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Meng Mo wasn’t surprised when Luo Binghe died of a violent qi deviation. His mind had been deteriorating for years, decades even, and the foreseeable death of Shen Qingqiu placed the last nail in the coffin. Being honest, Meng Mo had never expected the Peak Lord to last so long. However, the man endured with more arrogance and viciousness than any other creature he had ever encountered. Unfortunately, there was only so much anyone could endure, and once the Cang Qiong Sect Leader passed away, it was only a mater of time before Shen Qingqiu followed him.

Luo Binghe had been furious. He raged for days and then tried to use the Holy Mausoleum to revive his master. However, his body was too damaged to be of any use. It took a long time for Luo Binghe to accept that, without a heartbeat, there was little his blood parasites could do.

The Heavenly Demon’s rage burnt for weeks, months, until his spiritual veins turned into scorched threads that could no longer sustain him. He died slowly, quietly and almost unknowingly. Like a forgotten ember in the hearth of an abandoned house. Meng Mo had been too tired to even try to reignite it.

Meng Mo had been alive for a long time. He had seen the worst of both humans and demons. He was ready to cease to exist and, once Luo Binghe’s last consciousness vanished, his did too.

.

.

.

Then… why on earth was he now breathing and struggling to move around?!

He didn’t even know what he was!

He didn’t have hands, that was for sure. He was almost blind, only capable of identifying light and dark moving blurs. The sounds he emitted weren’t human either. If he had to be honest, they sounded an awful lot like mouse squeaks. Then again, he couldn’t feel a long tail behind his back so he must’ve been something else.

Whatever had bred him remained next to him. It was a warm presence that would’ve been soothing if Meng Mo wasn’t cursing the heavens for having reincarnated into whatever he was. He drank milk, at first, but it didn’t satisfy him. It merely gave him sustenance, insufficient and hollow. Meng Mo hadn’t eaten in centuries, but he knew food was not meant to be like this. Instead of nursing, he preferred to spend his time learning how to move his new body.

This lasted for two weeks. He had given up on milk a couple of days ago and, by the time his eyes were able to focus, he found himself alone. He had to teach himself how to walk, which was more complicated than it should’ve been for the simple reason that he was now a quadruped and not, you know, a non corporeal entity. As soon as he was able to move on his own, he looked around for a source of water. Thankfully, the constant murmur of a creek was one of the many sounds he’d heard since he was reborn. He slowly traversed the dense forest he’d been born at and soon he was able to find the creek. However, instead of getting a gulp of water, his first instinct was to see his reflection.

It took Meng Mo a while to understand what he’d turned into. As stated, he was a quadruped; a short, chubby one at that. He was gray with white spots all over and his eyes were deep and pitch black. The worse part was the disgusting, elongated snout that made him look like the dumbest creature in the entire world.

He was a tapir.

Tapirs were shy creatures. Meng Mo had never seen one before but he recognized himself from the bestiaries he read in his youth. Back then, he learned that spiritual tapirs could feed from nightmares and, as a dream demon himself, he’d found them amusing. Suddenly, his unsavory relationship with food made sense. Could it be that his previous life as a demon gave him a head start on this one?

There was only one way to find out.

It wasn’t difficult to find a village. His sense of smell was excellent (it should be, with such an enormous nose) and he guided himself out of the forest following the scent of burnt wood and fat. Granted, it took him three days to reach the outskirts of a town, but for a creature as pathetic as himself, reaching it without dying had been a great accomplishment.

It was nighttime and Meng Mo waited patiently for a sign. Ages ago, he would’ve spent the nights jumping from one dream to another, browsing leisurely until he found something worth of his interest. He could no longer do that but he hoped his instincts would guide him.

They did.

It was a faint scent, at first, sweet and enticing. Meng Mo followed its trail, and it became stronger the closer he got. By the time he reached an old wooden hut, the smell was so overbearing, Meng Mo started salivating.

The building’s door was old and light and Meng Mo pushed it open with ease. He trod inside and found a family of five sleeping in the main room. Only one of them emanated the delicious scent. It came from a toddler who furiously furrowed his eyebrows with discontent.

Meng Mo approached. His instincts told him to open his mouth and he did. The taste of the air was so delightful, he inhaled. A wave of warmth flowed through Meng Mo’s body. The nightmare was tame: a toddler running away from a giant bok choy leaf. Regardless, its taste was sugary and tangy, and so much more filling than anything he had eaten so far. The nightmare swept through his body, comforting and satisfying. Sadly, the meal didn’t last long. Soon the air was clear of the sweet smell and the child was peacefully sleeping with a smile on his face.

Meng Mo was disappointed his meal was so short-lived but he was optimistic. He understood the fears of men and knew how easy it was to find someone hunted by his dreams. There were plenty of nightmares to feed from. It was only a matter of finding them.

Meng Mo wouldn’t go as far as to say he had a good life as a spiritual tapir. However, it wasn’t terrible either. Yes, he had to be wary of humans, animals and monsters, and yes, he looked irredeemably stupid, but the nightmares were a feast to the senses and they were easy to come by. Moreover, his body was getting bigger; he was becoming faster and better at hunting his food. He wouldn’t have minded if his life continued this way forever.

However, fate had a way to come around.

One night, he was exploring the city he’d arrived the night before. It was a wealthy town, with a larger population than any other place he’d been since he reincarnated, and it promised an infinite source of food. The best testament was the delicious smell of a new nightmare. He quickly looked for the source.

He found it at a manor’s small courtyard. It was a brat, thirteen or fourteen years old. He must’ve been a slave or a servant because he was sleeping outside over a bundle of old rags. It wasn’t a cold night, but he shivered underneath the old and thin blanket that covered him. Meng Mo closed the distance between them and started eating.

The nightmare was of a young child coming back home only to find that his mother had passed away. A lukewarm bowl of congee slipped through the child’s fingers as he knelt in front of the woman’s corpse, crying in desperation for her.

Meng Mo blinked once. Then twice.

He had seen this before!

He shook his head and took a closer look at the kid. It took him several peeks to find him underneath the fluffy tangle of hair but once he did it was unmistakable.

This was Luo Binghe!

Meng Mo was absolutely certain he didn’t want a redo of his past life and he quickly turned around to leave. Tragically, his clumsy posterior left leg got entangled with one of the rags Luo Binghe was sleeping on. It pulled underneath him, waking him up.

“What?” asked the child.

Several drops of sweat clung to Meng Mo’s forehead as their eyes met.

“A tapir! How cute!”

Luo Binghe extended his arms to reach him.

Oh no! Meng Mo had learned how to deal with manic Luo Binghe but he was powerless against sticky white lotus Binghe!

Meng Mo was so going to die all over again!

Unfortunately, he didn’t react fast enough. Luo Binghe got a hold of him and pressed him tightly against his chest.

“You’re so fluffy and pillowy!”

Fluffy and pillowy?!

He was an ancient dream demon, not a plush toy!

“Are you on your own?” asked Luo Binghe as he looked around the courtyard. “I am too. I came with my Shixiongs and Shizun on a mission but they kicked me out of the guest rooms,” the boy’s eyes shimmered with emotion but he quickly shook it off. “I know! Since we’re both alone, we can sleep together.”

