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Here is what occurs to Shen Qingqiu one day, as he looks fondly at the boy he's raised, practicing his sword forms and already far above his age level with the help of a real cultivation manual.
Shen Qingqiu is his teacher. He is in the position to teach Luo Binghe important life lessons just as much as fighting techniques. He's already taught Binghe more things than strictly necessary of a Shizun, just by virtue of his favoritism.
In 2 years, he is going to push his disciple into the Abyss or die trying to avoid it. He's done the math, and there is no feasible way to gain 10,000 points before then. All his hard work of hugging the protagonist's thighs will backfire on him – surely, Luo Binghe will see this betrayal as something even worse than what the original scum villain did to him. Luo Binghe could never forgive a betrayal like that no matter how kind his Shizun will act up until the immortal alliance conference.
But what if Binghe could forgive him? What if there was a 3rd route Shen Qingqiu could take here? Avoid System insta-death and avoid the protagonist's torture methods.
He was a teacher. He could teach Luo Binghe how to forgive so that when the time came, he might not necessarily blame Shen Qingqiu for what was beyond his control.
___
"Binghe," Shen Qingqiu says. "Come sit next to this master."
Binghe looks up, all sparkling doe eyes and a pink flush on his adorable face. He hesitates only moments before he scampers over to Shen Qingqiu's side and makes himself comfortable. He burrows himself against Shen Qingqiu's side in a very unsubtle way, and Shen Qingqiu takes the hint, putting his hand in Binghe's wavy hair. Binghe leans into that touch, too. It makes his heart hurt, that his adorable white lotus can't stay this way forever.
"Imagine a scenario," Shen Qingqiu starts without waiting for Binghe to ask. "A man is cursed to harm someone he cares for deeply. If he tries to avoid it in any way, he will die. And the curse is such that the man can't speak a word about the curse, can't warn his loved one in any way, because the curse will kill him for this too."
Binghe's brows furrow in concentration. "This disciple thinks the first step should be to search for a way to break the curse."
Shen Qingqiu pats his head. "Very good, Binghe. But suppose the man can't find a way to break it, what then?"
"Will his loved one die?"
"No. The man knows very well his loved one will not die. In fact, he knows that the loved one he pushed away will come back stronger than ever, and enact revenge for the man's wrongdoings even though his hands were tied. The man would not be able to deny the accusations thrown his way either, because again, the curse would instantly kill him if he spoke about it."
"That's horrible!" Binghe gasps. "I mean- this disciple… isn't sure of the solution to this riddle…"
This master… was hoping you might figure out a way, almighty protagonist… ahahah….
Shen Qingqiu fans himself and summons his best teacher voice he can muster. "This master doesn't expect Binghe to know a perfect answer to an unsolvable riddle. This master is just curious to know Binghe's thoughts. Is either party at fault? Should anything more have been done to prevent the ruining of the relationship between the two?"
"This disciple… thinks… it isn't either person's fault." He starts. "Does the curse stop the man from talking about it indirectly? Could he warn the other person in a subtle way?"
Protagonist! You are right on the money! If I were your System I'd award you 100 points!
He squeezed Binghe closer to his side affectionately. "Binghe is so smart. Such a method would certainly help, wouldn't it?"
"But it also depends whether the loved one is smart enough to piece it all together. And–and if the betrayal must happen no matter what, the loved one must also be able to think clearly and logically to remember those hints, and not let any anger or sadness from the betrayal muddle their thoughts."
"Precisely!" Shen Qingqiu says a little too loudly, but he can't help his excitement. He should have thought of this so much sooner! Binghe was too smart, the highest IQ protagonist! He could just kiss him on the head. He wouldn't, though, he had a lofty image to maintain and that was a bit much. He does pat his head again though. Binghe absolutely preens under the attention. Too cute, too cute!
Binghe stops suddenly. It's only a hesitation of a few moments, but then Binghe is asking another question. "...This disciple wonders…"
"Hm?"
Binghe's arms wrap around Shen Qingqiu a little too boldly.
...Too sticky!
...He should push Binghe off of him.
(...He'll wait to hear what Binghe says first.)
"Nevermind," Binghe finally says after a long pause. "This disciple wonders if Shizun would like more tea?"
___
"Shizun once told this disciple a riddle," Binghe says, rubbing his thumb down the length of Shen Qingqiu's jaw, stopping at his pulse point. He shivers, unable to stop the fear. "–about a man who loved another but was destined to hurt him."
