Work Text:
Shen Yuan hadn't gotten very far into the plot of <<Proud Immortal Demon Way>> yet, considering only 100 chapters have been published and the author claimed it was still less than halfway done, but he did know one thing: the protagonist's early life was shit. Terrible. Trash. Angst for angst's sake, and frustratingly so. If Shen Yuan had it his way, he wanted to give the young disciple of Qing Jing a hug or something before getting tossed in the Abyss.
And alright, he had binge-read ever since he started the novel 3 days ago, so the novel was fresh on his mind. He decided this was the reason he was lucid dreaming about it. For some reason he "woke up" in a dream as the peak lord scum villain, complete with a System like in those transmigration novels, telling him he had a "limited time free trial experience" to hug the protagonist like he wished for.
So maybe he read to many novels and he had too active an imagination, but also, lucid dreams were too cool, especially in a xianxia setting? He wasn't not going to try flying on Xiu Ya.
He wobbled on it, completely ungraceful, but he was too happy about flying to care how he looked. It wasn't as if he were the real, vain Shen Qingqiu.
"Uh, System, so where is Luo Binghe anyway?" He asked.
[In the woodshed] It responded.
Ah. He should have figured as much, but hearing it made his smile fall. Even if it was a fictional character, it really was too sad what this protagonist went through on this acursed peak.
He flew low to the ground until he stumbled off the sword in a clumsy manner and almost fell on his face. Oh well. He stuck the landing well enough. Putting the sword back in his inventory, he walked towards the woodshed door.
[Due to the free trial, Host has access to unlocked OOC mode for the duration (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧]
"Well I better, I'm not beating him," Shen Yuan scoffed.
His jovial mood plummeted when he swung open the door.
Luo Binghe, who'd been lying on the ground in a fetal position, startled at the noise like a wild animal and scrambled to stand. He looked panicked when his eyes focused on Shen Yuan– on "Shen Qingqiu", and Shen Yuan felt his heart lurch. But that wasn't the worst of it. Somehow his active imagination had conjured all the details of Binghe's injuries too. Harsh robe burns on his wrists, red puffy eyes, bad bruising splattered on his cheeks, and that wasn't even mentioning what might lay underneath those filthy disciple robes. Even Binghe's hair was messier than it had any right to be.
"S-s-shizun," Binghe rasped out of a sore throat. At least it sounded like the voice one got when they'd been crying out too loudly, maybe crying out for Shen Qingqiu to stop his corporal punishments to no avail.
Shen Yuan let out a small breath, and crouched down on his knees. Binghe just looked more nervous, his breaths coming out faster.
"Ah, don't be nervous, I'm… not gonna hurt you," Shen Yuan fumbled. "I'm not really your Shizun."
[Warning! Revealing details about this System or transmigration will result in a permanent ban from our services!]
...What an annoying Google translate voice...
"What?" Binghe whispered so quietly it was almost inaudible. Oh, god, he had a split lip too, now that Shen Yuan was looking closer.
"I can get you medicine," Shen Yuan said, willing Shen Qingqiu's voice to be soft, "For your injuries. We can go to Qian Cao peak."
He heard a small whimper from the boy. It really felt like talking to a spooked animal and it pulled on Shen Yuan's heartstrings.
"We don't have to go anywhere right now, I can bring the medicine to you instead. Or– let's go to the bamboo house. Would you like that instead?"
The boy gave a shaky nod. Shen Yuan moves away from the doorway to give Binghe room, and doesn't force him to follow behind. He'd have gone to hold the boy's hand if he didn't look so wary. But Binghe's curiosity and cautious hope won over fear, and he followed dutifully behind.
When they got to the bamboo house, Shen Yuan rifled through drawers until he found some topical salve. "Rub this over the injuries," Shen Yuan said in a gentle voice as he pressed the bottle into Binghe's palms.
Binghe was still at a loss for words, so Shen Yuan talked to himself somewhat. "You must be starving. I should get you some food… wait here, Binghe, I'll be right back."
The boy blinked at him in more shock. Ah, well. He'd go make some congee for Binghe, that was a literary parallel if he ever heard one, the meal would mean so much more than just a meal for Binghe.
He returned to the house some time later with the meal, only to find Binghe topless, trying and failing to rub ointment onto his back.