Without letting him go, the brat bundled up with him underneath the coarse blanket. As the child went back to sleep, Meng Mo finally realized that he was being punished for all the sins he had committed in his previous life. The gods were vengeful and cruel and now he was back to where it all began.

That was Meng Mo’s turn to have nightmares.

The following morning, Luo Binghe woke up feeling refreshed and well rested. He looked radiant and didn’t hesitate to hug Meng Mo even tighter.

“It was so nice to sleep with you! I’ll bring you back with me to the sect! That way we won’t have to sleep on our own ever again!”

Meng Mo wasn’t surprised. He figured it would take a lot to escape his bounded destiny with Luo Binghe. He just prayed he could have the chance to do something about it before he was kicked down into the Abyss.

The Qing Jing Peak disciples had already accomplished their mission, and they would be returning to their Peak that day. As expected, Luo Binghe was burdened with carrying much more provisions and gear than the rest. With so many bundles on his back, it was easy for him to hide Meng Mo inside one of them.

The trip back to Cang Qiong Sect was long and tiresome. It took them four days and three nights to return. In the meantime, Meng Mo had to deal with sleeping over the hard soil next to Luo Binghe and hiding from the other disciples. Luckily, he didn’t have to deal with Shen Qingqiu. The lofty man confined himself to his carriage and barely interacted with his disciples.

Once at Qing Jing Peak, Luo Binghe brought him into the old cottage he used to sleep at. The place looked the same as it did in Meng Mo’s past life: shabby and dirty. It would be easy to escape from it once the brat bussied himself with his endless list of chores.

Or so he thought.

It was only his second night at the sect. Luo Binghe was fast asleep, no nightmares on sight and, after a lot of squiggling, Meng Mo was able to free himself from his clutches. He used his head to push the door open and he strutted out hoping he would remember the way to the stairway that would lead him to freedom. However, he was stopped right in his tracks by the most delectable smell he’d ever experienced. It was sweet but spicy, fruity but delicate. Luo Binghe hadn’t had tasty nightmares for a while and Meng Mo’s stomach growled the moment he caught trace of the smell.

He wasn’t thinking anymore as he allowed his paws to guide him towards his meal; towards Shen Qingqiu’s hut. Once there, he mechanically placed himself outside his window and opened his mouth. Soon, the taste of the most delightful nightmare filled him with joy and warmth. It was an unrivaled dream, one that would drive most humans insane. Meng Mo knew better than anyone that it was a nightmare that plagued Shen Qingqiu eight out of ten nights.

Meng Mo remembered it well: the corpses, the bloodied talismans, the lashes against his skin, the demonic cultivation running through Shen Qingqiu’s brittle meridians, the heartbreak, the loneliness.

A long time ago he had replayed the same nightmare in the cultivator’s mind. It was brutal then and it was brutal now. It tasted gloriously and Meng Mo was not strong enough to stop himself from eating until Shen Qingqiu awoke with the first ray of light.

Caught up in his mistake, Meng Mo realized he had missed his chance of escape. He returned to the woodshed only to find that the door gap he made on his way out was no longer wide enough for him to fit. He had eaten too much! He forcefully slid inside the woodshed, and got caught by a very awake Luo Binghe almost right away.

“There you are!” he said as thick tears clung into his eyelashes. “I thought you had ran away! I’m glad you’re back. Huh?” Luo Binghe moved him up and down. “Somehow you feel heavier. I was worried because you weren’t eating but I’m glad you are now. Have you found a nice patch of grass to graze on? At least one of us is eating properly, right?”

Luo Binghe laughed halfheartedly before putting Meng Mo back on the ground.

“I have to leave now. I have to cut a lot of wood before the first lecture. Be good!”

Meng Mo paid little attention to the brat. He wobbled straight into the tattered bamboo mat the kid used to sleep on and fell asleep right away.

Luo Binghe returned to the shed several hours later. Meng Mo had spent all day napping but he didn’t even raise his head to acknowledge him. He was still feeling a little bit sluggish. He did slightly turn his head towards the kid when he started petting him, though.

“Shizun was in a good mood today! He didn’t burn my last report and didn’t send me to the disciplinary hall even though I couldn’t answer one of his questions!”

Meng Mo sighed. The brat’s bar was the lowest it could get.

“I wished there were more days like this,” he sighed longingly. Then, after a long pause he continued. “You know? I’ve been trying to come up with a name for you but I just can’t figure it out.”

Meng Mo already had a name, thank you. He didn’t need another.

“Don’t worry. I’ll find something! I’m just waiting for the inspiration to come.”

Whatever. Meng Mo yawned and went back to sleep.

It was nighttime by the time Meng Mo could move again. As he suddenly remembered his escape plans, he hurriedly squiggled out of Luo Binghe’s hold and left the woodshed with the intent to never to return.

He galloped towards the peak’s gate. He even took the long way to avoid Shen Qingqiu’s bamboo hut. Sadly, the delicious scent of his nightmares reached his snout before he could cross the gate. He tried to force himself to leave, he really did, but he was suddenly starving and his mouth started salivating.

Oh, well. Luo Binghe was still a child. There would be plenty of chances for him to escape, right?

Meng Mo backtracked and returned to the quiet bamboo hut, where he opened his mouth and enjoyed the delicious meal. It was as good as the night before and he decided to stay there until daylight to enjoy it until the very last drop.

Unfortunately, his plans were thwarted when he was rudely interrupted by Luo Binghe.

“What are you doing?!” The kid whispered as he picked him up. “You can’t let Shizun see you! He would kill you!”

The brat quickly took him away from his dinner and back into the goddamned woodshed.

“Is that where you were last time too? What were you doing? What was that mist you were eating?”

Meng Mo couldn’t answer so he didn’t try to. Instead he shrugged and laid down on the floor. It felt like a good time to take a nap.

“Are… are you a demon?”

Meng Mo opened one of his eyes and huffed.

“No,” Luo Binghe answered himself, “if you were a demon you would’ve activated the sect’s alarms. Then what are you?”

Meng Mo yawned and went back to sleep. It was too late to deal with this sticky brat. He would worry about this mess later.

After yet another day of comfy naps, Meng Mo was shaken awake by Luo Binghe.

“I found it! I found it!”

The child opened a bestiary in front of him and pointed to the drawing of a tapir.

“You’re a spiritual tapir, aren’t you? And you were eating Shizun’s and my nightmares, weren’t you?”

The brat figured it out. Good for him, Meng Mo thought.

“Since you’re a tapir that eats dreams, I have the perfect name for you: Meng Mo! It’s cute isn’t it?!

Cute?! Cute?!

Meng Mo was anything but cute! He was a Dream Demon! Not a Dream Tapir! How stupid was this child? He was going to murder him in his sleep!

Luo Binge had the nerve to giggle before embracing him into a tight hug.

“Meng Mo! Thank you for being my friend! With your help, Shizun will be well rested and he won’t be as grouchy in the morning!”

Meng Mo tried to bit Luo Binghe on the arms, but his neck was too thick to reach them.

