Secrets Hidden Within The Bamboo Forest

🎍Seven🎍

      "Has Master Shen picked his last representative?" She asked.
      Shen Qingqiu nodded, closing his fan as he did, showing how calm he is.
      "I have" He began, and he turned around amongst the crowd.
      "Luo Binghe! If you're here step forward!" Called Shen Qingqiu.

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      Walking up was a taller, older teen. Shen Qingqiu took a moment to admire how much this little lotus had grown. Indeed, he was and is still just as handsome as Shen Qingqiu thought him to be, his features were more toned and sharper, but soft and delicate as Luo Binghe walked up to Shen Qingqiu and bowed, he took a moment to smile at his Shizun.
      "Shizun, welcome back"
     "Hell of a first day back, are you ready?" Shen Qinqgiu asked, snapping open his fan to hide his smile. 
      Luo Binghe smiled "I'm honored that Shizun picked me amongst others" Luo Binghe said, smiling at Shen Qingqiu once more, before walking on the field.
      He and Shen Qingqiu were now almost similar in height, Luo Binghe was still just a tad bit shorter, but he surely had grown so much. Luo Binghe used to reach Shen Qingqiu's chest, now they almost matched in height. Shen Qingqiu now knew what his mother meant when "They grow up so fast". Shen Qingqiu felt almost depressed knowing how much he's grown, including his other disciples but aside Luo Binghe he really only cared about Ming Fan and Ning Yingying-everyone else he didn't care about technically.
     He watched as Luo Binghe confidently walked up, and stopped little ways from the center, awaiting what his opponent is. Sha Hualing took a moment to study this young man, Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but fanboy about the infamous harem members finally meeting.
      There was Liu Mingyan and Sha Hualing's fight just now, there'll be more in the future, they'll be fellow wives in the future so maybe they'll learn to get along- But now they'll both see their future husband in battle. This battle will spark the interest of Liu Mingyan and Sha Hualing. But at the moment, Sha Hualing wasn't interested as she beckoned forth a demon.
     "Here's my final one" She smiled sweetly, venom laced within.
     What walked up was a much larger demon, possibly ten times larger than Luo Binghe who now looked like an ant compared to this demon. Whenever the demon walked, Shen Qingqiu swore the ground shook with each step that Shen Qingqiu was almost worried he'd cause an Earthquake.
      Luo Binghe prepared for battle when Sha Hualing butted in "Hold it" She said.
     The demon stopped walking, Sha Hualing walked up to stand beside him, the bells on her ringing sweetly like a lullaby.
     "Before we start" She began "I must warn the boy who wishes to fight" She purred.
    "The spikes, here," She pointed to the armor "On Elder Sky Hammer's armor are coated with a highly toxic poison-harmless to us demons, once it enters a human body-well. There's no cure" She said.
     Shen Qingqiu sighed, not from the information about the poison-rather he expected that coming from the Demon Realm-but what he was disappointed about was the fucking horrible as fuck that even Shen Qingqiu would rather fucking have a play-date with Chucky the fucking killer doll than deal with these horrid ass names.
     "You piece of shit demon!" Called out a demon.
    "How is it fair to use poison?!"
     "If you want to compete then do it properly!" 
    Disciples started shouting left and right complaining about the information about the poison.
     "Dimwits" She said "I didn't conceal it-so it's fine" She waved her hand dismissively as she walked off.
    Luo Binghe turned around to face Shen Qingqiu, looking slightly worried and cautious. Shen Qingqiu however, lowered his fan, and nodded with a smile. That smile said it all.

      'You got this Binghe, I believe in you'

