Secrets Hidden Within The Bamboo Forest

🎍Twelve🎍

     "Binghe" Shen Qingqiu called out.
    "Yes Shizun?"
    "Do you want to be strong? So strong that no one would dare challenge you?"

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     "Yes" Luo Binghe said without hesitation. 
     He said it like he asked himself that same question over and over and had carefully thought the answer.
    Shen Qingqiu nodded "What if you had to go through pain and suffering just to become the strongest?"
    "I do not fear pain nor suffering" Luo Binghe said, knowing that this was a serious conversation.
    "This disciple just wants to protect the ones I care about" Luo Binghe added.
    Shen Qingqiu nodded, Shen Qingqiu still didn't still want to push him down to that hell hole. But that was a decision for future Shen Qingqiu. 

    Some days later, the entire Immortal Alliance Conference was set up to be held at Jue Di Gorge, a mountain terrain that went on for many, many miles. They didn't ride on sword but rather on carriages as if it would've disturbed regular people in their daily lives.
    Shen Qingqiu looked around as disciples prepared and got everything set up. 
    Shen Qingqiu walked to the carriage and opened the door to sit in it-but he apparently wasn't the first one in there.
    "A big strong man like you trying to steal my spot? What are you a frail maiden?" She asked.
    Shen Qingqiu at first ignored her to enter and sat down, snapping open his fan to cover his face like he normally did. The woman before him was none other than Xian Shu Peak's master, Qi Qingqi.
     In the original work, she and the original Shen Qingqiu had no real relationship, barely few interactions that one could count on their one hand. They neither hated nor liked each other. But here in the past few years, in several Peak Lord meetings did he have a few interactions with her and some decent conversations.
     He found her rather straight-forward and fierce, honest and not caring what others thought of her. He respected her and she knew he did, so in turn she returned the favor in decent respect.
    Shen Qingqiu smiled "I am quite frail" He said.
    To be honest, when it came to her, he felt he could be a bit himself as he felt she wouldn't judge him at all.
    "Pampered and spoiled. Are you so coddled and delicate that someone would need to be serving you snacks later?" She asked.
    "I don't need snacks, but how could I deny my dearest disciple when he went through the trouble to ensure I had something to refresh by? Speaking of Binghe, you outta try some of his candy" He lifted the curtain and beckoned Luo Binghe over as Qi Qingqi rolled her eyes, her arms crossed.
    "Yes Shizun?" She heard a young boy asked.
    "Do you still have some of that candy I tried earlier today?" 
    "Yes Shizun, would you like some?"
    "And one for your Qi-Shishu" Shen Qingqiu said.
    After a silent moment, Qi Qingqi saw a hand enter and gave Shen Qingqiu two tiny red candy balls.
     "Let me know if you wish for anything Shizun" 
     Shen Qingqiu nodded and dropped the curtain.
     "You are spoiled" Qi Qingqi muttered.
     Shen Qinqgiu smiled "Want one?" 
     She sighed, but stared at it, and eventually leaned forward to pluck it from his hand and pop it in her mouth. Shen Qingqiu smiled and popped the candy in his own mouth, trying his best to ignore the horrid taste, but he pretended to enjoy it.
    "I will not lie, that disciple can indeed make unique candy" She said.
    Shen Qingqiu smiled.
    "Indeed"
    They sat in silence for the entire way to Jue Di Gorge. It wasn't awkward no, rather, it was peaceful. 

    Arriving at Jue Di Gorge, Shen Qingqiu took notice of the entire place, he might as well look around the place that's about to go down in hell in probably X amount of hours, maybe days.
    A bunch of other various Cultivation clans that had the honor of getting invited were also here, many of the disciples were down below while the masters and lords were up in the larger stand getting to have a small chat while everyone got settled.
    "Ah, Immortal Master Shen" 
    Turning around, it was none other than Huan Hua Palace's Master. However, he wasn't just no ordinary Master no, he was once the master of Luo Binghe's birth mother. 
    Shen Qingqiu nodded to him in greeting, and soon enough he walked up ahead, since they had contributed the most money no one could argue their choice of who is gonna play host.
    "The Conference will last for seven days, once everyone has entered the Gorge, we will erect a giant barrier and cover the entire Jue Di Gorge. And within those seven days those who participated will be isolated from the outside world and will remain ignorant about what happens here" 
    As the person spoke, Shen Qinqgiu couldn't help but doze off, lost within his own thoughts. With those days, the Endless Abyss will open. But where? If Shen Qingqiu has an idea of where it will open then he'll do his best to keep Luo Binghe away from such areas and spare Luo Binghe the pain and suffering.