“I love you, Meng Mo! You’re so fluffy and pillowy! I hope we can stay together forever!”

Meng Mo wept.

Meng Mo began a new, tranquil routine. He would spend most of the day napping at the woodshed and most of the nights eating either Luo Binghe or Shen Qingqiu’s nightmares. In between, he would listen to Luo Binghe’s news about the newfound generosity of his Shizun. Said generosity included magnanimous actions such as not flogging him for arriving late to a lecture or not pouring cold tea over his head.

All in all, life wasn’t bad, Meng Mo admitted. Yes, Luo Binghe was even more annoying than in his previous lifetime but on top of being able to eat delicious dream meals, having his own body (even if it was an ugly one) made him feel more free than he’d felt in centuries. Besides, he had to admit it was much more entertaining watching the Cang Qiong Sect drama from outside Luo Binghe’s head. Unlike before, if it became too much, he could simply turn back and go back to sleep.

Admittedly, he didn’t turn back very often.

A certain day, Meng Mo was taking an afternoon stroll in the peak’s forest. It was a tranquil afternoon that was violently interrupted by the sound of a fight. Curious, he followed the racket to various disciples hurting Luo Binghe. In the sideline, a girl tried to stop the beating but she was being completely ignored.

Meng Mo furrowed his eyebrows. He hadn’t been at Qing Jing Peak when this happened the last time but he remembered the scene from Luo Binghe’s nightmares. It was the day he lost the precious memento of his mother. It was a stark reminder of how precarious the situation was. Yes, Shen Qingqiu’s character might have shown subtle improvements but he still allowed and encouraged abuse on his peak. At this rate Luo Binghe would transform yet again into a vengeful demon that would destroy everything on his path. It was a good reminder that he had to run away. He didn’t even want to wait until nighttime. He would go straight to the peak’s main gate and roll down the stairs right now. Nothing would stop him!

Nothing except for Shen Qingqiu, that is.

The gloomy figure appeared next to Meng Mo. Fortunately, he was too focused on his disciples to see him hidden in the shrubbery. The man hesitated for a moment but then took a step into the wood clearing. It didn’t take long before the disciples sensed his severe glare. They immediately stopped kicking Luo Binghe and saluted their master. Luo Binghe remained on the ground writhing in pain.

“Ming Fan,” said Shen Qingqiu, his voice grave and onerous like the rumble of an incoming thunderstorm.

“Yes, Shizun!”

“Remind me, which is the name of this master’s peak?”

Ming Fan gulped.

“Qing Jing Peak, Shizun.”

“Then why do you allow the disruption of its tranquility with such boorish acts?”

“This disciple was careless and stupid,” he bowed, “he begs Shizun for discipline.”

“Fifty laps around the peak, all of you.”

“Yes, Shizun!” the older disciples hurried to follow Shen Qingqiu’s orders. The man then looked at Luo Binghe who was still struggling to stand up.

“Shizun, Shizun!” said the only other remaining disciple, Ning Yingying. Meng Mo couldn’t say he remembered her fondly. Of all Luo Binghe’s wives she was the most annoyingly human and sentimental. She was frail and naive, which got her into trouble more often than not. Meng Mo remembered at least twenty two times when she had to be rescued. If she had been more careful (or out of the picture) perhaps Luo Binghe would have had more time to enjoy his time as an emperor. Meng Mo always believed the demon deserved more holidays.

“Shizun! This wasn’t A’Luo’s fault. It was Da-shixiong who started it and—”

“Enough,” Shen Qingqiu’s tone wasn’t stern but Meng Mo recognized the thread of disappointment in his eyes.

The girl must’ve seen it too because cowered, gave one last sympathetic glance at Luo Binghe, and left.

With that, only Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe and Meng Mo remained in the clearing. The man looked down at the brat for several seconds, probably wondering why he hadn’t apologized or started his laps yet. He decided to break the silence.

“Speak,”

“Shizun,” Luo Binghe’s head remained low and his hands trembled on his sides, “this lowly disciple was careless and lost his mother’s pendant. He begs Shizun for the opportunity to look for it before being disciplined.”

“Your mother’s pendant?” the words swirled thickly in Shen Qingqiu’s tongue.

“Yes, Shizun. She gave it to me not long before she passed away. It’s my only memory of her. Please allow this one to—”

Luo Binghe flinched as he heard the loud smack of Shen Qingqiu’s fan being closed.

“Didn’t you arrive to Cang Qiong Sect precisely because of your mother? Weren’t you here to honor her memory? Then why are you telling this master you need a pendant to remember her? You are nothing but an unfilial beast whose affections are so weak, he needs a trinket to keep them in mind.”

“Shizun…”

“You are weak, Luo Binghe. It’s a good thing that your mother can’t see you crying and self commiserating all the time. Only the strong ones can protect what’s important to them and only the strong ones belong to my peak. Now go.”

As much as Meng Mo was irritated by Luo Binghe, he couldn’t forget what had drawn him to him in the very first place. He was resilient. He had immense inner strength, a glowing potential to withstand anything and anyone, including his terrible Shizun.

The boy nodded, tears flowing down his cheeks, and left the forest to begin his punishment.

Once he was out of sight, Shen Qingqiu went on his own way.

A cold shudder ran down Meng Mo’s spine. This had been much worse than in his previous lifetime. Luo Binghe’s mental state was already crumbling. Shen Qingqiu mocking his mother’s death would surely hasten his demise and Meng Mo didn’t want to be part of it. He convinced himself, once again, to run away.

However, as he walked through the now abandoned clearing, he saw a whitish green glimmer on one of the trees. He looked up and there it was: the fake jade pendant hanging from a thin branch. His first thought was to ignore it. The harm was done, what difference would a small pendant make?

Then again, perhaps it wasn’t too late. Perhaps the reason Meng Mo had returned to this world was to make up for instigating Luo Binghe’s greed in the first place. Perhaps he could do something to keep him from losing his mind.

Reluctantly, Meng Mo decided to help. He walked to the tree with the hanging pendant and thumped its trunk with his head. It took him four tries before the branch finally broke down with the weight of the pendant. Meng Mo reached out to it and held it with his snout.

He would have to wait until nighttime to give it back.

After a long, restless wait, Meng Mo heard the door of the cottage open. Luo Binghe slowly entered the room. His uniform was ragged and covered in sweat, his feet were barely able to keep their own weight and his face was red and sore from crying. If Meng Mo hadn’t been a demon, he would’ve felt sorry for him.

“Meng Mo…” murmured Luo Binghe as he collapsed next to the tapir.

Meng Mo extended his snout and dropped the pendant on the brat’s lap. It took him a second to recognize it.

“My pendant!” he said with newfound energy. He held Meng Mo with one arm and the pendant with the opposing hand. “You found it! You found it, Meng Mo! Thank you! Thank you!”

More tears fell down, this time on top of Meng Mo’s head, which was annoying.

It took almost half a shichen for the kid to finally get a hold of himself. He tied the pendant around his neck and started petting Meng Mo’s head.

