#there's also the thing that Binghe's eyes are probably always black and not just when he's hiding his demonic side

[anqelbean]

This fandom does not appreciate Binghe's human form's shiny black eyes that hold a universe of stars in them. Shen Yuan made a point to mention them every time he saw them and yet our fandom does not do them justice.

[magicpotatothoughts]

I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD LUO BINGHE UNTIL NOW

Holy shit I was so swayed by SQQ’s POV that I honestly never truly understood LBH’s intentions until I read this line In Ch 2 (SVSSS Seven Seas)/Ch 13 at the demonic evasion arc:

When a person is affected with Without a Cure, starting from their wound, their spiritual flow becomes disconnected. This schism slowly spreads to their entire body. In the end, not only does their spiritual qi coagulate and stagnate, so does their blood."

So then when in Ch 6 (SVSSS SS)/Ch 34, LBH fed SQQ his blood and subsequently used his blood to seemingly "torment" SQQ during the water prison arc, all of this got me thinking....

What if everything LBH did with his demonic blood this entire time was to save SQQ from Without a Cure?

Like yes, he probably did have other intentions such as tracking him, making SQQ horrified at the fact that he has demon blood inside him when he hated demons so much but I honestly think the main reason LBH forced SQQ to drink his blood, and I would even go further as to say that his main motivation when he trained under Meng Mo, was not to become the “strongest” in the general sense but to heal SQQ. Hear me out. The first thought white lotus LBH has when SQQ got poisoned in Ch2/13 was

the demons had harmed his teacher to the point that he might be crippled—he might even lose his life. And all because of him.

LBH probably was a direct witness to how a whole team of Cang Qiong mountain peak lords needed to revolve around SQQ, with Mu Qingfang constantly providing prescriptions and LQG clearing his meridians and probably YQY hovering around SQQ dying with worries, to maintain his health post the SHL -demon evasion, he must have felt absolutely terrible about it! And that guilt literally haunted our bing-pup like he never once stopped thinking about it; no wonder he offered himself to take care of everything including the nutrition of SQQ's food, snaccs, water, small-big errands, and even wanted to pick that "Snow something Lotus" flower for Shizun! Without a Cure affecting SQQ was on LBH's mind ever since he was 15 and for all 3 years he was in the Endless Abyss.

This is absolutely evident when black lotus LBH returned and started to chase SQQ, SQQ's inner monologue was cursing how Without a Cure is stagnating his ability to coordinate and run, I am certain that LBH was not blind to just how much SQQ was struggling with that poison in his body. My theory was further confirmed when LBH finally caught up to SQQ:

“While Shen Qingqiu was still in the midst of confusion, Luo Binghe flipped his hand over. “You were infected?” .....“This hand of Shizun’s is plagued with misfortunes.”

Bruh, LBH may be giving the sadistic energy of an abandoned demonic child (thanks SQQ unreliable narrator) but here is clear evidence that the thing he was most worried about is SQQ's blood coagulating and him dying of demonic poison. What this tells me is that Without a Cure seemed to be activated and/or further exacerbated by other demonic poisons. LBH was also clearly still carrying the guilt of SQQ saving him with that hand! Following on immediately, what he did was 1) punch SQQ, then 2) says "An eye for an eye. Since Shizun sowed the seeds, he should reap the bitter fruit himself. Shizun should personally make up for himself" and 3) straight up fed SQQ his demonic blood.

White Lotus LBH never died. Both actions are for the benefit of SQQ, 1) I think he did this to get SQQ to cough up coagulated blood after SQQ was poisoned by that Jin Lan City sower and 3) LBH's quick return from Endless Abyss was so that he can feed Shizun his heavenly-blood to help cure him. I have reason to believe that LBH's demonic blood is the CURE to WITHOUT A CURE. Why else pay such specific attention to SQQ's hand out of literally any other body-part after a 3 year reunion?

But what I find most fascinating is 2) LBH’s words are nearly always laced with double meaning. “An eye for an eye” here isn’t necessarily just him blaming SQQ for kicking him and unlocking his demonic heritage but he wants to repay SQQ for taking on Without a Cure back then by giving him his demonic blood as a cure now. Another interpretation is that LBH deflected feeling the guilt of indirectly harming SQQ by verbally jabbing him. He tried to make SQQ feel guilty about tossing him into the Endless Abyss when he himself couldn't bare to think that his Shizun got hurt again on the same hand that saved him all those years ago. SQQ of course is an unreliable narrator and tricks us into thinking that LBH's actions matched his words when if we look closer, they're LITERALLY THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

Right after the reunion, SQQ "didn’t know how he made it back to the Jin Zi Weapons Shop," which has me believing that LBH must have been doing something to surpress SQQ's Without a Cure's effects with his demonic blood.

During the Water Prison arc, LBH seems like he is tormenting SQQ by demonic blood manipulation but if we really read carefully:

…strange sensation of something crawling inside his blood vessels....Luo Binghe said leisurely, “Spleen, kidneys, heart, lungs.” Though it wasn’t to the point of extraordinary anguish, it was still awful to suffer through.

Doesn't this sound like LBH trying to get the blood in SQQ flowing again to prevent coagulation after SQQ had been in presumably a seated position for a long time jailed in the Water prison? Once again, LBH's intentions behind his actions are the opposite of his words, he may be emotionally hurt by SQQ's silent response to him asking whether Shizun regrets kicking him down the Endless Abyss but his first and foremost concern is SQQ's health. This totally explains LBH's extremely low anger points! SQQ seemingly mistook LBH’s worry as anger! If SQQ asked the System for LBH's worrywart points, it would have been like ~the limit does not exist~. 🤯🤯🤯

Bruh, it’s so telling when Gongyi Xiao went to untie SQQ's immortal binding cables two days later when SQQ noted:

His spiritual energy was unmistakably back in operation and flowing smoothly. When he’d been imprisoned, he had been in the middle of a random Without a Cure flare-up, but after two days of being tied up by the immortal-binding cables, the poison had unexpectedly been suppressed again. Was this following the same principle as fighting fire with fire, or how two negatives make a positive?

No SQQ you oblivious gay, LBH was circulating your coagulating blood for you and suppressing the effects of your poison! We as readers can get so misled by SQQ constantly worrying about how Without a Cure randomly stops his spiritual powers that we forget about the actual main issue, blood stagnation and coagulation, which can absolutely kill him. Also, when SQQ escaped the Water Prison, LBH didn't try to manipulate the blood in SQQ's body because now he didn't need to, he’s done it already. He never wanted to do more than what was necessary for Shizun’s health. LBH tried to convince SQQ to come back when he could have used his powers. SQQ always had agency because LBH loves and respects him too much.

The next time SQQ got poisoned was by that sower who hid amongst the Huang Hua Palace disciples in Hua Yue city right before his self-detonation. He couldn't attack the sower with fire but then complained that it must have been Without a Cure that flared up again. Somehow, silly SQQ kept randomly getting himself poisoned so doesn’t it make sense that LBH keeps track of his Shizun so that his own demonic blood could notify him of any potential future SQQ demonic poisonings?

Bruh, the worrywart White-Lotus LBH never fucking died, SQQ ah SQQ you silly silly man. LBH has always been, even if he says hateful words, worried about you and your health and made it his top priority. What made LBH lose his mind though were

everytime LBH tries to save SQQ, SQQ thinks that he is using his demonic blood/demonic poison to do all these unfathomable things when using demonic poison is literally the last thing LBH would do because he has literal guilt trauma around it.

SQQ keeps calling LQG, GYX and literally anyone else to save him when LBH has been the one doing all the work.

Then we arrive at Xing Mo’s recoil exacerbating LBH’s insecurities.

“Shizun, look at what I’ve become. Am I strong enough? Do you know how I spent those years within the Endless Abyss? For three years underground, at all times and all moments, my mind thought only of Shizun. I wondered why Shizun would do this to me, why he refused to give me even a single chance to explain or plead my case.”

He did so much for Shizun’s health but never got a chance to explain why! And then when SQQ self-detonated, LBH thought:

Didn’t Shizun hate his blood more than anything? Wasn’t he unwilling to even be near him, to associate with him at all? So why, at the last moment, had he so gently helped to contain Luo Binghe’s mind, as tender as he had been in those years long past?

The blood here doesn't just have racist but literal connotations, LBH literally thought that SQQ hated the very demonic blood coursing through his veins, so that's why he kept forcing SQQ to drink it. LBH's every action, with me now looking back at all this evidence, is SO fricking justified. From his POV, isn't it more like SQQ is the constantly sick child throwing a tantrum about not wanting to drink bitter medicine? LBH, After all this effort of forcing himself to go through literal hell, training himself, chasing SQQ, imprisoning SQQ (LBH is giving Lan Wangji energy here) so that his Shizun can stop accidentally poisoning himself, SQQ somehow got put in harms way again but on top of that, died because of him. SQQ died whilst also restoring and reaffirming himself as the Shizun who had once been so good to him. 😭😭😭

All this absolute adds so much more weight as to why LBH was never ever going to let SQQ out of his sight ever again, as a corpse or alive, from that moment onwards.

[tossawary]

Chapter 28: “A Growing Family” of “pride is not the word I’m looking for” quotes and commentary. Not a full list of favorite quotes or full commentary.

-

The fact that Shen Qingqiu is waiting for them, just outside of Yue Qingyuan’s office, really doesn’t help the dread that Shang Qinghua is feeling here.

A stocky young woman is standing attentively beside the seated Peak Lord. This is that Fu Qiang character, one of Binghe’s favorite shijies on Qing Jing Peak, here to whisk Peerless Cucumber away for a one-to-one chat on the other transmigrator’s potential relationship to the House of Rejuvenation. Or maybe to give the kid a tutoring session on recovering memories from trauma or something! Shang Qinghua doesn’t know exactly, not having been invited to sit in.

“Shidi,” Shen Qingqiu greets coolly.

“Greetings, Shen-Shixiong,” Shang Qinghua returns, feeling sweaty already, but also weirdly giddy. He’s tempted to wink, but he’s pretty sure that would get him killed. “How are you? You look very well! Aha, how did those ‘other engagements’ go the other day? Meet with anyone? Have a good time?”

Over the top of his elegant fan, Shen Qingqiu immediately gives him a look that could probably kill a lesser man - or maybe a greater one, like someone who has more dignity and shame and whatever than Shang Qinghua does. Shang Qinghua doesn’t flinch. He assumes that the meeting with Yue Qingyuan went well! Which is great! Super great! If it had gone badly, he’s pretty sure that Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t even be setting foot on Qiong Ding Peak now - or at least would have been projecting “I’ll kill to get out of here and I’m mentally picking all my victims” hard enough to send all the Qiong Ding Peak disciples and cultivators off like panicked chickens.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Shen Qingqiu says, downright frosty now. “Shang-Shidi must have been paying too much attention to nonsense gossip again.”

“Ah, of course! Of course! My mistake, Shen-Shixiong! Please forgive me!”

Shang Qinghua looks to his fellow transmigrator next, to reintroduce them, only to find Shen Yuan making a very strange expression. Shen Yuan is looking between Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu kind of like he’s never seen them before. His mouth is even a little open and everything. It takes the kid a few seconds to realize that he has two Peak Lords staring at him and to swallow the strange expression.

- 

AN: Shen Yuan knows that 1) SQQ came to meet SQH personally immediately after their mission was over, 2) SQH stayed in bed the following day for a LONG time, and 3) SQH had a hickey on his neck. 

So when Shang Qinghua makes a reference to the meeting that SQQ had with Yue Qingyuan, almost flirtatiously asking if Shen Qingqiu “met with anyone” and “had a good time”, Shen Yuan is going to draw his own conclusions. 

Namely, that Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu might be sleeping together. 

After all, Shen Yuan doesn’t know about the YQY and SQQ backstory! Shen Yuan only knows that Shang Qinghua is weirdly friendly with PIDW’s most famous scum villain and that Shen Qingqiu apparently likes SQH enough not to be an asshole to Luo Binghe. Shang Qinghua kind of talks like they’re friend, so what if they’re... more than friends?! 

