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Chapter Text

[ The System has successfully been activated. ]

[ Performing reset on character profile ‘Shen Jiu’. Please keep all limbs still until the reset is completed! ]

Very funny, thinks Shen Jiu, who has no limbs. That little turned big beast had made sure of that. But still, he stays in place, not wanting to test whatever voice of the gods has just spoken to him. A few moments pass without event, Shen Jiu not even daring to open his eyes, until suddenly there’s a whirring in his ears and one by one the stumps that used to be home to his limbs begin to burn. It hurts almost as much as losing them, but fades quickly into a tingling, that turns into a nothingness, but Shen Jiu is far too aware that there is something very different about his body. He stays perfectly still, though, until finally he hears that strange voice speaking once again.

[ Character reset successful! The System will now return to dormancy. Good luck, have fun! ]

“Really? That’s all you have to say to me?” Shen Jiu spits, but there is no response. “Great. Thank you!”

He sits there bitterly for a while, and then he realises, sitting? Speaking? He’s used to being sort of propped up against the wall of his pickle jar, and he’s recently become used to having no tongue too. So something isn’t adding up here, because he’s sure that, for once, he’s actually siting, properly.

Shen Jiu’s eyes widen as he looks down at himself. It’s been a long, long time since he’s seen these long, slender legs of his. They’ve been the subject of desire for many a man and woman, at least until they found out about his horrible personality.

But they’re there. He would be celebrating if he wasn’t so damn suspicious. There’s something wrong about all of this, overwhelmingly so. It’s difficult to accept that some strange voice just came to him and granted him legs, but… he’ll be damned if he doesn’t take this opportunity. Shen Jiu grabs the rim of the jar tightly and, carefully, straightens his legs. They’re not weak, but he is shaky on them like a child who has just started walking, unused to the feeling of having them back. He hasn’t walked in such a long time but if he wants to get out of here he’s going to have to get used to it quick.

He drags himself out of the pickle jar with a heave, taking a break on the other side to breathe, the strange feeling of having his limbs back overwhelming him. His bare feet touch the ground and he can feel it, and he can feel the side of the pickle jar under his fingers. Shen Jiu stares at himself for a little while longer, down at the robes that now sit over an actual body instead of hanging loosely at his sides and over his torso.

Shen Jiu paces around his prison for a while, keeping his eyes averted from that damn pickle jar, not wanting to grace it with his gaze. He’s going to have to come up with something really good to get himself out of this place, because there’s no way that he’s going to sit around and let himself be tortured to death by Luo Binghe. He’s sick of being there day in day out, bored when he’s not being forced to endure whatever new, creative form of violence Luo Binghe has come up with for the day. But he’s not only got to get past the beast, he’s got to get past all of those wives and demons and whatever else inhabits the palace. Shen Jiu paces, desperately digging through his brain for anything that’ll help, until finally he lands on an absolutely perfect idea. There is a secret that Luo Binghe doesn’t know, something that Shen Jiu has hidden well from just about everyone that he’s ever known and something that he intends to keep a secret if he can help it. He looks down at himself, contemplating whether or not he wants to commit to this idea, then decides with confidence that it won’t hurt just to do it for a little while, until he can get away and change his appearance a little more.

But getting to someone else’s wardrobe is going to be a challenge. He has to make sure he gets that far first…

Shen Jiu is sure that he can still strangle someone. In fact, he thinks that he’d delight in doing so after all of these years of being the subject of abuse. He creeps towards the door, his footsteps silent with no shoes, and he opens the door, where he immediately twists to grab one guard by the neck. The guarding demon croaks in alarm and the other moves to plunge a weapon through Shen Jiu, but before it can make contact Shen Jiu twirls with the other demon in his arms. The blade cleaves right through the beast in Shen Jiu’s arms and they drop dead. Shocked and realising that they’re in danger, the other demon tries to strike quickly, but Shen Jiu catches the saber between his pointer and middle finger. The demon’s dark eyes widen as Shen Jiu pulls the blade towards himself, yanking it straight out of the demon’s hands and into his own. He uses it to slice the beast in half.