The wounds on his back were– bad. Shen Yuan felt a shudder through his whole body just looking at them. If he wanted to castrate the original goods before, that was nothing compared to what he felt now in this moment. Oh, he wanted to coddle this dream Binghe and tell him everything would be ok even if it was all a lie.
"Binghe, Binghe, I can help," Shen Yuan set down the food promptly and rushed over. Binghe flinched like he'd been caught red handed for something. And Shen Yuan wanted to respect his space, but he couldn't just let Binghe tear open scabs or worsen injuries because he strained too hard to reach behind his back.
Binghe shuddered under Shen Yuan's touch as he rubbed the cold salve over the worst of it. He used up the entire bottle's worth of medicine, not caring of wastefulness. Through it all Binghe was silent, but slowly, ever so slowly, relaxing under Shen Yuan's touches.
"That should do it," Shen Yuan spoke again. "And I'll get you a spare bottle of medicine to keep." Or maybe 5 spare bottles. Or 20.
"S-Shizun," Binghe said, his voice cracking. His mouth opened and shut dumbly as he sat at a total loss for words.
"Binghe should eat now," Shen Yuan turned to get the plain congee. His cooking was...not amazing, and even this was tricky because of the lack of modern appliances in the kitchens, but whatever. Dream logic. Congee was congee was congee.
Binghe looked shocked, again, unsurprisingly. He put a spoonful to his mouth, made a pitiful choked noise, swallowed. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears. He began scarfing down the rest without any more hesitation. Shen Yuan just sat across from him, fanning himself slowly, a smile hidden behind his fan.
Binghe ate every last morsel until the bowl was practically licked clean. Shen Yuan now regretted not making more food than this. Maybe he could go back and make more?
His thoughts went out the window when fat tears poured down Binghe's cheeks. Like a switch flipped, the boy started wailing loud pitiful sobs. Shen Yuan startled and moved over next to Binghe, his hands hovering and unsure where to touch without startling or hurting the boy, should he even touch him at all? Would that bring him any comfort right now or worsen things, when he looked like his cruel Shizun? He patted the very top of Binghe's head. This made Binghe turn and all but launch himself at Shen Yuan in a clingy, sticky embrace.
Scratch that, touches would be good after all, comforting touches were good. He still hesitated immensely about touching the lashes on Binghe's backside, so instead he places his hand on the back of Binghe's head and held him close like that. Binghe's tears and snot got all over his peak lord robes and Shen Yuan couldn't care less.
"S-Shizun, Shizun, Shizun," Binghe whimpered over and over and unable to form the words to say anything else.
"Binghe, I'm not, I'm not your Shizun," Shen Yuan repeated.
He waited until Binghe's shaking subsided, his arms loosened their hold, and Binghe moved back just enough to look at Shen Yuan's face. "This disciple… doesn't understand…"
Shen Yuan got another ['Warning!'] from the 'System' and huffed. "It is… hard to explain. I am not Shen Qingqiu. Well, I suppose I am him for right now, but my real name is Shen Yuan. I'm, hm... not from this world."
Binghe blinked rapidly. "I… this… you know about me."
"I do!" Shen Yuan said. "I do. I'm not sure how to explain how I do. In a way that will make sense. Hm… you could say I've been watching over you?"
Binghe takes in a sharp breath, eyes sparkling. Ah, he looked too cute. Even… even around the bruises that made Shen Yuan's heart twist so.
He patted Binghe's head again. Then again, then ruffled his hair. "I also know Binghe is destined for greatness."
"Greatness?" Binghe's voice squeaked.
"Binghe will face many hardships ahead, but come out the strongest," Shen Yuan said with full confidence. "And then no one will be able to hurt Binghe again." Well, not directly, not with much success. There were harem member kidnappings though, and other stains to Binghe's pride or sense of security. And harem fighting. Actually… "When Binghe becomes strong, he should endeavor to protect the weak as he deserved to be protected in his youth. And " He stroked Binghe's hair when he said this and smiled.
"Deserved...to…deserved to be…"
"Binghe deserves to be treated with kindness," Shen Yuan frowned. He smoothed Binghe's hair some more. He didn't pay any mind to the dirt that clung to his hair. "Binghe is deserving of love. Your… Shizun… is not a kind man. Binghe doesn't have to earn his respect, Binghe doesn't have to earn anything , Binghe is deserving of good things regardless of Shen Qingqiu's horrible attitude."
