#pick your ship ig liushen or bingjiu

[touchmycoat]

What do you think would've happened if LBH went to Bai Zhan instead of Qing Jing in PIDW verse? What about SVSSS verse?

Good questionsss what if LQG gets handed the Protagonist's Teacher mantle in PIDW verse? ...my instincts say that genre convention means LQG would probably die valiantly and tragically as motivation for LBH, but only if LQG takes LBH as his personal disciple for some reason. Oh I know, the way it would probably happen is: SQQ isn't present at the disciple selection at that time so LBH gets put into Baizhan. He's very good, but LQG isn't interested in training personal disciples. There will probably be another teacher figure who likes LBH and is willing to nourish him.

But unfortunately, at some sort of sect event, LBH catches the negative attention of SQQ. It's something that seriously pisses SQQ off, so SQQ tries to get LBH out from under Baizhan's protection by telling YQY he wants LBH as a personal disciple. SQQ's claim would overrule the Baizhan teacher figure's claim, so LQG steps in and says he's taking LBH as a personal disciple and SQQ can't have him.

So begins LBH's journey as LQG's disciple. LQG is difficult to impress and very uninterested in nourishing LBH as a young person. Protagonist propulsion in skills does manage to win LQG over—LBH's exponential growth means LQG begins to pay more attention to him. He helps LBH hammer down a super solid foundation in fighting.

Unfortunately, LQG dies in an "accident" in the spirit caves. LBH is convinced SQQ murdered LQG but can't do anything about it. Despite just being a disciple, LBH now has a weird status as the direct disciple-maybe-descendant of the deceased Peak Lord. SQQ cites this status to insist that LBH goes to the Immortal Alliance Conference and fight for Baizhan's honor...This could be a cool set-up to a Bingjiu enemies-to-lovers fic where at the Conference, SQQ discovers LBH's demonic heritage and tries to kill him. But because LBH also wants revenge for his Shizun, he drags SQQ down into the abyss with him. It's a road trip fic through demonic hellscape lmfao. There's stuff about SJ being untrustworthy but nobody ever trusts him to begin with so why should he be trustworthy. So as they come out of hell together, there's frustrated trust between them but LBH still indicts SQQ for killing LQG. SQQ is feeling hurt and betrayed, then it's revealed that actually, it was the Baizhan teacher figure LBH's always trusted who killed LQG. Bam, Bingjiu reunion & apology, LQG's still dead jfksdnfkjsndkd

The SVSSS verse version, however!! Hahaaa, SY transmigrates far earlier in the plot. Oh let's pull a 2ha here and have him wake up in the brothel lmfao. He's expecting it to be weird but discovers that SQQ only ever sleeps with the sex workers and is in fact pretty good friends with them. LQG comes crashing in, all furious that SQQ is 4 hours late to the mission they were assigned to go on and SQQ snaps "Shidi! Don't be so destructive, this is their workplace!" One of the girls is like, "yeah and don't throw around insulting lies like that, this is the first time Peak Lord Shen's visited in years!" Another's like "and it's only because we needed his help—" but is quickly shushed.

Anyways, classic SY shenanigans mean that he manages to completely turn their relationship around on this lil mission. Sure SY has an agenda about it but he's mostly just being himself, and LQG comes away thinking he's completely misunderstood SQQ for years. They become friends and it's the biggest most shocking news at Cang Qiong for months.

Fast forward to the disciple selections. SQQ & LQG go disciple shopping together. SQQ immediately spots LBH and is mentally like "protag!!! protag!!!!! aaaahhhh!!! he's so adorable omg!!!!!" YQY goes "Qingqiu-shidi's attention has been entirely on that child for a while now, perhaps you're interested in taking him as disciple?" LQG comments that yeah LBH looks the most promising. It suddenly hits SQQ that he doesn't actually have to take LBH as a disciple?!? Being LBH's immediate teacher means being a side character with a larger presence which means it's more likely that he dies for plot reasons, so isn't it actually ideal if he's just the kindly Shibo from another Peak?!?!?!