Shen Qingqiu froze. That years ago "lesson" came back to him suddenly, and for a flash of a second, he dared to hope it might have worked. Had- had it? Why else would Binghe bring it up now?
–Wait. I never said the man was in love! Just that he had to hurt someone close to him! And I never specified the other person was another man!
"This disciple wonders what lesson Shizun was really trying to give this disciple. He thought long and hard about what sort of 'hints' a man put in that position could afford to say. He could, perhaps, speak about it in hypotheticals," Binghe pauses. "Pass it all off as a lesson to teach."
Shen Qingqiu never felt more terrified and hopeful in his life. If Binghe would just take his hand off his neck, maybe he could afford to feel a little more relief!
"But this disciple is too stupid to understand everything from just one lesson," Binghe sighs. "This disciple has searched high and low for curses like the one Shizun described and has found nothing to help him understand. And this disciple is afraid to confirm or deny his suspicions with Shizun himself, should the 'curse' take effect... and take Shizun away from him."
"B-Binghe," his voice cracks.
"This disciple only wished to tell Shizun that he understands… why he had to push him into the Endless Abyss. Why he spoke such hateful words if he truly had no other option. And this disciple does not resent his Shizun for it when the alternative meant death."
Binghe brushes a thumb under his eyes, and it's then that Shen Qingqiu realizes he's crying.
He can't help himself. His knees buckle, he's too ridden with fear and anxiety and adrenaline and relief when he pulls Binghe to him and holds him tight, presses his face to his chest because he's gotten so stupidly tall. His arms are shaking, but Binghe's arms wrap right around Shen Qingqiu as well, and holds him steady in a touch too gentle for what he deserves.
"Forgive me," he whispers, choking back a sob.
"S-Shizun," Binghe's voice, so confident only a moment ago, is now stuttering and betraying deeper emotions. "There is nothing for this disciple to forgive, Shizun-Shizun did the right thing, this disciple would have hated himself if Shizun died from fighting such a curse."
His fists clench tighter in Shen Qingqiu's robes. It should scare Shen Qingqiu, how easily Binghe could kill him with those hands right now. But his fear is falling back in favor of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel too good to be true.
Maybe, if Binghe held on to that lesson all this time, maybe he hasn't blackened so far.
Maybe he's still his white lotus.
"I knew you'd come back," Shen Qingqiu says. Sniffles, really. His face would be too thin for all this crying in any other circumstance.
Binghe stiffens, and then holds Shen Qingqiu even tighter. "Shizun always believed in this disciple."
Shen Qingqiu nods against Binghe's chest.
The moment is ruined with the System, of course.
[Heartbreak levels have decreased!
5000 coolness points!
5000 heart points!
Would you like to activate a small scenario pusher?]
Shen Qingqiu shuts his eyes tight to ignore the glaring blue screen.
"Shizun is surely tired from the day's events." Binghe says, but he doesn't let go of the hug. Shen Qingqiu is, frankly, too exhausted to care to push away either right this second. He missed Binghe, he really did, despite it all. To see him grown into the fully realized protagonist he was always meant to be, all while Binghe forgives him, it's almost too much.
Binghe maneuvers him until he's resting on the bed, and then hovers there for several long beats. Shen Qingqiu really does feel the exhaustion hitting him hard and could fall asleep any minute.
"What is Binghe thinking?"
"This disciple has had difficulty sleeping at night. Wondering for the last 3 years if he deduced Shizun's situation correctly, and whether Shizun was ok. Shizun does not know how relieved this disciple is."
There was a long pause.
"Is Binghe tired?" He reached to pat Binghe's head out of habit. Binghe snatched his wrist and guided his hand instead to cup his cheek. Ah, Binghe, what was this now?
Binghe nodded his head. Ah, right, he asked him a question. What was it again?
Maybe his own drowsiness was what made him so shameless in that moment. "Binghe can rest beside this master if it pleases Binghe."
He hears a sharp intake of breath. He doesn't see the look on Binghe's face because he was already closing his eyes. He feels more than he hears Binghe slip into the bed beside him. Once upon a time when Binghe lived in the bamboo house with him, he would allow Binghe to do the same back then. So he thought of this much like those days.
"Goodnight, S-Shizun," Binghe breathes against the back of his neck.
Shen Qingqiu is already asleep.
When he wakes in the morning, there is a steaming bowl of congee at his bedside, prepared with care.