Thread by @bingjiuwus

#liujiu/#bingjiu, yandere LQG AU part IV:

Liu Yuan is nine years old, and he doesn't remember the last time he saw his mother.

https://twitter.com/bingjiuwus/status/1606131105169563649

Well, that's not quite true. It's not as if they _never_ see each other, not when LY is being raised by his grandparents at the grand Liu estate until he can join his father at Bai Zhan Peak.

A'Niang lives at the estate too, just in his own private courtyard far from the rest of the family, and never steps out from beneath his threshold. As far as LY knows, A'Niang's always been sickly and prone to delusion.

Even Nainai and Yeye say they have to regulate LY's visits to him because A'Niang frequently gets confused and will confuse LY for Yingying-jiejie, or worse yet, the would-be older brother LY would have had a long time ago had A'Niang not miscarried him.

So LY can only ever visit A'Niang when he's with Nainai or Yeye or one of his paternal uncles, and even then the meeting only lasts a ke before A'Niang gets tetchy or distracted, or calls LY by the wrong name or even asks him where Binghe is!

(Binghe, or Bing-gege, was one of Baba's disciples at Bai Zhan; he used to tidy around the house for them and used to babysit LY often. But he went missing at the last Immortal Alliance Conference when the demons attacked, and A'Niang's never been able to get over it.

He keeps acting like Bing-gege is still alive, that he's just around the corner and will be dropping by in just a second! Even LY's gotten over his death already, and he's nine!

(He hasn't.)

... LY's not supposed to tell anyone A'Niang still thinks Bing-gege is alive.

He mentioned it to Baba once by accident when he was visiting the estate, and the man looked so surprised and furious he stalked off to A'Niang's courtyard and yelled at him.

He's not supposed to do that! A'Niang is always so frail, and even though Baba loves him more than anyone, sometimes he looks so frustrated with A'Niang's delusions that he yells at him and doesn't come out of his courtyard for hours, and LY just has to wait in his own room

and pray nothing else is happening.

At times like this, Nainai will offer him a little treat and console him, tell him fights aren't out of the ordinary in a marriage as passionate as A'Niang and Baba's, that Baba's hot temper isn't anything to be worried about.

But how can LY not worry?

At times like this, he misses Bing-gege too. Because when he was around, A'Niang wasn't sick. He was lively and cheerful and they all lived in BZ back then. Baba never got angry at anyone, and LY could visit his jiejie and Mingyan-tangzi at Xuan Shu.

Everything was perfect back then. But then Bing-gege went missing at the IAC, Baba said, which means he's really dead, and LY is only a few months away from joining BZ like Baba before him, and A'Niang...

LY doesn't want A'Niang to be left alone at the estate with no one but Tao-momo looking after him. He's never liked Nainai or Yeye and always screams when they enter his courtyard, even if only to accompany LY.

LY just wishes they could get along like they used to, when Bing-gege was around.

If only.

*

LY gets permission to see A'Niang on the eve of his tenth birthday; he'll be heading to Cang Qiong the morning after, to try his hand at the disciple trials now that he's old enough.

He's going to end up in BZ like Baba, probably, or maybe even Qiong Ding like his great-grandfather. All the Liu men have either gone to BZ or QD; that's just how it is.

LY doesn't know if he's up to either of those lofty peaks' standards. He doesn't want to be taken in out of pity either. But, supposing...

Before marrying Baba and giving up his own place in Cang Qiong, A'Niang used to be the Head Disciple of Qing Jing Peak. What if LY ended up there instead? Pretty amazing, wouldn't it be? Wouldn't it make A'Niang happy, to know LY was just like him?

(Wouldn't it?)

Nainai and Yeye are both absent on a nearby night hunt, so for once it's one of LY's bobos who accompany him to A'Niang's courtyard, though he stays outside, and lets LY enter A'Niang's rooms on his own (which he probably shouldn't).

A'Niang is all but slumped over on the small table on the luohan bed in his parlour when LY steps inside to greet him. He's a pale, excessively thin man with his long white hair braided back to keep it away from his face, yet the braid is clearly dishevelled and the ribbon loose.

LY frowns, seeing the creases in his pale grey robes, how A'Niang doesn't have any snacks accompanying his pot of tea. Just because he doesn't get along with Nainai and Yeye doesn't mean it's okay to treat him like this...!

LY creeps over to his sleeping mother and just watches him sleep for a bit, before trying to sneak into his arms.

"Ying'er, not now, you're too big..." A'Niang mumbles under his breath, and LY huffs in mock outrage.

"I'm not Ying'er, A'Niang, I'm Yuan'er!"

A'Niang jolts awake, nearly dropping LY to the floor as he does so. "What - you - Yuan'er?" He squints at the boy who's wormed arms around his neck to prevent being kicked off. "What are you doing here?"

"Wanted to see you," LY says. "I missed you."

"I..." A'Niang blinks, shudders and rubs his temple. "Okay. You just surprised me."

"Did you miss me too? It's been months since the last time we saw each other!"

"... of course I do." A'Niang's stance softens at last, and he wraps thin arms around LY's waist. "I miss Yuan'er every day I don't get to see him."

LY pouts. "Even when you mistake me for jiejie?"

A'Niang snorts. "I do not."

"You did just now!"

"I didn't know it was you; they never let me see you to begin with."

A'Niang looks so sad and bitter at that, LY doesn't know what to say about that. He doesn't know why A'Niang hates Nainai and Yeye so much, why they always tell LY his mother will hurt him if he's not careful,

even though the worst A'Niang's ever done is scold him for eating too many sweets. Even when he's confused LY for jiejie or his lost gege, he's never hurt him once.

"A'Niang," LY says, trying to regain the mood.

"Mm."

"Tomorrow..." He hesitates. How can he leave his mother?

"Tomorrow I'm going to Cang Qiong. It's time for the disciple trials, and - "

"What? You're too young!" A'Niang looks shocked.

"I'm not, I'm going to be ten!" LY insists.

"Ten is too young! I wasn't - I was _fifteen_ when I went. Too old, according to your father," he adds bitterly. "Even so, you're too young. Those bastards just want to take you from me - "

"I hope I get into Qing Jing," LY blurts out.

A'Niang goes silent, pale green eyes wide in surprise. "Qing Jing...?" he mumbles.

"I don't think I'll ever be as strong as Baba," LY says truthfully.

"And I know my other choice is supposed to be Qiong Ding, but I don't know if I want that either. But _you_ used to be on Qing Jing. Baba says you were so smart back then, you could have even been the Peak Lord!"

"Yuan'er." A'Niang grips him tight so suddenly LY squeaks in pain.

"Don't... don't mention Qing Jing again."

A'Niang shudders, and LY feels a drop of rain on his cheek, looking up only to see tears dripping down A'Niang's pale face.

"If only," he whispered in a ragged voice. "I thought I was going to be the Peak Lord too. But your father, he thought I was better off as his wife, his broodmare... now look at me.

Stuck in this shitty cramped courtyard surrounded by people who hate me, and now my only son's going to leave me like everyone else did - "

"I'm not leaving you!" LY yells.

A'Niang flinches, stunned at his temper.

"I'm not leaving A'Niang for anything," LY repeats in a softer tone, the one Bing-gege always used with him. "Once I'm older and have my spiritual sword, I'll be able to visit A'Niang whenever I want. Even Nainai and Yeye can't stop me."

"Are you sure about that?" A'Niang asks him with damp eyes. "They always say I'm going to kill you one day if I can - "

"You won't!" LY says, tightening arms around A'Niang's neck. "You love me more than anyone, more than Baba. You'd never hurt me."

A'Niang looks at him in disbelief, before finally, a small smile reaches his pale mouth. "I love you, huh," he murmurs. "What about you, Yuan'er? Do you love me more than Baba, more than Nainai and Yeye?"

"I do," LY insists. "More than anything."

"Okay," his mother whispers into his ear. "Okay, then. Then, Yuan'er, can you keep a secret for me?"

"I can," LY says, even as his heart flickers in guilt. Baba made him promise never to keep anything from him, especially where A'Niang is concerned...

But then A'Niang smiles at him, truly smiles, and LY is thunderstruck. Because the last time A'Niang smiled like that was when Bing-gege was still around and they still lived on Bai Zhan and everyone was _happy_ together...

"Good boy." A'Niang pecks him on the brow. "You're the best."

And LY basks in his mother's warmth for a little longer while he can.