It's freeing to be able to do this again. It’s been so long since he’s felt any power flowing through his body.

With both of the demons dead, and no backup having been called, he has a weapon in his hands and free reign to wander, at least until he comes across someone else. He makes the most of his time, rushing in one direction and opening the first door that he finds. He’s after some sort of bedroom, of which he’s sure there must be very many in the palace, but it seems that the wing that he’s in won’t have anything satisfactory so he abandons opening doors to save time.

Along the way he cuts down more demons singlehandedly until he emerges into a wing that looks notably more pretty than the rest – there’s no doubt that it’s home to more tasteful inhabitants. Shen Jiu breathes a sigh of relief when he flings open a door to find a bedroom. It’s pretty and light and white and he runs in, rummaging around until he finds the wardrobe.

Within are all sorts of clothes that look like they’ll be a decent fit. His legs are long so they might poke out a little more than is desirable or chaste at the bottom but his aim is hardly to be modest right now. Shen Jiu picks the first set of robes that he sees and throws them on quickly, taking care to straighten himself out when everything is on.

The outfit is flowing and pink, definitely not his colour, though it does bring out his eyes. He sits down to do his hair up and even finds some makeup to really look the part. In the slightly-too-small clothes his bust is just about apparent, and while it isn’t Shen Jiu’s preferred look by any stretch of the imagination, he will use it to his advantage as long as he has to in order to get himself out. Then, as soon as possible, he’ll find something that makes him appear flat again.

Shen Jiu stands when everything is ready, taking a deep breath and practicing lifting his voice. It doesn’t come naturally after so long of training himself, especially when his voice is usually so snide. But eventually he gets the hang of it again, a little disgusted by the sound of it – it doesn’t sound like his voice at all. But it’ll do. Just enough to get past Luo Binghe.

He emerges again from the room looking like someone completely different, his goal achieved. This time, when he walks past guarding demons, they don’t bat an eyelid at the sight of him, probably assuming that he’s yet another wife in the rather sizeable harem that Luo Binghe has somehow amassed. Although, there is just one problem that he needs to deal with: he’s absolutely filthy.

He’s not sure, though, where he can bathe. It’s not like he’s ever gotten to explore the palace before. That lonesome prison where he’d been in the pickle jar had been his sole location of existence for an extremely long time, so much so that he’s not sure if it’s longer than his existence before the jar now.

But as Shen Jiu paces around he comes face to face with the very last person he’s been wanting to see. Standing there, with two women glued to his arms, is Luo Binghe, striding through looking quite pleased with himself for whatever reason. He’s probably managed to claim himself a new wife or something of that sort. Luo Binghe’s eyes fall upon the filthy person before him and he immediately narrows his eyes, frowning and gesturing for his wives to stay where they are as he moves forth, his gaze dissecting Shen Jiu.

Still, when Luo Binghe opens his mouth he doesn’t outright insult Shen Jiu like he expected. He simply says, “Ah, have you come seeking refuge? You look young – someone’s runaway daughter?”

Shen Jiu, appreciating the scenario that he’s just been fed, plays into it swiftly, “Yes, that’s exactly it… I was supposed to be married, but the man is a tyrant! I have heard rumours o-of the Luo Binghe that resides within this palace,” he stutters for effect, “and thought that perhaps this lowly one might be allowed to take refuge until she might able to figure out what to do next.”

“I am nothing if not merciful,” Luo Binghe purrs, extending an arm, placing it behind Shen Jiu. But there is something in his gaze that implies that there’s more to this. Shen Jiu can’t help but feel the slightest bit nervous. Has Luo Binghe already seen through him? “But first you must come take a bath. You must have had… quite the rough journey.”

Shen Jiu’s blood boils at the words. They feel slightly mocking and far too knowing. It unsettles him as much as it angers him, especially to hear Luo Binghe pretending to be so cordial with him. But Shen Jiu can’t go against him. If he’s going to play the distressed damsel then he better commit to it. Besides, if he was found out he’s sure that he would die of shame quicker than the beast can kill him.

