduce him like this! Unbelievable!

“Ah, so you knew.”

“How could I not! You weren’t exactly subtle about it! It’s not like I could sleep through it! I thought it was Luo Binghe because of that reputation of his, but it was you all along! Seriously, if you’re that against the talks, end them and let’s go back to war. Why waste your time on playing me like this!”

“Oh dear, you’re misunderstanding me. This has nothing to do with the negotiations. I was honest when I said I have no intention of making this public, and I knew that neither would you. If I wanted the negotiations over with, I would just murder one of your envoys and that would be that. No, no, I do like the company of humans. I am doing what needs to be done to facilitate that. I just also enjoyed your own, personal, company, and, as much as you might wish to deny it, the feeling was very much reciprocated. I was trying to get you to accept yourself. Despite our short acquaintance, I could already tell there is much I could teach you about yourself. I could also tell you would not be open to discussing the matter, so I forced it. My darling nephew pushed the deadline forward a bit, but maybe it could be to your advantage. If you were to let me in, I would guarantee you you would not regret it.”

Shen Qingqiu cannot possibly be held responsible for murder in those circumstances. No judge would ever find him guilty.

Tianlang-Jun would kill him first, but Shen Qingqiu would inflict as much pain as he can before he goes. “That’s it. You’re apparently too dense to get it, so here it is: I have zero interest in a repeat performance. I do not want to spend any time, in any form, with you or your son. Your whole realm, not to mention a significant part of the human realm, I’m sure, wants nothing more than to sit on your dick. Go spend time with them and leave. me. the. fuck. alone.”

Shen Qingqiu’s heart sinks into his stomach when Tianlang-Jun only looks thrilled. “Darling, I do love a challenge.”

It takes all the winds off his sails. “Just kill me now and be done with it.” How is this his fate? Why is this happening? How long before Luo Binghe shows up, because Zhuzhi-Lang did not have him walk through secret corridors. He was seen, Luo Binghe will know about it, and he’ll come here. Because this is Shen Qingqiu’s life now.

“It would be so easy to remind you how pleasurable life can be. All you need to do is say yes.”

“Why bother with my consent? Your blood flows into my veins. You already demonstrated a willingness to use it for your own amusement against my will.”

The moue Tianlang-Jun graces him with is incitation to murder. “That would be no fun.”

Shen Qingqiu can’t with this man. At all. “Please send me back to my home. Please. You’re not going to get what you want from me, not if I have any say about it.”

Tianlang-Jun lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Your life could be so much more interesting if you gave it a chance, but fine. I will let you sleep on it for a while.”

Shen Qingqiu perks up. “Actual, uninterrupted sleep?” It’s been so long.

“I thought cultivators did not need sleep?”

“Lies. I need it. Lots of it.”

“My bad then. I will be more careful next time.”

“No next time.”

Tianlang-Jun’s answering smile is blinding in his lack of assertion.

Maybe Shen Qingqiu will ask Liu Qingge to marry him. Two birds, one stone. He’ll get it.

“I know you have people who can open portals. Send me home already.”

“Your wish is my command.”

“I’ve never heard a more obvious lie.”

#Scum Villain #The Scum Villain Self Serving System #Tianlang-Jun/Shen Yuan

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anqelbean · 1 year ago

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@lianhua-jun well I'm glad you asked!

You know how immortal cultivators AREN'T actually immortal and they just have a very long life span? WELL, NOW YOU DO!

Demons, on the other hand, are near immortal. They can live THOUSANDS of years.

So, the post canon modern au is an au where our dearest Demonic Emperor Luo Binghe is still mourning Shen Qingqiu. (haha, sorry for the angst) who died, in this au, around 50 years before.

Now, Luo Binghe is attending a wedding of two nobles (this idea actually started as a plot bunny to my mdzs modern au fic so i always thought of the couple to be wangxian lol) and as the Emperor, he is expected to do a speech to bless the marriage. He gives this heartfelt, beautiful bittersweet speech about the couple and gives them advice for onwards.

Then it is time for the first dance. The lights go down and the room is filled with piano music all eyes are on the newly weds, but Luo Binghe's eyes travel to the source of the beautiful voice singing, the young man on the piano.

The spotlight shining on the couple reflected faintly on his face, illuminating elegant features and a familiar smile as he sang for the couple.

Luo Binghe's heart felt like it was moving for the first time in decades as he stared at a face oh-so similar to Shen Qingqiu's. The gulped and breathed in to try to calm his treacherous heartbeat to not give him hope. Not after this long.

Just as the man sang the final verse he looked up from the piano keys and locked eyes with Luo Binghe, but this only lasts a moment as the man quicly looks back down and Luo Binghe was sure, yes, this was his Shizun's reincarnation.

But he couldn't just approach him without any proof, he is far from the reckless rascal he was in his youth, he cannot go unprepared.

The man plays the last note, stands up from his stool and walks to a table where to men are already seated. They greet him. The taller one congratulates him on his performance. The other one, whose face Luo Binghe cannot see as his back is turned, nitpicks his singing (Binghe wants to walk over there and yell at the man because how dare he judge his Shizun's perfect performance, but that is not very Emperor-ly behaviour).

His Shizun just laughs then pouts (pouts!) "Jiu-ge! Can you ever just give me a compliment? It's so not fair to your dearest little brother!"

Eh????

His Shizun had an older brother in this life. Okay. He can work with that. Hopefully.

Finally, giving his last polite goodbye to the couple, he leaves.

Back at his palace, he calls for Madam Meiyin.

"Madam," He tells her, "I wish for you to examine a person's string of fate for me."

"Who is this person that has caught Junshang's attention?" Madam Meiyin quirks her brow, "Is it perhaps, if I may be bold, is it you think you might have discovered Shen Qingqiu's soul?"

"That is for me to speculate—" He says, stern tone to his voice. "—and you to find out."

So she sets out to find this man.

She is, quite frankly, surprised and slightly horrified at the fact that she found not one but two men that looked exactly like she remembered Shen Qingqiu to be. She always knew the two strings of faith on his hand had been strange.

Shen Yuan. That is the name of his reincarnation.

She goes and reports her discoveries to her emperor, making sure to warn him about the two men. Luo Binghe looks a bit shaken, but continues onwards with his plans, strike first, ask questions later and all.

So, he shifts his appearance to be more like his 20-year-old self's human disguise, making him almost unrecognizable to the untrained eye.

He then sets off on his master plan (hopefully he will not cry).

I just realised the new bingyuan au I've been thinking about is extremely like my previous bingyuan reverse transmigration au but. Does anyone wanna hear about my svsss post-canon au in a modern setting?

#he then highkey stalks shen yuan #shen yuan is very much smitten with this adorable man and ends up not really caring about it #they end up married again and binghe decides to semi retire so that he and sy can just cultivate in peace #shen jiu is seething in the background because how dare that beast touch his brother! yue qingyuan is just happy he got his xiao-jiu back #anqels ramblings #svsss #eva.txt #i went overboard with this i need to check the wordcount because damn how did I write that that fast

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othercat2 · 2 years ago

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More Writer! Mobei Jun

He has/had two nom de plumes.

--The first is "Young Master of the Swan Cloak." (Note: I don't know Chinese and I am not sure how writer names work except from Airplane's pun-name.) Which would sound romantic except I am using a myth (I don't remember where from!) where swans are psychopomps, and creating a myth where Northern Desert swan-fairies are more like valkyries and if you are given a cloak, you'll be a hero, but you're also very doomed.

Mobei-Jun's early work is very uh. Okay, imagine the most depressed and miserable teenager in the world. A teenager whose misery is compounded by everyone REALLY being out to get him. Imagine the depression-writing a sad miserable teen like that is going to write. Now increase the sad exponentially.

Mobei-Jun tended to write about betrayal and revenge! He wrote about clans being destroyed from within by internal strife. There was very little of what you'd call romance. When there was romance, it was usually followed by a betrayal or the lover dying, sometimes both!

--The second nom de plume started up within a few years of interacting with Shang Qinghua. Mobei-Jun's work started changing! The was more romance! Some of it was even steamy, or as steamy as someone who actually has very little experience with sex can be. (My headcanon is their first and possibly subsequent times were terrible because of a lack of experience and over confidence. Hopefully it was the stupid giggly kind of terrible and not the miserable kind.) The second nom de plume is "Lord of the Steadfast Mountain."

Now, the sort of plots Mobei-Jun was coming up with were action and adventure. The protagonist was surviving more often! There are actual romantic plots! The protagonist finds allies! A recurring character appears, or character type! This character archetype is loyal and wise, though not always very brave, and needs to be protected by the protagonist!

Mobei-Jun writes an arranged marriage story that becomes an epic. Said epic ends up being plagiarized in the the human lands and He is Not Pleased about this. Maybe he sees Shen Qingqiu reading it and he sort of...edges over and looms. And very politely suggests he read the version that's NOT stolen.

Shang Qinghua finds Mobei-Jun's stories and gets completely engrossed in them. He's so diverted he doesn't notice Mobei-Jun standing there, and it's very cute as MBJ asks if SQH likes them, and there's a minor misunderstanding because SQH thinks the books are just by an author MBJ likes. (but it gets straightened out.)

Similar to the Shen Qinqiu situation, only Luo Binghe is a big time fan of the epic-series, and is surprised to find it in MBJ's library. MBJ very huffily informs him that the epic series Luo Binghe loves is the plagiarized version, and they are dumb book nerd friends somehow.