“I really let Shizun down this time, didn’t I, Meng Mo? He was right. I was too weak to protect what was important to me. That’s why I have to become stronger, so I can protect myself and those I care for. That’s what Shizun has been trying to teach me all along but I was too busy feeling sorry for myself. I have to become stronger so I can honor my mother and Shizun’s teachings.”

Meng Mo stared at Luo Binghe for a long time.

How stupid was this kid!?

His Shizun wanted him dead! Plain and simple! Him talking about strength and loyalty had been nothing but self-projection! He had been so mad at Luo Binghe, he showed a glimpse of his inner thoughts! This was in no way a lesson on fidelity, let alone resilience!

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic!

It made Meng Mo so angry, he had to eat through the entire night to forget about it!

To Luo Binghe’s credit, he did his best to live up to his Shizun’s supposed expectations. He started fighting back, defending himself against his Shixiongs. Ming Fan had been surprised that the weakling he’d picked on for so long had finally learned to fight back and he soon realized that bullying him was more work than it was worth it.

Meng Mo also suspected that the fact that Luo Binghe started ignoring Ning Yingying more and more each day helped too. He found it fascinating. On his previous life, that girl had been the most precious one to him at this age. However, this time she was turning into a mere afterthought. It seemed that now the only thing Luo Binghe could think of was his Shizun, which, in hindsight wasn’t too different from his final years as the Three Realms Emperor. Life always finds a way to come around.

Unfortunately for the brat, Shen Qingqiu wasn’t there to witness Luo Binghe’s growth. He had gone out on a mission and wouldn’t return until several days later. Admittedly, the wait was hard for Meng Mo too. Luo Binghe’s nightmares weren’t as frequent as before and the other disciples only had childish fears that were barely enough to keep Meng Mo from starving. None of them could compare to the delightful treat of Shen Qingqiu’s bloodcurdling dreams.

Therefore, once Shen Qingqiu returned to the Peak, Meng Mo might have gone a little bit overboard. As soon as the sun set, he galloped towards the bamboo hut. He waited patiently for Shen Qingqiu to fall asleep, which happened not long after. He then savored every single one of Shen Qingqiu’s dreams. They were dreadfully delightful, even more so than usual. Meng Mo guessed that Shen Qingqiu’s mental health had deteriorated in the few days they were separated. It was a long night and Meng Mo ate through all of it. Once daylight came, he pretty much had to roll back to the woodshed. He was so stuffed, he could barely move his legs.

When Luo Binghe saw him coming back from his late dinner, he smiled and poked his stomach.

“It’s good to have Shizun back, isn’t it?”

Meng Mo huffed. He couldn’t say he missed Shen Qingqiu, but he’d certainly missed his nightmares. Shen Qingqiu should never leave the sect again! Feeling more relaxed than ever, Meng Mo laid down and closed his eyes, trusting he would have the best nap of his life.

Or he would’ve if he hadn’t been startled awake by the sound of the cottage’s door being smashed open. Both Luo Binghe and Meng Mo turned to the sound. One gasped and the other squealed when they saw Shen Qingqiu standing right in front of them. A glowing talisman hovered over Meng Mo. Despite the awkward angle, it only took a glance for him to recognize the characters written on it. It was used to find spiritual beasts on the vicinity. Spiritual beasts just like Meng Mo. He hid behind Luo Binghe.

Shen Qingqiu, whose glare had focused on the creature, turned to the brat.

“Luo Binghe,” he snarled, “what’s the meaning of this?”

Luo Binghe kowtowed in deference.

“This disciple apologizes for his secrecy, Shizun. He feared that someone would take Meng Mo away if he was found out.”

“Meng Mo?”

“He followed me after the succubus mission and I didn’t have the heart to send him away.”

Meng Mo followed him?! Wasn’t Luo Binghe who smuggled him into Qing Jing Peak? The nerve of this brat!

“Do you even know what that is, Luo Binghe?”

“It’s a spiritual tapir, Shizun. He feeds from nightmares and repels bad energies.”

Shen Qingqiu opened his fan with a loud thud.

“So you have learned something here, after all…” muttered the man. He took two steps into the woodshed and took a closer look at Meng Mo, who was still hiding behind Luo Binghe.

“Please allow Meng Mo to stay, Shizun,” Luo Binghe picked Meng Mo up and stretched his arms towards Shen Qingqiu, as if it were an offering. “He’s quiet and keeps to himself. He’s also very fluffy and pillowy!”

“Fluffy and pillowy?” Shen Qingqiu arched one of his eyebrows. Meng Mo teared up. This kid was going to get him killed!

Shen Qingqiu closed his fan and used it to poke Meng Mo’s stomach.

“It’s fat.”

What?!

“He’s very sedentary, Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu furrowed his eyebrows as he considered his options. Meng Mo was hoping he was smart enough to allow him to stay at his peak. He must’ve been haunted by terrible nightmares while he was out of the sect. He must’ve also found it suspicious when he came back to a quiet, reinvigorating night. He must’ve been more than aware of how much Meng Mo’s presence improved his quality of life.

“Come,” said Shen Qingqiu as he turned and left the woodshed, “both of you.”

The trio hurried through the forest until they reached the men’s dormitories. Even from outside, Meng Mo could hear the hubbub of the disciples preparing for a new day.

“Ming Fan,” called Shen Qingqiu with a stern but low voice. It was honestly commendable that that was enough for the disciple to immediately jump into action, opening the door and saluting his Shizun. If he hadn’t been missing one of his boots, he would’ve been the epitome of filial devotion.

“Call for your Shidis and Shimeis. I have an important announcement to make.”

Ming Fan glanced at Luo Binghe and Meng Mo but knew better than to question the order. He informed his Shidis and then ran towards the women’s dormitories, which were on the other side of the peak.

It didn’t take long before all the disciples of Qing Jing Peak lined up in front of the Peak Lord. By that time, all of them were wide awake and properly dressed. Only a couple of crooked hairdos gave an indication of how unexpected the command had been. Meng Mo almost nodded approvingly.

“Luo Binghe,” said Shen Qingqiu.

The child was clever enough to know what to do next. He moved forward and placed Meng Mo in front of his martial siblings. The disciples frowned and looked at each other in confusion.

“Do any of you know what this is?” asked the Peak Lord.

A brief silence fell. Fortunately, one disciple was brave enough to speak out, quelling (or at least postponing) Qingqiu’s ire.

“It’s a tapir, Shizun.”

“Indeed,” the man nodded. “However, it is not a normal one. This is a spiritual tapir. They are known for feeding on bad dreams and repelling evil spirits. Having one in our peak will bring protection and good fortune.”

The children murmured in contained awe.

“It’s name is Meng Mo. From now on, it will be your duty to protect and look after it. Make sure he’s happy and, most importantly, safe from hunters. Specifically, those brutes from Bai Zhan.”

The disciples agreed in unison to their new duty. Once that was settled, a disciple brave (or stupid) enough to undo the solemn interaction approached Meng Mo.

“It’s so cute!” Said disciple, Ning Yingying, patted Meng Mo on the head. “And soft and pillowy!”

“I want to pet it too!” another idiotic disciple declared as he valiantly joined Ning Yingying and started petting Meng Mo’s back.

“Me too!”

“I want to pet it too!”