He turns back to his wives, telling them that he’ll be back soon, before taking Shen Jiu’s arm politely. Shen Jiu clings to Luo Binghe like he’s a saviour, though inside he’s sure he’s about to throw up blood. Controlling his rage is proving to be something he’s surprisingly good at when he puts his mind to it. Luo Binghe leads him through the labyrinthian halls, commanding a demon to fill up the bath along the way, until they emerge into the bathroom. It’s a room with a low-ceiling and a pool dug out in the middle, big enough for a few people sitting around the rim. Luo Binghe hums lightly as servant demons fill up the bath slowly. He walks over to a dark cabinet, gesturing down to it. “Pick what scents you like so that I may wash you, if you would permit it.”

Shen Jiu goes a little red with anger and humiliation, though to Luo Binghe it probably looks as though he’s going red with a shy blush. He doesn’t respond as he leans down to look around at the oils until he decides on something floral, figuring that would suit his new persona. He presents it to Luo Binghe who smiles and takes it from him, rubbing Shen Jiu’s back comfortingly. “It must be difficult running away from home. What’s your name?”

Shen Jiu hesitates. He hasn’t thought of a name, so he tries to remember the names of one of the women that he spent his free time with, at least when he had it. In the end his new name comes out as an amalgamation of multiple that he’s heard. “Bai Lihua.”

It seems that the name ‘Bai’ was a good choice – Luo Binghe’s eyes sparkle. “I didn’t know the Bai family had a daughter. They must have kept you a protected secret.”

“They were afraid that I would be the subject of too many men’s desires if I were to be so well-known of,” Shen Jiu lies, “they were quite protective.”

“With a beauty such as yourself, that much is reasonable,” Luo Binghe flirts shamelessly. It sickens Shen Jiu to his core.

“It seems that the Luo Binghe of the legends is quite true to reality…” he comments ambiguously, not showing his opinion one way or another. Luo Binghe is satisfied enough with the stroke to his ego as he leads Shen Jiu over to the now-filled bath. Luo Binghe doesn’t undress him like he expects, which he is beyond thankful for. In fact, the man turns around, allowing Shen Jiu his privacy.

He sighs as he strips down, discarding the clothes – probably dirty too after being upon his body – and stepping down into the bath, where he sits down on the rim. It’s been an eternity since he’s felt the comfort of nice, warm water and he can’t help the gentle moan of contentment that he lets out.

Luo Binghe comes to sit behind him, running his hands through Shen Jiu’s hair with a frown in his voice. “Did you get rolled around in mud and filth on your way? I have not seen a woman so dirty in my life.”

“I got attacked on my way here,” Shen Jiu says quickly, throwing as much distress into his voice as he can. “It was horrible. They really roughed me up.”

“I take it that you survived thanks to that tremendous spiritual energy I can sense,” Luo Binghe comments casually.

Internally, Shen Jiu panics. Externally he nods, playing along. “I didn’t know that it was tremendous, but I have followed the teachings of a cultivator that came through my home town once.”

“Of course,” Luo Binghe hums as he pushes Shen Jui down to wet his hair. The water soothes his scalp, though it feels a little sore, not having felt the touch of something gentle in so very long. Luo Binghe seems full of questions, though – Shen Jiu can’t help but suspect that this is some sort of interrogation. Is my disguise truly that poor? Or is the beast just an idiot?

He settles for the latter, closing his eyes as fingers massage his scalp and his hair as Luo Binghe says, “I suppose the secrecy of your parents is why you weren’t allowed a place as a student of this cultivator.”

“That’s right,” Shen Jiu nods, pretending to be mournful that he lost this fictional position.

“Well, there is always more room here for someone with such talent,” Luo Binghe says evenly, a thinly-veiled restraint behind his voice.

Thinking that Luo Binghe is figuring him out, Shen Jiu straightens his back just enough that the top of his chest shows through the water, his pale skin on show. He can feel Luo Binghe’s eyes dart there and back.