*

Three years have passed in relative peace for Liu Qingge his traitorous disciple turned heel and fled into the Abyss to save his own skin, ridding him of a demon bastard under his proof and Shen Jiu's ornery small ally.

Or so you'd think.

Truthfully, LQG wishes he'd gutted the boy back then, not let him prattle on before making his escape. Because as much as he'd like to believe the demon died in the Abyss, that he choked on the toxic fumes down there and simply starved to death, he can't.

The boy was nothing if supernaturally talented at what Bai Zhan cultivators did for a living. Just because he liked to spend his free time dusting LQG's own house didn't mean he neglected his own training - far from it.

And away from his Shizun's scrutinizing eye, away from orthodox cultivators and humans in general, LQG doesn't doubt the bastard is still alive, still skulking around and accumulating power - and the ability to steal SJ from him one day.

He should have realised all the way back then, that the way the boy looked at his shiniang was too familiar, improper. Shouldn't have let them stick so close to each other, for alas, the demon's obsession wasn't one-sided.

Because even if LBH was dead to the world, SJ still seemed to believe he was alive. Didn't grieve at all for the boy who had once clung to his skirts, seemed to act as if he had just gone on a long journey.

And even as time passed and his beautiful, damaged husband grew insensate to the world, to LQG, to everyone but Yuan'er, _he_ still seemed to think the demon was alive as well.

Perhaps he was just addled; the draughts LQG had fed to him over the years to keep him docile often jumbled his memory, made him confuse one person for another. But even so -

Even so -

If LQG ever ran into his once-disciple again, he was going to kill him on sight.

It would be better for everyone involved if the demon never saw SJ again, and vice versa. That was all.

*

When aid is requested from Zhao Hua Temple concerning a mysterious disease in Jinlan City, naturally LQG goes along with Yue Qingyuan and Mu Qingfang.

Ever since LQG took SJ from the sect back to his family estate to be cared for, Zhangmen-shixiong has practically... wilted is harsh, but he's lost a step.

LQG still doesn't know how YQY and SJ are connected to each other - his hsband never told him, and he'll never get the story out of Zhangmen-shixiong, but the man's clearly been made hollow by his former shidi's absence.

LQG knows that if YQY had ever requested he be allowed to visit SJ at the Liu estate, LQG would have had to refuse him, and let the chips fall where they may after. Luckily, YQY never had.

Even so, LQG's stayed distant from his shixiong since then.

As for MQF, SJ is no longer his patient. It's out of his hands, and for the better, as far as LQG is concerned.

The three of them head to Jinlan City on their swords and make quick work of what's going on.

None of them are infected by the monstrosities YQY easily identifies as sower demons, and LQG leaps through the city grabbing - and severing - every sower in sight before dumping their corpses at MQF's feet.

"At least leave _one_ for live testing, shixiong," MQF says with distate, and LQG grunts in acknowledgement.

He's killed twelve demons so far, and heads back into the darkened city for more, spending half the night stalking through silent alleys and abandoned houses before grudgingly admitting he might have fucked up.

Not like MQF won't be able to make an antidote with sower corpses either, but fresh is better, _alive_ is always better.

Finally, he spies a sower demon disguised as an old hag hurrying off in the distance, and takes off in fierce pursuit, taking out Cheng Luan as he does.

He can't _kill_ the thing, but breaking its limbs, ensuring it can't infect anyone while it languishes, while it lives - well.

That won't be a problem, will it?

Only, he never gets there. Just as LQG flings out Cheng Luan to take out the sower demon's leg, another sword lashes out towards him, and LQG swerves to prevent himself from being severed in half.

Who in the hell - he didn't think the sowers had an _ally_ here. And yet, who should step out from the shadows to prevent him from taking the last sower as his prize but his former disciple and _dead_ man walking, Luo Binghe.

"Hello, Shizun," the demon greets him with glittering black eyes. "That one's mine, so if you please - "

LQG doesn't let him finish. He flash-steps forward with Cheng Luan to skewer the demon right in the heart, only for LBH to step aside with a huff of surprise.

"Easy!" he calls out. "Is that how you greet your disciple at Bai Zhan, Liu Qingge?"

"As if you were ever one of mine," LQG sneers, and attacks him again. LBH's expression smooths over, and he counters with his own sword, though mostly playing defense.

It's as LQG suspected.

Despite spending years in the Abyss, LBH looks no worse for wear. He's tall now, with a strong, healthy body under nondescript black robes, but most importantly - and dangerously - he's keeping up with LQG.

No. It's not that.

He's _relaxed_.

Whatever gauntlet LBH ran through in the Abyss, it's done him well. But then, a demon is a demon. And no matter how strong the bastard might have gotten, LQG isn't going to relent.

He's going to _kill_ his former disciple no matter what.

Unfortunately, it's just not enough. LBH moves from defense to offense effortlessly, and then LQG is the one in retreat, breathless as he tries to avoid the bastard's sword, both of them intent on killing the other.

Until YQY drops down from the sky, the last remaining sower bound in ropes over his shoulder, and LQG averts LBH's strike at the last moment, only getting sliced on the arm instead of the severing the demon so sorely wanted.

"Oops," LBH says with a blank expression as he looks at YQY. "Zhangmen-shibo, right? You probably don't remember me, but - "

"Demon spawn," LQG barks out before he can finish. "You think you still have a place to say anything here?"

LBH tilts his head to the side. "I _do_, in fact," he says with a shallow smile. "But this probably isn't the right venue for that. Cool your heels, Shizun, I'll see you later. Hope you'll be prepared."

He flash-steps away into the shadows with a callous laugh and is gone before LQG can go after him, not with YQY behind him.

"Is that...?"

"My former disciple, yes," LQG admits. "But a demon regardless. He revealed his cursed heritage to me at the Immortal Alliance Conference.

Fled before I could bring him to justice. And now, when I was trying to get the last sower he attacked me. This must have been his doing."

"Luo Binghe..." YQY says blankly. "He came to the sect as a child. Spent years under your care, under Xiao - Shen Jiu's care. And you're saying he was conspiring with demons the whole time?"

"The Sha demoness was a brat too, when she tried to invade the sect," LQG reminds him.

"Demons aren't like us, shixiong. Just because they act like children doesn't make them that. That bastard, too... I thought I could trust him to look after A'Jiu and Yuan'er. Even kept secret how he disappeared, to save my family the grief.

Now he's back, and as wretched and unfilial as the last time I saw him."

"You shouldn't have." YQY closes his eyes. "You should have told me, shidi. I would have done something about the boy."

_Like what_, LQG thinks. _Hand him over scot-free to the demons like you did Sha Hualing?_

After the demon invasion, LQG had kept SHL alive only because SJ insisted he did. After interrogating her, however, rather than executing her, YQY had in fact ordered her be healed by MQF himself before being sent back to her father Jiuzhong-jun.

Apparently, to prevent total war between humans and demons! As if she hadn't been the one to start it!

(LQG should have killed her then and there, and washed his hands of it.)

"It's too late now," LQG says. "And he's come back from the dead, only to kill more humans again. I don't care, Zhangmen-shixiong, I am going to kill him when I see him again. He deserves that much, for lying to me. For making me think I could trust him."

"I understand, shidi," YQY says, watching LQG carefully. "We should both be on our guard."

*

Dawn breaks, and Jinlan City is cured with MQF's antidote. Only, when the emissaries of the Four Great Sects gather to congratulate Cang Qiong for its work in ending the sower's disease, LQG is enraged.

Because not only did the demon bastard not have the sense to run and flee, he's standing right there among the loftiest cultivators of the jianghu - the Old Palace Master of Huan Hua Palace, and staring at LQG with a bland smile the whole time.

_I dare you_, that smile says. _I dare you, I dare you, Shizun. Tell the world who I am, and I'll do the same for you._

Well. He can try. But the demon's forgotten one thing - LQG is the War God of Bai Zhan, from one of the most prestigious families of the jianghu, and frightening in his own right, and LBH is a traitorous demon cur who crawled up from the gutters where he belongs.

And after LQG is done with him, even his benefactor won't want anything to do with him.

The sole surviving sower is imprisoned in a cage at the heart of the city plaza, disgusting and pathetic but dangerous still. And when the monster pleads for mercy when MQF suggests burning it, LQG sneers.

"Why ask _us_ for mercy?" he calls out, voice ringing sharp and clear across the crowds. "Blame your employer for selling you out and leaving you high and dry while he lounges over there without a care. He's the one who made you do this, wasn't he?"