      That smile was all Luo Binghe needed for him to get really motivated. Luo Binghe felt a light feeling, he felt warm, fuzzy, but all in all. He felt a bit more confident and stronger. His Shizun believed he could win against Elder Sky hammer. He will win-he didn't want to disappoint his Shizun.
     Once the battle began, it seemed to be going fine for a while, but then Elder Sky Hammer ended up getting the upper hand. It turned into a one sided beat down-then again it was to be expected from someone of Luo Binghe's size to someone who could very well be 20 feet tall. Shen Qinqgiu himself even felt a bit nervous-if the demons win-who knew what they'd do. They needed to win to put the demons in their place and Shen Qingqiu-having too much pent up anger needed to blow it out on something. 
     Maybe he could verbally put them all in their place-he's had practice in putting "Great Master" Airplane down with insults after insults so he knows a few colorful things. Ning Yingying walked up and begged Shen Qingqiu to help him out-or end the spar.
    "If I do-then what will we look like to others?" Shen Qingqiu asked.
    "What do you care about most?!" She shouted.
    "Image or your student?!" She stomped her feet and ran further into the crowd.
     'She's got some venom-might need to teach her a few things' Shen Qingqiu thought.
     Shen Qingqiu looked ahead, Luo Binghe was tired, and indeed bruised, but he kept getting back up. Shen Qingqiu sighed just as Sha Hualing spoke up.
     "I think we both know who would win-might as well surrender and I'll spare the boys life. Afterall-humans tend to value their life" She laughed.
     'That'll explain why I really don't care for mine-I'm not even human'  Shen Qingiu thought.
     Elder Sky Hammer grabbed Luo Binghe and slammed him on the ground. Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes and gripped his hand fan, his face was pissed-and looked exactly like the Original flavor-event he tone matched.
    "Silence! If I didn't think he'd win I never would've put him there!" Shen Qingqiu shouted.
    Those words reached Luo Binghe's ears, and for a moment-everything seemed to be slower. His Shizun really thought...He'd win? He believed he'd win? That seemed to help Luo Binghe stand and fight Elder Sky Hammer with more determination and more force.
    Shen Qingqiu and Sha Hualing seemed to be more focused intently on the sparring match In front of them like everyone else was as Luo Binghe managed to avoid being hit by the large hammer-and actually was able to land a few hits himself. Eventually, Elder Sky Hammer was unable to even land a hit on the teenager.
     Shen Qingqiu smiled as Luo Binghe ended up winning this match. The demon side was silent as the disciples behind Shen Qingqiu all cheered in victory. Luo Binghe took a moment to stare at Elder Sky Hammer before turning to his Shizun, a smile on his face, practically beaming "Shizun! Did you see that?! I won!".
      Shen Qingqiu smiled, and nodded. Shen Qingqiu beckoned Luo Binghe over, and Luo Binghe went-no questions asked. Luo Binghe was happy and so proud of himself that he didn't see when Elder Sky Hammer got up and charged after him until it was almost too late.
     Luo Binghe turned to see Elder Sky Hammer.
    "I'll die anyway!" He shouted "Might as well take you with me!" The demon was planning on embracing Luo Binghe into a trap and stabbing him with all those toxic spikes. 
    Shen Qingqiu instantly moved to action, grabbing him by the collar of his robe, and tossed him back, using his own arm as a sacrifice and blasting the demon away to Sha Hualing's side.
    "Sha Hualing!" Shen Qingqiu shouted, voice and face pissed and filled with Venom.
    "If you can't control your people to take a loss, I suggest disciplining them well or I'll kill them all myself!" Shen Qingqiu shouted.
     "Shizun!" Luo Binghe went to get up to his Shizun's aid, but he held a hand to him, telling to stay where he was as he kept careful contact with Sha Hualing.
    Sha Hualing didn't even see that coming and was majorly embarrassed and angry.
    "I apologize-I didn't even know he'd do that-I owe you a much bigger apology yes" She said.
    Sha Hualing may be cruel-but at least she was civilized. She faced Elder Sky Hammer and her expression must've been bad as Elder Sky Hammer shrunk back in major fear and terror.
     Luo Binghe spoke up "My Shizun was stabbed! What's the antidote!?" 
    Luo Binghe's words spoke up a panic.
     "That's right! Peak Lord Shen was stabbed with that poison!"
    "Damned demons!"
     Luo Binghe stood beside Shen Qingqiu "Where is the antidote?!" He shouted.
    Sha Hualing did seem she wanted to help as a better apology for her subordinates disobedience.
    "Sorry to say-but there is no cure, it's called "Without a Cure" for a reason" She said.
    Shen Qingqiu began to have a headache. Was it from the poison? Or Airplanes yet again horrid naming system? Either way, him putting his hand to his head with his brows furrowed caused Luo Binghe to worry more.
    "There has to be a cure!" 
     "Damned brat I just said there's no cure! Best you can do is regulate his Qi and not to over exert himself in battle or whatever the fuck he does!" She shouted at Luo Binghe.
     "I'll be fine" Shen Qingqiu said, sighing out.
    "Shizun?" Luo Binghe faced Shen Qingqiu, his eyes full of worry and concern.
    "If Peak Lord Shen insists he's fine-then I suppose a simple Qi blast will be fine?" She asked, walking up and raising her hand a bit.
    "I'll do it!" Luo Binghe wanted to walk up-but Shen Qingqiu stopped him.
    "No point if you do it Binghe-I'll do it" Shen Qingqiu walked up, but was stopped by Luo Binghe holding onto his sleeve.
     "Shizun! You're hurt!" Luo Binghe looked agitated and worried.
     Shen Qingqiu sighed 'Binghe... You're too cute I can't-' Shen Qingqiu thought to himself but in the end patted Luo Binghe's head.
     "I'll be okay-after all-what can't this master do by now?" He asked.
    "But-but the poison-"
    "Is not affecting me" He said, interrupting his student.
     "Here, hold this for me hm?" Shen Qingqiu passed Luo Binghe his fan.
    "Hold on to it for me" Shen Qingqiu gave Luo Binghe's curl a light and playful pull before walking up to Sha Hualing.
     "Let's do it" He said, raising a head.
     "Hm" She hummed "You seem to be carrying yourself well" She mused.
     'You said it's fatal to humans-I'm not completely human so it'll have less of an effect-besides-I'm probably steadily becoming what I was so it won't be around much longer-' Shen Qingqiu thought.
      "Better immune system I suppose?" He spoke out of humor.
      "Haha- very funny Peak Lord Shen!" Sha Hualing said sarcastically before she jumped up and came charging at him with a Qi blast that's sure to kill him if "Without a Cure" really impacted his circulation.
     Shen Qingqiu charged up his own hand, and met palm-to-palm with her.
     But he wasn't blasted back-it was none other than Sha Hualing who was blasted back to the point her own clothes fell off. Getting up she snagged the robe off of a demon closest to her and draped it around her self just as a disciple called out.
     "Peak Lord Liu Qingge! He's out of seclusion!" The disciples all cheered as Shen Qingqiu turned his head, there stood Liu Qingge, his hand on Shen Qingqiu's upper back giving his own Qi to Shen Qingqiu to power up his own spiritual blast.
    "Ah- Liu-Shidi! So glad to see you" Shen Qingqiu perked up, all smiles.
    Liu Qingge faced the disciples.
    "Need an invitation?!" He shouted "Capture those demons!" He shouted.
    Instantly those from Bai Zhan peak instantly got to business as soon as Sha Hualing and her demons began running off. First the Bai Zhan Peak disciples went after them, and next thing the whole horde of disciples followed after to capture the demons.
    Luo Binghe, Ming Fan and Ning Yingying stayed behind to fuss over their Shizun. Once Liu Qingge removed his hand from Shen Qingqiu's back, Shen Qingqiu ended up collapsing.
    "Shizun!" Yelled the trio as Liu Qingge quickly caught him. 
    Before Shen Qingqiu passed out, he faced Luo Binghe who looked like he was going to cry at any moment, Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but pull on that curl in front of Luo Binghe's face.
    "Don't cry" Was the last thing Shen Qingqiu said before he passed out. 