Post canon, there is a book club of sorts. Possibly with demons present? I don't know. Shang Qinghua suggests one of his hubby's books, because he is Just that Proud. (Cultivators are at first surprised that authors are a thing in the demon realm. They are not *quite* a thing, demons are more oral story telling/history than written records.)

#svsss #fic idea #moshang #still not sure I'll write it

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mejomonster · 5 years ago

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i read scum villain’s self saving system over the weekend and damn that was

a wild time

#rant #svsss #on the comedy/satire of cultivation novels aspect? hilarious. fun. a good bizarre time #on the relationship???? aaa??#i sincerely hope and IMAGINE mxtx wrote Mo Dao Zu Shi more seriously and with more genuine-ness to the characters #cause like? while i LIKE all the characters in svsss?#shen qingqiu just suddenly being like 'guess i'll try out being gay cause it might help' is #bizarre at best and a little yikes at worst. i wish there'd been like... idk one scene where he stopped to reflect a TINY bit #on if he actually likes luo binghe (or any guys at al!!!) that way!!!#i mean... its semi-okay cause him just going with it is definitely IN LINE with the WHOLE fic making a joke out of book genres #but i feel like as one of the two real-people characters... he could have had a decent moment of real reflection...#and then 2nd... the one in canon sex scene is Yikes on a million levels? which i hopefully... imagine it was Supposed to be yikes #and again... just barely is handleable Because Luo Binghe is Supposed to be a fictional character #demon brute idiot with way too big a tool down There #but um... basically theres a chapter 84.1 extra that fixes a ton of the Yikes issues of the earlier scene... so im glad that extra exists #but that extra... still doesnt really cover how shen yuan goes mentally from 'whatever will save the world and my stupid disciple i care #about i guess' to 'yeah lets try out this banging thing and have Fun this time uvu'#thats a... big jump with no explanation or reflection in between....

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bloopitynoot · 2 months ago

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Reading SVSSS: Chapter 1

For those who don't know, I am reading SVSSS for the first time and sharing my thoughts!

If you have not read it, there will be spoilers! Consider this a warning.

Also- if you want to follow along, I am aiming to post updates daily. You can find all the posts in the tag bloopitynoot reads SVSSS. You can also check out the intro post for context on my read.

Chapter 1: Scum

two seconds in an i'm already intrigued by the "anti-anti" dynamic. We have an anti-hero Luo Binghe and the "anti" fan Shen Yuan. p.9

honestly we live for a king like Shen Yuan though - bless those fans who make concise summaries in the epic fandoms. p.9

Fucking hell Luo Binghe :( p.10

Side note unrelated to the plot of this- the amount of page flips I have done to hit that guide at the back these first couple pages; outrageous.

in relation to point "Fucking hell luo binghe :(" even his teacher is Bullshit. p.10

ENDLESS ABYSS?! p 11

okay, but listen, is it truly the dark path if he's part demon? like isn't that the correct path for him? p.13

to clarify the previous point- I was rooting for him until he "began to eradicate each one of the human realm's great righteous sects" p.12

like okay, those who wronged him, totally fine- but everyone though?

crying at this authors name LOL p.12

I get it Shen Yuan- big same. I'd be pissed too (re: dying at the end of the shitty book) p.13

the RAGE of his dying breath oh no ahahahaha p.13

Shen Yuan has trained his entire life for this moment (re: transmigration) p.16

oh god "please ensure that no score falls below zero, or the system will automatically mete out punishment" p17

Well damn. I wouldn't want that either (re Shen Qingqiu's fate) p.19

this point system is WILD. Poor guy dies if he fails, jesus p.20

honestly same, if I was transmigrated into the body of a martial magic man, I would be checking out my new body too p. 23

YES. POINTS FOR PLOTHOLE RESOLITIONS!! p. 24

Shen Yuan/Shen Qingqiu: ERROR 404 p 26

okay thoughts: this is such a crazy role to navigate. he knows what's theoretically going to happen but he has to change the plot WITHOUT breaking character p.29

RE: ERROR 404. Super gross that he was having these thoughts about a CHILD. I did not know Luo Binghe IS FOURTEEN at this point. :( p.30

omg. he's (shen yuan/shen qingqiu) also over here talking about finding a girlfriend LOL p31.

i'm crying XD "Holy Shit" p.33

at least Shen Yuan is aware that Shen Qingqiu is NASTY. p.35

Ming Fan is vile too- SO rude. p.38

oh no, im nervous for Luo Binghe (re- his necklace and Ming Fan's squad) p. 40

okay but honestly he deserves it. He (shen yuan/shen qingqiu) just got points removed for the leaf thing and now he's over here doing it again. p.46

the SASS he (Shen yuan) is giving this system p.50

oh jeeze the fact that Shen Yuan/Shen Qingqiu is unlocking new content is STRESS. p55. Like he is barely surviving the plot, it's been like 10 minutes, and he's over here unlocking a side quest already

finding a loophole to help Luo Binghe- I love it! p59.

This concludes my first chapter!!! Hopefully I have a new chapter tomorrow

#bloopitynoot reads svsss #mxtx svsss #svsss #svsss spoilers #i'm already in it #i love the system as a character #so much sass already

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layzeal · 3 years ago

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I can tell you this has made me consider Situations.

So without further ado, here's a list of mxtx characters that I could be friends with and potentially introduce to my mom, ranging from "this would cause irreparable damage to our relationship" to "she would invite them again in a heartbeat" (caveat: I've only watched what's out of the svsss donghua and I'm still at the very start of the tgcf novel so this is very mdzs oriented. If a character isn't here it's because I don't know them or I wouldn't be friends with them 🧡). Also warning my mom is an otherwise kind and generous 70-something woman whose love language is making fun of you in a devastatingly accurate way at the most unexpected moment.

Dishonorable mention. Xue Yang: no. Just no. She doesn't know of his existence and we're keeping it that way. Xue Yang is not even allowed to be in the same country as her, I'm straight up putting him in a plane when my mom comes to visit. Can't risk it.

17. Luo Binghe: honestly okay as a friend (although the drama gives me headaches) and I'd tell my mom about him in passing, but they can never meet. He seems nice on the surface but he manages to make any mundane thing look unhinged. Too big of a risk, if anything happens it might be the thing that destroys all the progress my mom and I have made over the years

16. Nie Huaisang: my mom hates whiny people. He'd get tipsy and make a scene, negative points out of 10. She would not really endorse our friendship because of his whole lack of work ethics thing. However he's insufferable in a normal way so he's still above Binghe.

15. Mo Xuanyu: I love him and I hate to say it, but he's too queer for my mom. She's making progress but she might never get there. She'd be very nice to him though but it'd be awkward for everyone involved. Pass.

14. Liu Qinghe: he's rude and abrasive. I get it but she won't. If he could get a grip on himself she might like him though. Tentatively placed not at the bottom on the off chance he might just be very quiet and at most scoff once in a while.

13. Shen Qingqiu (Yuan): she would probably like his facade but if he slips up it's all over. He's not that bad but if he goes on a rant she would judge him for the rest of her life and make underhanded comments about him on the phone. Might be willing to take the gamble as long as Binghe isn't tagging along.

12. Jin Guangyao: she can tell something is deeply Wrong with him so she wouldn't like him (she likes authenticity and gets weary of people who are hiding stuff) but she'd appreciate his politeness. He's showing up with a gift and he says all the right things but he deflects all her teasing which she takes personally. Potentially she might pity him a bit if she figures out that he's just too stressed to relax, which hopefully he might not notice. Most likely she might think that HE doesn't want to be friends with her and that's why he's maintaining the faux polite act. She asks about him on the phone but it's a bit stilted. If he could relax and be more genuine around her, she'd like him, but thats not gonna happen

11. Song Lan: he's nice and polite and he brought a little something as a gift so she's already on board. However he's a bit austere and not very talkative so it doesn't get any further. She'd comment on how handsome he is afterwards though.

10. Lan Wangji: at first she wouldn't really like him because again she doesn't like people who are too quiet but his manners are impeccable and he'd help her with the dishes and share some anecdotes about our friendship and she would love him although when talking on the phone she'd say something like "he's special but he's a nice young man". She wouldn't try to make fun of him thought so they can never really become close.

9. Xiao Xingchen: she can tell he's Weird but hes quick to laugh and an absolute sweetheart. He lacks too much of a backbone to be one of her faves but she definitely asks news of him once in a while.

8. Jiang Cheng: hard to place.... she would dislike his initial everything, but if he gets even just a little bit vulnerable in front of her she would love him. Maybe she makes a little bit of a mean joke to shut down his whole bravado act and he gets flustered enough for her to get to what's really under the surface. She takes a very no bullshit approach with him and I think it might really work tbh. She's sharing baby parenting tips with him by the end of the evening. She sends me links for baby stuff so I can forward them to him.

7. Mianmian: she speaks her mind but she's kind and polite, that's a win! My mom would try to steal her kid but that's fair game. Tries to talk about social issues at the dinner table though which my mom usually tries to avoid, so she gets points off. If they can get to talk about this stuff after dinner though my mom would love to chat and share memories about her childhood or the times during the war. She also sends me links for baby stuff for her.