"Peak Lord Liu, what are you saying..." One of the Zhao Hua monks looks bewildered. "Are you saying the sowers were set upon to infect the city on purpose?"

"I am," LQG says, staring right back at LBH, who just tilts his head and crosses his arms.

"The bastard responsible for all of this is the one who attacked me to prevent me from getting the last sower, the same person who conspired with demons in the Immortal Alliance Conference massacre three years ago, the one standing by Palace Master Chen's side right now."

He sneers. "My former disciple, Luo Binghe, a demon whelp and a traitor to all righteous cultivators. How he wormed his way into your graces I don't know, Old Palace Master, but if you know better, you'll let the bastard be burned alongside his pet right here and now."

"Shidi," YQY says behind him. "You can't just - "

"I can, and I will," LQG snarls. "Well, bastard? Do you admit your crime?"

The crowd bursts into horrified chatters as they pass eyes between LQG and LBH and the OPM, who looks ashen-faced.

"What an accusation against a young man for no reason, Peak Lord Liu," he says. "How can you say this?"

"He was my disciple," LQG counters. "And I discovered his demonic heritage at the IAC, where demons could have only invaded with the help of an insider.

I would have cut him down had the coward not fled into the Abyss. And even now, he came back to the Mortal Realm only to inflict more harm upon mortals. How is it you can stand right next to him and not sense his demonic qi, Palace Master?"

"Well - " the OPM splutters.

"It is indeed a heavy accusation," Abbot Wu Chen interrupts. "Young man, have you anything to say in your defense?"

LBH just raises a brow. "I only sought to prevent my Shizun from killing the last sower outright, as he had done the previous twelve," he says mildly.

"Mu-shishu wouldn't have been able to create an antidote so quickly otherwise. As for the rest of it, I simply don't know what he's talking about."

"Do you deny that you're a demon?" LQG barks out. "That you bear the mark of a heavenly demon, the spawn of Tianlang-jun?"

LBH's smile freezes. "Tianlang-jun sired no heirs." At his side, the OPM's hands begin to shake.

"He had his human lover," LQG says. "Palace Master, perhaps you saw kinship in this creature because you saw your old disciple Su Xiyan in him. But in his essence, he's as twisted and cruel as his demon father. Death is the only fate he deserves."

"Oh Shizun," LBH says. "That's how you want to play it, huh? Alright."

He lifts one arm and pulls up his sleeve to reveal his bare forearm. "I invite all the great cultivators present to test my meridians. See if I have any demonic qi within me."

"As if you couldn't mask it," LQG snaps. "Like you did when you hid in my peak for five years."

"We both know a lot about masks, don't we, Shizun," LBH says placidly. "Well?"

The OPM tests his meridians first, declaring hurriedly that he felt only spiritual qi. Then comes the Zhao Hua monks, who say likewise. Only, when it's YQY's turn, the demon murmurs something to him under his breath, and makes him jolt in surprise.

LQG does not like the look of that one bit.

The demon is going to escape, he realises with gritted teeth, when even YQY declares he can feel only spiritual qi in his veins, and LQG looks a monstrous fool for accusing his former disciple of conspiring with demons out of nowhere.

He has to head back to the estate immediately, grab SJ and hide him somewhere before the demon gets to him. LQG curses and turns heel, unsheathing Cheng Luan to fly out, when LBH's voice cuts across the rumbling crowd like a knife:

"And where do you think you're going?"

*

LQG freezes.

"Shizun," LBH says. "As far as I'm concerned, the most suspicious person here is you. You killed all the sowers and would have killed the last had I not stopped you. You insist on accusing me of being a demon when you have no proof.

Is being the War God not enough for you? Must you insist on attacking your disciple, who's only ever admired and worshipped you?"

LQG wants to spit blood.

"I did flee into the Abyss during the IAC," LBH admits. "But not because Shizun found my demonic heritage so conveniently. No, but because he was a cruel and jealous man..."

And unbelievably, he spins forth a sob story of his time at BZ, where he was bullied and picked upon by LQG after he noticed him getting closer with his Shiniang and young son.

"I just wanted to be filial to Shizun," LBH says with wet black eyes. "But who knew he would turn against me like this. Even after I survived the horrors of the Abyss, I would have gladly returned to BZ to serve under him again. But instead he accuses me of being a demon.

If he's so callous to me, a mere disciple, then imagine how he treats his own family..."

"Young man," Abbot Wu Chen rebukes him. "You go too far. Peak Lord Liu was indeed disgraceful, but you are acting out of line yourself."

LBH blinks. "You wouldn't say that if you knew him, Abbot." His smile crooks into something strange, perverse. "Would you like to find out?"

"Enough." The OPM puts a hand on his shoulder, LBH's smile twisting as he steps aside to avoid it.

"We'll talk again, Shizun," he calls out. "I know we will."

And without another word, he disappears into the crowd.

*

LQG ignores protocol, etiquette, YQY's stare and MQF's shaking head and races back to the estate. Fuck everything, he just has to make sure SJ is there -

He finds his husband slumped over in a chair, hair messy and robe dishevelled even though it's late morning already. LQG sneers as he gathers him up in his arms; the servants take rotten care of him, clearly.

Well, no more. He flies back to BZ with SJ in his arms and deposits him gently in his bed in his quarters.

The demon can do his worst, he thinks. LQG just needs a day or two to prepare, to take A'Jiu and Yingying and Yuan'er to a safehouse while he thrashes LBH and guts him alive -

"Mm," SJ groans as he tosses and turns. "... hurts, it hurts... 'inghe, help me..."

"Hey." LQG cushions him in his arms, stroking his brow. "Darling, I'm here."

SJ whines pitifully against his shoulder. "... hurts so much. Can't think, can't think... help me..."

"Anything," LQG says hoarsely, desperate to be needed. "Tell me what you need, my love..."

"Binghe," SJ sighs into his neck as his blood goes cold, "make the bad things go away. Just want to sleep for once..."

Binghe.

Binghe.

Binghe, Binghe, Binghe. All his husband's stupid addled mind can think about is that cursed demon spawn LQG failed to kill over and over again, over and over and over again.

Hadn't he done enough? Hadn't he loved him enough, gave him two children and would have given him a third? Had given him a loving home and a life where he didn't need to worry about his status or cultivation or funeral tablet, and yet -

And yet -

It wasn't enough?!

Compared to a mop-haired orphan who liked to fucking sweep and cook for a living, none of what LQG had done for his husband over the past two decades had been enough?

Even in his dreams, SJ couldn't, wouldn't, refused to call out for _him_...?

LQG lowers his husband to the bed again, letting go in silence, at SJ's brow creased in pain, his soft panting mouth.

Even if now, his husband still doesn't love him, then...

Then what else can he do but this?

LQG's hands find themselves around SJ's slender breathing neck.

And he begins to strangle him.

SJ's eyes snap open in horror as he wheezes for breath, staring up at LQG in horror. He gurgles incoherently, unable to speak, unable to say another man's name any longer.

He doesn't need to speak any longer, if it isn't to say LQG's name and nothing else.

And nothing else...

"'ge..." SJ wheezes, tears of pain running down his red face as he scrabbles weakly at his arms. "'ate you.... hate you so much..."

"I love you too," LQG whispers, tears streaming down his own face, and tightens his grip around his husband's beautiful, soon-to-be-broken neck.

And then the ceiling collapses in on him, and there is no more.

*

When LQG awakes, it's in a featureless dark hole with his limbs bound to the wall with enchanted metal that blocks his meridians. He feels wretched, miserable and sore and if he's been battered all over.

"Oh, finally awake, are you?"

A familiar voice speaks out of nowhere.

LQG grimaces when light finally blares down on him in the form of a harsh night pearl, and the immaculate, dead-eyed stare of LBH.

He's not smiling anymore. He's not acting, as he had in Jinlan City. He just stares down at LQG with that bloodless look on his face and says, "Shizun, when all this is over I am going to tear you limb from limb. You understand, of course."

LQG spits in his face.

LBH lets the spit dribble down his pale cheek, unfazed. He just says mildly, "I'm a very filial person, as you know. Filial to you, to Shiniang... even to Zhangmen-shibo. Even when he didn't believe me, I told him that you'd show your true self soon enough after I unnerved you.

So naturally, you tried to kill Shiniang as soon as you realised he doesn't love you anymore. I don't think he ever has, you know, at least not the way you have. Maybe, if you'd been a human being from the start, perhaps, but unfortunately I think that's beyond you, Shizun."