Meanwhile, Shang Qinghua cannot fathom anyone EVER considering that he and SHEN QINGQIU might be lovers. It’s not an idea that he is in a position to have because what the fuck?! 

I was tickled pink when I realized that things were in position to have the disciples think that Shangjiu is a thing. I was already planning on having them notice Shang Qinghua’s brand-new-relationship good mood. Shen Yuan may not notice when people are in love with HIM, but he did still read a twenty-million-word stallion web-novel, so he’s totally prepared to assume that secret affairs are happening for OTHER PEOPLE. 

- 

His fellow transmigrator hastily performs the appropriate greeting. Shen Qingqiu doesn’t reply beyond inclining his head, instead sweeping his eyes over Shen Yuan, who stands hilariously still like he’s facing down a predator, except for how the kid squints back a little at the Lord of Qing Jing Peak. Ha! That’s pretty fearless coming from someone still so unnerved by the man who would have Proud Immortal Demon Way’s most famous scum villain.

“Fu Qiang,” Shen Qingqiu says finally. “I have instructed Assistant Ma to set aside a private room for your discussion. You may take Disciple Shen there now.”

“Yes, Shizun.”

The other disciple gestures for Shen Yuan to follow and the other transmigrator hastily takes her up on that. As the disciples disappear, Shen Qingqiu rises and, without a word, leads Shang Qinghua into Yue Qingyuan’s office.

- 

AN: It’s tempting to try and make Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan actually develop more of a relationship than “passing acquaintance”, but the thing is that I can’t see either of them really going for it without being forced or without a very serious push. They’re both so prickly. 

- 

Yue Qingyuan greets him in a friendly manner, like he’s genuinely pleased to see Shang Qinghua and happy to help. Shang Qinghua greets the man in the same way. It’s nice! It also kind of feels like they’re both pretending the past few months of awkwardness, resentment, and avoidance never happened.

- 

AN: It felt a little more true to life and to the characters to have Shang Qinghua and Yue Qingyuan just... move forward instead of getting into their issues with each other and what apologies may be due. 

It’s kind of like a mutual: “What if we didn’t talk about it?” 

And they’re both like, “Oh, thank fuck.” 

I think that if they both brew on it a bit more, they may eventually decide to try to assuage their respective anger or guilt by saying something, but right now they’re feeling raw and/or embarrassed, and don’t want to accidentally get into it again. So they’ll talk about work! They always have work to talk about! Work is more important than personal matters, so they’re just going to pretend everything is fine! 

- 

It’s not just the System who won’t let the Immortal Alliance Conference not happen! But, ahhh, Shang Qinghua can still dream of them actually managing to convince Zhao Hua Temple Sect and everyone else to call the whole thing off. He can dream!

Yue Qingyuan has this pained expression that says, “You’re not wrong, but I wish you were.” This guy knows what Shang Qinghua is talking about!

Shen Qingqiu has this expression that says something like, “I can only critique the accuracy of your assessment on the grounds that you may be giving our fellow cultivators too much credit in terms of common sense and cooperation. This annoys me immensely.”

“You have put a great deal of thought into this,” Yue Qingyuan says finally. “You received this news… when exactly… again?”

“Ah, yesterday morning?” Shang Qinghua answers.

 “While in bed with a demon lord,” he doesn’t elaborate. Nope! Not elaborating!

“I know it’s not- I’ll try to get more information, but everyone is still in the planning stages, and it’s not easy getting any information!” Shang Qinghua says defensively. “But, even with that, I thought, ‘Ah, my shixiongs will probably want to know right away!’ Someone will need to tell Zhao Hua to take precautions, at least?”

Yue Qingyuan visibly regathers himself and says, “It is better to know these things as soon as possible. Thank you, Qinghua, for this forewarning.”

“He’s very good at knowing these things,” Shen Qingqiu agrees, but the man’s gaze is like a very sharp pin and Shang Qinghua is but a lowly insect under it. “When might you be expected to know more about this?”

“Ah, I’ll have to get in contact with… ah, some people I know.”

- 

AN: Of course YQY and SQQ want to know more about where SQH is getting this information, but for all they know he might just have gotten a tip-off from one of his merchant contacts or someone in the black market. This has been brewing for a while between these demon lords and the cultivation sects. It’s really bad news, but it’s also not really that surprising. 

According to the Airplane Extras, when MBJ and SQH meet, Airplane offhandedly mentions that Mobei-Jun’s clan and Huan Hua Palace Sect have a serious grudge from a conflict at a previous Immortal Alliance Conference. In PINTWILF, this conference is why the IACs got cancelled and had to be recently “revived”. The coming IAC is the 3rd since this revival.  

Shang Qinghua has proven himself reliable enough by this point that YQY and SQQ will let him keep his informants close to his chest. Between SQH’s years of improved services (helped by actually getting his personal disciples to help him) and SQH’s interference in their personal issues, they do actually trust him. 

So, yeah, they think he’s a squirmy little rat man. 

But he’s THEIR squirmy little rat man who has come through in times of need. Also, SQQ, for all his glaring, might stab YQY if he started giving SQH a hard time about this. Sometimes a shidi just wants you to back the fuck off, YQY! Let him have his secrets! Even though SQQ absolutely wants to know SQH’s secrets and is on the verge of dying of curiosity. 

I am VERY MUCH looking forward to them finding out that Shang Qinghua has a demon prince for a boyfriend. That’s going to be fun. 

- 

“I have also been… considering the advantages of lessons and between Peaks to encourage both cooperation and… survival skills,” Shen Qingqiu says next. “Rarely does one become a master of all disciplines - the Twelve Peaks allow for many of our sect to become specialists, masters of one art - but it seems unwise not to be learned in the basics of as many life-saving arts as one is able.”

“A diversity of learning can be very beneficial,” Yue Qingyuan agrees immediately.

“My disciple, Fu Qiang, has become a very adept medic over the years, though this was in the hopes of avoiding visiting Qian Cao Peak. The head disciples of An Ding, as I understand it, have sought to take special lessons from Qian Cao and Xian Shu to improve themselves."

 “Ah, that explains how Hongpeng spied on Peerless Cucumber back when the little bro was still in Mu Qingfang’s clutches,” Shang Qinghua thinks. “And, ah, Shen Bro, I don’t know how to tell you this, but Wenjiao goes to Xian Shu Peak mostly to moon over pretty girls, especially my little sister-in-law.”

"There is also the example of Qi-Shimei’s most frustrating disciple, who must be routinely dragged away from Bai Zhan, but who has also apparently helped to improve her fellow Xian Shu disciples’ martial abilities.”

 "Ah, that's one of putting Qi Qingqi letting Luo Fanli and Liu Mingyan fight each other in order to hopefully wear them both out," Shang Qinghua thinks.

“Even if demons should not attack, though only a limited number of our disciples will be attending the Immortal Alliance Conference, it would nevertheless be beneficial to ensure that all disciples across the sect are well-equipped to keep themselves alive until the specialists arrive,” Shen Qingqiu finishes. “Shang-Shidi, as one of the most well-connected leading members of our sect, the organization of such an initiative would be best left in your hands.”

- 

AN: Okay, so I know that this is kind of a weird thing to be coming from Shen Qingqiu, but he’s grown a bit over the course of this fic! AND he’s totally coming at it from the perspective of: “I don’t have to cooperate or get along with anyone beyond what I’m doing now.” 

So SQQ is like, “My disciples are stupid. We should have more field medics.” 

And he’s like, “Some people’s disciples can’t fight for shit and we should make sure they know more self-defense.” 

And he’s like, “Liu Qingge’s disciples are animals. Someone at least teach them how to protect other disciples and how to not bleed to death, because he won’t. That man doesn’t teach them anything.” 

And he’s like, “Shang Qinghua, you do that. I don’t want to.” 

- 

Peerless Cucumber’s conversation with Shen Qingqiu’s disciple is long over, but apparently his fellow transmigrator didn’t just leave afterwards. Yue Qingyuan’s youngest assistant intercepts to politely point Shang Qinghua towards their waiting room. Shen Yuan is asleep in a chair, with one of his cultivation manuals open in his lap. Judging by his pose, Shang Qinghua is going to guess that the kid was trying some kind of meditation and ended up taking a nap by accident.

It happens to the best of them sometimes! Or at least to Shang Qinghua!

“Ah, I told you not to wait on me. Come on, bro, I don’t want to have to carry you back,” Shang Qinghua says, while jostling the kid awake. “You’re too big for that. My nephew is too big for that these days. Just because it would be nostalgic for me and just because I can doesn’t mean that I want to be carrying you around like a sack of vegetables.”

- 

AN: If Shang Qinghua can haul Mobei-Jun around, then he could pick up Shen Yuan no problem. Also, this is the bit where I was like, “Wow, I have very much made SQH into SY’s dad here.” 

Even SVSSS SQH gives me Uncle Vibes, to be honest. The man wants to pop into Bingqiu’s life, ask some nosy questions, be treated to a free meal (who doesn’t), tell some bad jokes, offer some terrible advice, complain about his workload, and then flounce off again with his boyfriend. SVSSS SQH seems to like being useful and appreciated and part of the group, but in a way where he’s not directly attached to anyone, you know? Give SVSSS SQH the benefits, but none of the responsibilities! 

- 

Shang Qinghua is kind of sick of this roundabout conversation and decides to bring out the big guns: a move taught to him by his extremely powerful sister-in-law, who has effortlessly defeated their resident War God. He knows the effectiveness of this technique personally, because Luo Jiahui has used it to defeat him many times. He puts on the best concerned face he has.

“Yuan,” he says seriously, looking the kid directly in the eye. “I’m not making jokes here about not skipping out on cultivating. It’s not always going to be fun - a lot of the time, it’s going to be pretty embarrassing and a little painful. Bro, I was an adult stuck in a teenage body, regularly getting my ass handed to me by actual teenagers. That was awful. But I really need you to keep doing it, even if you don’t become the next War God ready to challenge the protagonist, because I don’t want you to die. This shitty world isn’t safe. And if you want to be involved in these missions, then I need you to be able to carry yourself, or we’re both going to get trampled by some OP monster wandering out of an advanced chapter early instead of fixing anything here.”

Shen Yuan is having difficulty meeting his eyes. He keeps trying to force himself to look at Shang Qinghua and then looking away again automatically.

Shang Qinghua employs another of his sister-in-law’s immensely powerful techniques: he reaches out and puts a hand on the kid’s shoulder. “I will tell you stuff when I have stuff to tell you and when I can tell it to you. You’ve been super helpful, I’m going to need your help in the future, but I need you to be a little patient right now too.”

Shen Yuan nods. “...Fine.”

-

AN: Shang Qinghua: “I can’t believe that I’m tricking this person into thinking I’m a good person by being nice to them and looking after them and doing good things. I have learned this behavior for TRICKING PURPOSES only and have NOT accidentally adopted yet another kid.” 

- 

Shang Qinghua can’t answer the question right now! Leave a message!

He’s too busy replaying all the times he’s seen his nephew and his fellow transmigrator interact. Binghe did ask after Shen Yuan every time that he and Shang Qinghua talked, while the other transmigrator was on Qian Cao and after he came to An Ding, but… Shang Qinghua just thought his nephew was being polite and curious? Peerless Cucumber stands out! Binghe didn’t act too weirdly about it!

Luo Binghe is supposed to be a stallion protagonist with 600 wives!

Although… Shang Qinghua’s nephew has never really shown any interest in that kind of thing. Which Shang Qinghua has been pretty glad about! He doesn’t want to have 600 nieces-in-law! He also doesn’t want that for his nephew!

The protagonist of Proud Immortal Demon Way ’s harem was basically a snake pit of drama and desperation and decaying fantasies. For everyone who could read between the lines of empty papapa to see Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky’s tragic story of resentment and revenge, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say the tyrannical, broken protagonist was like a black hole, dragging everyone else into orbit around this man who couldn’t really love anyone! You can take a blackened protagonist out of the Eternal Abyss, but you can’t take that abyss out of the blackened protagonist, right?

The original Luo Binghe didn’t take wives because he was in love. He took wives because he could! Because they were beautiful or powerful or useful! Because he pitied them! Because he liked being their savior! Because he didn't want anyone else to have them! Because he liked being an object of envy and desire and love! Because it was expected of him, as the man all the readers wanted to be, who was supposed to have everything a man could ever want!