“So cute!”

Suddenly, Meng Mo was swarmed by a dozen disciples trying to pet his fur.

“Don’t overcrowd him,” said a very irritated Shen Qingqiu.

Fortunately, that was enough to calm the disciples down a notch. They were still trying to snuggle with him but they weren’t as aggressive nor insistent.

Shen Qingqiu nodded and turned around to leave before almost trampling over Luo Binghe. He must’ve forgotten the child was there.

“Right,” he muttered, “one more thing.” The children immediately stopped their fussing over Meng Mo and raised their attention towards their Shizun. “The spiritual tapir has chosen Luo Binghe as its master. Don’t upset him.”

“What?!” yipped Ming Fan. “Him?!”

“You heard me,” said Shen Qingqiu. He sounded so threatening, Ming Fan quickly lowered his eyes and kept his mouth shut. Satisfied, Shen Qingqiu walked around Luo Binghe to return to his bamboo house.

That was all the disciples needed to go back to hovering over Meng Mo.

“Luo Binghe,” spat Ming Fan as if he was tasting poison, “come. Let’s get you a cot in the dormitories.”

The brat shot his eyes wide open. His mouth gaped and he stared at Ming Fan as if he had grown a second head.

“What? Do you want to stay in the woodshed?!” barked the kid.

“No! No, Da-shixiong! Thank you!”

Both disciples went into the dormitory, leaving Meng Mo dealing with the rest of the crowd. He wasn’t looking forward to deal with all the children but knowing that Luo Binghe would be treated with more respect was uplifting. The less resentment the child bared, the safer Meng Mo and the rest of the world would be. Perhaps he was an auspicious creature, after all.

Life at Qing Jing Peak improved after that day. Meng Mo now had much more freedom to move around the Peak, which meant he could bask in the sun as much as he wanted, and eat the nightmares of anybody he wanted to. The children were overbearing but Meng Mo found a good solution for that. He would simply stay near Shen Qingqiu half of the time. The man had no issue with the tapir staying at his bamboo hut and the only reason he didn’t spend more time with him was because it was extremely boring. The only thing he did throughout the day was reading, writing, playing the qin and, sometimes, painting. Living with Shen Qingqiu was as tranquil and fun as living in a graveyard. Even Meng Mo had to leave the hut every once in a while to remind himself that he was still alive. Dealing with children wasn’t as bad once he learned how to headbutt them whenever they came too close.

Luo Binghe’s life also turned around for the better. He stopped being hurdled with most of the Peak’s chores and, for once, he wasn’t beaten up every other day. He was also able to sleep on a bed for the first time in his life, and to actively participate in all the lectures. That meant his abilities improved at a much faster rate than in his previous lifetime. His cultivation was still subpar, however, and soon it became too obvious to ignore. Luo Binghe was excelling in everything but that and even his peers wondered what was going on. It was only a matter of time before the truth came out.

Meng Mo clearly remembered that Shen Qingqiu’s main affronts to Luo Binghe was the fake cultivation manual. On his previous lifetime, the boy had followed it religiously and it was a miracle he didn’t die from it. This time Luo Binghe had even better chances of surviving it but Meng Mo feared the truth would come out eventually, especially now that he actually interacted with his Shixiongs.

Who was to know how Luo Binghe would react if he discovered that his Shizun, who he had grown to admire more and more everyday, was actually trying to kill him? Would that be enough to ignite his resentment? Meng Mo didn’t want to find out. He intended to find the manual and destroy it but the kid never left it behind. It was his precious treasure and it would be difficult to steal it.

Luckily, in the end he didn’t need to do anything.

One morning, as he was lazily napping next to Shen Qingqiu’s desk, the man called for Luo Binghe. The brat showed up almost right away with his now usual enthusiasm. An enthusiasm that didn’t spread to Shen Qingqiu.

“Your wrist,” he commanded and Luo Binghe quickly obeyed. Shen Qingqiu surveyed Luo Binghe’s meridians for a while, frowning with displeasure at what he found. He let him go but kept his arm extended towards him. “Your cultivation manual.”

“Shizun?” The man’s expression soured even more. Luo Binghe could only comply.

Shen Qingqiu took the manual and skimmed through it. Deciding its uselessness, he used his qi to burn it into a crisp as Luo Binghe watched in horror.

“Shizun! Why?! I know this disciple is stupid but please, don’t kick—”

“Shut up,” the kid hunched his shoulders and crumbled down into the floor. It was a pathetic sight. “Despite being at this master’s peak for over three years, Luo Binghe has failed to improve his cultivation. It is clear that this manual was not suitable for him.”

“Shizun?”

The man handed him another manual, which Luo Binghe held as a lifeline.

“This master has failed you, Luo Binghe,” Shen Qingqiu said. “That day, at the disciple selection, it was not I who found you first but your Liu-shishu. He commended your talent, yet he refused to take you in because of your lack of initiative. This master thought it would be a waste to leave you behind and I decided to bring you into my Qing Jing Peak.”

Luo Binghe was already crying his heart out.

“Shizun… this disciple…”

“Unfortunately, now it is clear that this master was too arrogant to accept his own limitations. I lacked the proper tools to teach you and, instead of fixing it, I gave you a manual that was inadequate for physical cultivators like you. Today I’m changing that. This new manual is from Bai Zhan Peak. It will suit you better than the previous one.”

“Shizun is not to blame! He gave me a chance despite my inadequacy. I’ll be forever grateful to Shizun! I’ll practice hard so I can become a disciple worthy of Qing Jing Peak and Shizun!”

The kid bawled some more about gratefulness and duty before Shen Qingqiu could finally send him away. Once he was gone, Shen Qingqiu’s serious expression turned into a self-congratulatory smirk.

“Oh, Meng Mo, children are so stupid,” he then did something Meng Mo had only seen once, but in a much more drier situation: Shen Qingqiu laughed. He laughed so openly, he had to cover his mouth with his hand, forcing a couple of snorts out of him.

Meng Mo would’ve also laughed if he could. Luo Binghe was so desperate for acceptance and love, he saw them where there were none. He disregarded the facts and immediately believed Shen Qingqiu’s lies. Then again, Shen Qingqiu had always been a good liar. If there was someone capable of pulling this off, it was him.

It was a pity Shen Qingqiu had been born a human. Had he been a demon, he would’ve been praised for his treachery and ill-intent. Demons would’ve killed each other for the right to serve him. Instead, he was forced to act like a righteous cultivator and teach a bunch of kids who could barely keep themselves alive.

Oh, well, thought Meng Mo. Perhaps in his next life…

Once the fake manual was dealt with, Meng Mo’s next concern was the upcoming Ling Xi caves incident. He hadn’t known Shen Qingqiu before Liu Qingge had died, but from Luo Binghe’s and Shen Qingqiu’s memories he could tell it was the moment everything crashed down. Shen Qingqiu became even more withdrawn, even less willing to defend himself. If he was cruel before, he became monstrous after his Shidi’s death. Meng Mo remembered seeing Shen Qingqiu falling into despair, caring little about anything but surviving one day at a time.