“I’m glad that someone such as yourself made it here relatively unharmed,” Luo Binghe says politely as his hands begin to wander along Shen Jiu’s neck, then his shoulders, then the top of his chest, but not any further.

“Thank you. I am too,” Shen Jiu agrees, tilting his head up to look at Luo Binghe. They meet eyes and Luo Binghe smiles dangerously, knowingly, as if trying to intimidate him. But Shen Jiu acts innocent, as if he has no idea of the gaze that he’s being given. “I have to apologise for taking time out of your day.”

Playing the self-pitying act makes Shen Jiu cringe to his core, but he keeps it all below the surface. Luo Binghe strokes the side of Shen Jiu’s face, the caress soft enough that he wants to retch. “I always have time in my day for those like yourself.”

“And who are those like myself?” Shen Jiu forces himself to lean into the flirtatious nature of their conversation. Luo Binghe must know that he would never do such a thing, not even unwillingly. It surely must secure his place as ‘innocent’ and ‘not Shen Jiu’ in Luo Binghe’s mind.

“Sweet, beautiful women,” Luo Binghe purrs, leaning in close, too close. But their lips, thankfully, do not meet. Luo Binghe’s eyes simply glitter before he pulls back away, handing over the liquid he’s been using to wash Shen Jiu before sitting back comfortably. “There. I will not touch you any further; I wouldn’t want to soil a woman such as yourself.”

The title of ‘woman’ makes Shen Jiu cringe, but there’s little he can do about it, forced to settle into this role he’s created for himself. He makes himself smile as he washes the rest of his body, making sure to clean all the places that especially need cleaning, disgusted by the state of himself but relieved that it’s getting tended to. Then, when he’s done, he begins to rise. But Luo Binghe doesn’t look away this time. Shen Jiu takes a deep breath, steeling himself as he steps out of the bath, water dripping from his body. He tries to ignore the beast’s gaze on all of the parts of himself that he wants to be looked at the least, but it’s almost impossible, those eyes all too piercing.

A demon returns promptly with new clothes for Shen Jiu, the old ones definitely having been dirtied by his unwashed body. The new ones fit his form better and he dons them when he’s drip-dried a little more, unamused by the similarly pink theme. Perhaps green is reserved only for the likes of himself; the beast is exactly the type to have that sort of mindset.

Shen Jiu, regardless of his feelings, gets comfortable in his new robes as Luo Binghe approaches from behind, linking their arms again as he leads Shen Jiu out of the room. Shen Jiu isn’t quite sure where he’s going but he knows he wants to get out of here as soon as possible. The quicker he gets somewhere away from Luo Binghe, the sooner he’s given freedom to roam, the better. Nobody will stop him from leaving, he’s sure of that.

Luo Binghe takes him to a bedroom, furnished simply, and releases him. “You may stay here until you figure out what to do, though I would not at all complain with an extended stay.”

“Thank you,” Shen Jiu says with forced warmth, relieved when finally Luo Binghe takes his leave. Shen Jiu investigates his surroundings, taking particular interest in the sliding door at the back that he swiftly goes to open. Beyond it there is a garden that links to other doors. He wonders if they’re other bedrooms but doesn’t dare to try them just in case there’s anybody inside, instead opting to wait behind his door for a while, listening.

As soon as he presses his ear to the door he hears something alarming: the sound of breathing. It’s subtle, not laboured – simply the sound of someone standing there idly, as if waiting for something, and Shen Jiu has no doubt that it’s Luo Binghe, expecting him to come out. Defiantly, Shen Jiu stays put, waiting him out. Eventually Luo Binghe leaves, his footsteps trailing down the hallway. Just to be safe, Shen Jiu waits a little bit longer before opening the door, looking both ways. When he sees no Luo Binghe he lets out a breath of relief.

Now that he’s got a backstory, a name, and seemingly a good impression to Luo Binghe, he can make his escape. Shen Jiu doesn’t have a single clue which way to go so he settles for asking a demon for help, who eagerly directs him to the throne room. From there he’s sure that he can work his way to the exit.