6. Wen Qing: she has a bite, she's polite and straight forward, she has a great career and comes with stellar recommendations, that's a bingo! My mom would not only love her, she would keep looking at me very pointedly. She is seeing the daughter in law opportunity. I keep telling her I'm not into her like that and she keeps saying "that's a shame.... maybe one day"

5. Wen Ning: she would treat him like a baby bird. He's a bit too quiet for her but she would be able to tell he's just shy so she'd spend some time alone with him to get him out of his shell and ask some kind questions about his life. On the phone she tells me to say hi to him on her behalf because he's such a nice young man and also she hopes I'm taking good care of him. She'd also make fun of him a bit but then add a little "no no he's nice I'm being mean". They send each other pictures of their garden once in a while but otherwise they don't really talk and they're very comfortable with it. They go on babysitting dates with a-yuan and her grandchildren. Pretty sure Wen Ning would love her more than me in the end.

4. Nie Mingjue: he's loud he's manly he's respectful he's complimenting her on the food and her outfit. What's not to love. She tries to tease him a bit but he takes it seriously and starts getting a little bit teary so she immediately aborts. Also he clears the table without being prompted and maybe tries to fix the leak in my bathroom before leaving. She's charmed. She's adding him to my brother's artisan network within the week.

3. Lan Xichen: she would love him more than me and take his side over mine if we'd ever get into a fight. She'd make fun of him a bit as a joke and he wouldn't know what to do but ultimately laugh along, which she would find hilarious and adorable. They do end up laughing together at some anecdote or another. As soon as he gets the hang of it he'd be very good at making subtle digs at people which she would find delightful. He listens to her talk about documentaries and adds relevant commentary. She's gonna ask news of him everytime we're on the phone now. Might ask periodically if we're still sure we're both too gay for this to work out, just in case. She tells me to give him her number in case of an emergency.

2. Wei Wuxian: he's charming he's polite he's clever he's witty he can tell a good story and more than anything else he can take a good joke. They're ribbing each other 30min into the conversation and anyone who tries to pitch in gets instantly roasted by the both of them. They talk about their love for babies for so long I have to exile myself to the kitchen to escape from it. They get each other's number and within the month they have a dozen inside jokes about me. It's great because both of them understand what the boundaries for this are, it's devastating because they make the other 40% worse on sight.

1. Xie Lian: they love each other at first glance. They're making inside jokes barely halfway into the night. She's getting the sweet wine out to chat into the night with him. They don't exchange numbers but my mom keeps asking when he's going to stop by next and also how does he feel about hiking with her sometimes. I don't understand how this works but also i can't deny it in my gut.

I'M LOSING MY MIIIIND THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING I'VE EVER READ

#there's literally NOTHING i could add this is PERFECT #long post #ALSO I'M YOUR MOM'S NUMBER ONE FAN NOW #IM CRYIIIING #you put SO MUCH thought into this and IT'S SO GOOD AND IN CHARACTER #the jgy one KILLED ME #ALL OF THEM KILLED ME HDSGDHFJKSADF #THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!!!#modao #sv #tian guan

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kukuandkookie · 4 years ago

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 穿书自救指南 | Scumbag System (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Luò Bīnghé/Shěn Yuán | Shěn Qīngqiū Characters: Shěn Yuán | Shěn Qīngqiū, Luò Bīnghé, Liǔ Qīnggē, Yuè Qīngyuán, Shàng Qīnghuá, Various Characters, Cāng Qióng Mountain Sect Additional Tags: St. Patrick's Day, Drinking, Alcohol, Drunken Shenanigans, listen I originally wasn't going to write this because St. Paddy's is barely a thing in China but, I got a cute goofy idea, Shizun gets to get really really drunk :elmofire:, also Yue Qingyuan being drunk tries to talk to his Xiao Jiu, and Liu Qingge gets to be a little more emotionally open for a while being drunk, Fluffy, Cute, Goofy - Freeform, Silly, Canon-Compliant, uhhh hopefully I didn't mischaracterize SQQ too much KGJDHG, listen he's like really really drunk okay, No beta we die like sv manhua, there's a little bit of Liu Qingge and Shen Qingqiu, (just a teensy tiny little bit of a hint), (like hinting at a one-sided crush kind of thing), oh yeah there's also like a hint of Yue Qingyuan and Shen Jiu (a regrets kind of thing) Series: Part 3 of Something Holidays with Bingqiu Summary:

He shook his head rapidly as he pushed the hand away. "I need to find a four-leaf clover."

Bewildered, Luo Binghe stood up and scanned the area, trying to see if he could make out anything that would meet his shizun's criteria. He was suddenly aware he'd never actually seen a four-leaf clover before.

How can I track one down, when there's so many?

But Luo Binghe was, of course, determined to please his shizun, so he turned to head to another area.

"Wait!" Shen Qingqiu yelped, grabbing onto the skirt of his disciple's hanfu.

Luo Binghe let out a startled cry as he was dragged down, falling into the clovers and grass and wildflowers as Shen Qingqiu toppled on top of him. Staring up at his shizun under the light of the half moon, Luo Binghe felt his face begin to burn. "Sh-Sh-Shizun, are you okay?"

Thanks to Shang Qinghua bringing in some baijiu, the Peak Lords get drunk and shenanigans occur between them...and eventually, a few shenanigans occur between Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe.

#人渣反派自救系统 #svsss #bingqiu #luo binghe #luo bingmei #shen qingqiu #shen yuan #shang qinghua #liu qingge #yue qingyuan #穿书自救指南 #scumbag system #kuku88 #my writing

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tossawary · 4 years ago

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Chapter 26 “ What You Want” of “pride is not the word I’m looking for” quotes and commentary. Not a full list of favorite quotes or full commentary.

Oh, this got so long, though. I was like, “An opportunity to wax poetic about Moshang dynamics and characterization? An opportunity to talk about why my interpretations of Mobei-Jun and Shang Qinghua are Like That? SIGN ME UP.”

【Beginning next mission stage.】

【Death of the Author - Part 2: The Secret Basement of Shang Qinghua.】

【Mission objective: place the Weeper’s Eye on the pedestal.】

Shang Qinghua slowly sits up on his sofa. He stares at the pop-up window for however long it takes his brain to roll over completely.

“I don’t have a fucking basement?” he says finally.

AN: I have been waiting to use “I don’t have a fucking basement?” for months. Also, it’s been years for him, so Shang Qinghua is a little oblivious, BUT I would like to point readers all the way back to some paragraphs from Chapter 2.

Excerpt from Chapter 2: “A Horseshoe Nail”:

Shang Qinghua considers the point loss. What are his excuses character motivations here? Why is his unmerciful System not completely skewering him for this?

He is the servant of a demon lord, Mobei-Jun, the future Northern King, so he has a greater investment than most cultivators in the future of the Demon Realm, so it’s not unreasonable for him to seek out any bastards of Tianlang-Jun without handing the demon baby over to a righteous sect. He’s also a Peak Lord of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, so it’s not unreasonable for him to be interested in any rumors of the whereabouts of Su Xiyan or what happened to her, for political leverage or whatever. The character of Shang Qinghua originally was and still is a spy - on top of being a shameless coward willing to cling to anyone’s thighs and then stab them in the back, in order to stay alive or advance himself.

There are plenty of magical artifacts in this world that might give a power-grubbing weakling like Shang Qinghua an insight into the future. As Peak Lord of An Ding, Shang Qinghua is, in fact, in a pretty good place to get his greedy hands on one of these magical artifacts. Isn’t that what a good spy and overall ambitious snake would do?

Especially a spy serving a demon lord extremely likely to get fed up with him and kill him at some point? While also serving a righteous cultivation sect extremely likely to execute him for eventually betraying them? Of course Shang Qinghua would obviously want to know how to save his own ass from these ticking time-bombs! And how better to save his own ass than shamelessly clinging to the golden thighs of the protagonist, who will one day conquer every other demon lord and all righteous sects?

Following Luo Binghe means being on the endgame winning team!

Shang Qinghua looks over the pop-up window’s numbers over again, in regards to the loss of points. True, how exactly he tracked down Su Xiyan’s half-demon baby when the Huan Hua Palace Master failed is a bit of a plot-hole, but the rest can be easily explained away with a bit of creativity!

Oh, the rest of the cultivation world didn’t know Su Xiyan was pregnant? Well, Shang Qinghua is a slimy, sneaky spy, who would of course guess that a female cultivator might suddenly disappear like that for months-on-end due to a secret pregnancy! And given that Su Xiyan’s reputation had been linked to a passionately self-destructive Tianlang-Jun… Okay, he can feel the anti-fan rage at that mildly sexist line of thinking, but it stands! It stands!

Now, Shang Qinghua just has to… actually decide… whether or not he wants to take the point loss, in order to save the life of his protagonist son’s adoptive mother, Luo Jiahui.

Shang Qinghua, my darling fool of an Author God, your System is listening to the things you say and think.

I have been WORKING here to foreshadow where I’m going with this story. I’m pretty sure that every single endgame plot point has shown up and is now in play in PINTWILF. Shang Qinghua, due to situational awareness, is dealing with too much in-world shit to narrow things down easily, but it’s all there! It will hopefully not seem as though I’m pulling things out of nowhere in the next and final part (Part 4) of this fic.