"Sh- Shen… Shen Yuan… is too kind to this lowly disciple," Binghe hiccuped. Oh, no, he looked like he might cry again. Shen Yuan pulled Binghe's head to his chest again and held him there. Binghe squeezed his arms around Shen Yuan again, tighter.
"Will you stay?" Binghe whispered.
"Ah, I'm just dreaming," he said aloud. Wait, that didn't fit the scene. Cough cough. "I mean, I'm sorry, I can't stay here."
"Don't go!" Binghe's grip became tight. "Don't leave, please stay, please, you can't leave, you just got here!"
"...maybe we'll meet again?" Shen Yuan tried. Well, if he lucid dreamed about this some more, that wouldn't technically be wrong. Why was he getting so emotional over a silly dream like this? He liked sticky disciple Luo Binghe too much. "But I can't stay here long, I'm not even supposed to be here. I'm not from here. I'm from another… realm? I guess you could say that."
"Can I come with you?" Binghe said.
"No, you need to stay here and become strong," Shen Yuan smiled slightly. "Become strong for me, yeah, Binghe?"
"I- I will." He nodded seriously. Then he sniffled.
Shen Yuan heard the 'System' counting down that he had the remainder of the 'day' to stay for his 'free trial' until he'd be returned to his 'original body.' Shen Yuan hustled around, making as many minor changes as he could think to. He thought on what "fixes" he could make to the plot in only one day. First, he gave Binghe all the medicines and foods he could carry, even some blankets and pillows to sneak into his woodshed for comfort. Then Shen Yuan found talismans he could stick on the woodshed to make it warmer, cozier, more of a place to stay in the meantime. During errands he found Ming Fan on the peak and scolded him in the most believable Shen Qingqiu impression he could pull off. By the end of it Ming Fan was kowtowing and promising not to bully the shidis on the peak from henceforth and to personally apologize for the distribution of false cultivation manuals. Which reminded Shen Yuan to find a real cultivation manual for Binghe and gift it to him. Then he burned the old one. Then he found Ning Yingying and lectured her on the consequences of her actions, even when she has good intentions, and to be more aware of the feelings of others. It had been her fault in the Jade Guanyin incident that she'd all but goaded Ming Fan to bully Binghe as much as he did in that scene when it could've been avoided. And thinking of this , Shen Yuan searched the forest for a Jade Guanyin. He didn't expect to find much, he caught the glimmer of something in a tree branch and snatched it up. He promptly returned to Binghe and presented the gift– well, returned the gift to its rightful owner. Binghe cried so hard and clung to Shen Yuan tight, thanking him endlessly.
By then his time was running out, so he said one last farewell to Binghe, and even kissed him on the forehead. Then the dream faded and Shen Yuan woke up. He actually felt well-rested after such an eventful dream.
Time passed, and the dream faded into an old memory until he'd all but forgotten it. It wouldn't be until years later that he was made to remember all about it again.
"Shen Yuan, I've found you," Luo Binghe said in his living room, hugging Shen Yuan tightly, nuzzling his neck, and oh yeah, he was a freaking giant of a man! More than a head taller than Shen Yuan. Meanwhile, Shen Yuan was shocked dumb and too startled to do more than squawk and hit the man.
"L-Let go of me– who are you! How did you get in my house?!"
"Shen Yuan had said he was from another realm, so this Binghe used Xin Mo to cut through many realms until he found his Shen Yuan. A-Yuan," he purred. "I won't let you leave me again, now that I've found you."
Shen Yuan let out a nervous, high laugh. The man was still only hugging him, but it was terrifying and invasive, and he could feel those muscled arms could likely snap him like a twig.
"Does Shen Yuan not remember the day we met?" Binghe whispered low into his ear. Shen Yuan's body betrayed him and shivered. "You came wearing the face of my Shizun but you gave me medicine, fed me congee, told me I was destined for greatness. I became strong for you, A-Yuan. I can protect you.*
Who needs protecting! Wait– all the things Binghe said loosened the years-old memory of that strange lucid dream. That couldn't have been...there was no way that could've been real… he was just an anti-fan with an overactive imagination. Right?
"This lord cannot wait to cook for A-Yuan, he hasn't gotten the chance to before." Binghe grinned a feral smile and let go. With that, Shen Yuan caught his breath. He clutched at his chest as Binghe backed away and inspected Shen Yuan's kitchen to… to cook? To cook for the afternoon. And Shen Yuan could only have his little crisis about parallel worlds and dimension travel, quietly, all through lunch.