Meng Mo also remembered the nightmares: the way Liu Qingge pierced his chest with his own sword in a last, desperate attempt to stop himself from murdering Shen Qingqiu; the way Shen Qingqiu held his Shidi’s corpse hoping he would come back to life by sheer miracle; the way everybody blamed Shen Qingqiu after it.

Shen Qingqiu had somehow convinced Luo Binghe that he actually cared about him but all that could be reversed if he came back from the caves the same way he did on his past lifetime. Meng Mo thought long and hard about how to keep the man from going into seclusion but it was too late. Shen Qingqiu had already made arrangements and he announced them to the peak just three days after he gave the new manual to Luo Binghe.

“I’m leaving now, Meng Mo. Behave and make sure the brats don’t destroy my peak while I’m gone, understood?”

In one last, desperate attempt to stop him, Meng Mo bit Shen Qingqiu’s trousers.

“What are you doing, beast?” he pulled. “You can’t come with me. The Ling Xi caves are too dangerous at your cultivation level.”

Cultivation? Meng Mo was so surprised at the word, he let him go.

He had completely forgotten he was a spiritual beast that could cultivate! He should’ve spent more time meditating than sleeping! So many wasted hours! If he had been more studious, he would’ve been closer to cultivate a human form! How could he be so stupid?! From now on, he would dedicate 100% to his cultivation!

Resolved, Meng Mo was about to inform Shen Qingqiu that yes, he would join him at the Ling Xi caves whether he liked it or not.

Unfortunately, Shen Qingqiu left while Meng Mo was busy having his epiphany.

That asshole! And here he was worried about him!

Whatever, Meng Mo thought, he would focus on his cultivation and surprise him after he came back.

But first, a nap.

It only took five days for everything to fall into place. Meng Mo was sunbathing when Luo Binghe came up to him.

“Meng Mo! Come, we must visit Shizun.”

Meng Mo flapped his ears with curiosity.

“Liu-shishu suffered a violent qi deviation in the Ling Xi caves and Shizun saved him,” Luo Binghe explained as he bundled Meng Mo up. “They’re both injured, though, and Shizun must stay at Qian Cao Peak for several days.”

Oh? So Shen Qingqiu was actually able to save Liu Qingge in this lifetime? Good for him. Perhaps he had better qi control now that he was actually able to sleep, or perhaps it was mere luck. Either way, this could only mean good things for Meng Mo.

Not great, unfortunately, for he was now being smuggled into Qian Cao Peak in a backpack. He couldn’t see a thing but he could hear when Luo Binghe was stopped by one of the healers.

“Where are you going with that, Shixiong?”

“This one is Luo Binghe, and I’m here to deliver some of my Shizun’s belongings.”

“Qian Cao Peak is not an inn, Luo-shidi,” berated the disciple.

“My Shizun requested these. Perhaps Shidi would like to inform him that he’s not allowed to have them.”

There was a brief pause after which the Qian Cao Peak disciple murmured “Move on”. Meng Mo couldn’t blame them for being wary of the infamous Qing Jing Peak Lord.

Luo Binghe walked through the various hallways of the peak and soon he reached Shen Qingqiu’s room. He knocked on the door and he was quickly let in.

“What on earth are you doing here, Luo Binghe?” Shen Qingqiu asked. The kid gasped, “Well?”

“Y-yes, Shizun! Sorry, Shizun!” He removed his backpack and unpacked Meng Mo. “This disciple heard Shizun would have to spend several nights here and he thought it would be a good idea to bring Meng Mo.”

It took several seconds for Meng Mo’s eyes to adjust to the light. Shen Qingqiu’s room was small but clean and well lit. The man was sitting at the bed looking extremely tired. Except from the various cuts and bruises on his face and hands, his skin was white as ivory. He was barely covered with a white under robe which did little to dissimulate his sickly appearance. No wonder Luo Binghe was so shocked after seeing him.

The brat picked Meng Mo up and placed him on Shen Qingqiu’s bed.

“This disciple hopes Shizun feels better soon!” Luo Binghe babbled before running away, leaving a very confused Meng Mo and a slightly irritated Shen Qingqiu.

“What’s going on with that brat?” he sighed. “Well, at least he’s not completely useless.”

Shen Qingqiu pinched Meng Mo’s left cheek. “Pillowy,” he murmured before lying down to sleep.

Mengo Mo’s stay at Qian Cao Peak was terribly tedious. Fearing that not even spiritual animals were allowed in the rooms, Shen Qingqiu insisted on keeping Meng Mo hidden. That meant Meng Mo had to stay under the bed throughout the day, which would have been much easier if he was a little less on the chubby side.

(Perhaps Shen Qingqiu had been right when he called Meng Mo fat.)

Fortunately, he only had to spend three days there. Soon he was back at the bamboo hut, enjoying his routine and the quiet solitude of Qing Jing Peak.

Shen Qingqiu was still not in the clear, though. Mu Qingfang had been very adamant on him following his treatment and Luo Binghe took it upon himself to make sure he would. He all but moved into the bamboo hut, cooking Shen Qingqiu’s meals, preparing his medicine, and making sure he stayed away from his desk. If Shen Qingqiu had had more energy, he would’ve kicked him out, but he was too tired to fight his overzealous disciple. At first, Ming Fan was strongly against Luo Binghe’s interference, but after their heated argument woke Shen Qingqiu up, they both got such a scolding, Ming Fan cleverly decided to stay at bay for the time being.

Luo Binghe, much more used to the scolding, simply apologized, smiled and offered Shen Qingqiu a fresh batch of almond cookies, which were welcomed with an apparently disinterested huff.

Days went by. Shen Qingqiu was finally allowed to return to his paperwork and Luo Binghe insisted on staying by his side to make sure he didn’t overdo it. The Peak Lord did his best to ignore him but, in the end, it was clear to Meng Mo that the man had reluctantly accepted the brat as part of his life. If he’d really wanted him gone, he would’ve kicked him out a long time ago.

One morning, not long after, a pouty Luo Binghe came into Shen Qingqiu’s office and announced a visitor.

“Liu-shishu is here, Shizun,” he said cautiously, “I told him you were still recovering but he insisted on seeing you.”

Shen Qingqiu furrowed his eyebrows. “What does he want?”

“I don’t know, Shizun. He says he wants to talk to you.”

Shen Qingqiu sighed and pondered for a while. In the end, he nodded and began sorting the papers over his desk.

“Since he had the courtesy of asking instead of just barging in, I’ll give him the courtesy to meet him. Bring him in and prepare tea for us.”

“Yes, Shizun,” Shen Qingqiu didn’t see the frown on the kid’s face.

“I’m sorry, Meng Mo. I’ll hide you for a while. We can’t risk that brute hunting you.”

Meng Mo, who until then had been contently sleeping over one of the many cushions Shen Qingqiu had laid for him, was pushed underneath an ornamental table and covered with a box. Already used to the treatment, Meng Mo allowed it. He laid on his side to see through a conveniently placed peeping hole. He couldn’t deny he was curious about how Liu Qingge’s survival would affect the future.