"As if I care what a demon thinks about my marriage," LQG sneers.

"No?" LBH says. "You should care about what your peers think, though. Zhangmen-shibo, and everyone else. Your family too, perhaps.

The Liu clan is well-thought of in the jianghu. Maybe for too long. Maybe they need to be humbled a little."

"No one will believe you," LQG snarls. "You have no proof, nothing. Just fanciful delusions and a head full of sickness - "

"Don't I?" LBH says, and pulls out his sword.

In Jinlan City, in the night, LQG hadn't recognised the sword as anything special. But as pale familiar silver gleams against the night pearl, his eyes tear up from the brightness.

"Xiu Ya," LBH hums. "Magnificent, elegant Xiu Ya. To think it was left at the bottom of a swamp for years. To think you let Shiniang think you tried your best to look for it. We both know the truth, don't we?" He smiles crookedly.

"So you found a fucking sword," LQG sneers.

"You call that proof?"

LBH blinks. "Well, not just that, obviously. I also have Shiniang. Who you failed to murder, by the way, though you certainly did try your worst."

"He's - " Despite himself, LQG feels his heart swell in relief. "How is he?"

"Liu Qingge." LBH stares at him, Xiu Ya taut in his grasp. "What the fuck is wrong with you? What makes you think you can just ask after him like you didn't just try to kill him?

You think I'm twisted because I was born a demon, but never in a thousand years could I dream of being as deranged as you. I'd ask where you got it from, but somehow I think I know that answer all too well."

"No," LQG says hollowly. "You could never understand how I feel."

"No," LBH agrees. "And I don't want to, either."

And he leaves LQG, taking both the night pearl and Xiu Ya, and leaving him in the darkness to rot.

*

"Shiniang."

SJ is sitting on the luohan bed where LBH left him before, white bandages wrapped around his injured throat, white hair trailing down his back unbound.

LBH can't help but feel helpless, looking at him. He thought he had made it in time.

He'd developed his dreamwalking powers enough to be able to communicate with SJ from all the way in the Demon Realm, thought that small connection of theirs was enough.

It wasn't, not really. And because Shizun was batshit crazy, he tried to kill Shiniang as soon as he could get his hands on him after seeing LBH again.

SJ hadn't spoken once since LBH fished him out of the rubble and gave him his blood to heal his crushed throat and shattered ribs - and then grudgingly kidnapped MQF to make sure he was _really_ alright.

Indeed, he'd been like this for a week now. Just lying in bed all day long, not reacting to anything, not even when LBH brought him his favourite foods and brushed his hair out for him.

Shiniang had always been so strong, so resilient despite all he'd gone through. But perhaps Shizun trying to kill him had broken him at last. Truly, his husband despised him to that extent...

The only time he reacted was when LBH presented Xiu Ya to him, though only faintly.

He just looked at the old silvery sword and shuddered a little, then covered his head with a pillow and hid in bed for the rest of the day. Even his spiritual sword didn't bring him joy anymore.

And LBH knows it's not enough, just the two of them.

Even now he's surprised CQ hasn't battered down his door yet, not after he blew his cover so explosively and destroyed the Bai Zhan Peak Lord's house and kidnapped both him and his husband to the Demon Realm where, for all purposes, they've been held captive indefinitely.

What was holding them back? Did YQY not care about his shidi anymore? What about the Liu clan?

It's not like it matters, really. LBH will kill whoever stands in his way, former sectmates or otherwise.

It's just...

He just wants to see Shiniang smile again.

*

"Shiniang," LBH says as he combs out SJ's hair again. "Do you want to see Yuan'er again? What about Yingying?"

SJ's gaze, usually so unfocused, flickers to him, and LBH smiles. "I think they'd like to see you too," he says gently. "How about it? They can visit, alright? Maybe even stay."

Yuan'er is still small, and probably amenable to staying with Shiniang forever, but truth be told it's been forever since LBH interacted with Liu Yingying and has no idea how she feels about her mother, much less LBH himself.

What a mess of a situation, truly. And yet, LBH wouldn't replace it for anything.

"I'll get them as soon as I can," LBH says once he's done combing SJ's hair. "You just stay right here, alright? It won't take even a ke of your time."

Despite his wishes, SJ doesn't turn to acknowledge him as LBH bids him farewell and leaves.

And... it's tough. But it's a daily process to getting better. That's all.

*

Unsurprisingly, the Liu clan took both LY and LYY back to the estate with them after the debacle, even LMY.

The entire estate is on high alert, and LBH knows that if he fails he'll be dead meat in more ways than one as he flies in on Xiu Ya and disappears into the nearby forest to make a more stealthy approach.

He's learned much over his time in the Abyss and his brief, not entirely useless, detour at Huan Hua Palace. LBH slips into the estate unseen and undetected, and makes his way to LY's courtyard, where the boy is asleep in his bed.

LBH doesn't feel entirely right about kidnapping a ten-year-old like this, even if for it's for a good cause, but there's no more to it.

He doesn't expect LY to wake up, though, when he approaches, and whisper, stunned, "Bing-gege?"

LBH grins. "Hey, squirt." He never thought the boy would remember him after so long apart. "Want to see your mother again?"

"A'Niang?" LY's eyes go round. "Yes! But - "

"Hey, hey." LBH shushes him. "Come on, I'll answer all your questions later. Tell me where your jiejie is, okay? We'll pick her up too."

He sneaks out of LY's quarters with the boy in his arms and makes his way to where LYY is staying.

_She's_ not sleeping, of course, but embroidering something slowly all hunched over with just a small night pearl for company.

She's only a year or two younger than LBH, too old to be coddled. LBH contemplates just knocking her out and taking her along, but then LY hisses, "Jiejie!" and she jolts, stabbing herself in the finger and crying out.

LBH winces as LYY looks around in dismay after. "Who is that - " she says, nervous, when LBH steps into view.

"Liu-shimei," he says.

"You - " LYY stares, aghast, and for a moment he can tell she's thinking about driving her sewing needle right through his eyes.

LBH says, "Your mother wants to see you," and the young woman immediately sags to her knees in relief.

"He's not - not dead?" she asks, shakily.

"No, never," LBH says, remembering how he sank teeth into his own wrist and poured blood into SJ's mouth to heal his crushed windpipe, give him the breath of life before it was too late.

"Still alive. But he needs you." He hesitated. "I know you have no reason to trust me, but please. I vow upon my life to never do Shiniang nor you and your little brother any harm for the rest of your lives."

"What about me?"

A blade slides under LBH's throat, and he holds his breath as LMY silently approaches, LY squirming in his grip.

"Nor you, da-shimei," LBH whispers without missing a beat.

Shui Se feels as cold as ice next to his throat. "You have my brother, imprisoned," LMY says.

"Yes," LBH says.

"Let him go."

"I can't." LBH knows that, as true as rain. "He's a monster, and he'll never stop."

"And he's Yingying and Yuan'er's father," LMY counters. "And my brother. You want us to go along peacefully with you, you have to make some compromises."

LBH's lip curls. "What makes you think I couldn't knock all three of you out and kidnap you right now?"

"Because you haven't already," LYY finally says. "Luo-shixiong, please, just tell me if my parents are alright."

"They are." His words taste bitter. "But they - your mother, at least - would be better with you by his side. Please, shimei. You know what I'm capable of. Think about what it means that I'm _asking_ you."

"I - " LYY bites her lip. "I just... alright. Let's go."

*

(OK I really wanted to finish this tonight, sadly I have to sleep now. It'll be finished tomorrow I swear 🥲)

*

"A'Niang!!"

Both sister and brother break into a sprint as soon as they see their mother, LY practically tackling the man while LYY hovers nervously by.

"A'Niang," LY says over and over again. "I missed you so much! Nainai and Yeye said you ran away with Bing-gege and - "

"Yuan'er, don't say that," LYY hisses. "Nainai and Yeye weren't there. They don't know what happened."

"No," says LBH, who does. "But your mother is safe here with me. I promise."

Even so, with LY squirming in his lap and trying to get his mother's attention, SJ barely looks at him.

*

"Show me."

It's a week into their stay in LBH's Underground Palace when LMY finally approaches him in his study.

"Show you what, shimei?" LBH asks.

"What happened with my ge and saozi that day." She steels herself. "It's obvious you have no intention of letting me see my ge again."

"Your ge doesn't deserve to see the light of the sun again," LBH says. "As if you don't already know what's wrong with him. Your whole family, even."