Shen Jiu is uninterrupted. Suspiciously so, in fact. He doesn’t seem to come across any of Luo Binghe’s other wives, nor the man himself. It’s eerie, the silence surrounding him. Something is terribly off.

He weighs out his options. He could wait here until things go back to normal, or he could make a break for it while he still can. Shen Jiu doesn’t think he can handle being in this palace one moment longer. He’s sure that everyone’s just gone for dinner or something like that, that the unsettled feeling is just a product of his own paranoia. Who wouldn’t be paranoid after being held prisoner in this palace for so long, after all?

Shen Jiu carefully, quietly, makes his way into the throne room, the grand hall stretching out before him. He paces along it, freedom not far now, the exit coming into view, until suddenly someone grabs him from behind.

A face nuzzles into the crook of his neck and he hears the person take a long, deep breath of his scent. He looks down to see large, strong hands wrapped around his waist, and immediately he recognises the sleeves of those robes alongside those dark, sharp nails: Luo Binghe.

Shen Jiu acts calm at first, letting his face descend into a soft smile as he looks up, silent but playing innocent.

“Why is A-Bai leaving so soon?” Luo Binghe asks sweetly, though there is nothing sweet about the grip that he has on Shen Jiu.

“Ah, I just wanted to have a wander around. I didn’t get to see the surroundings, I rushed too fast into the palace,” Shen Jiu lies as hard as he can, trying to sound as genuine and sweet as he can.

“I get the feeling,” Luo Binghe’s voice lowers, “that Bai Lihua is lying.”

“Whatever would I lie for?” Shen Jiu asks softly, resting his hands atop Luo Binghe’s, frowning as if confused.

Luo Binghe does not relent. He lifts a hand from Shen Jiu’s waist to run through his hair tenderly, then to touch his face. “I recognise your face, your eyes, your hair… All like someone else, long before anything happened to him. Or, perhaps, her.”

Shen Jiu knows that he’s being referred to and his eyes immediately narrow at the idiot’s conclusion. Of course he would think that Shen Jiu was just a woman rather than a man with different anatomy. Luo Binghe truly is a dense beast. It’s almost enough to send Shen Jiu over the edge, but he keeps his composure. “I’m afraid I don’t know who you’re referring to…”

“Come now,” Luo Binghe laughs, digging his nails in. “I checked your prison. How convenient that you disappeared and a woman who looks suspiciously like you appears. You hardly thought through your escape.”

Shen Jiu takes a deep breath. It doesn’t sound like he’s going to be able to lie his way out of this one, but he makes one last shot at it. “Really, I insist. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Shizun~” Luo Binghe chuckles, stroking his hand upwards until it rests upon Shen Jiu’s ribcage before flipping him around so that they’re chest-to-chest.

Shen Jiu abandons his demeanour, his face immediately twisting into its scornful look, his voice dropping back into his usual, comfortable range. “I am not your Shizun.”

“Your disguise is convincing,” Luo Binghe says slowly. Shen Jiu struggles away from him but is held in place by that firm hand. The other caresses his cheek with a thumb. “I thought perhaps you’d stuffed something into your robes… I never knew Shizun was a-”

“I am not a woman,” Shen Jiu hisses, pushing at Luo Binghe’s chest uselessly. “Now let me go!”

“More importantly, what did you do to get your limbs and your tongue back? I’m impressed,” Luo Binghe laughs, running his fingertips along each of Shen Jiu’s fighting arms and then along his thigh.

Shen Jiu lets out a huff of offense at the wandering fingers. “You are disgusting with women. I’m shocked that you have so many wives if that is your idea of flirting. Vile.”

Luo Binghe laughs, squeezing Shen Jiu’s waist before picking him up, securing him with one arm around his back and the other around his backside. Shen Jiu kicks and punches but Luo Binghe doesn’t release him, seemingly completely unaffected. Luo Binghe throws Shen Jiu back onto his throne before towering over him, boxing him in completely.