Bai Zhan’s Peak Lord came in. He sat down across Shen Qingqiu’s desk and they both kept their silence as Luo Binghe poured tea for them. He was then dismissed by a flick of Shen Qingqiu’s fan. Luo Binghe hesitated but obeyed.

“Well,” said Shen Qingqiu as he raised his cup to his lips, “what brings you to my peak, Liu Qingge?”

The man clenched his fists over the table and stared at his teacup as if it had insulted him and his entire ancestry.

“Why did you save me, Shen Qingqiu?”

Meng Mo grimaced at the question. He hadn’t known Liu Qingge on his previous lifetime but he never expected him to be so ungrateful. Was this the righteous and kind man Liu Mingyan dreamed about almost every night? How quaint.

Shen Qingqiu wasn’t taken aback by the question. Rather, it seemed he’d been expecting it.

“Perhaps you would’ve preferred me to let you die?” He huffed. “The treacherous Qing Jing Peak Lord exiting the Ling Xi caves with blood in his hands would’ve been extremely incriminating. Surely, once the Bai Zhan Peak Lord’s corpse was found, it would only be a matter of time for him to be blamed for his Shidi’s demise, even if he brought it upon himself.”

Liu Qingge’s silence spoke volumes. He knew Shen Qingqiu was right.

“I apologize for not wanting your blood in my hands, Liu Qingge.”

“Don’t you? You’ve tried to kill me before.”

Shen Qingqiu hit his closed fan against the edge of the table so hard, he cracked its ribs.

“Have I, Liu Qingge?”

Liu Qingge hesitated for a moment before doubling down.

“You are treacherous. You hate me and want me dead but you saved me anyways. Why? What are you planning?”

Shen Qingqiu slammed his hands over the desk, ready to kick his Shidi out, when he was brusquely interrupted by his disciple.

“Liu-shishu oversteps!” Luo Binghe approached them and slammed a tray with snacks over the desk. Meng Mo knew the kid had listened to their entire conversation. Regardless of the timeline, he had always been obsessed with his Shizun.

“What are you doing, beast?!” Spat Shen Qingqiu.

Luo Binghe valiantly ignored him.

“You have always been cruel to Shizun,” he said, “forcing him to spar when he is not willing to, unleashing your rowdy Shidis into his peak just to cause havoc, admonishing him for doing his job. Yet, he risked his life to save yours! Now you come into his house and accuse him of… you don’t even know what! Liu-shishu should learn his place and the truth: if Shizun really wanted you dead, he would’ve killed you a long time ago.”

It was just for a couple of seconds but Liu Qingge’s eyes bulged wide open. Aside from Shen Qingqiu, no one else was brave enough to talk to him like that. Meng Mo suspected he was a tad impressed.

“Enough!” said Shen Qingqiu.

The brat finally turned his attention to his master.

“This foolish disciple has unheeded Shizun’s teachings by dishonoring his guest. This one apologizes and begs Shizun for forgiveness.”

“Leave, now.”

Despite the deadly tone, Luo Binghe remained unfazed. He cupped his hands towards the elders and left in haste.

“That boy,” said Liu Qingge after a brief silence, “has grown a spine.”

“He’s a fool.”

“He’s filial.”

Not used to the praise, Shen Qingqiu tried to hide underneath his fan. Unfortunately, it was too broken to be of use. “Both can be true,” he muttered.

Liu Qingge shook his head and stood up.

“Perhaps he is right and you had no ill-intent. If that is the case, I’ll atone for my mistake once I can acknowledge it. For now, though, I’ll keep my eyes on you.”

“As if you didn’t do that already,” grimaced Shen Qingqiu.

Liu Qingge made a grave sound, similar to a growl, and left. Once it was clear, Meng Mo sneaked out from underneath the box and sat down next to Shen Qingqiu.

“Why are all men a pain in the ass, Meng Mo?” he asked as he patted the tapir. “Well, except for you, of course. You’re the only one with a brain around here.”

Meng Mo nodded, laid down and yawned. He always craved for a nap after he witnessing such exciting sights.

The Sect Leader was adamant that neither Liu Qingge nor Shen Qingqiu could return to the Ling Xi caves for the time being. The situation had been too dangerous and they could’ve easily lost two of their best Peak Lords. He wouldn’t risk it again. At least not for a decade. Liu Qingge and Shen Qingqiu complained about it for several weeks but, in the end, there was little they could do against Yue Qingyuan’s orders.

Thus, months later, when Sha Hualing’s invasion was due, both Shen Qingqiu and Liu Qingge were doing business as usual at their respective peaks. Sha Hualing was ambitious but she wasn’t stupid. She wouldn’t risk attacking the most powerful cultivation sect with them in sight. Meng Mo wasn’t surprised when the attack never came.

In his past life, Meng Mo learned about Luo Binghe during his fight against Tian Chui. Since that didn’t happen in this timeline, who knew if his other self would ever find him? (If he existed at all.) For a moment, Meng Mo was concerned about Luo Binghe’s demon seal. Before, the kid’s spiritual and mental stability was poor and only with demonic cultivation could he stop the seal from being broken. However, this time he was stronger than ever. His demonic mark wouldn’t be able to overpower him until the seal weakened on its own, and the brat would be safe for at least some more years.

Life at Qing Jing Peak went on.

Eventually, the time for the Immortal Alliance Conference arrived. Meng Mo hadn’t been too concerned about it. He was sure that with his current strength, Luo Binghe would be able to contain the Black Moon Rhinoceros Python. That way he would be able to escape Shen Qingqiu’s rage after being outed as a demon, the Abyss, and those five terrible years of torture. He bid Shen Qingqiu and his disciples goodbye while he remained at Qing Jing Peak enjoying some peace and tranquility. He even managed to cultivate a little! At this rate, he would be able to transform into a human in a couple of decades or so.

Unfortunately, Meng Mo’s peace shattered once Qing Jing Peak’s delegation returned with downcast eyes and a somber silence upon them.

Luo Binghe was not among them.

A cold chill ran down Meng Mo’s spine. How? Luo Binghe was the strongest Qing Jing Peak… no… the strongest Cang Qiong Sect disciple. Why wasn’t he back? Did he die? Did he fall into the Abyss? He walked around trying to get answers but the children were too depressed to do more than grant a couple of head pats. Meng Mo had to wait for Shen Qingqiu to settle back into his home and, even then, it took him almost a shichen to dare to approach.

He found him kneeling down in the middle of the main hall of the bamboo hut. In his hands he held a cloth with the broken shards of Zheng Yang, Luo Binghe’s sword. Meng Mo reached out his head so he could rest it on Shen Qingqiu’s lap.

“Little beast,” he said as he scratched behind Meng Mo’s ear, “the conference was hijacked. There were monsters everywhere. So many and so dangerous, even the elders struggled to contain them. Many disciples were killed…”

The man sighed as he covered the shards with the cloth and set it aside.

“Mobei Jun broke into the barrier and attacked Luo Binghe.”

What?! What was him doing at the Immortal Alliance Conference? He didn’t feel the need to show up in Meng Mo’s previous lifetime. What had changed?

“I was too late,” continued Shen Qingqiu, “he fell into the Abyss before I could reach him.”