LMY scowls, placing her good hand on Shui Se before gritting her teeth and letting go. "A Liu always gets what they want," she says.

"I didn't think that kind of behaviour was abnormal myself, until I went to Xian Shu and Shizun told me I was going to hurt someone I loved one day, if that was how I acted. I had to... think over a lot of things before I got better."

"You saw what this relationship did to your saozi," LBH says. "To your cousin. Was any of that good for her?"

"I know," LMY says. "Still, he's my only brother. He practically raised me. Just what am I supposed to think about all of this?"

LBH's lip curls. "I'll show you what happened. Not only that day, but everything that came before, from your beloved ge's memory himself. Don't blame me if you don't like what you see."

"I - I understand." LMY nods shakily.

"Me too," a thin voice pipes up from behind her.

LYY steps forth, a small and delicate figure compared to her tall, elegant cousin. LMY frowns. "Yingying, they're your parents. It's unfilial to sneak in on their memories like this - "

"No, it isn't," LYY and LBH say in unison.

"Not like I didn't already know things were strange between them," LYY adds bitterly. "I'm an adult like you, jiejie. If I can't find out the truth here, then who is going to tell me? Nainai and Yeye? Baba? As if any of them have ever been honest with me."

"Alright," LBH says. "I'll show you both what Shizun and Shiniang's relationship was like. Just don't tell Yuan'er too much. He'll know one day, just..."

"Just not now," LMY says. "We know."

"Mm."

*

When the women wake from the recollections of LQG's memory LBH poured into them with his dreamwalking powers, there's nothing he can say after to comfort them.

LYY sobs silently, arms thrown over her face. There are faint tear tracks even on LMY's face as she gets up and rubs her face, before walking out.

"It's my fault," LYY whispers. "If I hadn't been born, A'Niang would have never had to give up anything, wouldn't have had to get married against his will, wouldn't - "

"You don't know that," LBH says.

"Don't I?" she snaps back. "I'm the reason A'Niang had to give up his position, to become like _this_."

Only dangerous paths follow that trail of thought. "No, you're not," LBH says. "Your father is the one who inflicted cruelty on Shiniang. Not you. You were just born."

"I shouldn't have been," LYY whispers, shuddering as she wraps thin arms around her legs. "Not if I knew it would turn out like this."

*

Time passes in the Demon Realm, and truth be told, while LBH wants to pretend everything has gotten better since Shiniang was reunited with his children, they haven't, not truly.

Shiniang still doesn't speak, doesn't move much, doesn't eat much.

After seeing her parents' relationship though her father's twisted mind, even LYY is sombre and listless, and LMY spends most of her days training against LBH's demonic subordinates until they plead for mercy against the Xian Shu warrior.

She's training to kill, LBH thinks absently, watching her. But whom? Her brother? Her brother-in-law, him?

Nobody knows.

After the first few weeks where LY stuck to his mother like glue, only to get a half-hearted pat on the head and nothing else, he begins to wander the Underground Palace for something to do.

The books in the library are all in various demonic scripts and don't even have any gruesome drawings, so that's out. The kitchens are always preparing some strange creepy crawly critters for meals, so that's out as well.

There are no gardens in the Underground Palace either, and no place for a young boy to run save in the training grounds, where LMY spends all her time battering demons to a pulp. No thanks.

Bing-gege lets LY have the run of the place, more than he should, probably out of guilt.

LY thought he'd be happy once he was with A'Niang and Jiejie and Bing-gege again, and he is... but everyone is just so sad and quiet all the time. It's just not the same like before.

And he misses Baba.

He knows he shouldn't, that everyone here thinks Baba is a bad person. Bing-gege always looks disgusted when his name is mentioned, and even LYY looks on the verge of tears when LY asks when they can see him again and LMY just shakes her head and sighs.

And LY knows Baba has a hot temper, that sometimes he yells at A'Niang when he shouldn't.

But he's also LY's _baba_, who cried in happiness when he was born and wore him to his chest for a year after.

He taught LY everything and never scolded him, even when LY was clumsy with a sword and his footing.

Baba's always loved him. He loves A'Niang too, even if he shows it the wrong way sometimes.

It's not fair. Why can't it be like before, when they were on Bai Zhan and Bing-gege just a disciple who would play with LY in his spare time and make him the tastiest snacks to share with A'Niang?

When Baba would come home every day and kiss A'Niang and LY on the cheek in greeting, when LYY always had a funny story to share about her shijies when she visited from Xian Shu...

LY's eyes sting with tears. He just wants them all to be happy again, like they used to be.

*

"Baba?"

Eventually LY's explorations take him to the deepest levels of the Underground Palace, ones kept behind locks and chains and protective spells he has to spend half a day deciphering before he can pass through them.

But he has, and it's led him to a dark cell, and chained to the wall is his father, gaunt and emaciated, but still alive, and looking at LY in shock with bleary eyes -

"Baba!" LY runs to him, throws arms around his neck as LQG rocks from the impact. "Baba, you're here. I didn't know, I didn't know. No one told me you were here..."

"Yuan'er," Baba rasps. "Where have you been?"

"I've been here the whole time," LY says with a teary smile. "A'Niang's here too, and Jiejie, and Mingyan-tangzi, and Bing-gege! Baba, now that you're here we can be all together again - "

Baba wheezes, and his chains rattle and bounce against the walls of his prison. "Don't call him that," he snarls, and LY shuts up. "That demon is the one who did this to me."

LY shudders. "Bing-gege wouldn't do that, he's nice," he whispers.

"I've been here the whole time," Baba grunts, exhausted. "Yuan'er, your precious Bing-gege is the one who imprisoned me like this."

"I - " LY's thoughts scatter in panic. "But why? Why would Bing-gege do that?"

"He hates me." Baba smiles hollowly. "Yuan'er, every since he came to my peak he's hated me. He has sick feelings towards your mother too, and - "

"No, he doesn't!" LY all but yells. "Bing-gege's always nice to A'Niang, and jiejie, and me too..."

"But not to me," Baba says. "Yuan'er, if you don't help me I'll die here, and no one else will ever find out."

"No! No, I don't want that..." LY scrambles to his feet, wiping away his tears. "I'll do anything to save you, Baba, just tell me."

Even if Bing-gege hates him after, what else can LY do? Baba is chained up like a dog and starving! Someone has to do something.

"Cheng Luan," Baba hisses. "Get me my sword, Yuan'er, and I'll fix it. I'll fix everything."

LY stares at him with wide, hopeful eyes. "And then we can all be together again?"

"Yes," his father says. "Your mother, sister, you and I. We'll all be together forever and ever, and no one will ever be able to tear us apart ever again. It's a promise."

*

When LBH arrives at the Underground Palace after a meeting with his allies elsewhere, he's greeted by screeching alarms, running subordinates, and of all things, a wounded LMY as she staggers towards him, leaning against a wall to keep herself up.

"What the hell happened?" He rushes forward to help her, taking no offense when she spits a little blood on his clothes. "Who attacked you?"

"My ge," she gasps, and LBH freezes. "I don't know how, but he got loose somehow. He had Cheng Luan with him, and he came to take us away." She shudders.

"He looked _insane_. I don't know if that was because you locked him up like that, or if he's just always been like that, but my god..."

"Tell me what happened," LBH demands.

"He took them," LMY says numbly. "I tried to talk him down, but he wouldn't - he didn't care. He thought I'd betrayed him too, because I hadn't killed you yet." She laughs with tears in her eyes.

"They're all gone, shixiong. I'm so sorry, I don't know where he took them or if they're still alive..."

"No one's dying yet," LBH says, determined. "Stay the hell awake, shimei. We're going to find your family and fucking save them, alright? Shiniang, Yingying, Yuan'er. They're all going to be safe, I promise, and I'm going to find them."

"But I don't know where the hell they are," LMY whispers. "But shixiong, even if _you_ find them, the entire jianghu's going to come down on your head.

You imprisoned ge, and no one's going to give a shit about what he did to saozi in comparison. People just don't care like that."

"No," LBH says hoarsely. "But I know someone who does."

*

"Luo Binghe."

When YQY arrives, it's on Xuan Su, and he's alone, for which LBH is privately grateful. He doesn't need the rest of Cang Qiong mucking shit up for him - not to mention, he doubts anyone else in the sect cares about Shiniang.

But Zhangmen-shibo does.

LBH can tell the man's always had suspicions about his shidi's relationship with Shiniang, but propriety and lack of proof meant he had to just stand by and let their relationship be.