“This makes me look crazy, bro,” Shang Qinghua complains to the System. “It really does. I already have to be careful about talking to the secret, world-controlling system that lives in my head and this? This is not making me look any more stable! Where did this come from? Where the fuck did I even get it?! ”

Oh, things are coming together in Shang Qinghua’s head and he doesn’t know if he really likes the picture. On one hand, it’s always nice to actually have someone or something to blame for things beyond the fucking System. On the other hand, he really doesn’t know how the fuck he’s supposed to sleep at night with a full-length, polished silver mirror with an ornate golden frame under his house.

AN: Shang Qinghua, have you noticed that you’ve stopped losing points for continuity errors and plot holes? Shang Qinghua, you know that the people in your life have noticed that you know too much. They’ve just decided not to question you about it because you always look like you’re going to faint when they do, then you laugh and change the subject.

But now Shen Qingqiu is on to you and he’s not so easy to shake.

(Plus Shen Yuan! They’re terriers, SQH!)

He turns away from the mirror, only for a second System window to pop up in front of him. Only… the design of this one is different. Familiar, though! It takes Shang Qinghua a second to place it as Peerless Cucumber- as Shen Yuan’s Transmigration System.

【 Users cannot be injured, killed, or trapped inside the looking-glass! The user will not be able to touch or be touched by anything inside the looking-glass! The user will be returned from the looking-glass within thirty minutes, unharmed! A substantial point reward is attached to this bonus mission. 】

“Right,” Shang Qinghua says.

This second pop-up window then shifts colors and is ruthlessly closed before his eyes. Ah, wow, Shang Qinghua kind of feels like he just saw someone get murdered here.

“...How many points?” he asks finally, reluctantly curious.

AN: Having the Systems fight is so much fun. My setup here in PINTWILF has it so that there’s a main Worldbuilding System that does its best to maintain the world, then each transmigrator has their own personal Transmigration System managing their case.

This is so the Worldbuilding System can maintain the world without the presence of transmigrators, and so the personal Systems can potentially follow their transmigrators into another world. All the Systems interact with each other in order to try to manage things and there are... issues.

Look, the thing about simulated (or managed) realities for me is... someone coded the thing (or did some equivalent of coding the thing), and whether or not this thing in question is the world or just the System, if there are multiple entities trying to manage things, there’s going to be fuck-ups. You can’t have two cooks in the kitchen without points where the two cooks get in each other’s way at least a little bit. If there are multiple Systems, then you’re going to have friction, and that friction can be funny.

Inspired by me trying to run two heavy art programs on my computer at once and being like, “Oh, boy, please don’t burst into flames while duking it out in there. Oh, man, you two were NOT made to operate together, huh?”

He knows he’s right when he walks away from some kind of important-looking procession, stepping into the next room at the same time as someone else, who looks directly at him and doesn’t look away. Shang Qinghua freezes in the doorway and doesn’t let himself stare so much as he can’t stop himself.

“Oh, no,” Shang Qinghua thinks.

There’s a man standing in front of him, tall and broad-shouldered, with an ageless youth, but a sharp gaze and no youthful roundness to his features. His curly black hair has been cursorily held back from his face by a golden ornament, but is otherwise loose, and he wears his ornate red and black robes well and correctly, but like a man with a hundred more.

The man flicks a strong hand at the doors behind Shang Qinghua, which slam shut with a bang, like he’s done this a thousand times before.

He smiles unkindly. “Shang-Shishu,” he says, like he’s tasting the title, considering tearing it apart with his teeth. “So it's true. How curious.”

There’s no way for Shang Qinghua to count how many times he’s seen this face before, but he’s never seen it like this. The man looks like an emperor. He looks like a god. The red mark of the Heavenly Demons burns like a crown in the middle of his forehead.

Shang Qinghua takes an unwilling step back.

“What are you afraid of?” the original Luo Binghe says, still smiling. “We’re only talking.”

AN: I tried to make this meeting mirror Shang Qinghua and Luo Binghe’s first scene in Part 3 of the fic, in which we finally meet the Luo Binghe (Shang Qinghua’s nephew) who is going to interact with the PIDW plot.

Excerpt from Chapter 18: “The Inevitable Plot”:

The restaurant is closed when Shang Qinghua lets himself in. The tables in the dining room are still packed up, lit by dim light through shuttered windows, and the only sign of another person are the chopping sounds coming from the brightness of the kitchen. Shang Qinghua stops in the doorway and lets himself stare.

There’s a young teenage boy standing at the counter, thirteen going on fourteen, still not yet near his adult height (taller than Shang Qinghua, a fact he's still not prepared to face), still carrying a youthful roundness to his features. Shang Qinghua has seen him like this a hundred times before: curly black hair tied back, a kerchief covering his head to keep it out of his eyes, a slightly yellowed matching apron neatly tied just the way his mother taught him, and intent on the work in front of him. His hands are quick, the knife sharp and sure, and the movements of food preparation work slide right into each other like he’s done this a thousand times before.

When did the boy get so big? It didn’t happen all at once; it snuck up on them, hiding dastardly in plain sight! Shang Qinghua remembers when his nephew barely came up to his waist. Fuck, Shang Qinghua remembers when his nephew couldn’t walk. What is this? Who allowed time to pass like this?

Luo Binghe scrapes the chopped vegetables off the board and into the basket beside him, before putting down the knife and turning around. He smiles.

There’s no way for Shang Qinghua to count how many times he’s seen that before.

“Uncle,” the protagonist says fondly. “You’re here.”

“Let’s talk,” Luo Binghe calls out, cajoling now. “Stop running and speak to me and perhaps old hurts can be forgiven. All that condonation and betrayal is so far in the past now. This lord can be merciful, Shang Qinghua. Just speak: how many things have you been hiding...?”

AN: This is PIDW Luo Binghe, by the way.

Once I realized I was going to have a room full of fortune-telling devices, I was like... “Ooh! Bing-Ge scene! I should have a Bing-Ge scene!” Because, like, that’s the curse of SVSSS transmigrator protagonists who trip into caring about Luo Binghe, baby!

Shang Qinghua takes some deep breaths to calm his poor, weak heart, and nearly falls to the floor anyway! But he catches himself!

And then a large, cold hand wraps around his arm to steady him. It’s the cold that keeps him from lashing out and probably breaking his own hand. Instead, he looks up, heart still pounding in his ears, into the frowning face of Mobei-Jun.

“Oh, you have the worst timing,” Shang Qinghua breathes.

Mobei-Jun’s expression twitches and he lets go.

“No!” Shang Qinghua chases the hand with his own, catching it before the man can get too far. “My king, I’m so glad to see you! Thank you for finally coming! I have so much to say,” he says quickly. “I-”

Before he realizes that he’s essentially holding Mobei-Jun’s hand for no reason now - ah, now that’s something he never would have dared to do like twenty years ago - and carefully drops it. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm the panic still racing through his veins. And then promptly realizes that Mobei-Jun is here. The demon lord is here in this secret basement.

AN: Moshang in this fic is... hmmm... a little weird sometimes, because a lot of it has been happening in the background. A lot of it has been unspoken until Shang Qinghua’s breakdown and until now.

Shang Qinghua isn’t actually as scared of Mobei-Jun in this fic as he is in SVSSS, and I hope that comes across. When he had his breakdown, part of it was fear, but a large part of it was also actually anger. Shang Qinghua was afraid of how the System had changed his life, but he was also angry about this loss of control. Yes, he was terrified of Mobei-Jun because he didn’t know if it was still his Mobei-Jun, which brought lots of old memories and old anger to the surface, in which Shang Qinghua was kind of like, “How dare you think you get to freely touch me after the things you did and never apologized for?”

BUT the status quo in this world, before the World Update, is one in which Mobei-Jun touches Shang Qinghua’s hip without SQH flinching. It’s one in which SQH and MBJ drink and relax together. It’s one in which SQH isn’t afraid to reach out and grab MBJ’s hand, because he misses MBJ.

They’re so close, they just need to actually talk it out.

Shang Qinghua glances at the ladder and the open hole in the floor. “Ah, my king, did you… climb down here looking for me?”

“Yes,” Mobei-Jun answers, looking around with sharp eyes. He doesn’t seem to be very impressed with what he’s seeing. “...What is this place?”

“My, ah, my basement,” Shang Qinghua answers, leaving out the part where he didn’t even know he had one until about an hour ago. The System is determined to make him look like a bit of a madman, huh? “It’s just… just some artifacts and tools. I don’t… I don’t really come down here a lot…”

Mobei-Jun finishes studying the room, then stares at him again, his gaze more piercing than ever.

“The future concerns you this much?” he says.

Shang Qinghua is totally prepared to deny everything, but the phrasing of that cuts off every story he might try to tell. He glances around the room, full of these broken, desperate, stolen things. It’s… reflecting.

“...Yes,” he admits, hoarsely. Then coughs. “I… my king, we should… talk.”

“Yes,” Mobei-Jun agrees.

“But, ah, not here? I don’t… like it here.”

“Yes.”

AN: Mobei-Jun is one of the people who has noticed that Shang Qinghua knows more than he should. And now, thanks to this secret basement, Mobei-Jun has an explanation for why Shang Qinghua knows more than he should!

If you don’t know about the System element, then this basement is actually pretty in-character for the new Shang Qinghua of PINTWILF.

He is so scared of the future. He’s invested in the story now.

Shang Qinghua isn’t surprised at all when the special item speaks again as soon as it’s back in his hand.

Why would it shut up now, after all?