 “...Ah, there are… some implications there,” Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky realizes, remembering just how half-hearted most of that harem bullshit was. “Maybe a bent man wrote a kind of bent protagonist by accident? Who knows?”

“Da-Ge?” Fanli says. “Da-Ge, didn’t you know?”

- 

AN: I’ve said this before, but there’s a meta argument to be made in regards to Luo Binghe and obligatory heterosexuality. 

Also, from what I remember, Airplane didn’t actually seem to care too much about Luo Binghe being interested in Shen Yuan. In the Airplane Extras, Airplane says that in the original version of PIDW that he never got to write, Luo Binghe actually ended up totally alone at the end of the story. He was apparently planning a pretty downer ending for Luo Binghe. But Luo Binghe ended up getting a huge harem instead because that’s what the readers wanted! 

So, my impression is, that when SVSSS Airplane first realizes that LBH is into men (and into SQQ specifically), he does a little bit of self-reflection and also reflection on PIDW, then just goes, “Huh. That makes... sense.” 

- 

“Though, aha, I can’t remember Shen-Shixiong ever really not being kind of angry at me and I’m not dead yet. I had to talk really fast sometimes, but I lived! Now go away.”

When Shang Qinghua looks up, all of his disciples are staring at him. They all look surprised, except for Shen Yuan, who looks embarrassed. Shang Qinghua would guess that someone cracked a dirty joke, but that doesn’t seem right.

"What?"

“...Shifu, how long have you known Shen-Shibo?” Chen Xuan asks.

“Since we were disciples? Ah, I think he hated me at first sight.”

“But you’re close now?” Lin Wenjiao blurts out.

“Closer, ” Shang Qinghua agrees warily. “Aha, don’t think that any of you can ask me for favors to do with Shen Qingqiu or Qing Jing Peak too! That’s not happening! Disciple Luo, Shen, get out of here before you give my disciples any more weird ideas.”

- 

AN: Okay, so what happened is that as soon as Luo Fanli and Shang Qinghua left the room, Shen Yuan was like, “...Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu are... very close? Are they...?” 

And SQH’s disciples are like, “Holy shit, are you asking if SQH and SQQ are romantically involved?!” And SQH’s disciples laugh in SY’s face because that’s RIDICULOUS. Which makes SY really embarrassed and defensive! SQH’s disciples ask why he would EVER think a thing like that. 

SY provides the evidence. It’s a reasonable conclusion! 

And then SQH’s disciples are like, “...Holy shit?!” 

And then SY is like, “Wait, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that.” 

But it’s too late. SQH’s disciples are already putting all the evidence together and there is SO MUCH EVIDENCE of something going on there. 

I know I refer to this ship as “Shangjiu”, but that’s mostly just to specify which Shen Qingqiu and I doubt that anyone in Cang Qiong Mountain Sect dares to call SQQ “Jiu” besides YQY. They’d probably actually end up calling it something along the lines of “The Premise” like original Star Trek: The Original Series Kirk/Spock shippers. (See Fanlore or something for more info on that.) 

Again, SQH cannot... CONCEIVE of them conceiving this idea. 

-

By the time that Mobei-Jun shows up at his Leisure House, Shang Qinghua is a little on the edge! Honestly, he’s kind of off the edge, dangling from a very thin branch just underneath the cliff’s edge, and that thin branch is making some very concerning noises! Sure, at least the demon lord isn’t late, but Shang Qinghua is suddenly reminded of just how intimidating Mobei-Jun looks! Also, he’s cleaned up his house and knows his sister-in-law knows he’s kind of a slob sometimes, but he’s so sure that she’s still going to judge his cleaning job! What if she blames Mobei-Jun for it? (She’d be right to blame him a little! The man can be kind of lazy and messy sometimes too!)

A cool hand at Shang Qinghua’s hip prevents him from walking around in circles, repositioning disobedient cushions and offending tables. Shang Qinghua looks up at Mobei-Jun, who moves his hand to where Shang Qinghua’s neck meets shoulder.

“Stop it,” Mobei-Jun says.

- 

AN: It’s really funny thinking about how all of Mobei-Jun’s gentle and affectionate behaviors towards SQH are totally learned. This does not come naturally to the man. If SQH was having a panic attack, Mobei-Jun’s first (panicked) instinct would be to bark at him to stop it. 

- 

“It’s just… Jiahui is… it didn’t have to be this way for us? I would have just helped her get to safety and left her to live her life without me, but she didn’t let that happen, even though her family wasn’t any good either, so why would she want another one?” Shang Qinghua tries to explain. “She chose me? She looked out for me. She helped me understand a lot of things. Even though she probably could have picked anyone else. I don’t really know where I’d be right now if she didn’t? Ah, probably… not talking to or trusting anyone ever? You remember what things used to be like.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never really liked any of the sisters I’ve had before very much,” Shang Qinghua admits. “Ah, but they didn’t like me either, so it worked. Anyway! It’s… important to me that things work out now because…”

 “I don’t want to choose,” Shang Qinghua doesn’t say.

He clears his throat instead.

“Qinghua.”

Shang Qinghua forces himself to look up from his hands on Mobei-Jun’s collar.

“I am glad that you were not without someone to trust,” Mobei-Jun says, though it sounds like it takes effort. “Your sister has nothing to fear from me.”

Mobei-Jun has already made this promise, but it’s good to hear it again.

“Thank you, my king. I’ll, ah- I should go get her now.”

-

AN: Mobei-Jun is jealous. He is very, VERY jealous. 

BUT Mobei-Jun can also see some parallels here. Luo Jiahui is to Shang Qinghua in many ways what Shang Qinghua is to him. Mobei-Jun understands the importance of this relationship and of this person. He understands that Jiahui and SQH’s relationship is not romantic, of course, and understands her to be the “head of the family”, so he has to force himself not to act on his jealousy. 

I think that a part of Mobei-Jun might see jealousy as something very negative? Thinking about what I said about Mobei-Jun’s hang-ups surrounding consent and possessiveness possibly originating with his father being a wife-stealer, Mobei-Jun can’t act on his jealousy for the same reasons that he needs Shang Qinghua to make the first explicit moves. He wants Shang Qinghua to choose him and to choose him of his own free will. 

So, he’s jealous when he hears about how LJH chose SQH and SQH chose LJH, but he can’t act on it because 1) he loves SQH and 2) he’s (possibly unconsciously) terrified of becoming his father and creating resentment that will ripple out into his family potentially for generations. 

- 

It’s so, so weird to see his human sister-in-law sitting across from a demon lord. Luo Jiahui is not a tall woman and her cultivation is very good these days, but she’s not a warrior. Seeing the height and width differences side-by-side make them really obvious! Mobei-Jun is at least twice Shang Qinghua’s sister-in-law’s size! He has to be easily twice her weight!

When Luo Jiahui puts food in front of Mobei-Jun, Shang Qinghua gets huge “I dare you to not eat my food” messages! It took a really long time before Mobei-Jun seemed to accept that Shang Qinghua really wouldn’t take every available opportunity to hand him poison. Thankfully, however, Mobei-Jun has eaten Luo Jiahui’s food before! Shang Qinghua has shared his sister-in-law's food with the demon lord! Shang Qinghua also communicated beforehand that Mobei-Jun has to eat the food. No matter what!

So, Mobei-Jun eats the food and Shang Qinghua breathes a sigh of relief. Mobei-Jun even goes so far as to tell Luo Jiahui that she’s a good cook (above and beyond social interaction! Also delivered kind of awkwardly!), which his sister-in-law accepts with thanks (and also maybe just a little bit as her rightful due).

Luo Jiahui already knows the basics of Mobei-Jun: that he’s an ice demon, the son of the Northern Demon King, and he’s going to be the next Northern Demon King. She already knows that he’s a warrior and that his time is mostly spent tending to his duties, usually on his father’s behalf. She even knows that demon families can be kind of violently competitive and that Mobei-Jun’s family is no exception.

So, when she finally decides to speak seriously, she says, “My brother is very important to me. I have told him that if he is happy, then I’m happy for him. He has told me that you are very important to him.”

- 

AN: Mobei-Jun is going to hold that revelation close to his chest for WEEKS. Shang Qinghua said that Mobei-Jun is very important to him! 

Juggling the tension of this scene was weird. 

Because, like, Mobei-Jun is not a kind or a gentle or a good person. He’s disdainful of humanity. It’s kind of a mindfuck for him to be having a meal with a strange human who is not of the things he has been raised to respect. 

Meanwhile, Luo Jiahui is fucking terrified of Mobei-Jun, dislikes him, and doesn’t want to like him. He’s a stranger who could destroy her family. He looks kind of monstrous. He acts strangely. 

But they HAVE TO BE CIVIL to each other for Shang Qinghua’s sake. 

So they are. 

Mobei-Jun tries not to make any scary moves around the soft human. 

Luo Jiahui tries to act like MBJ is a normal person and to be polite. 

They are both very out of their depth. 

- 

“...Shang Qinghua saved my life,” Mobei-Jun says, which is the first time he’s spoken without someone else speaking to him first. “Many times, he has done this.”

Luo Jiahui sets down her teacup, listening expectantly.

“Even when I did not trust him, and he did not trust me, Qinghua has always provided shelter and safety,” Mobei-Jun says slowly, solemnly. “Medicine, when I have been injured. Direction, when I have been lost. Company and loyalty. This is rare.”

“Yes,” Luo Jiahui agrees.

“The trust I have put in him has never been betrayed.”

Shang Qinghua kind of feels like he’s overheating here - like maybe his heart is melting! Mobei-Jun as a character has always prized loyalty above all! “I had no fucking clue,” he thinks. “Honestly, how the FUCK did I have no fucking clue?! Hindsight is incredible!”

“I would not betray him,” Mobei-Jun says, looking to Shang Qinghua directly. “My life has been his since the day we met.”

Shang Qinghua tries not to melt even more. Mobei-Jun is supposed to be an ice demon! What the hell is this?! It’s unfair! It’s embarrassing! It’s too much!

“...Good,” Luo Jiahui says, determinedly. “I’m happy to hear that. My hard-working brother needs someone to appreciate and cherish him.”

“Yes.”

- 

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “Humans use words. I need to use words. I need to be direct about this because humans are bad at understanding things.” 

And Luo Jiahui is like, “Oh my, you are very intense. Okay.” 

- 

Mobei-Jun nods. “I did not think a human would ever care for a demon child.”

Luo Jiahui frowns a little. “Oh?”

“I admire this,” Mobei-Jun amends, frowning back. “I do not know how humans are raised. It is good that your child has never had to doubt his safety here.”

“...Of course.”

“It is clear that your child is loved beyond his bloodline.”

“Of course,” Luo Jiahui insists, with an offended note in her voice. “When I found Binghe in that river, I didn’t know he was part demon, but I would have taken him in anyway! Whoever the parent is, whatever the parent has done, it’s never the baby’s fault. Even if a parent has done something wrong, then babies shouldn’t suffer for it. All children should be cherished.”

Luo Jiahui’s voice breaks a little, her eyes turning wet. Shang Qinghua fumbles for a handkerchief to offer his sister-in-law, which she accepts gratefully.

He wonders if she’s thinking about her stillborn baby. She doesn’t talk about her other baby very often, but she does sometimes. She told him once that she observes that day. It’s something that she insists on doing alone.

“...I was left in the human world as a young child,” Mobei-Jun says.

Shang Qinghua’s head snaps up. He knows that, but that’s because he wrote that. He has never, ever heard Mobei-Jun talk about it before.

“Oh, no,” Luo Jiahui says.

“I was nearly killed by humans,” Mobei-Jun informs them.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Luo Jiahui says.

“It was my uncle’s doing. He wishes to see me dead.” Mobei-Jun says this like it’s just another fact of life, not even an upsetting one, which kind of makes it one of the saddest fucking things that Shang Qinghua has ever heard the man say.

“That’s terrible,” Luo Jiahui says vehemently. “How rotten.”

Mobei-Jun blinks at her. His expression is still solemn, but the pause seems surprised.

