Chapter Text
Luo Binghe is sitting lazily on his throne when his two generals enter. Despite how large the room is, there is no one but he and a hundred dismembered corpses. Blood has covered the previously black walls and Luo Binghe's handsome features. He looks more demon than human. His grin shows two fangs that look sharper than they really are and there's a hint of madness coloring his eyes red.
Sha Hualing and Mobei-jun kneel before him, surrounded by death. Though his army has grown over time, the two of them are the only ones he almost trusts. They respect his power, but Mobei-jun is unable to feel positive emotions while Sha Hualing only allows negative ones to grow. But that's enough for him. Luo Binghe has become a viciously ambitious creature: he wants wealth, power, and all kinds of unique treasures, he has also started collecting beauties for his harem. But there is one thing he has given up on: love.
Love does not exist, nor does blind loyalty. So he must become someone that everyone will follow and admire. Whom no one will ever again abandon or humiliate. Someone who will destroy all of his enemies.
Luo Binghe's smile twists as he tilts his head.
"The great demon lords have either fallen or sworn allegiance to me. The Demon Realm will soon belong to me." He pauses calculatedly before speaking further. "It's time to look to the future."
And the future is the Human Realm.
Sha Hualing smiles back, hungry to slaughter humans, while Mobei-jun is utterly indifferent.
"Much to my regret, although I want to greet my dear shizun, I will be busy killing, making alliances, killing those who ambush me in the alliances, and marrying the ladies from the families that want to ally with me. Neither of you is necessary for these four tasks, so I have decided that you will go find Shen Qingqiu. Tell him about my deeds, tell him everything I have done, and let him know that he won’t be able to escape from me once I finish taking over the Demon Realm. Shizun will be mine."
And with a gesture, he dismisses his generals.
Neither asks questions or inquires into the nature of his intentions. Although that "dear" hasn't sounded affectionate, there is a different possessiveness than he has shown to his entire harem. And the "Shizun will be mine" does not generate any doubt.
Sha Hualing is not his only wife nor is she his first. Neither loves the other, but rather the power they represent. Luo Binghe promised her that she would always be the main wife among the demonesses, but from the beginning, he warned her that someone important was waiting for him in the Human Realm. Luo Binghe was referring to Ning Yingying, his childhood sweetheart, and Qin Wanyue, to whom he lost his virginity. However, now Sha Hualing remembers the admiration with which the teenage Luo Binghe treated Shen Qingqiu and smirks.
Luo Binghe has also had a few intercourses with Mobei-jun, although the latter has never been interested in making their relationship official. Mobei-jun's curiosity about sex is anecdotal and punctual, he admires Luo Binghe's skills more on the battlefield than in bed. He doesn't care that the other has multiple bedfellows, nor is he surprised that he now shows interest in a man when all his conquests have so far been female.
In the past years of war, the two of them have shown that they can execute all kinds of orders efficiently without Luo Binghe giving them precise instructions.
But for once, they should have asked.
Years ago, when Shen Qingqiu saved Liu Qingge's life during a fatal qi deviation, something unimaginable happened: their relationship became even more complicated and strained. Even so, they are no longer two disciples, aggressive as rabid animals, but two peak lords who show their differences when no one else is looking or can hear their poisonous words or threats of mutual destruction.
Perhaps if they didn't hide their rivalry behind a false relationship of indifference they wouldn't send them so many missions together. Challenging each other is fun, also demonstrating his superiority either by defeating monsters or solving challenges. But sometimes they have encountered awkward situations, such as a wound that the other must heal with their qi or inns where only a tiny room with a narrow bed remains. Or incidents where they end up skin to skin.
They are on their toes in every mission, both to defeat the other and to avoid one of those situations where they are both humiliated. That is why they immediately recognize the presence of demons. The two tense, drawing their swords. There should be no demons in that forest nor is it about the nature of their mission. It is an anomaly.
Shen Qingqiu frowns in recognition of Sha Hualing as the demoness emerges from the trees accompanied by a demon that gives off an icy, haunting power.
"Long time no see, Master Shen." She giggles. Since the circumstances of her last encounter involve a humiliating defeat for her, her current cheerful attitude is contradictory.
"What do you want?" His gaze lingers on her partner, perhaps the reason behind her overconfidence.
"Oh. Well, a simple errand... Our Lord has commanded us to greet Master Shen. For when our Lord finishes unifying the Demon Realm under his command, he will return to claim Master Shen as his new bride."
It is such an absurd statement that Shen Qingqiu is speechless and even Liu Qingge snorts in disbelief.
"What are they talking about?" He questions Shen Qingqiu in an aggressive voice, perhaps subtly accusing him of playing with demons.
Shen Qingqiu answers by glaring at him before turning to Sha Hualing.
"It seems, little rat, that you have forgotten your previous defeat. Do not underestimate me. If that Lord of yours dares to approach, I will finish him off as I did your lackeys."
However, she dares to laugh.
"No one can escape my Lord's wishes. Once he lays his eyes on a beauty, he won't stop until he takes her to his bed and claims her as his own. Master Shen will be a beautiful flower in his harem."
"I've had enough of your nonsense." He growls before using his sword to launch qi blasts at her.
Sha Hualing is laughing evilly when her accompanying demon drags her through the shadows and the two disappear. Shen Qingqiu snorts before turning his back on where they were before and continuing on his way. But Liu Qingge intercepts him.
"Which Lord were they talking about?"
"I have no idea, maybe that Lord doesn't even exist." He clicks his tongue dismissively. "Maybe it's just a ruse to try to get revenge. I humiliated her and now she's trying to do the same. It probably won't be relevant."
But for once, Shen Qingqiu is wrong.