Well. LBH has proof in droves, but more importantly, he doesn't give a shit about propriety.

He just wants Shiniang to be safe, and happy, and _alive_.

"Zhangmen-shibo," LBH greets him. "Know where the bastard is?"

YQY doesn't scold him; no doubt he feels the same way. "The entire Liu clan's been rattling for war against the Demon Realm since you abducted your Shizun and Shiniang and their family."

"Sorry," LBH says insincerely.

YQY ignores him. "Your Shizun won't forget what you did to him," he says. "He'll be with his family, at their estate. Half the jianghu will be there too, undoubtedly to rebuke me as well for letting you run wild."

LBH cocks his head. "And why did you? If the Xuan Su came after me, even I'd have to worry a little."

(Just a little, though.)

"Because Xiao Jiu used to talk about you," YQY says, and LBH falls silent. "He liked you. I knew then, that no matter what, you'd never hurt him."

"We... seldom spoke after his marriage," the man says. "He... didn't want me to interfere, to look at him too closely. Perhaps he thought I'd be disgusted by him."

He laughs desperately. "I should have known. My clever, brilliant Xiao Jiu. Of course he wouldn't have given up his position to get married, of course he wouldn't have compromised himself like that. I should have known, and yet I failed him."

_Save the pity party for later_, LBH thinks. "Then let's find him," he says, "and flay that bastard husband of his until there's nothing left."

"Indeed," YQY agrees.

*

On one side, the grand Liu clan of cultivators and half the jianghu's greatest, gathered for war against the Demon Realm's evil young ruler, and what to do against YQY, who all but sheltered him and forbid attacks against him the past few months.

On the other, LBH and YQY alone.

Can you guess who'd win out?

(Just guess.)

Battering a bunch of wizened old bastards is not exactly LBH's idea of fun; he lets the Xuan Su Sword handle the masses while he searches for Shiniang and his family in the chaos of the Liu estate as servants flee in terror and

weak little cultivators attack him only to be swatted aside.

(Even if it doesn't get to shed as much as blood as he thinks it'd like, LBH thinks Xiu Ya appreciates the taste of Liu blood on its blade very much, as revenge for its master.)

Ultimately, it doesn't surprise him when he finds the broken family in Shiniang's courtyard, Shizun leaning against his sword - looking a little better, but still haggard -

while laid out on daybeds beneath a chrysanthemum tree are Shiniang and Yingying and Yuan'er, all slumped over each other.

"You bastard," LBH snarls, "did you kill them already?"

"Death would be a better fate for them than life with you, demon," Shizun says with an empty smile.

He looks truly mad now, as if the last thing tethering him to reality has snapped off at last.

"I. Said. Did. You. Kill. Them."

Shizun stares at him. "Just a little tea, to distract them from the noise," he says. "They'll be awake soon enough. Maybe to see me gut you alive."

"Just try it," LBH hisses, and attacks.

There's no grace in how Shizun fights anymore, no dignity or poise. He fights like a rabid animal, using Cheng Luan less like a sword and more a stabbing claw, a venomous fang.

For once LBH finds himself backing up more often than not, because the bastard just doesn't care _where_ he hits, and often LBH swerves just to redirect Cheng Luan from going straight into Shizun's own family's fucking bodies. Does he not even _care_ about them anymore?

He never has, LBH realises. He's never seen them as people, as thinking beings who live and breathe on their own.

They're just possessions to him, living dolls who exist only to bolster his ego and sense of self... and when they don't, all he can think to do is drug them and try to snap their necks for daring to think about anyone else.

And Shizun thinks _he's_ a monster. Truly, LBH has never met anyone so depraved in his whole life.

He won't let Shiniang return to this sadist ever again, even if it kills him.

LBH surges forth, backs Shizun against the walls of the courtyard, only for the man to smash a hole into it with his head, blood streaming down his haunted face.

They chase each other through the ruined estate, over ashes and bloodied corpses and the echo of Xuan Su's might crackling in the air.

And then -

LBH flash-steps into an empty courtyard where Shizun just fled into, and a white array bursts into existence around him.

He has no time to throw out Xiu Ya to shatter it before spiritual qi attacks him in silvery ropes and drags him to his knees, binding him to the ground, trapping him like a worm in a circle of salt.

And just beyond the array, Shizun stares at him, bloodied and exhausted and half-dead on his feet, and around him, the Zhao Hua monks who cast the array and continue to chat to keep it going.

"Abbot Wu," LBH gasps, recognising one of the bastards. "You've got to be shitting me."

"You've done enough harm, Luo Binghe," the monk says solemnly.

LBH wants to spit blood. "You're allying with _him_," he says, disbelievingly. "The monster in human skin."

"Liu _Qingge_," Shizun spits back at him. "The War God of Bai Zhan Peak, first son of the Liu Clan, someone you could never understand. Luo Binghe, you murderous, unfilial bastard, this is where you die."

LBH bursts out laughing, sick as he feels. "But will I?" he asks, and closes his eyes just as YQY descends from the sky and shatters the array in a single blow.

The impact knocks most of the cultivators left to the ground, and even Shizun nearly collapses. "Zhangmen-shixiong," he snarls in disgust. "You'd ally with that gutter spawn, that monster, that _thing_ - "

"That's enough," YQY says.

LBH really does spit blood this time. God, but he feels like absolute _shit_.

"You've disgraced yourself enough," YQY says.

"Have I?" LQG laughs. "Look at you, shixiong, allying with a demon against me. I should have known I couldn't trust you. Did you two agree to share A'Jiu between you after you kill me? Is that the real reason you're here today - "

Xuan Su screams.

LBH will never forget the feeling. Even after his years in the Abyss, it feels like his body wants to collapse in on itself, spiritual qi forcing him to his knees, bowing his head low.

LQG buckles too, unable to drag himself up with Cheng Luan. People start bleeding from the eyes, their ears, sobbing for YQY to stop, to have mercy, and all of it falling on deaf ears -

"Qi-ge, stop!"

And in a heartbeat, the screaming vanishes.

LBH gasps in relief, clutching his chest as his heart hammers a thousand beats in his lungs. He's alive, he's alive, he's alive...

But more importantly, Shiniang is here.

Wearing nothing more than a ragged gown, with his hair wild and loose all around him, and blood dripping down his nose, but once he's lucid and _awake_ and staring at all of them -

And behind him, Yingying and Yuan'er. There are streaks of bloody tears on LYY's cheeks, and LBH doesn't know how LY is even _alive_ after the pressure Xuan Su must have put on the boy, but he's there too, and _safe_.

_Oh thank goodness_, LBH thinks.

Shiniang stumbles forward, one foot limping as always. "Bastard Qi-ge," he croaks. "Don't kill my fucking children because you can't keep your temper at a time like this."

"Xiao Jiu." YQY's pupils are blown wide open. "You..."

"I'm here." As he speaks, blood drips down Shiniang's chin.

"I'm here," he repeats. "And so sick of this. I don't care who lives or dies tonight, I just want this to _end_."

"Shiniang," LBH whispers, just as LQG croaks out, "A'Jiu" from across the courtyard.

Shiniang shudders when he sees his husband again. "Don't ever look at me again, you bastard. Look at all this! You did this."

"To protect you - "

"Like this?" Shiniang rasps, and tugs down the bandages on his throat. Even after the heavenly blood cured him, the fingerprints remained, a twisted reminder of what could never be forgotten.

"To protect you," LQG repeats. "To save you, from the likes of _him_."

"I've never needed saving," Shiniang says. "Not by the likes of you, anyway."

He can barely stand on his feet as is, LYY supporting him as he breathes heavily against her.

"Enough is enough," Shiniang says. "Liu Qingge, for as long as we both live, you will never, ever, _ever_ look or talk to me or mine ever again."

"I can do one better," LBH growls. Why let the bastard live, after all he's done?

"Don't need you to," Shiniang snaps at him. "I just need you to take me away from here."

Oh. He can do that too. Still -

"I won't," Shizun says, wild-eyed and mad. "No, for as long as I still breathe, A'Jiu, you're mine, and our children are too. I won't let go, A'Jiu. Without you, I have nothing - "

"You have nothing," Shiniang says.

Blood oozes down his nose, trickles down his chin and soaks his robe red.

"You took everything from me," Shiniang says. "And still, you have nothing. Nothing you did meant anything. I still hate you." Tears flood his eyes. "And I always will. You _ruined_ me, Qingge. I'll never forget it."

