That one year, the wicked, vicious Skinner Demon had transformed into the old master’s beloved concubine Die-er and hidden within his manor. After they’d killed her, the room in the wing where she’d once lived had been the site of continuous disturbances: every night there were wails and screams that sent all the residents into a panic. This had remained unresolved for years.
Councilor Chen was already approaching seventy years old; his hair was a snowy white, but his ambitions were the same as ever. Many years ago, for better or worse, the only lovely concubine clinging to him had been Die-er. But today, he had a girl on either side, and they made for a beautiful pair of matching wives. The Skinner Demon who lurked at his side in the past hadn’t weakened his ardent passion for women in the slightest.
This old gentleman was already of advanced age, but his memory was by no means poor. When he saw Shen Qingqiu, he even loudly called out to him: “Immortal Master Shen.”
Immortal Master Shen’s lofty aloofness was the same as it had been last time around. He waited until Old Master Chen asked about the young master beside him, then finally tugged his lips up a little and said gently, “This is indeed my little disciple from back then.”
Old Master Chen smiled. “No wonder he looked so familiar. Only after seeing this immortal master and his beloved disciple together did I realize how many years had passed.”
The conventional exchange of greetings was naturally handed to Luo Binghe, who’d already assumed his former role as the little secretary who handled everything. Shen Qingqiu was happy to stand aside and shut his mouth, sliding into his badass poser act.
As he watched the Badass Darkened Demon Lord Luo Binghe work patiently, acting as sweet as a true apple of his eye, Shen Qingqiu inevitably began to float with happiness. It felt so wonderful; his gaze on Luo Binghe couldn’t help but fill with more and more parental affection. Meanwhile, with every two lines Luo Binghe spoke, he looked over at Shen Qingqiu as well—and once his gaze shifted over, it was unable to leave. In this way, master and disciple spent a long period of time making eyes at each other before Shen Qingqiu suddenly and finally snapped out of it.
How immoral were they being?!
On their way to the room in question, Luo Binghe kept trying to hold his hand. Shen Qingqiu was 1) worried about outsiders, and 2) wanted to tease him, so he purposely refused to let him. The two of them skirted around each other, whipping out all sorts of tricks. If anyone from the cultivation world or Demon Realm had seen this master and disciple duo using their sect’s techniques to play fight (flirt), until those arts were unrecognizable, they would definitely have coughed up three liters of blood.
As no one dared to approach the room that was rumored to be haunted, it was naturally very quiet and peaceful. The courtyard was the same courtyard as it had been when last they saw it. It hadn’t changed at all, except for the considerable amount of yin energy. When he saw that, at last, there were no people around, Luo Binghe latched on to Shen Qingqiu without delay, rubbing against him as he held his waist from behind, his chin hooked over Shen Qingqiu’s shoulder. He asked in a whisper, “Does Shizun remember this place?”
Of course he remembered. Wasn’t this the place where he’d first turned on easy mode?!
All right, that was a joke. How could he not remember? This was the place where he’d screwed Luo Binghe over for the first time, and so terribly.
Back then, in order to preserve his own life, he’d almost let the Skinner Demon strike Luo Binghe on the head. It had been a rather unkind thing to do, and now that he’d recalled it, he even felt bad. He was too ashamed to think about it deeply.
When he didn’t answer, Luo Binghe began to bitterly complain. “Shizun, you…you’ve really forgotten? This disciple is so anguished.”
Ever since the two of them had begun fooling around (ahem), Luo Binghe hadn’t been able to pass a single day without becoming anguished at least several dozen times. When Shen Qingqiu spoke a couple of words to other people, he’d become anguished; when Shen Qingqiu took two fewer bites, he’d become anguished; when Shen Qingqiu complained that the bathtub was too small and kicked him out, he’d again become anguished… His anguish was like snacking on broad beans—showed up with a snap, then disappeared with another snap.
But now that he was standing at the scene of his former crimes, Shen Qingqiu felt guilty and couldn’t help but soften a little. His roast of “crazy demon” dissipated before it could be posted. He quickly reached up and patted Luo Binghe’s cheek. “Don’t be angry. Today, Shizun will grant you one request. But let’s deal with the evil spirit here first.”
Luo Binghe was delighted. “Really?”
“When has Shizun ever—” Shen Qingqiu was about to continue, but he shortly shut his mouth to avoid tragically embarrassing himself. Whether he finished with “lied to you” or “screwed you over,” both would basically be slapping himself in the face.
“Since Shizun said so…” Luo Binghe pulled out length after length of red rope, his face flushed.
Hello, immortal-binding cable! Goodbye, immortal-binding cable!
When Luo Binghe saw Shen Qingqiu’s look of sheer disbelief, he didn’t force it. He just sighed, staring up at the sky. “For some reason,” he said softly, “ever since the day this disciple safely escaped from the Skinner Demon, on many nights, he experienced strange dreams.”
Uh, what do you mean by strange dreams? The kind of dream where you have to wash your underwear after waking up?