“He has no name but the position he has been promised to, which he may not live to see,” the Weeper’s Eye says, which pulls Shang Qinghua’s gaze back to the demon lord waiting for him. “His father uses him as a tool. His mother is long departed. His uncle wants him dead. He has long known that these broken promises cannot be undone… but he knows new promises may yet be made.”

Mobei-Jun is frowning at the crystal eye in Shang Qinghua’s hand, looking between it and Shang Qinghua’s own eyes.

He’s not dressed-up the same way he was the last time Shang Qinghua saw him - no especially fancy robes or ornaments or jewelry. He looks like himself this time.

“If these ones are not kept, there will be nothing for the nameless man who will be king.”

Shang Qinghua doesn’t move.

AN: I mentioned exploring Mobei-Jun not having a name in the commentary on the previous chapter. I guess that’s my take on PIDW Mobei-Jun... that the man doesn’t really have anything outside of his position. He’s a king, in service to a tyrant, and he’s never going to let anyone in. He’s just... cold... the whole way through. PIDW Mobei-Jun has an icy throne and nothing else.

PINTWILF (and SVSSS) Mobei-Jun has the Airplane version of Shang Qinghua. When Airplane saved MBJ’s life, the System wasn’t making him do it, he made that choice for himself. The System was willing to let MBJ die (and, in my headcanon, be replaced by some ice demon cousin or LGJ). So, MBJ turns around and chooses Shang Qinghua for himself.

Shang Qinghua was like, “No! This character can’t be replaced! You can’t just dress someone else up as Mobei-Jun! You can’t just let the character die! It has to be this man in that role! No one else!”

When Mobei-Jun is coming to talk to Shang Qinghua in this fic, in this moment, he is making this choice for himself, the nameless man who has been promised a position he might not live to see. That’s what the Weeper’s Eye is getting at. If Shang Qinghua doesn’t want to hear the promises Mobei-Jun is will to make him, there might as well not be anything in Mobei-Jun’s future to make him an individual, more than a cold figure acting out a part.

“...Shang Qinghua,” Mobei-Jun says finally. “I will not hurt you.”

Shang Qinghua’s gaze snaps from the crystal eye in his hand, back to the demon lord standing by the exit to this secret basement.

“We will speak,” Mobei-Jun says solemnly, slowly, like someone repeating the lines of a script. “I wish to be understood by you. I have not known how. Yet I must try now… in my own words… and you must listen.”

Shang Qinghua swallows.

The anger - the frustration - breaking through at the end there sounds more like the man he knows. He’s pretty sure that’s meant to be a request, but it sounds like an order.

AN: After their last conversation, Mobei-Jun had a lot of soul-searching to do, and one of the conclusions he came to is that he can’t take anything for granted. He has to made explicitly clear, using words, which is apparently what matters with humans and with this human in particular, everything he feels. He can’t take the risk of continuing to hurt Shang Qinghua by letting the man think that he doesn’t regret hurting him or may hurt him again someday.

He puts the Weeper’s Eye down.

He’s really sick of this thing. He doesn't want to carry it around all the time.

It only tells him things he knows, anyway.

AN: We’ll get into the Weeper’s Eye in future chapters, but it’s... it’s not really a mind-reading device. It kind of is. It is a little bit. But part of the reason it’s so informative here is that Shang Qinghua is holding it and Shang Qinghua actually knows a lot about his characters and the people in his life.

Even the original characters, like Fanli, he knows well. She’s his family. He’s privy to Fanli’s problems through Jiahui and Liu Qingge if nothing else.

With Shen Yuan, he doesn’t know the kid well yet, but his fellow transmigrator isn’t that difficult to read and he’s been where Shen Yuan is.

Shang Qinghua putting the Weeper’s Eye down here is a show of trust of sorts. It’s a way of telling himself to get out of his own head, away from character roles and exaggerated panic, and put himself in the moment with someone he knows and... well... trusts and wants to trust even more.

Shang Qinghua follows Mobei-Jun out of the basement, removing the spiritual seal from the wall, which makes the creepy basement entrance disappear, then replacing the flower that covered it. He hesitantly follows the demon lord back to the main room of his Leisure House. He has no idea how to stand, suddenly, or where to stand.

Mobei-Jun looks very determined.

“So, ah, should we… sit?”

“No,” Mobei-Jun replies, then abruptly says, “Shang Qinghua, you do not have to fear me. I do not wish to cause you any pain. Now or in the future.”

Shang Qinghua stares, wide-eyed.

That’s not… something he ever expected to hear explicitly.

Good! It's good, though! Very good.

It's great, really.

“...Thank you,” he says, stunned. “I don’t want to cause you pain either?”

“You have shown as much. Many times.”

This is probably not the time for an “Yes, I did tell you so” in any form!

Instead, trying to remember all the speeches he prepared while waiting, Shang Qinghua says, “You have too! In your own way! I just… my king, last time you visited was a… it was a very bad day for me. I apologize for my behavior! I was speaking from a place of-”

“Fear,” Mobei-Jun interrupts darkly. “Well-deserved.”

“Ah, well…”

“You believed that I would hurt you, in your state,” Mobei-Jun says.

“I was… it was very a bad and confused state, my king.”

“...You do not trust me.”

Shang Qinghua’s voice dries up on him. He wouldn’t put it that way, exactly! That sounds pretty terrible when said in such a blunt way. They’ve moved past that, haven’t they? It’s more that he trusts different people with different things! He trusts Luo Jiahui to be Luo Jiahui, and Liu Qingge to be Liu Qingge, and Mobei-Jun… to be Mobei-Jun.

AN: Shang Qinghua and Mobei-Jun got really far without explicitly talking about things, but at some point that stopped cutting it.

“I have hurt you before,” Mobei-Jun says, looking at him directly. “From a place of fear… of anger… of… misunderstanding. I am… sorry for this. I will not do so again. I was wrong to treat you in such a way.”

Shang Qinghua takes in a deep breath… and out again.

Fuck, it feels like his eyes are burning.

“You have my respect,” Mobei-Jun says quietly, urgently, not letting up on getting all of these words out into the open. “You have my regard. You have my trust. Yet I have not shown this in a way that you have understood, so you could not share this. I have demanded your loyalty without being deserving of it.”

“My king,” Shang Qinghua protests, taking a step forward. “I was- I should have said-”

“You did. Many times. In many ways. I did not understand.”

“I wasn’t very clear either-”

“It was my responsibility to be clear. I must be clear now.”

“You’re being very clear now,” Shang Qinghua agrees quickly. If things get any clearer here, if any more of the things they’ve left unspoken get said, his heart won’t be able to take it. “Thank you, my king. It means- thank you."

Mobei-Jun nods. He looks relieved.

AN: I wanted to write a version of Moshang that felt... a little more mature? Shang Qinghua has developed a lot in this fic. He has grown as a person. And Mobei-Jun has seen this growth over the years.

Mobei-Jun has also been able to see into this Shang Qinghua in a way that wasn’t available in SVSSS canon. I think that SVSSS Shang Qinghua was locked the fuck down. I think he was almost completely inaccessible and offered very, very few openings for connection.

But in this universe, Mobei-Jun actually knows a lot more about Shang Qinghua. He knows what motivates Shang Qinghua. He knows that Shang Qinghua is a doting uncle and a doting older brother. He knows that Shang Qinghua has come to care for his sect. He knows that Shang Qinghua is intelligent and resourceful and funny. They drink together and talk politics! Mobei-Jun knows that Shang Qinghua is loyal and tired and trustworthy.

So... there was an opening here that didn’t exist in SVSSS canon.

And Mobei-Jun took it.

Shang Qinghua knows that cultural differences are a hell of a thing here, but everything being understandable in hindsight didn't make it not fucking hurt. It still hurts, even finally having the apology he never thought he'd get.

"...We’ve been pretty bad at understanding each other, huh?”

“It has often seemed as though we were not meant to meet,” the demon lord says softly.

Shang Qinghua, who can't imagine getting through his transmigration experience without meeting this man, thinks over all the unknowing irony in that statement.

"...Maybe."

“The differences are… significant.”

Shang Qinghua laughs, almost disbelieving. “That’s a word for it!”

"But not impassable."

"Ah… I… hope not."

AN: I’ll probably make a separate post for this, but I love Moshang transmigrator reveals. Bingqiu transmigrator reveals are mostly about the Abyss, which is great, because that needs clearing up. MOSHANG transmigrator reveals are like, “My weak human husband is a god???”

Also love it when MBJ is like, “Yes, this makes sense.”

“I have never known what you have wanted from me,” Mobei-Jun says next, like a confession. “Your life, you have said, time and time again. Though I am only alive by your grace. You demand none of what you deserve of me.”

“...I don’t think ‘deserve’ is a good word for this,” Shang Qinghua says, which probably isn’t the right thing to say, but he’s really too stunned to come up with anything better. He really didn’t prepare for the right conversation here. “Aha, sorry, my king. It’s just… I don’t think I like to think about it in terms of ‘owing’ anymore. Between us. At least… not like some sort of strict balance? I do something nice for you, you owe me. You do something bad to me, I get to hurt you. Not… not like that.”

Mobei-Jun thinks about it.

“Sorry, I don’t really know what I’m saying-”

“You are deserving of better than what I have given you,” Mobei-Jun insists, determinedly. “I do not understand you. I have never understood you.”