He wasn’t dead then. If Luo Binghe’s seal didn’t break during his fight against the ice demon, it surely did once he faced the ocean of lava. It was unfortunate, but he would be back and stronger than ever. Hopefully, this time he wouldn’t feel the need to seek revenge from Shen Qingqiu or the sect.

“Why would Mobei Jun be interested in Luo Binghe?” muttered Shen Qingqiu. Meng Mo’s breath hitched. “He was strong but not enough be worthy of a demon lord. Then there was what that disgusting Old Palace Master said…”

Crap. Shen Qingqiu was really worthy of the title of the best tactician of Cang Qiong Sect. What would he do if he discovered Luo Binghe’s heritage? Heavens knew what would happen if the brat came back only to be rejected by his Shizun!

“He said he reminded him of her. Was he talking about Su Xiyan? I didn’t meet her,” Shen Qingqiu said, “I didn’t meet her but Yue Qingyuan did. He might remember...”

Suddenly, Shen Qingqiu hunched his shoulders and closed his eyes. He must’ve been exhausted. He probably hadn’t slept since the attack. After a long pause, Shen Qingqiu shook his head and stood up with Meng Mo in his arms.

“I’ll ask him tomorrow. I’m too tired to think right now.”

They both went to bed. That night, Meng Mo had the best feast he had in months.

For once, he wasn’t happy about it.

Shen Qingqiu kept himself busy the years following the Immortal Alliance Conference. He spent most of his time trying to find the traitor that wrecked the event. Or rather, finding proof of who’d done it, for he knew from the very start that it had been Shang Qinghua. It wasn’t easy. The rat was sneaky and more clever than he let on. Even more so, Shen Qingqiu lacked the sect leader’s support. If he raised the issue with any other of his martial siblings, he must’ve had the same luck, for he was alone in his mission. Still, it was only a matter of time before Shang Qinghua slipped. He had become reckless and counted too much on everybody else ignoring his Shixiong. It only took one note left behind his desk for everything to unravel. It marked a day and a time, at which Shen Qingqiu followed him down to one of the inns at the base of Cang Qiong Mountain. There, Shang Qinghua met with Mobei Jun. They were taken by surprise by an extremely well prepared Shen Qingqiu who captured them both. It was quick and subtle; not even the innkeeper noticed something amiss.

And not even Yue Qingyuan could turn away from the evidence once Mobei Jun was presented at Qiong Ding Peak. Sadly, a furious Liu Qingge tried to take justice into his own hands and attacked the pair, disturbing Shen Qingqiu’s seal enough for Mobei Jun to free himself and use a talisman to escape alongside Shang Qinghua.

Shen Qingqiu was pissed, but at least he had the satisfaction of seeing Liu Qingge kneeling in repentance for thirty days straight in the middle of Qiong Ding’s main courtyard. A silver lining for losing the chance to make Shang Qinghua pay back for all he’d done.

Shen Qingqiu’s relationship with his martial siblings slightly improved after that. They were no longer openly antagonistic towards him and Shen Qingqiu could spend less time fighting back. They also agreed to collaborate with him making sure that Shang Qinghua’s actions were thoroughly erased. It wouldn’t do good to the sect if his actions at the Immortal Alliance Conference were uncovered.

In the background, the Peak Lord kept digging into Luo Binghe’s past. He never shared his discoveries with Meng Mo but he knew he’d uncovered the truth. Only that could explain why the man barely reacted when the sect started receiving letters from a new self proclaimed Demonic Emperor. The kid had returned earlier than Meng Mo expected. It had only been three years since the Immortal Alliance Conference, two years earlier than in his past life. Just like Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe had kept himself busy conquering several territories in the demon realm and destroying whoever was stupid enough to confront him. When the emperor offered a truce, Cang Qiong Sect was cautious but willing to negotiate.

There was only one condition: the emperor would only deal with the Qing Jing Peak Lord. He said the others were of little importance to him.

Shen Qingqiu agreed to it immediately despite Yue Qingyuan’s refusal. The rest of the Peak Lords were furious. Not only because of the insult but because they didn’t deem Shen Qingqiu worthy of such an important role. Some went as far as to accuse him of being in cahoots with demons, as to which Shen Qingqiu responded with a smirk and a daring “not yet”.

Shen Qingqiu sent his response against his martial sibling’s wishes.

It only took two days for the Demonic Emperor to come to Qing Jing Peak. It was an unusual day as it could get. Shen Qingqiu was relaxing in the bamboo forest, playing the qin, while Meng Mo meditated (he might have nodded off a couple of times), when their peace was interrupted by a tall, imposing man who walked into the clear as if he owned it.

Luo Binghe had grown in the past three years. His face was much more mature and his black robes fluttered in the wind with grace and severity. His wild hair bounced freely, no longer contained by the tense ponytail that adorned him as a child.

The Demonic Emperor smiled sheepishly.

“Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu looked at him blankly for a moment. He then put his qin back into his qiankun pouch and stood up with the composure and confidence of a man who was used to deal with emperors as if they were toddlers.

“I see you’re doing well, Luo Binghe.”

The man cupped his hands in respect.

“It is all thanks to Shizun’s teachings. Thanks to him I was able to survive the Abyss and conquer most of the demon realm.”

Shen Qingqiu waved his fan leisurely. “Took you long enough.”

Luo Binghe laughed fondly.

“I wished to come back earlier but I didn’t want to do so empty handed. Would the entire demon realm be enough to compensate for this foolish disciple’s transgressions?”

Shen Qingqiu’s back straightened. Meng Mo could tell he was fighting back a prideful smile but he only allowed himself to smirk.

“Your shamelessness has only worsened throughout the years, beast,” he closed his fan and used it to pat Luo Binghe on the chest. “Come. Your martial siblings mourned you. They’ll be happy too see you.”

“Does that mean you’re happy to see me too, Shizun?”

“Don’t push your luck, Luo Binghe,” warned the man. “I’ll go fetch them. It might be better if I ease down the news. Come whenever I call you.”

Left to his own devices, Luo Binghe finally had the courtesy to pay attention to Meng Mo. He knelt down and patted him on the head.

“Thank you for taking care of Shizun while I was gone, Meng Mo,” a goofy smile appeared on his face as his eyes traced the path Shen Qingqiu had just taken. “What do you think? How long will it take for him to accept my courtship?”

This brat!

He hadn’t changed at all from their previous lifetime! He was still a horny beast obsessed with his Shizun!

Meng Mo bit his hand as hard as he could.

“Hey!” Luo Binghe raised his injured hand and wiggled it a little bit. Meng Mo’s own weight pulled him down and he had to let go. “I know, I know. I missed you too, Meng Mo. Don’t worry. I’ll never part from you or Shizun ever again.”

It was at that moment that Meng Mo decided he would triple his cultivation efforts. He had to cultivate human form as soon as possible! He had to leave Qing Jing Peak! Otherwise, if Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe got together, it would be him who would need a spiritual tapir to get rid of all the nightmares.

“Luo Binghe,” the severe words of Shen Qingqiu interrupted Meng Mo’s thoughts.

“Coming, Shizun!”

Luo Binghe picked Meng Mo up and ran towards his master.