"A'Jiu..." LQG whispers, heartbroken.

"Live or die, I don't care," Shiniang rasps. "But stay the hell away from me and my family. We don't belong to you anymore."

"A'Jiu - " LQG begs, pleading.

"Shiniang," LBH says in awe.

Only for his awe to transform into terror as Shiniang's eyes roll to the back of his head and he crumples to the ground, blood pouring from his seven orifices as relentless as rain.

*

It's just like before.

It takes a week in Qian Cao's sickbed before Shiniang wakes again, LBH taking him there with YQY's assistance before it was too late.

For now, Cang Qiong remains sealed to the outside world. LBH doesn't care to know what's happening outside of Shiniang's sickroom for now;

he's spent all his time there, sometimes accompanied by LYY or YQY or MQF (who makes a point of kicking LBH out whenever he performs a treatment), but mostly alone.

Another qi deviation, another collapse brought forth by fatigue and exhaustion and suffering. LBH doesn't know how long Shiniang has left in him, if he's running on fumes alone.

(He probably is. Still, how is fair? He's spent so much of his life ensnared in the twisted designs of a sick mind. He's _free_ now, and yet...)

"Binghe."

LBH's head snaps up in shock. "Shiniang..." he gasps as SJ stares at him with watery green eyes in bed. "You're awake..."

"Water," the man mumbles. LBH rushes to pour a cup for him, helps him sit up and holds the cup for him as SJ musters the energy to drink.

"Easy, easy..."

"Shut up," SJ wheezes.

LBH could die of happiness right then and there. "You're really here," he says giddily. "You gave me such a scare back then - "

"Where is everyone," SJ interrupts.

"Yingying's on Xian Shu again," LBH says, undeterred. "Though she sleeps over here most of the time. Mingyan's back too, and Yuan'er..." He smiles faintly. "He's here too."

"Is he hurt?"

"No." It's complicated. "He'll be fine when he sees you again," LBH adds, though he doubts how true that is.

"And..." SJ all but swallows his tongue. "Where is..."

"Shizun?"

SJ winces, but nods. LBH curses himself for being so careless.

"Zhangmen-shibo has him."

"What?" SJ looks aghast. "Is he insane?"

"A little." LBH is amused. "Shiniang, you know that bastard would never stop as long as he lived, so long as he could still hurt you. He can't, anymore. His cultivation is gone."

"... how," SJ says, suspicious.

"You forget, I'm a demon," LBH says. Not to mention Xuan Su is a parasitic sword as well. "He's as weak as an ordinary mortal now, and he won't live forever. He won't be able to hurt you anymore."

"I don't believe you - " SJ shudders. "How can it be that easy? How can it end just like that?" For once, tears come into his eyes instead of blood. "It'll never be over for me. Never, never, for as long as I live."

"If you want him dead, he's dead," LBH says.

"I don't know yet. I just want him away from me." SJ rubs at his eyes. "And I want to see my children. Please."

"Alright," LBH says. "I'll bring them in."

*

"A'Niang?"

This time, when LYY steps nervously into the room, SJ's gaze widens at the sight of her.

"Ying'er," he rasps, and her eyes flood with tears at being recognised.

"A'Niang!" she sobs as she throws arms around him. "A'Niang, A'Niang..."

"'m here," SJ whispers, patting her hair with a gaunt hand. "'m here, Ying'er..."

So he is.

LBH watches them embrace, soothed by the reunion.

And yet...

*

"Yuan'er. You don't want to see your mother again?"

Ever since returning to Cang Qiong, LY had shut himself up in his little room in the Qing Jing dorms and refused to come out, even when LBH visited him near-daily.

The door to his room was locked like usual. "Yuan'er," LBH says through the peephole. "Your a'niang wants to see you. He misses you."

There's a muffled sob from behind the door. "No, he doesn't."

What can he say to that?

It wasn't hard to puzzle out that a wandering LY had been the one to naively free his father from imprisonment, believing only good things would come of it.

He couldn't have known what would happen after - the bloodshed, but even so, he held guilt and shame in his heart far beyond a ten-year-old's reckoning.

LBH had sifted through the boy's memories carefully one night. Saw how LY believed everything his father told him, stole Cheng Luan out from LBH's study while he was absent and even led him to where SJ was staying in the Underground Palace,

completely oblivious to the fact he and his family would be taken hostage by his father immediately. How that initial guileless hope turned into fear and realisation, then crushing guilt and shame at what he'd wrought.

LBH didn't blame him. The boy already despised himself.

And he was convinced he had all but killed his mother when he saw him collapse with blood pouring out of him like endless, miserable rain. Even now...

"Your a'niang doesn't blame you for what happened," LBH says, in as soft a voice as he can manage. "You know he doesn't."

He hears a faint scuffling, a thumping sound. "I hurt him," LY cries out. "I'm bad, Bing-gege, I'm as bad as Baba..."

"No, you're not," LBH says, and unlocks the door.

LY is a dishevelled mess on his small bed, huddled up in his blankets and his face wet with tears.

"Hey." LBH cups his face as soon as he goes over to console the boy. "You're not bad, Yuan'er, you just thought you were doing the right thing. You didn't know your Baba would do that."

"He said - " LY sniffles into his shoulder. "He said it was either we all die together or die alone. He was going to kill us, and I helped him - "

"No, you didn't." LBH crushes him in a hug. "Your father is a monster, Yuan'er. It has nothing to do with you."

"But I'm his _son_," LY sobs. "What if I'm just like him?"

LBH's heart aches. "You'll never be anything like him," he whispers. "Because the Yuan'er I know isn't a bully who treats people like things and hurts them because he thinks they belong to him and him alone.

Yuan'er loves sweets and reading books about spiritual beasts and playing with building blocks. And I know he loves his A'Niang, and his A'Niang loves him too.

"And," he adds wryly, "if it helps, I can be Yuan'er's baba from now on. Not that bastard; you don't have to ever think about him again. I'll be there for you."

"I want that," LY mumbles, and LBH's heart is so full it could burst.

"But A'Niang," the boy adds timorously. "Does he really..."

"Yes," LBH assures him. "He does."

*

The gardens of Qian Cao Peak are always cool and leafy, no matter where you sit.

SJ spends most of his afternoons out on the grass below a leafy oak tree, now that he's strong enough to walk a little without staggering to his knees every other step.

Yingying walks with him when she can; his daughter is all but glued to him nowadays, as if he'll disappear the moment she looks away from him.

(Is it any wonder?)

Today is a rare day she's absent from Qian Cao Peak, having finally been convinced by her Shizun to go on a mission with her shijies for once. Not that they'll go far, SJ thinks.

He doesn't know what Cang Qiong's relationship with the rest of the world is like nowadays; it wouldn't surprise him to know they've been labelled a heretic sect and ostracised. It's peaceful now, but the future is never certain.

And yet, he's free now.

Qi-ge visits him whenever he can, SJ tolerating him only when he has something interesting to say. On days when all he has are mopey apologies, forget it; SJ just rolls over to his side and feigns sleep until he goes right back out.

(He's gotten the point.)

Qi-ge... also has LQG somewhere, whether it be in the bowels of Qiong Ding's imprisonment caves or some other place, he doesn't know. He doesn't dare to know, either. Much as he knows his husband can never hurt him again, his skin still prickles when he remembers him.

Truly, he really will never forget what the man did to him.

Then there's the little beast, the demon, his Binghe. SJ doesn't know what to think of the foolish orphan turned demonic ruler who's put all his grand duties on hold to act as his nursemaid and cook all the time.

The boy saved him from a fate worse than death, from death itself, and SJ has no idea what to do with him.

All he has nowadays are cheap words and a broken body. He knows how the boy looks at him, loves him. He doesn't know if he'll ever be up for a relationship again.

He knows Binghe will be content with whatever SJ gives him, even if he gives him nothing.

After years upon years of LQG wanting him to be someone he could never be, molding him, drugging him, twisting him into knots and needles and remaking him endlessly, SJ finally has someone by his side who cares for him just as he is, broken and imperfect and worn out.

The boy could have anything. He could have the sun itself, and yet every morning he greets SJ in his sickroom with a tray full of nourishing congee and hot soy milk and a plate of cut fruit (it was peaches today) and says, "Good morning, Shiniang," just like that.

Such kindness is too much for something like him. And yet, SJ's gotten used to it. Looks forward to it.