Shang Qinghua feels the same way.

“But I would like to,” Mobei-Jun says next. “I would if you would allow it.”

AN: Mobei-Jun is only alive because Shang Qinghua saved him and he knows it! And Shang Qinghua has never made the demands he should have made, having that kind of leverage over Mobei-Jun!

I’ve always wondered if this is deeply romantic by demon standards. Like, not inherently romantic. But I would bet that Mobei-Jun really likes the idea of a relationship where no one is keeping score... no one is granting favors to use like a leash of obligation... no one owes the other things they don’t want to give. I would bet that Mobei-Jun really, really likes the idea of a relationship where affection is freely given because the people in it want to give it.

He does feel as though he owes Shang Qinghua, but I think Mobei-Jun likes the idea that his favor is his to give just because he wants to give it.

Mobei-Jun lifts a hand, slowly, and holds it out.

Shang Qinghua thinks about it.

He thinks about it again.

He reaches back and puts his hand in Mobei-Jun’s own, which is as cool to the touch as always, and moves over his skin carefully. His hold is so light that Shang Qinghua could break it without any issue at all.

They stay there, like that, looking at each other.

Looking at their hands, holding without hurting, after everything. It's such a small gesture.

It feels kind of like a miracle.

AN: I am... a huge fucking sucker for Mobei-Jun holding Shang Qinghua waaaaay too lightly because he won’t risk hurting Shang Qinghua again. Like, this man is going to take it from the top. No more assumptions.

“What do you want, Shang Qinghua?” Mobei-Jun says, voice turning up at the end, in the closest thing that the man might ever come to helplessness. “What do you want from this?”

“I…” Shang Qinghua wipes at his burning eyes with his free hand. This is kind of pitiful. “Fuck.”

Mobei-Jun lifts his free hand and uses his own sleeve to wipe at Shang Qinghua’s tears, like his robes aren’t important to him at all. “Ask,” the man says, in the tone of a promise. “You do not have to fear the future. Anything I have to give is yours.”

Shang Qinghua gives up on trying to speak and just moves forward to bury his face in Mobei-Jun’s chest. Fuck it. The demon lord who was supposed to kill his character lets him do it. Mobei-Jun holds on to him, arms heavy but still so careful, the man’s chest moving in a sigh that sounds like relief.

This really was too many unspoken things to finally say aloud all at once.

AN: So, yeah! That’s what I’m been building up to with the Jiahui/Qingge marriage and the Qijiu fights and makeup, getting Shang Qinghua to think about what he wants from his relationship with Mobei-Jun. Luo Jiahui and Shen Qingqiu have basically been throwing the question at him repeatedly: “What do you want from this life, Shang Qinghua?”

Because it can’t all be plot! You’ve taken your family for yourself, but you can have more than that! You’ve made so many choices already... you can take this last step and make this choice too. Let Mobei-Jun in.

A lot of Moshang plots end up being “Shang Qinghua’s inability to communicate versus Mobei-Jun’s inability to communicate”. Which is great! That’s Moshang! And some external issue (a rival demon lord, Linguang-Jun, etc.) will end up being the secondary plot which acts as a scenario pusher for the primary plot of the Moshang relationship. Again, great stuff!

But since the romance isn’t the focus of this fic, I decided it would be fun to have a more “Shang Qinghua and Mobei-Jun versus the problem” take. (Which also shows up in lots of Moshang fics! Definitely not exclusive to this fic at all!) I’m looking forward to having Shang Qinghua and Mobei-Jun actually try and tackle problems together, as a couple, inside the main “Family of Choice” plot.

Which isn’t to say that Moshang have totally worked out their relationship here. They have only just gotten together. Mobei-Jun still has issues. Shang Qinghua still has many issues. They’ve got a lot to work out together. They’ve never been in a relationship like this before and there’s a lot of people out there who would object to their relationship! Their relationship is going to continue to grow as the fic continues. They’re going to have a few bumps in the road.

But I really like the idea of Mobei-Jun being Shang Qinghua’s rock in this fic. This man has been so stressed. He needs a hug from his ice demon boyfriend who can soothe headaches with a hand.

When Shang Qinghua feels like he has himself more under control, he draws back just far enough to say, “My king, will you kiss me?”

Mobei-Jun’s expression is already soft, at least by his standards. His gaze turns hooded before he leans down as Shang Qinghua leans up. Shang Qinghua takes the man’s face between his hands to kiss him. It feels nice, if uncertain, with the hunger of something a long time coming at the end of it. There's years worth of wanting in this.

It has been so fucking long since Shang Qinghua kissed anyone.

He breaks the kiss and has to stifle laughter, clinging to the front of Mobei-Jun’s robes, which the man never closes properly, so now Shang Qinghua is never going to be able to not thinking about touching it. It’s a very nice chest to touch. He knew it would be.

Mobei-Jun’s brow furrows slightly, his hands staying on Shang Qinghua’s hips.

“What?”

Ah, sorry! Sorry, my king! It’s just- this is such a ridiculous detail to get stuck on, but your lips are kind of cold? I’ve, ah, I’ve always kind of wondered,” Shang Qinghua confesses quietly, without really meaning to actually say it. Holy shit, he’s going to blame saying something like this after that on the fact that he’s had a very long and very weird day. “Sorry. I'm really tired. It's fine. It's good.”

Mobei-Jun snorts and kisses him again, as if to say, “Deal with it.”

AN: Cute! Mobei-Jun likes it when Shang Qinghua laughs. I stand by this.

#tossawary svsss #tossawary commentary #pride is not the word #moshang #mobei jun #shang qinghua

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chaoticgoodlawyerwrites · 3 years ago

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Okay coming out of a week of not having access to a functional computer and still dealing with the move from hell (turns out my main pieces of furniture got water damage in the storage unit! I'm not happy!!), I'm back with a snippet of Cucumberplane friendship for the next chapter! Hopefully I'll have the entire thing posted by the end of the weekend.

He was en route to Jing Xue Peak to learn more about array mechanics when he got a message from Shang Qinghua. He looked around the clear, open sky, and thought it was safe enough to open it.

SQH: hey bro you okay?

SQQ: ?? yeah why?

SQH: heard you weren’t feeling well?

Shen Qingqiu gaped at the screen only he could see.

SQQ: What? How?!

SQH: well I’m a spy, right? I generally know what happens in the sect but my disciples started observing you closer after LBH came to get me like a week ago and we’ve been hanging out

SQQ: your disciples are spying on the sect for you?

SQH: not *spying* spying. Just like keeping me informed on things for logistic purposes

SQQ: they’re spying

SQH: …

SQH: Anyway! What’s going on? I’m here if you want to talk!

Shen Qingqiu sighed and gave it real thought. While he didn’t quite feel comfortable divulging everything to Shang Qinghua despite their declared friendship, who else did he have to talk to about this besides Binghe? And what would happen if he kept relying on Binghe alone?

(What would happen when Binghe left?)

SQQ: okay. Thanks, I guess

SQQ: …It’s about Binghe. He kissed me last night.

SQH: !! Congratulations…?

SQQ: No! No congratulations!!

SQQ: He’s my student! My 16-year-old student!!! The only people he should be kissing are people his own age who are not his teacher!

SQH: Yeah, but would either of you be happy if he did that?

The sentence was like a punch to the gut. He was nearly at Jing Xue but he descended to nearby cliff to perch on solid ground, the open air around him suddenly feeling none too safe.

Because no, he would not be happy if Luo Binghe started kissing other people at all. But it also wasn’t his place to stop him.

SQQ: …no

SQH: Okay then just let him know that wasn’t okay because of the age difference/teacher thing and you’re good, right?

SQH: When did he even have the chance to kiss you? I mean this is the best possible way, but you’re not the most approachable person.

SQQ: …we often spend the evening together. He cooks our dinner and seems happy to spend time with me until I go to sleep. He was brushing my hair for the night as I explained what I said to MQF. I thought he didn’t react well when I mentioned I had feelings for him but he kissed me as I was telling him that I didn’t expect anything from him.

SQH: …

SQQ: what?

SQH: there is so much to unpack there I don’t even know where to begin

SQH: how much time to do you have?

SQQ: not much, I’m heading to Jing Xue to start research before our meeting with MBJ tomorrow

SQQ: we still good for that?

SQH: yes, my king will be there, don’t distract me though

SQH: let me get this straight. You, the person who single-handedly ended his hell of living with SJ as his master and continues to welcome him into your inner sanctum, told my protagonist with major abandonment issues that you’re in love with him but don’t expect him to feel the same?

SQQ: …more or less?

SQH: bro

SQH: bro you’re lucky the only thing he did was kiss you

SQQ: No! No talk of Binghe doing… anything else! Binghe is baby, the cutest bun!

SQH: …if I’m recalling correctly you were fine with him doing a lot more than kissing at 17

SQQ: I was 16 at the time! Of course I was more okay with it!

SQQ: Also it didn't *involve* me!!

SQH: Wait wait whoa back the fuck up

SQH: 16! What were you doing reading my web novel at 16?!

SQH: Wait, how old are you now??

SQQ: Age checks on websites are a joke, Airplane. And I was there for the monsters and Binghe, not that mess that came later.

SQQ: I died at 19, so I’m about 21 now. Hard to say with the shifting dates between death and rebirth.

SQH: Jesus I’m talking to a baby

SQQ: Hey! I’m an adult!!