     Shen Qingqiu didn't know how long he was asleep-but he was sure it had to be days by now. When he woke up, he felt like he was back in his previous body-back when he was "Shen Yuan"-he felt sick, weak, and more dead. Feeling like that was sorta nostalgic that he almost hopped back into his old routine of getting up, and start cleaning before he rots away on his bed or reading something new on his computer.  
    But he didn't once he sat up, his eyes still closed and rubbing his head with the ever so familiar pain of a headache-he heard something break and he jumped, still not fully awake yet. He turned his head when he saw Ming Fan standing there, about to bawl.
    "Shizun! You're awake! You're finally awake!" Shen Qingqiu was still barely awake when Ming Fan started to babble some stuff and he ran off, saying he had to alert some people he forgot the name but he was pretty sure he heard Yue Qingyuan's name there.
     Once Ming Fan ran out, Shen Qingqiu rubbed his head, and scooted over to where he sat at the edge of his bed. But he heard someone standing just outside his room, looking up, he thought he saw those familiar curls.
    Shen Qingqiu sighed, but he was undoubtedly happy to see him.
    "Binghe? What are you doing there? Come here and talk properly" Shen Qingqiu said.
    Luo Binghe peeked in "Is this disciple allowed?"
    "I'm inviting you in, no?" Shen Qingqiu asked.
    Luo Binghe nodded, and walked up, all nervous.
    "Now speak, what is it?" Shen Qingqiu asked.
    "U-uh..." Luo Binghe dug in his robes and held the handfan that Shen Qingqiu asked him to hold on to.
     "Ah, my fan. Thank you Binghe" Shen Qingqiu said, standing up and grabbing the fan, snapping it open and fanning himself.
    "S-Shizun has been asleep for... Many days and-and this disciple perhaps was wondering.. Does Shizun have an appetite?" Luo Binghe asked.
    Shen Qingqiu stopped fanning himself for a moment. Drinking that tea before was a huge shocker-he was able to actually taste it-although it was still a bit gross-be was able to actually taste it as well. Was that the same way when he ate the Skinner Demon's flesh? He was able to taste it-but it was indeed gross. Could it be when it comes to food-his body doesn't know which side it wants to be on so therefore he's able to eat both flesh and human food?
     Well then-if that's the case-don't mind if he does.
     "Very well then. I do, quite a bit actually" Shen Qingqiu said, making Luo Binghe smile a bit.
    "What does Shizun have in mind? Whatever you want-I can make it!" Luo Binghe beamed in pure happiness that his Shizun agreed to eat.
     Shen Qingqiu thought for a while. What did he want to eat? The only thing he's eaten in his life was human flesh. Never once human food.
    "Surprise me" Shen Qingqiu said.
     Luo Binghe smiled even more brightly.
     "Yes Shizun!" He instantly ran off to the kitchen.
     'Ah, what a sweet child' Shen Qingqiu thought to himself.

To be continued...