Chapter 30:
Honeymoon
AFTER HARBORING the devil incarnate Luo Binghe for a dozen or so days, Qing Jing Peak’s disciples finally couldn’t take the harassment anymore and begged Shen Qingqiu to take the person in question and “lie low.”
“Shizun, I hate Bai Zhan Peak,” Ning Yingying whined. “Hate, hate, hate! They’re such brutes! They’ve destroyed the mountain gates so many times already!”
“Shizun…I really didn’t tell them this time! This disciple swears; you have to believe me!” Ming Fan complained tearfully. He nervously glanced at Luo Binghe. “Why not let Luo-shidi out to spar with them a few times? After beating them up enough times, they’ll no longer dare to harass Qing Jing Peak!”
Luo Binghe was utterly unmoved. “Shizun and I barely have any time to discuss business. Where would I get the extra hours to spar with those wild monkeys?”
Shen Qingqiu demurely waved his fan, unspeaking.
To be fair, this so-called “discussing business” was more researching new dishes, cleaning the Bamboo House’s cutlery and furniture, and coming to act cute and sweet with all those propositions, no matter the time and location…
Ming Fan sniveled tearfully as he wailed. “Shizun, do something! An Ding Peak is no longer willing to come fix our gates. Every time this disciple has to descend and ascend the mountain, traveling several hundred kilometers and spending out of his own purse—”
His howling annoyed Shen Qingqiu to no end.
Ultimately, he finally and magnanimously did a great deed: accompanied by Ming Fan’s overflowing gratitude and Ning Yingying’s reluctance to see them go, the great master left Qing Jing Peak.
Hence, he was rather depressed.
Shit, what the hell was this?!
Shidi L— had condoned his subordinates’ and minions’ (ahem) attack on Shixiong S—’s gates, and he hadn’t even provided any compensation afterward. Having suffered economic losses, Shixiong S— went to Shidi X—’s department to request an allocation of public funds, but Shidi X— refused to approve it.
Then Disciple M— not only demonstrated zero selfless spirit with regards to contributing to the collective funds, he even kicked his own master off the mountain.
Traitors, the lot of you!
That said, Luo Binghe looked very happy. As long as he could cling to Shen Qingqiu, anywhere they went was the same in his eyes. Plus, it was more in line with his desires to not have that group of eyesores hovering over them every day.
“Shizun, where shall we go next?” he said in delight, tugging on Shen Qingqiu’s arm.
Shen Qingqiu glanced down at Luo Binghe’s pose, at how he had encircled his arm with both of his own, and found it hard to look. He really was becoming more and more like a maiden.
They looked exactly like two “Mushroom-Picking Little Girls”10 walking out the door, hand in hand. ╭(′▽`)╭(′▽`)╯
Shen Qingqiu was blasted by his own man-made landmine. He asked in response, “Do you have anywhere that you’d like to go?”
Luo Binghe gave it some thought. “How about we go to places we’ve been to in the past and see how they’ve changed?”
Thereafter, the two arrived at the first stop following their eviction from Cang Qiong Mountain, Shuang Hu City.
Originally, Shen Qingqiu had intended to go by sword, which would have let them arrive within an incense time. But Luo Binghe seemed to have gotten some kind of idea in his head and insisted that they use a carriage.
Using one was fine; Shen Qingqiu didn’t care either way. Who could have guessed that after they got on the carriage, Luo Binghe would use that shyly expectant expression (that he thought he was hiding well) to stare at him?
The carriage interior wasn’t very large, so Shen Qingqiu had nowhere to run; he took that burning stare until his hair stood on end.
Are you asking for car sex? Don’t even think about it! This master absolutely won’t agree! You really are a traitor!
Luo Binghe stared at him for a long time, but when he saw no particular gestures from Shen Qingqiu, meaning they weren’t of one heart, his head slowly drooped. He prodded his fingers together cutely. “Shizun…don’t you remember?” he asked, a bit at a loss.
Shen Qingqiu realized then that, when it came to his everyday internal monologue, it basically always started with a beat of silence.
“Remember?” he asked. “Remember what?”
Luo Binghe was disappointed. “Back when the Qing Jing Peak disciples left the mountain together for a training experience, you let me ride with you…”
To think Luo Binghe remembered even such dusty old affairs with such clarity! Meanwhile, Shen Qingqiu had pretty much forgotten most of it.
Luo Binghe sighed. “So Shizun really didn’t remember.”
Faced with this contrast, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but feel guilty. He waved his hand, letting Luo Binghe lean against him, then rubbed his cheek to pacify him. “Shizun only temporarily forgot. I’m sorry.”
Having been pacified, Luo Binghe was satisfied, his lips curving upward. “Mm. Shizun’s acts of kindness toward me far surpassed this moment. How could he remember each and every one?”
Pure silence.
Could you not head canon me as such a loving Holy Father!? I really had just forgotten! I can’t live up to your divine expectations!
Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe wandered leisurely down the main road past Shuang Hu City’s gates. Stalls crammed with eye-catching goods bordered them on either side. In the middle of it all, a gorgeous banner fluttered in the breeze.
Shen Qingqiu’s gaze was drawn to the banner before it dropped to the face of the stall owner sitting beneath it. His smile, with its trademark “subtle, looking warm and elegant at first glance, but in truth cool and lofty” cast froze upon his lips.
Luo Binghe was far too sharp. “What’s wrong, Shizun?” he instantly asked. “An acquaintance?”