SQH: A Child.

SQQ: NO

#i made up Jing Xue to be the array and talisman peak hopefully it doesn't sound dumb in Chinese #i will continue to make millennial meme references you can't stop me #you know I find it easy to forget SQH has actually lived for like... 70 years?#anyway have some fic folks

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writing-frenzy · 4 years ago

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Snap goes the Weasel (SVSS Fic)

Summery: In Which Shang Qinghua Has Had Enough.

Warning: Mentions of crappy parents, hinted neglect, and cursing. This is very much written with an anger, hope people enjoy it tho~

It happens one day; a seemingly ordinary day, the sun is shining upon the mountain range and the air is crisp.

Shen Qingqiu and Shang Qinghua are having a rather one sided conversation, when finally

enough

enough.

“Your family, they loved you right?” Shang Qinghua asks, his smile not quiet right, Shen Qingqiu stiffening at those words, green eyes narrowing at the other, before he huffs, dismissive of the other.

“Yes, isn’t that what families do?” the Qing Jing Peak Lord says, as if this is obvious, only for the air to suddenly contain a sudden chill, his fellow Transmigrator’s smile suddenly containing a few more teeth to it, the atmosphere finally cluing he may have possibly stepped on a landmine.

It is too late to escape the sudden explosion.

“How nice that is, to take such a thing for granted; did you know, Cucumber-bro, how some people are treated like a hot potato between two parents? An unwanted, unneeded extra, a bad memory that can never be erased, a blemish on the happy lives they made for themselves with their new families?” The An Ding Peak Lord does not look away, does not back down, his brown eyes, amber shine to them in the sunlight, are as cold and dead as his King’s lands.”

“I-”

“Do you know the Questions one asks themselves? How did it happen, was it my fault, what could I have done better, when will everything be okay, will if ever actually reach that point?” The brunet lets that last question hand in the air, taking a sip of long since cooled tea, those eyes closing briefly, before they open once more, darker then before.

Shen Yuan has no answer for any of them, speechless as he is.

“I wonder, with all those novels you had read and judged so greatly, just what kind of escape you were looking for? A break from the boredom, something to daydream about as you went about your day, maybe even a fantasy to play with when lonely?” Shang Qinghua grins nastily, not a bit of kindness in it as he does. “For me, writing was at first just idle passing, a safe way to express some of my fears and emotions, but never really my passion; those dreams got dashed when I was young.”

“Wha-”

The brunet ways him off, easily interrupting him even as those ever so cold, apathic eyes watch him, taking yet another sip of his tea. “You’ve never felt a desperation so thick, wondering if you had enough money to get another cup of noodles or suffer another night of hunger, just in case you needed it to be saved for a rainy-day if a chapter never got enough money to pay the rent. Your parents cared for you, right? Happily provided for any needs you had, gave you an allowance whenever you asked for I bet.”

It is then, Shen Yuan remembers so long ago, how when he had been yelling about the other’s writing, how they other had replied they needed to eat, a numb feeling entering his being at the memory.

“Yes, I was a sell out, but if keeping my dignity meant me dying on the fucking streets like trash littered then I would throw it away any time. I even tried at first, to make something decent, make something I even thought was okay, but you know what? It didn’t get me rent money.” the other says, putting down his empty cup as he does, even as he gets up from his seat.

“I like you Cucumber-bro, you’re honest about what you hate and even have an okay heart, which you don’t get from much people... So a word of advice.” Airplane Shooting Toward the Sky stops before the closed door, looking back over his should as he says this, Shen Yuan wide eyed and shaken as he does,

“Do not fucking assume or judge me for what I had to do to sure I had a home and food on my table; you never had to read it, never had to pay for it. I’m thankful that you did, and I can’t lie and say I have no regrets...” At that, the other man looks away, out onto Qing Jing Peak, the disciples going past for the morning run, a few birds singing their little hearts out.

“No writer expects for their works to come alive; who would still dare to write horror or tragedy if that was the case? So stop blaming me just because mine did.” And with those words, the Peak Lord not even facing Shen Yuan as he said them, finally left, the house finally quiet and seemingly at peace one more.

It was only a cold comfort to the one left behind.

-----------------

....So, I might have written this out of spite; hopefully other’s like it?

#SVSSS #Scum Villain Self Saving System #Scum Villain Self-Saving System #Shang Qinghua #Shen Yuan #Shen Qingqiu #Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky #'Airplane snaps' the fic

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elara-moon · 5 years ago

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Title: Happy Together (chapter six: BingQiu Week Day Six)

Author: Elara_Moon

Rating: T

Warnings: Sex pollen and accompanying consent issues

Summary: BingQiu Week day six: Passion. Shen Qingqiu, because this is his life, gets hit with a plant that’s usual effect is basically sex pollen. But it doesn’t… quite… end up the way one would expect?

AO3 Link

Shen Qingqiu misstepped. It was incredibly embarrassing for a cultivator of his level; fortunately, there was no one around to witness it.

By instinct, he put out a hand to catch himself. At the last second, he recognized the distinct flowers of the towering plant he’d reached out towards and aborted the movement, but it was too late. His fingers brushed the plant. In response, it spewed out a sickly pink powder into Shen Qingqiu’s face.

Oh, ****. Shen Qingqiu swore to himself and also cursed Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky, because he knew what this plant was.

It had been in Proud Immortal Demon Way -- several of Luo Binghe’s wives had fallen prey to its effects. Its effects being to lower inhibitions and increase… ahem, desire, driving its victims to seek out relief, usually from anyone nearby. Basically, it was sex pollen. Naturally, in the original book, it had been one of many smut scenes, notably the only one involving… acts between characters that weren’t Luo Binghe, who only showed up later.

The plant itself was very distinct: the flowers on it had petals that began red in the center, then slowly shifted through purple to be a rich blue at the tips. The wives in the original novel, as stallion novel love interests with low IQ, had been drawn in by those very flowers.

Shen Qingqiu was just unlucky. He swore to himself some more. Why did his life always turn out like this? System, explain! Did Shen Qingqiu have to handle all of the love interest plotlines!?

Predictably, the System didn’t respond, but Shen Qingqiu hadn’t expected it to anyway.

This particular version of sex pollen, Shen Qingqiu remembered, was not like the comparatively tame succubus version. If left untreated, it killed its victims. But, unlike almost everything else, it could not actually be cured by protagonist papapa! Shen Qingqiu was surprised too. It had to be cured entirely separately from the effect it had on its victims.

Resigning himself to his fate, Shen Qingqiu reached out and caught a flower in his fist, tugging it roughly off the rest of the plant. The plant coughed out another cloud of powder, but it didn’t matter; Shen Qingqiu was already poisoned. Before long, Shen Qingqiu would likely lose all reason and be driven to seek out another person -- hopefully Luo Binghe, because at least he couldn’t lose any more face with that man. The flower was his only hope of providing a clue as to what had happened to him.

Luo Binghe might not recognize it -- the original had, but Shen Qingqiu had no way of knowing what Bing-mei knew at this point -- but if he didn’t, he would almost certainly go to Shang Qinghua for help, who should definitely know it.

And then, colorful flower clenched in his fist, Shen Qingqiu’s trains of thought crashed. As the pollen took effect, Shen Qingqiu’s thoughts were consumed with Luo Binghe.

“Binghe…” he murmured to himself.

Binghe. His husband. Shen Qingqiu missed him. It seemed like it had been so long since they’d seen each other -- since that morning, when he’d woken up in bed with Luo Binghe. It seemed like it had been so long since he’d kissed Luo Binghe, since he’d run his fingers through his thick hair, since he’d seen Luo Binghe’s smile whenever Shen Qingqiu gave in enough to show affection.

He didn’t do that nearly as often as he should. Shen Qingqiu should show Luo Binghe affection more often. All the time, even! He should tell him he loved him! With that thought, Shen Qingqiu suddenly needed to be near Luo Binghe. He needed to make sure Luo Binghe knew that he loved him.

Determined, flower still clutched unconsciously in one hand, Shen Qingqiu set off to find his husband.

---

Luo Binghe was doing paperwork. This was unfortunate largely because it meant he wasn’t with Shen Qingqiu. He had, however, already spent too long neglecting his duties in favor of spending time with Shizun. Understanding that didn’t make him miss Shen Qingqiu, though.

Just as Luo Binghe was thinking wistfully of Shen Qingqiu and only half-heartedly doing paperwork, the door to his office slammed open. Luo Binghe glared, ready to yell at whatever idiot --

It was Shen Qingqiu, as though summoned by Luo Binghe’s thoughts.

Luo Binghe dropped the glare immediately to beam at his husband. He wasn’t entirely sure why Shen Qingqiu was here, because he was usually very conscientious about avoiding Luo Binghe until he’d finished his paperwork, but it wasn’t like he was going to complain.

“Shizun!”

Shen Qingqiu stopped in the doorway briefly to stare at Luo Binghe with wide eyes. Then he all but flew across the room to Luo Binghe, slamming into him full-speed. Caught off guard, Luo Binghe staggered slightly before righting them both. He returned Shen Qingqiu’s embrace happily enough, if still a bit bemused.

Shen Qingqiu raised his hands, wrapping one around Luo Binghe’s shoulders and burying the other in his hair. There was a flash of color as something -- a crushed flower? -- fell from Shen Qingqiu’s hand and fluttered to the ground.