Shang Qinghua almost wants to shrug. Yep, his sister-in-law is just like this!

“I have promised Qinghua that I will protect your son,” Mobei-Jun says to her. “I make you the same promise now.”

“...Thank you.”

- 

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “I understand you to be one of the rare humans who is not a piece of shit and who would have saved me as a child. I respect this. I don’t fucking understand it, but I understand you should be protected and that your child should be protected. I am doing this for Shang Qinghua and not because I have any personal issues surrounding the endangerment of demon children.” 

Luo Jiahui is like, “Oh, he’s soft inside! He’ll protect my Binghe. Okay, I like him now. I didn’t want to, but anyone who basically professes to be willing to die for my child and my brother has my reluctant approval.” 

- 

Shang Qinghua can’t help it. The energy in here is so weird! He laughs.

“My king, have you had that all this time?”

Mobei-Jun doesn’t say anything, he just frowns.

“Clearly he was waiting to return it in person, Houhua,” Luo Jiahui admonishes. “It’s not his fault that you took so long introducing us or surely he would have returned it sooner. Don’t make it out to be impolite.”

Mobei-Jun gives Shang Qinghua’s sister-in-law an approving look.

- 

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “Oh, she’s smarter than Qinghua. Good. (Not that my Shang Qinghua isn’t very clever, but he’s an idiot.)” 

- 

And sometimes it’s just nice to take a minute to sit back, relax, and see his disciples daring their shidi, his fellow transmigrator, to chug the spiciest soup on the menu.

“Ah, kids,” Shang Qinghua says to Luo Jiahui.

Luo Jiahui is making a very concerned expression as her sisters, Shang Qinghua’s head disciples, and even Liu Mingyan chant: “Chug! Chug! Chug!” Yeah, he should probably stop them! But why would he? If anyone throws up from this, he’ll just appear out of nowhere to scare the shit out of all of them and then make them clean it up. It’s fine. He says as much to Luo Jiahui.

“They’re old enough to know better,” she says, but she looks fond now. “Their shifu should have taught them better manners, hm?”

“Hey! Only… four of those are mine.”

- 

AN: Friends for Shen Yuan! Friends for Shen Yuan! 

Also SQH being like, “Oh, fuck, I really have too many kids.” 

- 

Luo Jiahui sighs wistfully. “It is nice having children in here again, even big ones who are supposed to be adults now. I’m so proud of how Binghe has grown, but I miss when he was little. I miss when I could pick him up and carry him around. Uncle Han’s daughter brought her new baby in yesterday. He was so cute!”

“Aha, don’t steal a baby to fill the empty nest, please!”

Luo Jiahui swats him. “I wouldn’t do something like that!” she insists, cheeks flushing pink.

- 

AN: Baby?! Baby for Luo Jiahui and Liu Qingge?! Maybe! 

[myheartismadeofstars]

More babies for my otps! Scum Villain Edition!

BingQiu:

Now, I have two backstories for their children. One is in an ABO verse, but the other is canon verse. The canonverse one involves LBH and SQQ deciding to have children together. (Well....more like LBH starts getting all wistful whenever they are around children which reminds SQQ of how, though Bingge was never a very present father for his many children...he did love them. And he was always ecstatic to find out he was going to have another, and when he did spend time with them, he enjoyed being around them Airplane didn’t think readers would find children very interesting once they were born and it made him realize that that is still part of who Binghe is and he’d still want a family)

SQQ hated himself for it, but he asked the system for methods to have a child with LBH, and discovered a plant known as the Frog Pomegranate (not to be confused with the Pomegranate Frog, apparently). The interesting thing is....the plant is relatively normal (!!!???) until a specific ritual is done, after which point consuming the seeds of the fruit (and papapaing of course) will guarantee conception (if it wasn’t in such a stupidly remote area...it only grows on a rocky mountainside, on almost a 90 degree slope, far from human civilization, it would probably be extremely popular as a fertility aid!) Of course it turns out the ritual to make the fruit magical requires a *ahem* gift for the tree (and SQQ went alone!). SQQ ended up gathering an armful of the magical fruit, to bring them back to Mu Qingfang. Surely he’d have a use for it!

The result is triplets.

The first child to be born is their oldest daughter Shuilu (”Light Green”) she highly resembles SQQ, and you can really only tell LBH is her father if you have them both together. Otherwise her silky smooth hair and seafoam green eyes are all SQQ. She grows up an independent but helpful child. Able to care for herself young, but always mimicking her parents. Wanting to “work” with them (trying to imitate them doing paperwork, or help LBH cook). She grows up the very image of a princess. Elegant and polite and hardworking and diplomatic. LBH and her have a very special bond and while most tend to favour his son as his heir....privately? He favours her.

The second child is their son: Shuanghu (”Frost Tiger”). He actually resembles Tianlang-Jun quite a lot, though like his father his hair begins to curl as a teenager. He is very much the tsundere type, a bit proud, a fierce warrior since he was young (he often trains with Liu Qingge who had always been a part of his and his sisters’ lives), however he doesn’t get along well with his father. He’s very loyal to him (something a few would be conspirators learn the hard way) because he does love him (LBH is never anything but good to him, just a bit strict and not as bad as LQG is!) they just clash personality wise. Like his father, however, he’s very popular with women...he’s just not very good at expressing himself lol.

The third child is another little girl. She was born so tiny and delicate that even MQF wasn’t certain if she would make it. After a lot of TLC from SQQ, A-Zhen (one character, and it means “to receive blessings in a sincere spirit”). She’s the most even mix between her parents, even inheriting both their signature features: SQQ’s green eyes and LBH’s curly hair. She’s Baba’s special baby, and...admittedly he kinda spoils her a bit. She’s a bit shy and clingy...and a bit of a crybaby. That’s not to say she’s useless! She’s the child with the second closest connection to her 1/4 demon heritage (after her brother. Her sister barely has any such connection and relies entirely on regular cultivation) She simply is mostly a pacifist.

In addition to their three biological children, LBH and SQQ end up rescuing a lot of street children which they teach, and love as their own children.

BONUS: Moshang!

SQH and MBJ have a son a few years after the Bingqiu Triplets are born.

The choice was kinda pressured, and SQH really didn’t think he was really ready to be a parent...but they were basically being told either they have a child, or MBJ will have to take a second (female) spouse in order to have an heir or more. MBJ would obviously have vetoed that with extreme prejudice, but SQH didn’t want to be more unpopular than he already is.

At birth, he is named Fengying (Wind Shadow). SQH, slightly uncertain on how the Lang/Jun suffixes work in this scenario (he’s the heir...but he’s also a half demon?) at first gives him the suffix “-Lang” but MBJ scolds him for trying to deny their son his inheritance. As per tradition, he is called Fengying alone until he’s a teenager, when he officially becomes Fengying-Jun. If/when his father can no longer rule, he will take the name of Mobei-Jun, as his father did. (Random headcanon: MBJ’s given name is actually Ji “Sharp/Fierce or To Incite” and Lin “to tremble in fear or shiver with cold” but also “imposing, cold, austere, majestic, stern, etc” however due to sharing that last character with his Uncle, no one, not even SQH is permitted to call him Jilin-Jun) 

He’s on the short side for an Ice demon, only 6′2 as opposed to his father being between 7-8), he only leans ever so slightly to his demon side, his father’s sharp features being softened by SQH’s human side. Making him slightly more delicate looking (SQH wonders if being so pretty might be a half demon trait now, rather than specific to LBH). He retains most of his demonic features: icy blue-white skin, pale eyes, black hair frosted with white when healthy and pure black when ill, sharp ears (though his are rounder than normal), and a low body temperature, though his is higher than standard. Leading some to be concerned he’s running a fever. He does however, lack his father’s sharp teeth.

His personality is intelligent and he’s pretty skilled with his demon magic considering he’s only half...and he inherited resting bitch face from his father...but he’s actually pretty shy, which he never properly grows out of. He’s even gentle and merciful, which a lot of his father’s court consider an embarrassment, and clearly SQH’s fault. (poor boy has a lot of pressure on him, might have anxiety)

He develops romantic feelings for Luo Zhen, despite her being older than him. And his courtship methods are very human.

[serotocin38]

As Film & TV Genres

Shen Qingqiu as Murder Mystery: Shen Qingqiu would make both the perfect villain and the perfect detective in a murder mystery show or movie. Just imagine... A camera slowly panning into a dimly lit room, covered wall to wall with pictures and newspaper clippings. A silhouette of a man stands in front of the wall, slowly fanning himself. The fan snaps shut with a very satisfying click as everything suddenly becomes clear, and the mystery is to be unveiled. Honestly, it’s the fan. The whole “hiding half of his face behind his fan” thing could definitely be a perfect modus operandi for a killer shrouded by shadows, or the detective who is cold and aloof on the outside, but hides a dark and painful past behind that mask. Also, if Shen Qingqiu were the detective, he’d be the one that values his work above all else, causing him to have a nonexistent love and social life. But who can break this workaholic shell of his? Cough, definitely not his coworker who also happens to be the killer he’s chasing, cough

Luo Binghe as Thriller: Not only does thriller go hand-in-hand with mystery, but a thriller film is characterized by feelings of both anticipation and apprehension. If that doesn’t describe Luo Binghe, I honestly have no idea what else can fit him. If one were to ask Shen Qingqiu pre-relationship what he felt about Binghe, it would probably be along the lines of “he makes me want to shit myself in fear, but he’s also kind of sweet and makes really good food, but also I’m terrified of him”. I think it would be cinematic gold for a movie to open up with: It’s an empty room, backlit with a foreboding red glow. A man walks in slowly, his footsteps echoing with each slow thud. And then he chuckles, low and quiet, head cocked to the side tauntingly. All we can see is his cold smile, the slight curl of a sneer or a smirk. Maybe he even licks his lips once, showing a glint of canines. And he says one line before the screen goes black, “I’m coming for you”. And we’re left wondering, who is this character? Is he a good guy? A bad guy? Either way, he’s pretty sexy, but also a bit scary because what if he’s a psycho murderer? We’ll just have to find out...

Wei Wuxian as Western: Hear me out, hear me out. Westerns are generally pretty cheesy with the exaggerated drawl, the gunfights, the macho men slowly walking towards each other with a squinted eyes, flicking aside the toothpick they’ve been chewing on the whole movie. But it’s exactly that setting that I think would fit Wei Wuxian perfectly. It’s a rom-com and action salad tossed together with a handful of tumbleweeds and a healthy dose of dusty streets. Wei Wuxian would be the charismatic outlaw who thinks he has no cares in the world aside from booze, women, and righting the wrongs of the money-greedy government. But he was wrong. Because suddenly, his best friend gets shot in front of him, and his friend’s dying wish is for someone to watch over his little brother. So suddenly Wei Wuxian, the lawless loner, is saddled with some law-abiding teenager who seems to hate his guts. And Wei Wuxian can’t exactly get rid of him, so he puts up with this burden who slowly grows on him as they travel the Western wilderness on horseback. Wei Wuxian tries teaching the kid the ways of drinking and flirting, but the kid’s obviously not interested. In fact, the kid’s disapproving glare every time Wei Wuxian returns with his saddlebags filled with cash is actually starting to make him feel guilty?? Anyway, my point being, it’s not a Western without some cheesy romance ;)

Lan Wangji as Nature Documentary: There’s not much of a reason for this other than the fact I feel like Lan Wangji would have a very soothing, deep voice that would be perfect for narrating nature documentaries. Just imagine him saying, “The male peacock continues to flaunt his beautiful feathers in front of the drab, colorless females. He is rejected again... and again... and again. They don’t seem to notice his efforts............... *soft sigh*”. And that’s all the reasoning I feel is necessary to provide.

Xie Lian as Reality TV: With Xie Lian’s ability to be so unbelievably unlucky, he really needs a crew of cameramen following him around. They wouldn’t even need to script fake drama into it because his life is so crazy to start with. He gets dragged into conflict after conflict when all he really wants to do is to settle down in his run-down shrine and live a domestic life. Xie Lian may not have many brain cells to spare, but he’s still the unwilling parent figure of the Upper Heavenly Court, and they cannot function properly without his interference. Not to mention, he often has a band of “children” he has no relations to following him around (e.g. Lang Ying, Gu Zi, small Hua Cheng, Ban Yue, Quan Yizhen, Shi Qingxuan, Qi Rong, Mu Qing, Feng Xin, etc.). His viewers are very sympathetic towards the 800+ year-old virgin who is immortalized at the age of 17 to be saddled with such a huge responsibility (but they love the drama, so they’re not that sympathetic).