Shen Jiu stares up at Luo Binghe, trying to work him out, to figure out what he’s trying to do. Is he boxing him in to tear off his limbs all over again? Is that his punishment, to go back to his jar and fill it up with blood, never quite able to die? Luo Binghe really is sick in the head.

But no, it seems that his fate is going to be something quite different. Luo Binghe takes the rim of Shen Jiu’s robes and tears them off all at once, exposing Shen Jiu to the air. Shen Jiu yelps and goes to cover himself, though Luo Binghe by now has already seen him naked. But he thought that he’d only have to show him his body once! This wasn’t meant to happen!

Luo Binghe’s eyes drink in all of Shen Jiu and he leans forward, his clothed chest pressing to Shen Jiu’s bare one, and he sinks his teeth deep into the smaller man’s shoulder.

Chapter Text

Shen Jiu cries out in agony, trying not to writhe, not wanting the bite to start to tear, but his eyes wetten with pain and he pushes against Luo Binghe, his breaths harsh. Luo Binghe doesn’t seem to care, biting harder. Shen Jiu is sure that any harder and a whole chunk will come out of his shoulder, but finally Luo Binghe lets go, repeating the bite a little further down. He makes a trail of bites down to Shen Jiu’s nipple which he takes suddenly in his mouth.

Shen Jiu’s eyes widen and he stares at Luo Binghe with a complete and utter loss for words. He doesn’t even move to try push Luo Binghe away at first, too shocked to do anything at all. When he finally comes to his senses he starts to kick but swiftly two hands come to hold his legs in place, leaving him only his arms, which are much weaker than Luo Binghe’s. He tugs at the beast’s hair. “Come on, don’t you want to tear me limb from limb? What is this?”

Luo Binghe simply hums his laughter, as if finding Shen Jiu’s words ridiculous as he moves on to the other side of his chest. He starts with the bites again, making Shen Jiu shriek, and then he sucks. Shen Jiu doesn’t know what to do, his chest aching and filling him with pleasure at the same time, and being so boxed in it’s impossible to fight his way out. He wonders if perhaps he should just accept his punishment – there’s no way that he’s getting out of it, after all.

But no, he would never allow it to be so simple. He’ll be damned if he just submits.

Luo Binghe releases one of Shen Jiu’s legs, his hand trailing up to press to Shen Jiu’s lips. The clawed nails press into the plush flesh there, inclining Shen Jiu to open them, to which they slide inside, the flats of his fingers rolling over his tongue. Shen Jiu bites down but Luo Binghe doesn’t relent, instead shoving the digits down his throat, making him choke and splutter and allowing Luo Binghe the freedom to do as he wishes for a few moments before he retracts his fingers again.

With them wet, Luo Binghe’s hand travels back down Shen Jiu’s body, skimming over the sensitive spot between his legs and instead slipping straight inside. Shen Jiu can’t help the way he gasps, his body going stiff as he tries to process exactly what just happened. He hadn’t expected the damn beast to go straight to that! Shen Jiu doesn’t writhe, figuring that it’ll only jostle those fingers further, instead enduring the almost tender flex of them inside, brushing up against a sensitive spot that makes him bite his tongue, forcing himself to remain as silent as he can.

Luo Binghe’s lips lift from his chest to nibble at his lower lip and Shen Jiu hisses, pulling his head away, but the beast only follows. Shen Jiu laughs sardonically, “Chasing my lips for a kiss? How pathetic are you? Are your wives not enough for you?”

“Loosen up, Shizun,” Luo Binghe says all too gently as his lips press to Shen Jiu’s. Shen Jiu is unmoving, neither moving away from nor allowing the kiss, only parting his lips when Luo Binghe bites them to gasp. The intruding tongue in his mouth roams around, tangling forcefully with his own.

Shen Jiu bites down on the tongue inside of his mouth desperately, hating every moment of the intrusion. Luo Binghe retreats, but instead of simply taking it he spits on Shen Jiu’s face.

Shen Jiu’s eyes widen in rage as he reaches up to wipe the spit off his face, feeling as it slides along his cheek, going red with anger. “You fucking beast. How dare you. How fucking dare you!”