Truth be told, he doesn't know how long he has left. His body is more than shattered, his mind a scattered mess. Some days he's strong enough to walk for a while and talk with the people he loves.

Other days, he'll get people's names confused again, will think he's still with his husband and want nothing more than to hide under his bed again.

(It's so fucking exhausting, being him.)

But he has Qi-ge. He has Yingying, and Binghe, and Yuan'er.

It's enough.

*

"Go," LBH says encouragingly. "Come on, Yuan'er, you can do it."

A'Niang is sitting on a blanket with a small book of poetry in his lap under the big oak tree he likes so much.

LY's feet are stuck in mud, his heart in a cage of its own making.

"N - no," his teeth shatters in fear. "No, I can't, Bing-gege. He'll hate me."

"He won't," LBH assures him, but when LY doesn't move, he raises a brow. "Then how about we go together?"

He holds out his hand, and LY grabs onto it for dear life.

"Come on, then," LBH says again, and they walk over to SJ together.

Foot by foot, step by step, LY plods forward as slow as a drafthorse. LBH squeezes his hand to comfort him, but stays silent otherwise.

There are some things the boy will have to do on his own, if he wants to conquer this fear.

(He'll just be there behind him, to catch him if he falls. That's what a father should do, anyway.)

SJ notices them long before they're in talking distance. He looks better nowadays, under MQF's care and the meals LBH makes for him. Even if he can eat only a couple of bites, he tries his best.

(LBH's heart flutters and swells every time. Trust me, it's more than enough.)

Eventually LY skids to a stop, and LBH stays with him.

And only a dozen feet away in the grass, SJ lifts his head from his book and stares at him, his errant son.

Neither mother nor child speak. LY stares at his own feet, too ashamed to look up.

_Look up_, LBH wants to say.

"Look up," SJ echoes.

LBH jolts. LY flinches - then hesitantly, looks up and across the long divide at his mother.

"Yuan'er," SJ says in his soft voice. "Come here."

"Go," LBH whispers when the boy hesitates.

A dozen feet apart has never felt so much like a mile. LY's small hands shake as he finally approaches SJ - then stutters to a stop only a few feet way, not daring to come any closer, to be acknowledged and seen.

"A - A'Niang," the boy stumbles forth in a halting voice. "I'm... I'm sorry... I, uh..." Tears springing into his eyes.

"Come here," SJ repeats, and holds out his arms.

The first step takes a lifetime. The second, a heartbeat. LY crawls, then walks, then runs and stumbles into his mother's arms with a heart full of shame and regret.

"'m sorry, 'm sorry," the boy sobs into his shoulder. "I hurt you, A'Niang..."

"No, you didn't," SJ says, stroking his hair. "You're just fine."

"But I - " the boy shudders.

"But you're here with me now," SJ says. "And that's enough. Do you know what I mean?"

The boy shakes his head, confused.

"That's fine." SJ cradles him in his arms, smiles a little as LBH finally approaches and kneels next to them. "Because we have time now, to be a family again. To learn what each of us likes, and to take care of each other, and listen. Isn't that right?"

And unbelievably, he lifts his hand from LY's back and extends it to LBH, who, after a heartstopping pause, laces their hands together and feels those cool fingers warm against his.

"That's right," LBH says. "We have all the time in the world now, to love each other. And we both love you very much, Yuan'er, no matter what."

"No matter what," SJ says, and smiles at last.

*

What can you say about the future? Can you predict it, guarantee it? Never, never.

People live and die every day. For now, SJ lives. One day he'll die, and he doesn't know when that'll be, whether it sooner or later, or according to his (second!) husband, _hopefully never_.

Silly beast. As if you can assure anything like that. There are limits to even a heavenly demon's greatness, true immortality being one of them.

And yet, SJ finds himself reasonably happy nowadays.

He'll never be as he once was, yes, but he has his children and Qi-ge, and he has his husband.

Yuan'er - sorry, Liu Yuan - is fifteen now, old enough for a spiritual sword, though not too old for hugs and kisses. (He's a cuddlebug that way.)

Nowadays, Yingying and Mingyan like to travel the world together, though SJ worries whenever they leave the sect for a while. It's only natural, of course. His husband has a lot of enemies. _He_ has a lot of enemies.

But his daughter is stronger than anyone thought possible, and Mingyan keeps her out of trouble otherwise. They make a good team.

Qi-ge is good to him. Likes to bring him medicinal teas and candies, even though SJ was given a clean bill of health a long time ago. Still spoils him endlessly, and only out of guilt only half the time.

(It's a work in progress, alright?)

As for his first husband... he died a while ago. How, when, where, SJ doesn't know, doesn't care to know. He just knows that Qi-ge buried him somewhere none of the remaining members of his clan could find, and broke Cheng Luan and cast it into the endless sea.

(Farewell, Liu Qingge. May you never be remembered, may you drink Meng Po's soup and never be reborn as you once were.)

And then...

Well, there's Binghe.

*

"A'Jiu..."

It's a series of butterly kisses on his shoulder that wake SJ up from his drowsy morning haze.

"Go away," he grumbles, even as slender fingers dance around his waist, just on the edge of daring to tickle him.

"It's already _wu shi_, my love," LBH murmurs. "Don't you want to get up anytime soon?"

SJ's eyes snap open, and he nearly smacks his husband in horror as he scrambles out of bed to get ready. "I have a class this morning, and you didn't wake me?!"

"But darling, you looked so sweet curled up in bed, how could I wake you up early?"

SJ curses as he flings open his wardrobe for his day clothes. "Useless, that's what you are."

"Mm, I'm terrible," LBH agrees. "... at forgetting to remind you Qi-shigu agreed to take the painting class with her lot on a joint trip to the beast peak for some life exercises.

Class already finished half a shichen ago."

"You - " SJ whirls around, outraged. "You irritating, insufferable, pompous bastard, you, let me tell you what I think about you - "

LBH grabs him by the waist and drags him into bed. "Oh, alright, alright," he says cheerfully. "But say it in bed, alright?"

SJ rolls his eyes as he props his arms up on the man's (admittedly impressive) chest. "I thought you wanted to get up."

"Changed my mind," LBH grins. "Forgot how nice it is to laze around in bed all day and do nothing."

SJ snorts. "So you say. Yet who's the one who gets glared at when you return to the Underground Palace and have a mess full of requests to deal with?"

LBH nuzzles his cheek. "Is someone out there disrespecting my Empress? Shall I strip the skin off their backs for you?"

"It's Mobei-jun," SJ says bluntly. "And he runs half your empire for you, so no, you cannot."

LBH blinks. "Oh."

"And he doesn't so much disrespect me as he's convinced I'm some human-born succubus who compels you to do my every bidding."

"And he's not into that?" LBH says. "No wonder the boor is still single."

He wasn't, the last time SJ checked, but LBH isn't the type to keep track of his subordinates' love lives anyway.

"Come on," he gripes. "Yuan'er just got his sword, he's going to want to learn how to fly with it. Let's go to Qing Jing already."

"I thought he doesn't want to be called that anymore."

"I'm his mother, I can call him whatever I want," SJ sniffs.

"Ooh, touchy," LBH sniggers. "And what about me?"

"What _about_ you?"

His husband laces his fingers at his back. "A'Jiu," he says. "What do you like to call me?"

SJ snorts. "Little beast. Lazy emperor. Fool, airhead."

"Ouch."

"... Binghe."

"Mm?"

"I said, I like to call you Binghe." SJ colours. "It's your name, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is." LBH's smile threatens to split his face in half. "As for me, I like - really, really like when A'Jiu is happy."

"That's not the same thing - " SJ snaps, stopping only when he sees the misty-eyed look on his husband's face.

"You're happy," LBH says. "Aren't you?"

"... I am," SJ admits. "More than I ever thought possible."

"Good." His husband pecks him on the cheek. "Now let's get ready."

"_Finally_," SJ grumbles, and insists on LBH picking out his outfit for him before he's willing to get up again.

(The bed is just that comfy, after all.)

END

(It's finally over 💀 from the little crack yandere LQG AU I thought I could just write out on a whim to this suddenly super-serious, totally batshit and lengthy AU... well, it's over now and I can stop sweating bullets LMAO

I'm sure folks wanted to see LQG truly get beaten down, but alas the writing just did not go that way. I do feel bad for the guy though, how did I slander his character so much 😅 I'll make it up to him one day!!

Thanks for reading this wacky AU, hope it all made sense to you in the end. All's well that ends well, kinda?

See you next time! 🫡)