Hua Cheng as Action: If a building were to explode, the only person who would turn and walk away in slow motion would be Hua Cheng. There’s no doubt that he has a flare for the dramatics, wanting to stand out and do extreme things to grab attention. But plot twist, Hua Cheng isn’t the hero of the story, no, no. He’s actually the “bad guy”, but he’s really, really, really good at his job, so we just watch him escape over and over again, running back home to his little wife who is waiting day and night, wondering if his husband will return today. But Hua Cheng made a vow that he would always come back, no matter what. So Hua Cheng is painted as an evil, manipulative, cunning villain to the public, but Hua Cheng doesn’t care, and will continue to do even crazier and even riskier stunts all to fulfill his promise to return to his beloved. Plot twist part 2, Hua Cheng didn’t actually want to be the bad guy. He just volunteered himself when his beloved got into some trouble with some really bad people, and he found out that he’s actually really good at kicking ass and is a natural-born escape artist or something, so he’s just winging it, really. 

[hamliet]

do you like qi rong?

I do!

He probably isn’t in my top ten characters from TGCF, but I do think he’s a well done character. It’s hard for me to dislike anyone in MXTX’s works because they all seem extremely human with complex flaws and motivations. There are a few I dislike, but Qi Rong isn’t one of them. 

Qi Rong is actually fairly intelligent; his habit of always seeing and expecting the worst of people is tragic, but he also is thereby able to identify the things no one else can. As @thisworldgodonlyknows and @beneaththebrim point out here, Qi Rong identifies almost everyone’s flaws right away and even directly states the novel’s biggest twist: 

He called Pei Ming a man whore, Little Pei a leg-hugging dog, Jun Wu a faker, Ling Wen a bitch, Lang Qian Qiu a moron, Quan Yi Zhen shit, the Water Master black-hearted, the Wind Master a slutty woman – he probably didn’t know Shi Qing Xuan was actually a man.

His cynicism is a direct contrast to Xie Lian’s naivete and kindness. It’s notable that the two exceptions, the two characters Qi Rong does not correctly pin down are Quan YiZhen and Shi QingXuan–both of whom are childlike and innocent. This is because he cannot really understand that kind of innocence, because he never got the chance to experience it for himself with his traumatic backstory. Qi Rong believes people are bad, and he, like Jun Wu, wants to drag Xie Lian down to his level:

“…FIGHT, KILL, FIGHT RUTHLESSLY! KILL CRUELLY! Don’t give me that saintly look as if you are so burdened with unspeakable sin! Disgusting! UGH!” 

…To be able to drag the both of them to the same hell, Qi Rong was filled with rapture, his eyes shone brightly, “See! There’s your true face! Cousin Crown Prince, who knows you better than me in this world? … Or are you gonna tell me loudly that this body is innocent, so you won’t kill me in order to spare him? Come! Show me what you’ll do!” 

At first I was concerned that Qi Rong’s sad backstory with his abusive father was done to “bad victim” him (in contrast to Xie Lian, who grew up in privilege but with a cold father, or Hua Cheng, who was also abused). But that’s later completely unpacked when Qi Rong is given the chance to become a dad to Gu Zi. He’s not a perfect dad, but from what we see he actually treated Gu Zi better than his biological father. In this way it shows us that even though Qi Rong started out as a bitter, petty, selfish, and mentally unbalanced character, he was still capable of being a good dad. In that way it illustrates the theme in TGCF that everyone is capable of becoming a better person–it just takes an act of kindness. And yes, Gu Zi’s clinging to Qi Rong when Qi Rong feels enraged that no one has chosen him (his anger with Xie Lian comes with Xie Lian not prioritizing him because no one ever had) softened his heart to allow Qi Rong to protect a bit of innocence in a literal child. 

Qi Rong’s death is a sacrifice that MXTX presents in a nuanced way. MXTX never endorses self-sacrifice in any of her works (think of Su XiYan failing to save her lover and thus BingHe winding up alone, Jiang YanLi’s sacrifice only leading to her brother killing the one she gave her life to save, Wei WuXian’s self-sacrificial nature caused more problems than it solved, etc.) He dies for Gu Zi, taking Gu Zi’s biological father with him. His death fixes absolutely nothing, but neither is it meaningless, because Gu Zi is alive then. It’s the circumstances that were unfair and unjust. But, Gu Zi is then cared for by Lian QianQiu. 

For more reading I highly recommend @beneaththebrim‘s meta on Lian QianQiu here!

[elara-moon]

Title: Happy Together (chapter two: BingQiu Week Day Two)

Author: Elara_Moon

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Summary: BingQiu Week Day Two: Royalty AU. Shen Qingqiu is a minor noble. Luo Binghe is the long-lost heir to the throne.

AO3 Link

The halls were filled with gossip. The nobles, the maids, the guards, everyone was talking, and all about one man.

Luo Binghe.

He was, apparently, the long-lost son of TianLang-Jun, the king. TianLang-Jun’s pregnant wife, Su Xiyan, had gone missing while traveling, and she had been presumed dead. Now, Luo Binghe had appeared, eighteen years old and an accomplished swordsman, with the necklace TianLang-Jun had given Su Xiyan as a courting gift.

He was believed immediately; absolutely nobody had any doubts that he was telling the truth. Everyone talked about how handsome he was, how charming he was, how skilled he was.

Shen Qingqiu felt that his story was a little farfetched, but who was he to complain? He didn’t care who became king. Shen Qingqiu was only minor nobility; barely noble at all. It was none of his business. Besides, he hadn’t even met the man -- nor did he care to.

He cared far more about his books.

He was sitting in one of the gardens, reading his book. Though it wasn’t private, this garden wasn’t especially popular, so it was usually fairly empty. It meant that the sound of an approaching crowd was even more obvious than it might usually be.

Frowning faintly at the interruption, Shen Qingqiu looked up -- and directly into the dark eyes of Luo Binghe. Though Shen Qingqiu hadn’t met him, and didn’t know what he looked like, Luo Binghe was immediately recognizable by the royal purple edging on his black clothes. Even if not for that, though, Shen Qingqiu thought he would have recognized him anyway. Some of the descriptions he’d heard of Luo Binghe went through his mind -- breathtaking, the most handsome man in the kingdom, unfairly pretty, the very personification of attraction.

Yeah. Those things definitely fit this man. Especially when his expression, previously calm and serious, lit up with a smile as he met Shen Qingqiu’s eyes.

Shen Qingqiu wasn’t bad looking, but this man was gorgeous.

Luo Binghe wasn’t alone, of course. The crowd Shen Qingqiu had heard was Luo Binghe’s entourage. Guards, advisors, and admirers crowded around Luo Binghe, more than a dozen people in all.

Better him than me, Shen Qingqiu thought. The thought of being subjected to it himself horrified him.

Aware of propriety, Shen Qingqiu dragged his eyes off of Luo Binghe’s features (which were unfairly pretty indeed) and back to his book. After a moment, however, it became unavoidably obvious that Luo Binghe was walking towards Shen Qingqiu. There was no other reason for him to be aiming for Shen Qingqiu’s little corner of the considerable garden.

Oh no. That could be bad. Shen Qingqiu couldn’t think of anything he’d done wrong, or anything he’d done that could have offended Luo Binghe, but there were no good reasons for the crown prince of the kingdom to be approaching Shen Qingqiu, either.

Shen Qingqiu stood as Luo Binghe approached, and Luo Binghe stopped directly in front of him. He was still smiling, bright and somehow delighted. The entourage stopped a polite distance away, though they were definitely still eavesdropping.

“Shen Qingqiu?” Luo Binghe said.

Heart pounding, Shen Qingqiu managed a nod and a bow. “Yes, Your Highness,” he said.

And then Luo Binghe dropped to one knee in front of him. Shen Qingqiu just about had a heart attack. What was that! Prince, what were you doing!?

Luo Binghe offered a ring to him. It was a nice ring, with a diamond inlay. Shen Qingqiu stifled a scream.

“Shen Qingqiu. Will you marry me?” Luo Binghe asked, still smiling. He seemed happy. He seemed as though this was normal, like he was asking his boyfriend, a person he’d actually ever even met before.

The entourage, previously silent, burst into hushed chatter.

Shen Qingqiu only did not react by pure strength of will and many years of practice at court. Inwardly, he was freaking out. What was he supposed to do now! He couldn’t just say no to the crown prince of the kingdom! But how could he say yes!? They’d never even met!

Why was Luo Binghe proposing to him!?

The silence dragged on a little too long. Luo Binghe’s smile started to falter.

They needed to talk about this. Obviously. Shen Qingqiu needed to get Luo Binghe to explain. But not in front of The Entourage.

Shen Qingqiu reached out, grabbing Luo Binghe’s arm (which was audacious and presumptuous, but oh well!), and pulled him to his feet.

“Excuse us,” he said briefly to the entourage before dragging Luo Binghe away.

Once they were in a different corner of the garden, which seemed remote and private enough, he let Luo Binghe go. Shen Qingqiu took several quick steps away before turning back to Luo Binghe.

Luo Binghe was frowning, now, ring still held in one hand. Was it Shen Qingqiu’s imagination, or did he look hurt? “What’s wrong?” he said.

What was wrong. What wasn’t wrong!

“Why are you proposing to me?” Shen Qingqiu said. “We’ve never even met!”

That was definitely hurt on Luo Binghe’s face. “We -- haven’t we? Don’t you remember me?”

Shen Qingqiu allowed himself a short, controlled flail. “I really don’t. When would we have met?” he asked.

“It’s been a few years,” Luo Binghe said slowly. He let out a humorless laugh. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Of course I wouldn’t have left as big of an impression on you as you did on me.”

“I’m sorry,” Shen Qingqiu said, starting to feel like he was the bad guy here. He was also intimately aware of their different stations.

Luo Binghe shook his head. “Don’t you remember me at all, A-Yuan?” he said.

A frisson went down Shen Qingqiu’s spine and he couldn’t help but jump, startled. It had been years since anybody called him by that name. Nobody had called him that since his parents died, and he was sent to live with his cousins… Sent here. From the city he’d grown up in.

He’d been born in Cang Qiong city, and wasn’t that the same city Luo Binghe claimed to be from?

But Luo Binghe was younger than him, he was eighteen to Shen Qingqiu’s twenty-two -- he wouldn’t have been very old when Shen Qingqiu moved. Ten, probably?

Oh.

It hit him like a horse-drawn carriage.

When Shen Qingqiu was a child, he’d become friends with an orphan, a few years younger than him. Little Binghe. Binghe had been so small, though, he’d always thought there were more than four years between them. Malnutrition, probably. Shen Qingqiu had snuck him food, when he could. Had taught him to read. Had shared what little swordsmanship he learned with him.

Binghe hadn’t had much to offer in return. He’d given Shen Qingqiu little gifts -- pretty rocks he found in the river, flowers he thought smelled nice. A couple of times, he’d made earnest promises about giving Shen Qingqiu real gifts. Gems instead of rocks, roses instead of wildflowers. He’d talked about marrying Shen Qingqiu a couple of times. Shen Qingqiu had always thought of it like a young child wanting to marry their best friend. Nothing serious.

Then Shen Qingqiu’s parents had died, and he’d been sent off to his nearest relatives. He’d never gotten the chance to say goodbye to Binghe.

He hadn’t recognized the name. He hadn’t thought of Binghe in a long time, and besides, the Binghe he’d met before was an orphan, certainly he never would have associated him with this man, the crown prince of the kingdom.

Shen Qingqiu staggered backwards a step, feeling like he’d been slapped. “Binghe?” he said.

It was foolish. Obviously, Luo Binghe’s name was Binghe. But Luo Binghe’s expression brightened.

“You remember?” he said, delighted.