“Shizun should know better than to bite,” Luo Binghe warns, his voice light-hearted and playful, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world as he thrusts his fingers inside of Shen Jiu.

Shen Jiu twists his head, closing his eyes and enduring the sensations inside of him, sure that it will come to an end once the beast has had his fun with that. It’s probably some sick form of humiliation, an attempt to make Shen Jiu embarrassed. But he refuses to allow it to get to him, staring up at Luo Binghe with defiance and a twinge of confidence, as if challenging.

All the while Shen Jiu can’t help but wonder if Luo Binghe is truly grasping that he is, in fact, not a woman. He grimaces, watching Luo Binghe watch him, and sneers out a reminder, “Are you stupid, beast? You understand that I’m a man?”

“I understand very well,” Luo Binghe breathes, “it’s just that Shizun seems to like this. I hear the little breaths you take – they don’t sound pained.”

Shen Jiu goes flush, trying to restrain his breaths from that moment forward. “You’re disgusting.”

“Does that not say enough about you, that you’re allowing me to do this to you?” Luo Binghe asks with a smug grin, leaning in close, nipping at Shen Jiu’s ear, sending electricity through his entire body.

“Shut up,” Shen Jiu scolds, tipping his head back and gripping Luo Binghe’s hair tightly, pulling and tugging aimlessly, knowing that nothing he does will set him free. “Just be quiet.”

“I don’t take commands from you anymore,” Luo Binghe whispers into his ear as he curls his fingers agonisingly well. Then, slowly, he slides them back out, and begins to undress himself.

Shen Jiu watches as he pulls back and scrambles to sit up, but swiftly a hand comes to push him back down. He huffs, his head banging against the back of the throne with a thud, spreading an ache through it. Careless mutt.

Luo Binghe grabs Shen Jiu by the waist when he’s done undressing, his toned body pressing to Shen Jiu’s as he lifts him up. Luo Binghe takes a seat, placing Shen Jiu down atop him. It’s immediately apparent that this is quite a freeing position, at least if not for the hand gripping his hip, holding him firmly in place. Shen Jiu’s entire body is on display to Luo Binghe when he sits up straight, and he doesn’t dare to disgrace his posture by slouching as he glares down at the beast beneath him. Luo Binghe smiles up coyly, lifting one of the wet fingers on his other hand to his lips and licking a stripe along it. Shen Jiu glowers, not commenting on it – he’s sure that Luo Binghe would only have something vile to say in response and he doesn’t want to indulge him.

Luo Binghe’s eyes savour him for a while, simply looking at him and the way his dark hair cascades over his shoulders. Shen Jiu knows he’s attractive, with his slim figure and protruding collarbones and slender legs, though he isn’t the finest in all the lands. But to Luo Binghe, he thinks that perhaps he’s both the scum of the earth and the most fantastic thing he’s ever seen. He’s tempted to preen like a peacock under Luo Binghe’s gaze but he doesn’t want to show any sort of interest, instead glaring down at the beast, watching him critically.

Finally Luo Binghe lifts Shen Jiu up a little and with his spare hand reaches under them. Shen Jiu bites his lip when the blunt head of Luo Binghe’s dick presses against the wetness between his legs. He’s sure that the wetness isn’t enough to lubricate that damn thing, though – he’ll need more than that or else the stupid beast is going to tear him apart. He looks over his shoulder, checking that nobody else is around, before he presses his palms against Luo Binghe’s chest, murmuring, “Don’t tell me you’re so much of an idiot that you think you’re going to fit just like that.”

“Is Shizun asking for something?” Luo Binghe grins, pushing his face into Shen Jiu’s, too close for comfort.

“Lubricate it,” Shen Jiu commands, “gratuitously.”

“I don’t take commands from you,” Luo Binghe echoes the words he’d said earlier, his eyes shimmering with cruelty. “Unless Shizun says please, this will just have to do.”