“Binghe…” Shen Qingqiu muttered, pressing a sloppy kiss to Luo Binghe’s chin. “Binghe, I love you, I love you so much, you’re so good…”

He trailed off in favor of urging Luo Binghe down and making a line of kisses up Luo Binghe’s face.

As much as Luo Binghe was enjoying it -- which was a lot, for the record -- he had a very bad feeling about this. Shen Qingqiu didn’t act like this; he was far too shy to say or do things like this so easily.

“Shizun, what--” Luo Binghe started, trying to push Shen Qingqiu off gently to get some distance.

Shen Qingqiu made an absolutely heartbreaking noise, desolate and mournful. “No!” he said, and pressed right back in.

His arm clutched tighter around Luo Binghe’s shoulders, and his other hand entwined itself so thoroughly in his hair that it would probably be a pain to get out again. He pressed his lips to Luo Binghe’s temple, but instead of continuing his kisses, he started talking.

“Binghe, I love you so much, I missed you, I hate it when we’re apart too,” he was saying, whispering warm air against Luo Binghe’s skin.

Luo Binghe was getting a little choked up. This was an emotional onslaught of unexpected proportions and Luo Binghe was not prepared. Even so, he was aware enough to realize that something was very wrong.

“Shizun,” he tried again, only to go ignored as Shen Qingqiu kept talking right over him.

Okay. Luo Binghe tried to focus past Shen Qingqiu’s words and actions. He needed to figure out what was wrong with him. As nice as the affection was, Luo Binghe liked Shen Qingqiu when he was himself.

His head tilted down, and his gaze fell on the colorful flower that now lay forgotten on the floor. Stooping carefully, with Shen Qingqiu making unhappy noises and following him down, Luo Binghe picked up the flower. He eyed it carefully. Surely, if Shizun had it on him, then it was important. This could be Shen Qingqiu’s only way of letting Luo Binghe know what had happened to him.

...Unfortunately, Luo Binghe couldn’t identify it.

Gritting his teeth, annoyed to be useless, Luo Binghe made his way slowly over to the door, which Shen Qingqiu had left open. Shen Qingqiu hindered him every step of the way, getting in his path and almost tripping him.

Luo Binghe flagged down one of his demonic servants and handed them the crushed flower. “Give this to Shang Qinghua. Tell him there’s something wrong with Shizun and he is to figure out what and find a cure,” he ordered.

There was no need to tell the servant what would happen if they failed to carry out Luo Binghe’s orders; they already knew.

Then, his best way of helping completed, Luo Binghe looked helplessly at Shen Qingqiu.

Shen Qingqiu patted at his temple clumsily. “I love you,” he said.

---

Luo Binghe ended up sitting in his desk chair, Shen Qingqiu on his lap. Shen Qingqiu was so insistent on both being close to Luo Binghe and on seemingly covering every available bit of skin with kisses that it was really just the most convenient option.

Shen Qingqiu had also moved on from simply repeating that he loved Luo Binghe to extolling his virtues, of which there were apparently many. Luo Binghe didn’t blush easily, but Shen Qingqiu’s near-unending list of things he liked about him might just manage it.

Though Shen Qingqiu was literally sitting in Luo Binghe’s lap, it was actually completely innocent. Shen Qingqiu had not yet made any overtures towards a different sort of activity -- he hadn’t even gone lower than the neck, seemingly content to plaster Luo Binghe’s face with kisses and play with his hair. When Luo Binghe checked, feeling like a dirty pervert, Shen Qingqiu was not interested at all.

And Luo Binghe was a pervert, okay. He could admit it. He often thought about sex, wanted it considerably more than Shen Qingqiu did, and was usually the one who turned their activities towards it. The very situation he was in, with Shen Qingqiu literally on his lap in a way he would usually never agree to, was doing some things to him.

But even Luo Binghe had some compunctions, and Shen Qingqiu was obviously not in his right mind.

So, innocent it stayed.

“Your hair is so lovely,” Shen Qingqiu murmured.

He was on such a hair kick recently that Luo Binghe had taken his hair down just to let Shen Qingqiu play with it. Shen Qingqiu had taken great advantage of the opportunity, running his hands through it, braiding segments which he would then immediately pull apart again. All the while, he kept up a running litany of compliments.

Luo Binghe was going to die if this kept up. Shen Qingqiu would kill him with affection and compliments.

“You’re so handsome,” Shen Qingqiu was saying. “You’re so cool in battle…”

No, strike that. Luo Binghe might die from sexual frustration first.

Finally, there was a knock on the door. Luo Binghe looked at Shen Qingqiu, who seemed no more likely to allow him to move than he had in the past several hours.

Well, it was just Shang Qinghua. And anyway, some part of Luo Binghe delighted in having people witness this. Shen Qingqiu allowing it to look like he was Luo Binghe’s, when he was usually so reticent in public.

“Enter.”

There was a long moment. Then the door creaked open, almost hesitantly, enough to reveal Shang Qinghua, half-turned, one hand covering his eyes. Mobei Jun stood behind him, not covering his own eyes, looking faintly bemused.

Mobei Jun leaned down to speak into Shang Qinghua’s ear, but not quite so quietly that Luo Binghe couldn’t hear him anyway.

“They are not indecent…?” he said almost questioningly.

Shang Qinghua looked up abruptly, seeming surprised. “Oh!”

Luo Binghe narrowed his eyes. Shang Qinghua had expected him and Shizun to be ‘indecent’? Exactly what kind of effect was he expecting?

“Lord Luo.” Shang Qinghua cleared his throat and stepped into the room. “I have the cure you asked for.”

In one hand, he brandished a bottle. His eyes drifted to Shen Qingqiu, who was currently muttering into Luo Binghe’s hair. Shang Qinghua looked faintly disturbed.

Luo Binghe nodded carefully to avoid dislodging Shen Qingqiu. “Good. What is it? What happened to Shizun?”

Shang Qinghua’s eyes went wide. He looked a bit like a prey animal caught in the gaze of a predator.

“Uh, um. Well, that is.” Shang Qinghua glanced backwards at Mobei Jun, then coughed awkwardly. “He’s probably been infected with the pollen of the Thousand Year… Lifetime’s Happiness plant.” He withdrew the flower from before from one of his sleeves. “That’s what this flower is from, anyway. The cure is actually really simple, it’s just a bunch of common medicinal herbs...”

That was good. Luo Binghe nodded again, and waited just long enough that Shang Qinghua seemed to think he was safe.

“And why did you expect that we would be ‘indecent’?” he asked then.

Shang Qinghua choked. Still, he answered, “Well, Thousand Year Lifetime’s Happiness pollen usually…” He flailed a little. “...causes people to, well, be -- uh, want…”

He was obviously struggling in finding an acceptable way to phrase it. Luo Binghe thought he knew what he meant, but he didn’t bother to help. He wondered if Shang Qinghua was simply always so awkward when it came to such things or if it was just Luo Binghe’s presence?

“...They usually search out relief of, you know, a sexual nature,” Shang Qinghua finished awkwardly, resigned.

“Then why isn’t he?” Luo Binghe said.

Shang Qinghua shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Luo Binghe narrowed his eyes, and Shang Qinghua jumped.

“But!” He waved the glass bottle again. “Either way, this will cure it!”

Hurriedly, Shang Qinghua moved forward enough to set the bottle on Luo Binghe’s desk before skittering backwards again. He bowed quickly, grabbed one of Mobei Jun’s hands, and all but fled the room with Mobei Jun allowing himself to be pulled along. Mobei Jun nodded to Luo Binghe.

“Uh, good luck,” Shang Qinghua called back over his shoulder.

And then the door closed behind them.

Luo Binghe shook his head, then set about getting Shen Qingqiu to lean away long enough to drink the liquid in the bottle. Unfortunately, Shen Qingqiu was decidedly unwilling to put up with the distance. In the end, Luo Binghe poured some of the liquid into his own mouth, careful not to swallow any, then, burying one hand in Shen Qingqiu’s hair to hold the back of his head, coaxed him into an actual kiss on the mouth.

Carefully, Luo Binghe pushed until Shen Qingqiu was tipped backwards to ensure that the liquid would flow into his mouth. Shen Qingqiu choked and tried to pull away, but Luo Binghe held him steady until he swallowed it, then pulled away himself.

Shen Qingqiu immediately coughed, but didn’t cough up any liquid.

“Binghe…?” Shen Qingqiu looked dazed.

“I’m here, Shizun,” Luo Binghe said comfortingly.

Shen Qingqiu blinked slowly at him a couple of times, then slumped over, his head falling to Luo Binghe’s shoulder.

“Shizun!?”

One arm still wrapped around Shen Qingqiu to support him, Luo Binghe tipped his head up. Shen Qingqiu was still breathing, calm and deep, and his eyes were closed.

He was asleep.

That was… probably fine. Luo Binghe let out a breath of relief.

Shifting his hold on Shen Qingqiu and slipping one arm under his knees, Luo Binghe stood, picking Shen Qingqiu up into a bridal carry at the same time. Another thing Shen Qingqiu never allowed when he was awake and aware.

At the very least, Shen Qingqiu should wake up in a bed, Luo Binghe figured.

And hopefully he wouldn’t be too embarrassed.

#BingQiuWeek2019 #day six #scum villain #the scum villain's self-saving system #fanfiction #I wrote a thing

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