“I… I remember,” Shen Qingqiu said. “I’m sorry. I never got to say goodbye.”

Luo Binghe shook his head. He was smiling again. “It’s okay. I’m just glad I found you again.”

He stepped closer to Shen Qingqiu and lifted a hand to cradle his cheek. Luo Binghe was standing very close, Shen Qingqiu noted. And Luo Binghe was taller than him now.

The shock broke. Shen Qingqiu remembered that this ridiculous man had found him for the first time in eight years and immediately proposed. He pushed Luo Binghe’s hand away from his face and scowled at him.

“What were you thinking, proposing out of the blue!” he scolded, whacking him gently on the forehead with the book he was holding in one hand. “It’s been eight years! Give a man some warning!”

“I told you I wanted to marry you, before,” Luo Binghe protested with a pout. “And now I can. I can give you real gems! I’ll give you all the presents you want. I’ll give you a proper wedding.”

Shen Qingqiu hesitated. He actually considered it for the first time, the prospect of marrying Luo Binghe. The crown prince of the kingdom, this unfairly handsome man, the cheerful little kid he’d willingly spent most of his time with from the ages of ten to fourteen.

It wasn’t… entirely unappealing. And his family had been trying to get him to marry, anyway.

However.

“How about we try dating first?” he said with a sigh.

Luo Binghe beamed like Shen Qingqiu had already agreed.

[delicioussshame]

I’ve spent so much time in the last month opening the second part of the MoShen thing and staring I decided fuck it, I’m writing part three, maybe it will help. Try getting Shen Qingqiu and Mobei-Jun to talk about sex without intermediaries and see how you like it.

Anyway, all you need to know for part three is that they’ve been fucking long enough to be comfortable around each other.

Now, Shang Qinghua’s pov.

That noise wasn’t Mobei-Jun. The voice was too loud and too high to come from his king.  

Shang Qinghua should have expected this would happen sooner or later. He wrote Mobei-Jun after all. He was also a demon king, like Bing-ge. Men like them have needs and many admirers more than willing to fulfill them. Of course his king isn’t celibate. Just because Shang Qinghua had never bothered to include love interests for him doesn’t mean he has none.  

And if that voice was male, well, Shang Qinghua should have expected that too, considering what happened to his stallion protagonist. Obviously Cucumber-bro fucked everyone up by messing with the story.  

The part of him with no sense of self-preservation, that part Shang Qinghua tried so hard to kill, that part really wonders what’s Mobei-Jun’s type. His king always looks so blank, it’s impossible to know what he likes. What kind of man managed to get through Mobei-Jun’s reserve? Shang Qinghua doesn’t have much presence, especially compared to all the demons roaming around. He can probably open the door to his king’s quarters silently enough not to be heard considering they’re not exactly paying attention.  

The first thing he notices is Mobei-Jun's back, because hello, that is a nice back. Shang Qinghua wants to run his tongue all over those muscles, now would be good.  

The second thing he notices are the white, delicate fingers digging into the meat of Mobei-Jun's shoulders and the slim, just as fair legs framing his hips. Huh. Shang Qinghua would have figured that if Mobei-Jun took a man to bed, he would still be a fighter, someone able to stand his own against him. Those hands belong to a musician or a scholar, maybe. Closer to his than Mobei-Jun's underlings’, without talons or claws or anything but normal, well-trimmed nails.  

The rest of the person is hidden behind Mobei-Jun's obviously bigger body. That’s too bad. It’s not helping Shang Qinghua finding out what his king is into.  

He should really go, shouldn’t he? What he’s doing is wrong, and Mobei-Jun will kill him if he catches him staring like a creeper.  

It’s just really, really hard to stop looking at Mobei-Jun as he keeps thrusting into the person half sitting on his desk, fuck. Shang Qinghua gave reports while Mobei-Jun was sitting at that desk! Hell, he’d sat there once! Now all he’s going to be able to think about when he sees it is how hot it would be to get fucked on it, shit! And that ass! That ass is fiiiine. He likes to think they’re past the stage of their relationship where Mobei-Jun would kill him if he got too close, but he still believes he would get brutally murdered if he tried to slap that ass, no matter how no one sane could resist that kind of temptation. And he still hasn’t seen who he’s giving it too! Just a glimpse at his face would be enough! He could find out who it is from that. He’s good at gathering info, and maybe it’s a named character.  

Before he can convince himself to stop being a worse pervert than Cucumber-bro thinks he is just because he had to write porn to survive, Mobei-Jun crunches slightly to… he’s picking him up! Obviously Mobei-Jun can just pick him some guy and carry him around. He could probably fuck like that without even straining himself.  

Shank Qinghua rues the day he decided to write all his fantasies into one character.  

The move is going to change the angle, so maybe he sees the guy’s face… after he makes sure they can’t see him. There’ll be no point if Mobei-Jun assassinates him.  

Long black hair… Also pretty standard, not much to help identify hi…

His heart sinks into his chest. That can’t… It totally is Cucumber-bro being fucked mindless by Mobei-Jun. Fuck.  

Fuck.

He needs to get out of here now.

______________

He’s been on his peak for two weeks and he still feels like shit. His mind just can’t accept what he saw. If he hadn’t seen him himself, he would have never believed it.

How did they even fall in love? It’s not like Shen Qingqiu has an unfulfilled demon kink. He had Luo Binghe for fuck’s sake! The protagonist! Arguably the hottest man in this whole universe, who is completely crazy for him! He didn’t have to take Mobei-Jun too!

But that must be what happened. Mobei-Jun is loyal to Luo Binghe. He wouldn’t sleep with his beloved husband out of lust, and honestly neither would Shen Qingqiu. If they’re having an affair while Bing-ge is away, they must really care for each other.

Shen Qingqiu and Mobei-Jun.  

Yeah, that happened. Shang Qinghua can’t live in denial forever. He’s just gonna have to deal with the fact that Shen Qingqiu is the demonic ideal and he barely exists for them. He’s not anywhere near as attractive as them all anyway. He should have known he had no chance from the beginning.  

And if that hurts, that’s just Shang Qinghua’s life. He’s the writer. He’s supposed to be outside of the story anyway. And nothing nice ever happened to the original Shang Qinghua, so why would it change for him?  

So he’s just going to have to swallow down the hurt and deal with it.  

Just not yet.  

______________

It takes all he has not to freak out when Mobei-Jun wakes him up one morning. “My king! What are you doing here?” He hasn’t stopped by An Ding Peak to get him in years.

He hadn’t needed to. Shang Qinghua spent most of his time at his or Bing-ge’s castles now.  

He had just needed a break. Everyone needs a break from time to time, okay? Nothing wrong with that.  

As long as you’re not Mobei-Jun, apparently. “You haven’t given me reports in weeks.”

Shang Qinghua can’t meet his king’s eyes. “Apologies, my king. Urgent business kept me on my peak.”  

Mobei-Jun doesn’t have to say a word for Shang Qinghua to understand that he couldn’t care less about his “urgent business.” Great, now he’s feeling guilty for skipping on his duties on top of it all. Great.  

“What’s wrong?”

Shang Qinghua flinches and blinks in astonishment. Did his king just ask him… He raises his head instinctively to look at him, meets his eyes for a second, has a very vivid flash of the last time he saw him and looks down again. “There’s nothing wrong, my king,” he says, trying to control the shaking of his hands.  

“…You’re coming back.” Not a question. Shit.

“Tomorrow, so that I can wrap things up before leaving.”

Mobei-Jun frowns, but allows it.

Shang Qinghua falls face first in his bed the moment he leaves.  

His life is terrible.

______________

“You look terrible.”

Shang Qinghua is going to slap Shen Qingqiu. Watch him. “I’ve been busy.” Why is he even here? Doesn’t he have better things to do, like Mobei-Jun?

“With what.”

“Things on An Ding. There’s always something to take care of.”

Shen Qingqiu shrugs. “There’s nothing especially important going on at the sect right now. Your disciples are used to you being away.”

The last thing he needs right now is being interrogated by Shen Qingqiu. “Why do you care?”

Shen Qingqiu blinks in surprise. “Can’t I visit? I haven’t heard from you in weeks.”

Because that’s how Shang Qinghua had liked it, thanks. I know what you sound like when you’re getting fucked now! Right now I’m half embarrassed, half jealous as hell and half terrified for all our lives when Luo Binghe finds out you’re cheating on him!

He has to calm down. And, shit, he’s going to have to talk about this, because he’s not kidding about lives being endangered here. If this is what he wants, Shen Qingqiu is going to have to do this properly and tell Bing-ge before he decides only Mobei-Jun’s blood will suffice to soothe his anger. “That’s because I didn’t want to talk to you. You fucked up, Bro.”

Shen Qingqiu obviously wasn’t expecting it. Does he think he covered his tracks too well? When Shang Qinghua just walked on them? “What are you even talking about?”

“Before I left, I went to see Mobei-Jun, and he wasn’t alone.”

Damn it, Shen Qingqiu isn’t catching on. “Who was he with?”

Why is he so blind? And does he manage to catch everyone while being this obvious? “Do you really need me to spell it out?”

“Yes.”

“You.”  

“...And?”

Seriously? “You two were busy, if you know what I mean, and Bro, if you have issues with Luo Binghe don’t drag my king into it! Do you realise your husband is going to kill your lover when he finds out! Are you really so stupid you thought he would never? I just walked in on you both! It could have been anyone!” He slaps the table for good measure, making the tea cups rattle. Better than Shen Qingqiu’s face. If he had done that, he’d have two demon kings after his blood. Hurrah.

Shen Qingqiu stares at him, his face completely blanched for a few minutes, before it becomes so red Shang Qinghua fears he’s cooking from the inside. “That... wasn’t what you’re thinking.”

“Bro, please, I saw plenty. Do you need me to give you details? Because I can. You two were fucking, no mistaking it.”

Shen Qingqiu is hiding behind his fan, but he can’t hide his embarrassment like that. “Well, yes, but...” and the rest of the sentence is inaudible.

“What?”

“It was Binghe’s idea! Which makes it yours, since you’re the one that gave him all those weird kinks! What's wrong with you! What’s the childhood trauma you were projecting there! Couldn’t you have remained a lurker instead of getting delusions of grandeur and writing the world’s shittiest online novel! I hate you so much.”

Okay, so, what? It was Luo Binghe’s idea?

Luo Binghe’s idea!? “Bro, what the fuck? Luo Binghe doesn’t strike me as the sharing type.”  

“Yes, well, that’s the problem, isn’t it.”  

They’re talking about this, are they? Never mind, Shang Qinghua wants to know what happened to his characters, and what kind of plotline is that? “Tell me.”

Even his ears are red. “That’s really not your business.”

Cucumber-bro might have tried to deflect by getting angry at him, but they’ve known each other long enough that he can tell he’s still really, really embarrassed. Too bad. He made his life shit for weeks, causing him to worry he’d have a funeral to attend, he can get over himself for a couple minutes. “Ìt kind of is. As of this moment, it would be the responsible thing for me to go tell Luo Binghe what happened, since he’s everyone’s lord and everything. Who knows how he would react?”

“Don’t do it! He might murder you if he knows you saw me... like that.” Shang Qinghua can almost see the steam coming out of his ears.  

“Then explain.”

“It’s not logical. It’s... weird.”

“That’s nothing new. Bing-ge is never logical when it comes to you. And you’re the one fucking Mobei-Jun, not him.”

Cucumber-bro takes a deep breath. “Luo Binghe is scared I’m going to cheat on him when he’s away, so he... arranged someone to make sure it doesn’t happen.”  

Shang Qinghua’s jaw falls. That really makes no sense. “Bro, he must know you wouldn’t do that.”

“It’s not really that, it’s more like... He doesn’t want me to be lonely and tempted. I told you it wasn’t logical.”

Okay. He can kind of see Bing-ge worrying his husband was alone and sad while he wasn’t with him, but to the point of whoring out his king? “You were right, that’s some kink he’s got.” No one as obsessed as Luo Binghe lets his lover sleep with other people if they don’t get off on it.  

Wait. “Does he watch? Does he participate!? Are you having threesomes with my king!!?”

