The Notorious Villains Saves the World

III

[LOU BINGHE'S POV]

'Original Shen Qingqiu.' for quite some time, this thing had been bugging Luo Binghe. It was unusual for him to remain silent during the whole conversation. However, that one thing kept replaying inside his head.

If there exists an original Shen Qingqiu, then that would mean that the Shen Qingqiu he knew was a fake. No. He won't listen to the old man. The Shen Qingqiu he knew will be forever the real Shen Qingqiu for him. He couldn't help but listen to the conversation between the demonic cultivator and the old man.

However, the talk made him remember that day his life changed. Those childhood memories he tried forgetting before his Shizun summoned him and patted his head with a gentle hand. His eyes were soft as a comforting reminder that he too, was a human.

He could still remember the abuses and the insults Shen Qingqiu throws at him every day before that fateful change. He could still remember the cold gaze and the menacing aura that almost killed him on the spot. If ever, the old man was right, then what happened to the original Shen Qingqiu? How did the Shen Qingqiu he knew successfully overtake the original Shen Qingqiu person? Why? Why does Sizhun never tell him a thing?

He stared at the jar of wine the demonic cultivator placed in front of him. His face cringed at the very fact the latter was unperturbed by the revelations from the old sage. Furthermore, WHY IS HE EATING LIKE HE'S ON A PICNIC?!!!! He swallowed a lump of saliva and shook his head. Might as well enjoy the jar of wine. The conversation went on long until the demonic cultivator took over asking the questions.

Especially the talk about the dungeon-like planes. He had never heard about other planes like that in his life. He knew the Endless abyss exist for some reason but never the other planes. Endless Abyss was a space rending in between the demon realm and the mortal realm, but there were always a few weak spots in the formation that kept the two worlds apart, causing time and space to be in disorder. One could often find residents of both worlds passing through those spots to run away, and things like sneaking across the border were a common occurrence as well.

That place was the borderline of both realms and any weak person may either be swallowed or lost in that border. He remembered being swallowed by the abyss. He remembered how Shen Qingqiu looked at him in guilt and remorse before throwing him. He remembered his heartbreak and how he struggled to come out of that place alive. He remembered the day he finally broke from that place with a dead Shen Qingqiu waiting for him. He was devastated and spent years preserving and protecting his body until he came back with another body.

Even now, he is still confused. He decided to ask Shen Qingqiu the moment he returns. However, he did not expect a sudden attack the moment he stepped outside the old sage's plane.

He never expected to witness the ghost king wearing a deadly expression.

"That old man was right." He needed to get back to Shizun and ask him what he needs to know.

"Then that means we fucked up."

Luo Binghe couldn't help but awe at the demonic cultivator's brilliance. He was able to get every conjecture right on the spot, but, as demonic they are, they still refused and went back. Their rash decision made them realize, there was no other reason because the person who may survive those planes are the enemies that they took down. After all, as what he understands from the conversation before, the returnees may or may not be related to them.

Today, it proved that they're the only ones who can go against them.

He noticed Wei Wuxian trembled slightly. He saw him clench his fist and place them in his mouth. His other hand was gripping tightly on his chest. Fear was written all over his face.

"Lan Zhan... I need to get to Lan Zhan." Watching the demonic cultivator panic, Luo Binghe knew that this man was different from him and Hua Cheng. There's still that shred of hope and humanity left in him. He had his loved ones, and a home to return to.

"A-Yuan... Lan Zhan... I need to go back." It wasn't the same cool and loud man. The vibes he got from Wei Wuxian smelled like death. "Jiang Cheng... A-Ling."

Luo Binghe watched him draw an array on the ground and disappeared along with the silver butterfly from Hua Cheng. Of course, he would want to go home, he is still a human, a mortal he wants to be with his family. Luo Binghe doesn't have one. His home has always been his Shizun. However, if Shen Qingqiu is keeping something from him, he doesn't even know if he would believe him outrightly. He trusts himself and his tendency to believe his Shizun even though he already knew that Shen Qingqiu may abandon him at any time. No matter how much they spend together, even if Shen Qingqiu is willing, when the time comes he's tired of staying with him... —he'll leave. Anyone could have his reason but it can never be him.

He watched how Hua Cheng carried Xie Lian in his arms. "Lucky for you to have him." The god missed him and summoned him by rolling the dice. It helped them escape that place.

"Don't you also have someone?"

Does he? Sizhun remained by his side because he was being like a kid. Threatening him he'd destroy the world if he won't choose him. He never really heard his Shizun say 'I like you, or 'I love you. He would always tell him, 'Sizhun is willing'.

The pang in his chest becomes unbearable with the sudden realization.

"I don't know your circumstances but isn't your duty to trust him? Excuse me, I have to attend to my Gege." Hua Cheng is perceptive but cold on the surface. Luo Binghe doesn't move and waited for the butterfly to take him back to his home.

He can live a normal life with Shen Qingqiu as long as he remained silent about all the incidents. He stepped inside the gates of the bamboo house. His head hung low. He felt the short even steps getting close.

"My... My... You have grown so well... A-Lou."

Finally, he raised his head. The body he had been keeping for his Shizun is alive and moving. Luo Binghe's body trembled at the same menacing aura he once had a taste of before that blessed day.

On the right of the said Shen Qingqiu, his Shizun is being dragged like a doll. Unconscious, unmoving and even his breath were uneven.

"Since when, did Shen Qingqiu willed himself to be with the likes of you." Red eyes stared at him, a demonic smirk all over the man's face.

"A-Luo... Come to master..." The man grins diabolically, "I missed you my A-Luo..."

The Xin Mo sword unsheathed, Luo Binghe felt his blood flowing backward with the same sight of the man looking at him with envy and disgust.

"Hand him over." He's losing it... He is losing his temper, all he thinks about is his Shizun.

"Him? This impostor?" The 'Shen Qingqiu' laughed so hard, "since when did an Impostor become the great Lord Peak Master Shen Qingqiu? You make me laugh... Fufufu."

All of a sudden, Luo Binghe successfully snatched his Shizun from the 'Shen Qingqiu'. Darkness suddenly surrounded him and the butterfly fluttered taking him away from the bamboo house before he could fight.

The next moment he opened his eyes. A burning mountain and a wailing Wei Wuxian in his view. He cradles a young cultivator. A man in white with red sun stood above the white burning gates.

He could hear the curses Wei Wuxian had thrown at the man.

"My pride will never allow defeat with the likes of you... Come on Wei Wuxian... Kill me... Razed the lands again with that power of yours! Razed the land with the power you wielded and these impertinent fools feared... Come on... Let me see it one more time... That power that could rival mine!"

Luo Binghe, for once, regretted not voicing his opinions before as he watched this total pandemonium and the six other figures above.

He never believed this once...

But now he does.

Fate.

That one thing is bound to happen even if they refused.

...to be continued...