SQQ insists that LBH goes to Baizhan to fully realize his potential—no, if anything he should learn directly under Liu-shidi! The strongest man on Cang Qiong! LQG all a-blush is like "I don't take disciples, that's too troublesome!" except he totally does end up taking LBH as a direct disciple. And because this is SQQ's (strange) request, LQG takes it seriously. LBH is a good boy, so their lessons go well, much to the relief of both teacher and student.

SQQ already visits LQG frequently and can't help but show up to see LBH now. First LBH only sees SQQ standing and watching from afar, all beautiful and mysterious among the bamboo. SQQ seems to point at LBH and whisper something about LBH to LQG. SQQ leaves, and LQG comes over to give LBH the correction SQQ gave LQG about LBH.

Embarrassed and not wanting to let his Shizun down, LBH begins working extra hard for when SQQ shows up. But having been an avid reader of PIDW, SQQ knows exactly what each of the training-related plot points are and gives LQG corrections for LBH to head them off. This stresses out Binghe a lot. One day, SQQ visits, he and LQG go inside to talk and have tea, LQG leaves, and SQQ comes back out to discover that LBH has been training this entire time. LBH is absolutely exhausted and knows he's messing up a lot of things. SQQ stalks over, stops him, and points out each and every thing he's messed up. "Why don't we do X?" "Because it's dangerous and can lead to Y." "Yet you still believe you can triumph over hundreds of years of wisdom from your elders?" "...No, Shibo. This disciple apologizes."

The scolding is extensive, but concludes: "So Luo Binghe, what are you going to do to fix all of this?" "This disciple will work harder—" "Incorrect. You will not work harder, you will rest."

LBH is completely flabbergasted as SQQ sits him down. "Have you eaten lunch?" "...No." With a sigh of frustration SQQ sends for lunch and sits down with LBH, expression cool but voice a little dark as he says he'll wait right here to make sure LBH is actually resting until LQG gets back. Then he'll give LQG an earful, what's LQG thinking, driving his student to such crazy lengths.

LBH is first defensive of his Shizun but very quickly realizes SQQ is just talking shit. SQQ feeds LBH and gives LBH an impromptu little lecture from his poetry studies. "A good man excels in both the martial and literary arts." SQQ enjoys himself and so does LBH.

So begins SQQ's helpless pampering of his favorite Shidi's favorite student. Both LQG and LBH blush about it. SQQ sneaks LBH sweets and books and pretty little ornaments from Qing Jing, and LBH's never been spoiled like this before. LQG rolls his eyes but lets it happen, and it becomes readily apparent to LBH that his Shizun is in love with SQQ. All of LBH's possessive instinct gets channeled into "oh my god, they have to be my martial parents, I'll be their good little disciple and they're going to be so proud of me and we'll be a family together forever." It's Parent Trap Liushen hours.

But. The push down the abyss still needs to happen. This time though SQQ has to worry about both LBH and LQG. He knows LBH will come back but also that neither of them will ever forgive him. Maybe it can be played like this: as the Immortal Alliance Conference approaches, SQQ accepts his oncoming death more and more. Somehow, he lets the fact that he expects to die slip to LBH (maybe LBH finally asks him point blank why he won't be together with LQG and he answers he doesn't want to give LQG a relationship with a time limit AAAHH). LBH's freaking out but the Alliance Conference comes. SQQ jumps into the fray to see LBH one last time. LBH knows SQQ's death is coming and begs SQQ to tell him what to do, you can't die! What will Shizun and I do?!

SQQ doesn't want to die either. Frankly this whole time he's been panicking, and seeing LBH with his demonic powers unleashed...he knows LBH can survive the jump. He lets it slip and is horrified by himself, but LBH got the gist—"so if I leap down there...Shibo can live?"

LQG's not too far away. LBH sees him, looks back at SQQ, steels himself, and jumps. SQQ, filled with horror and regret, jumps with him. LQG sees all of this and of course, leaps in after them.

...demonic exploration and roadtrip hours again!! This time with Liushen+adopted son LBH family dynamics!!!