Cucumber-bro is now crimson, and the lack of denial leaves Shang Qinghua even more jealous than he was a week ago. Shen Qingqiu really overtook all of the wives’ sex lives, did he? When does he sleep? How does he walk!? Does he exude pheromones irresistible to demons? Is all of Luo Binghe’s entourage just waiting for their chance to hit that?  

Talking about his entourage. “Is this common knowledge? Because you’re very bad at hiding it considering I just walked on you.”

“Of course not! Think of Luo Binghe’s reputation!”

“Then hide better!”

Shen Qingqiu snorts, regaining some composure. “You’re an idiot.”

Excuse me? “I’m an idiot? Me? You’re the one who gets fucked on a desk and doesn’t even lock the door!”

Composure: exploded. Shang Qinghua gives himself a point. “Not anyone could have walked in!”

“Yes they could have! I did!”

Shen Qingqiu looks exasperated. “Mobei-Jun’s quarters are shielded and guarded against intruders. You’re just one of the very few people that’s allowed to waltz in.”

That’s right. He always just showed up whenever he felt like it and no one ever said a thing. He just thought he was too insignificant to stop. If Mobei-Jun didn’t want him there, he’d let it known. “Oh.”

“Yes, oh.”

“...Bro, can you tell him I know?”

Something passes over Shen Qingqiu’s face. “No. Tell him yourself.”

“Bro! He’s gonna kill me! Forget it, he doesn’t need to know. I’ll just pretend it never happened and walk really loudly when I stop by.”

Shen Qingqiu grabs his shoulders to make him stand still. “Airplane-bro, tell him.”

He whines. “Why?”

Shen Qingqiu is getting impatient. “Do it.” Or else being very much implied.  

Since Shen Qingqiu’s “or else” carries a lot of weight even before he starts throwing his husband’s and his lover’s weight around, Shang Qinghua knows he’s been left no choice. “Fine. Whatever.” He can tell Mobei-Jun he saw him fucking Shen Qingqiu. That’s nothing. Mobei-Jun doesn’t have an embarrassed bone in his body. He’ll probably just be a little bit disgusted, that’s all.  

No problem.  

[wei-suibian]

TCGF+SV AU

Or basically, an Au i’m never going to actually write, but post snipets off because it’s fun. I’ve seen lots of BingQiu adopting little WWX, and i raise you, XL adopting little LBH. This Au works within the assumption that all MXTX novels hapen in the same universe, but different continents. Also, this first part doesn’t tell you much, next one to follow shortly, be ware of knives.

Part 2: HERE

1- Luo BingHe's suffering 

Luo BingHe was an orphan raised by a washerwoman. He was an orphan, abandoned by the Luo river, left to be carried by the currents and meet the fate the heavens had planned for him. His adoptive mother- His mother, was a sweet and caring woman, who had not even enough to feed herself and worked to the bone everyday, but even so took him in and cherished him as her own flesh and blood.

He was raised poor, but loved.

As soon as he was old enough to understand the world, his mind was filled with the tought that he wished he could do more for her, make it so their lives wouldn't be so harsh. He owed it to her. She would bring back from the house she served in all the leftover food, given to her when she begged enough. They would give her the oldest and most worn out books and permitted her to take them home if she worked twice as hard the next few days.

She would grovel and kneel, asking for the scraps of cloth the young masters no longer used, saying she needed to make some robes for winter or she would freeze to death. The household master only agreed to stop hearing her babbling, always making sure he got something in return, of course. Everytime his mother came back with bruises on her wrists and a pale face, Luo BingHe wanted nothing more than to disappear, so she wouldn't have to suffer like this.

All the scraps of food were for him. The books, she gave to him so he learnt to read and write, hoping he could be better than her, who never had the chance to stop being illiterate. The scraps of cloth were woven into simple winter robes that he wore so as to not freeze to death, his mother's touch in every stitch and flower embroidered on his sleeves.

Everything she did, she did for him. And he yearned for the day when he would stop being a burden. That was why, when he was five, he ran to the streets and began doing anything he could to bring back whatever he could get his hands on; food, clothes, wood to fix their ceiling, anything was fine. He didn't care if he had to beg, or cry, or steal.

He was willing to do anything to help the only family he ever had.

More often than not, stores would let him take the nearly spoiled ingredients or the scraps that were about to be tossed out, and he learnt that his skills in cooking were good. Luo BingHe taught himself to write, read, and perfected his kitchen techniques over the course of a year, his books a great help.

Although he usually didn't have many ingredients, his talent was obvious. His dishes always tasted delicious, and his mother always smiled and praised him when she ate his food. It made him extremely happy. Happy enough that he didn't notice the signs that something was wrong until it was too late.

One day everything was fine, and then it wasn't.

His mother died, utterly exhausted, alone in their home when he went to beg to the household master for a bowl of congee, worried for his mother's thin body. He hadn't been able to gather any food lately, people storing even the smallest of scraps for winter, so his only choice was to cry and beg at his mother's employer for some food, even just a little.

He was denied. And when he returned home, the cold, lifeless body of his mother was what greeted him. He stood still for what seemed like hours, and then cried for so long he didn't know if it was days, or weeks. When he was clear-headed enough to steady himself, he found out his mother had left him a small letter and a jade pendant.

The letter said to sell the pendant to buy food and survive, to look for a job and do whatever he needed to do to keep on living. She told him she loved him, that he was her son, and she was really proud of him. Luo BingHe knew that this letter wasn't written by her, she'd probably paid someone to write it in her stead. And that only meant she knew she was going to die soon, and she'd said nothing.

The feeling in his gut couldn't be explained in words. It was stronger than guilt. It hurt.

He ignored his mother's wishes and tried to sell the pendant to arrange a funeral for her. The store owner just threw him out, called him a swindler, sneered at his face, and told him to get lost. Luo BingHe returned home like a drifting spirit, empty and soulless.

'I cannot even give my mother a worthy funeral.' He lamented and wept, kowtowing by her bed in repentance. In the end, he had to take her out himself, and bury her under the tree in the small backyard, with only a wooden scrap with her written name to mark the place where she would forever rest. It took him all evening to do it, and, by the time he was done, it was already night, the cold biting at his skin, the stench of his own vomit making him want to gag once more.

After that, life was harsher than even before. He was left alone, too young to properly take care of himself in any way that was useful. He was only six and a half, no one would hire him, and with time, people were less and less willing to give him food as winter came full-force, and the other street rats had their eyes on him, hateful stares in the direction of the one stealing their meals.

Still, he would try everyday, then return to his run-down house, nearly frozen by the low temperature, hungry and cold and wondering if he would survive to see spring. His hut had leaks, and the rain got in, making everything moldy and humid as he slept on the floor, unable to bring himself to lay on the bed that was his mother's last resting place.

There was always a draft when the wind blew, and the chill seemed to have gotten under his skin and into his bones. He couldn't find warmth no matter how much he tried, he was weak and powerless and tired. He thought things couldn't get worse. And then a flood came and his only home was swept away by the current, leaving him on the streets and with nothing but the clothes on his body and the jade pendant his mother gave him.

Things only got worse from there on out.

The orphaned kids on the streets were ruthless, they hit him and slandered him, kicked and punched and wounded him in every way possible, be it physical or mental. He was beaten black and blue, chased from alleys and corners, unable to rest and growing more and more weary by the day. He didn't know how he did it, but he managed to live for a year, doing things he'd never thought of doing, whatever dignity he had left trampled under his own foot as he tried to fulfil his mother's last wish: survive.

He'd managed to avoid those street rats well enough, being smarter than them and finding hiding places they could only dream off. He'd barely seen them once a week or so, moving from one end of the city to another, never staying in the same spot. After so long, he thought he'd grown numb, that nothing could hurt anymore.

And then they spoke ill of his mother, and he snapped.

Something inside him broke, like a dam, and a current swept by his body and veins, making him burn and thrum with energy, his forehead feeling like the sun was scorching his skin, but the sky was cloudy. The kids started screaming that he was a demon, that he had red eyes, and the adults came instantly running- Not out of fear for the kids that had no one to care for them, but for the possibility of someone dangerous nearby.

They brandished knives and sickles, sticks and stones, and approached him as they shouted and yelled that he was a monster, their eyes filled with hate and disgust. Luo BingHe didn't know what was going on, he turned his head and saw a mark shining bright red like blood being reflected on a piece of glass, felt the wisps of dark energy swirl around his body and felt his breath leave him.

The villagers were eager to kill him, shouting 'monster', 'demon', 'abomination'. They surrounded him as he screamed, his body littered with cuts and stabs that would begin to heal as soon as they were inflicted, only prompting the villagers to cut him more, hit him more, stab deeper, harder, not letting him time to breathe.

He cried and begged, pleaded for mercy, but no one listened to him.

It hurt. It hurt so much. He just wanted it to stop.stop.stop.STOP.

Something burst, lashing out and breaking both his body and the earth under his back. The sky lit up with flames, people screamed and shouted and ran, and Luo BingHe's vision filled with red, then black. By his side, a dark swirl gurgled and dripped, like ink slowly tainting the floor, coating it in a syrupy liquid that sizzled as it made contact. Nothing could be seen inside this space, and no sound seemed to come from it. It was just pitch black nothingness, like an abyss.

Curses came anew, the people were regaining their wits and approaching him again, ignoring the rift that floated right besides his body. Maybe they can't see it? Was what he thought. But he had no time to ponder over this. The villagers, now fueled by anger and fear, ran at him with the intention to run him through.

On one side, he had a hateful mob ready to torture and kill him. On the other, a mysterious and ominous portal that could lead to instant death. Presented with a slow and painful death filled with endless suffering and the possibility of immediate relief, Luo BingHe chose instant death, and immediately leap through the rift, disappearing without a trace.

The shadows swallowed him whole, and he blacked out.

He thought he would die, but when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a place he didn't recognize, rain hitting his face, laying on an empty alley littered with countless cloth and scraps, proof that other beggars lived there. The roofs were different from what he was accustomed to, the windows bigger and rounder, and when he staggered to a main street, he found out the faces that passed by were unknown to him, new.

He was in a city he didn't recognize, but that was a good thing. He covered his forehead with his messy hair, tried to cover his wounds with his tattered robes as he felt how they slowly healed, and plopped down on the corner of an alley, waiting for his body to stop hurting so he could go and beg for food.

His body never did stop hurting, and he rarely slept. Everytime someone tried to be gentle with him, he brushed them away and ran, hoarding his food and water and trying his best to keep himself alive, trusting no one. That alley became his home for the foreseeable future, a place to return to in which he stayed for a long six months.

One would say he adapted very fast, but after all, homeless was homeless. The streets were the streets. The city didn't matter. It was the same eveywhere.

Nothing changed.

Until it did.

[spearpointtranslations]

M: Got any premises on the back burner that you’d care to share?

I have too many to count, but I have been chewing on a mdzs Western Vampires AU for a long time. It’s capable of being very long and complicated if I actually gave everyone factions. and I didn’t read Heaven’s Blessing yet so I don’t really know Xie Lian even though he’s important in this. 

I love vampires but I also find their consent issues irritating, hence the following. 

the basic setup is taken from the concept of “black ribboners” from Terry Prachett’s Discworld novels, which basically means a vampire who has forsaken the drinking of blood by transferring their craving onto something else, like drinking coffee, or having power over people.  

anyway in this mdzs AU there are vampires called “white ribboners” and they all wear white ribbons/clothes as a sign of their commitment to drink plant juices instead of human blood. They are basically like Bunnicula (a white rabbit from a series of children’s books who is a vampire whose prey is vegetables/fruits) and are relatively weak compared to other vampires. Xie Lian is the founder of this clan of vampires, and a regular vampire taking on this commitment is a big deal because the white ribbons can sense intent and if a white ribboner tries to drink a human’s blood or sleep with them without true consent (the human feels scared, fearful, or resentful, etc), the enchantment on the ribbons will take away all their vampires powers and leave them as weak as a newborn kitten, which makes it really easy for even a human child to stake their heart and cut their head off. normally drinking blood will make a vampire stronger, but this is not the case for white ribboners unless the blood is sincerely and freely given, a true, uncoerced offering, then that means the power amplification effect from drinking human blood is even stronger.

regular vampires desire to become “white ribboners” because of the perks associated with being one. humans will not fear and distrust them due to the stellar reputation of white ribboners. it’s regular vampires they have the stakes, axes, crossbows, torches and pitchforks out for.  

the following people are white ribboners: Xie Lian (visible bandages), all Lan Sect people (forehead ribbons), Xiao Xingchen (blindfold), Luo Binghe (hair ribbon, a reformed regular vampire and super infamous. every time he asks Shen Qingqiu for blood, SQQ says sure, he really isn’t scared this time, but the moment LBH has a sip, he loses his powers and SQQ can pick him up as easily as a pebble. one day they will get it right but it’s going to take awhile. Once depowered, LBH mostly begs SQQ to do whatever he wants with him, but SQQ can’t bear to, because it’s like bullying a kitten…), Liu Mingyan (face veil). Su She joined to take advantage, so humans would lower their guard around him, and he didn’t take the oath seriously even though it was all clearly explained to him before the ribbon was put on, so he gets killed when he tried to forcefully drink a human’s blood.     

WWX doesn’t know white ribboners become super vulnerable upon drinking coerced blood, he just assumed they become super strong from any human blood because he witnessed Xie Lian become powered up from drinking Hua Cheng’s blood (but that’s because it was a true, genuine offering). without fear or hatred, WWX sincerely pressed his blood into LWJ’s mouth during a critical battle and LWJ was actually scared until he realized he was getting stronger instead of weaker.  

WWX gets told the info later and then gets yelled at because poor LWJ, he probably feared for his life, how dare you… 

WWX says the depowering enchantment is unfair because what if a white ribboner is forced to drink the blood of a human that is also being forced? they will be completely at the mercy of humans. but this is the system, just think about the past when there were no white ribboners at all and regular vampires were a very gruesome and cruel group, and it was always humans at the mercy of vampires. isn’t that what’s unfair?  

WWX also thinks white ribboners are the most hilarious group ever because vampires are supposed to be decadent, drinking blood and having orgies, and wearing black, but white ribboners are banned from drinking and fucking. (which is not exactly true, they actually can, if they find a human who is truly willing, but they are rare due to the evil reputations vampires as a whole have, and humans are afraid of dying of course, so it’s practically a ban).  LWJ starts indulging in blood and sex with WWX but he also feels guilty about it because he’s been abstinent from both for so long and his entire identity is being challenged, and he’s scared of becoming like his ancestors, those vampires who loved to hunt and toy with humans as if their lives were nothing. but WWX calms him down, it’s okay, what they are doing is OK because WWX is not being controlled by vampire powers or being pressured from fear. also, sometimes WWX and LWJ trip off the enchantment on purpose (discussing things beforehand!) so WWX can play with a completely powerless LWJ. and WWX takes any chance he can to offer his blood to LWJ, like he says he will trade his blood for LWJ’s portion of the lotus root soup Jiang Yanli made. and he’s so fascinated by LWJ’s white ribboner diet, he will collect a completely pale, bone white apple that LWJ just drained and keep it like some kind of pretty treasure when it’s the vampire equivalent of having your empty candy wrapper being picked up. it’s super embarrassing…       

so this vampire story is complicated enough with white ribboners but how about other ribbon types???

White Ribboners/Lan sect: see detail above, basically the vegetarian vampires sect, generally relatively weak due to living by drinking plant juice. They drink a lot of tea! They become even weaker if they try to steal human blood. However, if they receive human blood consensually, then they become super strong. 

Purple Ribboners/Jiang Sect: WWX is a human but he has to pretend to be a vampire since he was adopted into the Jiang Sect. They are vampires who survive off fish blood. WWX has to pretend to like raw fish blood lol. his secret is important because the social circles he runs in is basically all vampires, while he’s a snack. his exposes himself to LWJ when he fed him his blood.   

Black Ribboners/Nie Sect: They are vampires who survive off animal blood. Mostly livestock such as pigs and chickens but they can also go after wild animals like boars, wolves and tigers. Due to this richer blood they are generally stronger than white ribboners and purple ribboners.

Yellow Ribboners/Jin Sect: consent issues warning. These guys are the sex vampires sect. And more like succubus and incubus really. They survive off uh, bodily fluids, like sweat, and spit, basically they have sex with humans as sustenance instead of blood. Some yellow ribboners get by on just shaking hands, or kisses, but obviously sex gives more power. They insist they don’t harm their human prey but some people do give them the side eye. 

(Lan Xichen is a white ribboner who drinks plant juice and white ribboners are basically banned from drinking blood and having sex but he manages to be friends with Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao who respectively do said banned things.)   

Red Ribboners(yeah oops)/Wen Sect: concept taken from Darren Shan. They are the most powerful type of vampires and the most hated by the humans because they kill every human they feed from as a point of honor, completely draining their blood and seeing it as a way to honor the person by having them live on through the vampire. 

The rest of the sects band together, allying with humans in order to obliterate the Wen Sect due to the fear and hatred the Wen Sect inspires in human hunters, who won’t distinguish and will slay any vampire due to the actions of the Wen Sect. Some Wen Sect people refuse to kill their prey and as a result are shamed and attacked by their own sect members.  

Unaffiliated vampires sometimes do join the Wen Sect due to becoming addicted to the power that comes from killing a human by completely by draining them dry. Other vampires wish to become white ribboners due to wanting to avoid conflict even if it means they are weaker and gain a severe weak point.  

[grandmasterofwangxiancultivation]

SV ch.57

one can’t even study in peace that chapters just pop out of wherever 

*fails to appear angry*

THIS CHAPTER IS FINALLY HERE and we are still in the mausoleum uuuuuh

EDIT: it’s snakey-snakey-zhuzhuzhuz, i think i was right

EDIT 2:

Shen Qingqiu said, “The person who stole the corpse from the Palace Hall vault really was you.”

(AAAAAND I WAS RIGHT, we all were right. What I want now is for father-in-law to appear.)

Zhuzhi-Lang said, “The situation happened too quickly. I had no choice but to continue on to the next stage of the plan. I hope Master Shen will be magnanimous enough to forgive me.”

wait, so there’s a plan? WHAT PLAN? i believe there’s also another next stage beside that, so i wanna knoooooooooow

EDIT 3:

Zhuzhi-Lang said, “Reason number one, I’ve already explained to Master Shen. Since you’ve helped me, I will repay the favor many times over. As for the second reason, Master Shen wasn’t exactly summoned by the humble me… it’s better to ask Junshang directly.”

Shen Qingqiu said, “Alright. Where is Tianlang-Jun, then?”

(wait, what, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN OMG TOO FAST, HE IS GOING TO MEET HIM RIGHT NOW???? *heart pounding loudly*

well, it makes sense, but a bit of warning next time-)

EDIT 4:

Zhuzhi-Lang stared blankly, before saying, “I thought that Master Shen and Junshang had already met.”

Already met?

(E X C U S E    M E    WHAT

WHEN

WHERE WAS I????

ARE YOU SERIOUS OMGGGGG OWIERJGIOVWJROIKROPSK)

EDIT 5:

Could it be that the corpse inside… was Tianlang-Jun?

(IS THIS FOR REAL?)

EDIT 6:

This person set an elbow against the edge of the coffin, a faint smile appearing on his face. He said, “Qing Jing Peak Lord, I’ve looked forward to meeting you for a long time.”

(this... 

i honestly wanna laugh, i think, but i am also incredibly bewildered so it’d come out more like... a nervous, exasperated laugh? 

btw i am loving every second of this)

Shen Qingqiu was stunned.

…….This whole family’s interests were wide and extensive, but it seemed eventually all of their hobbies were the same kind of eccentric. The son enjoyed hugging corpses, the father enjoyed lying inside a coffin.

(EXACTLY. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT!!!! but it’s actually a very cute thing, like, they don’t really know each other but share this father-son bond over death, it’s kinda charming!)

EDIT 7: i didn’t know i needed sqq compare father.in-law to lbh until it happened. shizun talking about lbh’s smile and eyes and posture has this funny side that makes one think about how he can’t help but drag lbh in every situation -which is kinda normal in this current situation, but also... well, cute xD

EDIT 8: FATHER-IN-LAW LOST AN ARM??? IS THAT YOU, RASPUTIN????

EDIT 9: 

This was like the flap of a butterfly’s wings causing a tsunami. He had guessed earlier that Zhuzhi-Lang had taken the Sun and Moon Flower Seed to create a new body for Tianlang-Jun, a conjecture that now appeared to be correct. It was just that Tianlang-Jun did not seem to be very compatible with this new body.

okay, things are starting to make sense, i guess. all my head can think about, tho, is “when is lbh gonna show up? can someone tell him his shizun is alive, ‘cause i don’t think i can do this... whatever it is sqq and father-in-law are doing without lbh dragged into it. which is probably what makes it all feel so dangerously hilarious? i feel conflicted.

EDIT 10: 

Shen Qingqiu paused, then asked, “Is the next step extinguishing all of humanity?”

Tianlang-Jun seemed confused. “Why would you think like that? Of course not. I like humans, just not the four great sects.”

He smiled, then continued: “In contrary, I have a gift to give to the human race.”

Although he didn’t know what this so-called gift was, it definitely wasn’t some ribbon-wrapped object that would bring humanity great joy! Shen Qingqiu had just begun to spit out a rather out-of-practice “f**k” when suddenly, the mausoleum began to shake.

this novel really knows how to mix humor and angst, and i need more. like, are they threatening each other or are they becoming friends? should i feel trilled or scared? WHAT’S GOING ON? DO THEY HAVE THE KEY TO MAKE LBH DO WHATEVER THEY WANT?

EDIT 11:

Tianlang-Jun listened carefully for a moment. “They’ve arrived a lot faster than I thought.” He turned towards Zhuzhi-Lang. “How many?”

Zhuzhi-Lang said, “At least two hundred.”

IS LUO BINGHE HERE? IS HE?   I S   H E ?????

EDIT 12: 

Shen Qingqiu’s heart lurched. He blurted out: “The Jinlan City sowers. Was that part of your plan to make me leave Cang Qiong Mountain sect?”

so wait, father-in-law has always been there plotting against... with... well, behind the scene of sqq’s moves? wow, that’s intriguing!! i need more sqq/father.in-law talks! though i’m still trying to understand whether they are trying to kill shizun or not?

EDIT 13:

Tianlang-Jun calmly replied, “Summoning Peak Lord Shen here was also because of my own selfishness.”

He sighed. “That son of mine, to raise him for so many years really has been an inconvenience for Peak Lord Shen.”

Although he had long suspected that this matter had to do with Luo Binghe, hearing his name still made Shen Qingqiu’s heart tremble. He begrudgingly tried to pump himself up, before asking: “Luo Binghe? What does this have to do with him?”

Tianlang-Jun snorted, lowering his head. “How do I say this? I’ve noticed that towards Peak Lord Shen, he’s extremely…”

THEEEEERE WE GO, THE MAIN DISH!!! AAAAAAH I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS. are they going to talk about lbh being in love with shizun or what? though i don’t think that’ll be the case, but he finally said his son’s name! aaaaah tell me more!

EDIT 14: E X C U S E  M E  2.0 WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK????? HE WANTS LBH’S BODY????? I WAS JOKING, I DON’T WANNA READ ANYTHING ANYMORE, DON’T EVEN MENTION YOUR SON’S NAME AGAIN OR I SWEAR TO GOD- 

EDIT 15: okay, i actually feel like we need to thank father-in-law? shizun’s brain had a big revelation and he is probably not only in the right path to realise this is not the novel he knew or believed to be anymore, but that lbh is not the atrociously bad character he remembers -he is a person, and one he unjustly hurt, too. AND MY HEART IS TROBBING IN RELIEF. PLS

EDIT 16: DO I OR DO I NOT HAVE A LBH RADAR IN ME? HE HAS ARRIVED.

Luo Binghe stood on the head of a pitch-black giant beast, his black robes billowing wildly in the dust. The Xin Mo sword lay unsheathed on his back. A pair of eyes glinted red in the light, overlooking the scene with ferocious killing intent.

AND HE IS SO FREAKING COOL