Luo Binghe pushes Shen Jiu back down again, pressing him back against what is essentially a third leg. Shen Jiu hisses, clinging to Luo Binghe’s shoulders, using his legs to keep himself elevated. “Do you have no care for comfort? Do you treat your wives like this, too?”

Luo Binghe only laughs, pushing Shen Jiu harder. He scratches at Luo Binghe’s chest, the intrusion too rough, biting his lip until it bleeds into his mouth. He won’t give Luo Binghe the satisfaction of hearing him beg, he would rather die an agonising death a hundred times over. But he can’t deny the discomfort and stinging pain inside of himself. It’s a wonder that Luo Binghe makes this thing work at all with the size of it. His wives must be the most endurant people in the world to cope with it.

When finally the whole thing is inside Luo Binghe rests there for just a moment before making a single sharp thrust that feels almost like a warning, the roughness of it burning Shen Jiu’s walls. He groans, hanging his head and squeezing his eyes shut, weighing out his options. It’s not like he’s never felt pain before, even there, but he’s not sure if he wants to put himself through it – bleeding there doesn’t sound all that appealing. He endures a few more thrusts before he buries his face in Luo Binghe’s neck, whispering, “Please.”

“What’s that? I can’t hear you,” Luo Binghe grabs Shen Jiu’s hair, pulling his head back with a smug grin.

“I will not say it again,” Shen Jiu hisses. “You only said to say please, not to say it multiple times.”

“Fine,” Luo Binghe sighs, pulling Shen Jiu up and reaching down to take that length underneath him again. Shen Jiu watches as he strokes himself a few times leisurely, an entirely new slick appearing upon him. Shen Jiu can’t help but feel a twinge of disgust at his demonic powers at play, but he says nothing, knowing that there’s nothing he can do but make things worse for himself and, for once, refraining.

When Luo Binghe slides back inside his length glides so much easier than it did before and Shen Jiu can feel the wetness inside and outside, concerned that the beast has gone overboard – the last thing he wants is for things to be dripping everywhere, spreading evidence all over the throne and Luo Binghe. Shen Jiu grips Luo Binghe’s arms when he begins to thrust, slowly at first, not wanting to end up getting jostled too far and falling backwards.

It’s easy at first with this slow pace to hold back any noises threatening to spill from his lips, even with the torturous stretch of his insides around that filling appendage. He simply hangs on, enduring the sensations, stoic. Luo Binghe is quiet too apart from slightly noisy but soft breaths, his lips threatening to come an inch too close to Shen Jiu’s shoulder. He leans back carefully, all too conscious of them, not keen on getting bitten again after the last ones.

Luo Binghe’s pace increases gradually until Shen Jiu begins to bounce with each thrust, no choice but to rise and fall onto Luo Binghe’s dick. Shen Jiu can’t help but pant, throwing his head back, digging his nails into the beast’s shoulders. Pleasure ripples through his body, hot and heavy between his legs, trembling moans starting to tear themselves from his throat. He knows Luo Binghe is watching him intently, savouring his pleasured expression, delighting in what he’s done to Shen Jiu, and anger simmers beneath his surface.

Luo Binghe begins, “Shizun, you look-”

Before the words can finish coming out of his mouth a slap rings out throughout the room, loud and sharp. Luo Binghe’s hips stutter and his eyes widen in shock as he lifts a hand to touch where he’s just been slapped by Shen Jiu, who snaps, “Is it not enough to defile me? You have to comment and rub it in my face, too?”

Luo Binghe lifts Shen Jiu up by the backs of his legs, flipping them around once again to that Shen Jiu is laying in the throne. Like that Luo Binghe repositions himself before starting to fuck into Shen Jiu at a punishing pace, moaning loudly and grabbing at his hips. Shen Jiu clutches the arms of the chair, gasping and crying out, until suddenly he realises exactly what just happened. He lifts his hand again, striking Luo Binghe across the face, his ears keenly picking up the way the bigger man’s breath hitches in his throat and his eyes flutter shut, his mouth falling open and his grip on Shen Jiu’s hips tightening.

“You like it, don’t you, beast?” Shen Jiu breathes, grabbing Luo Binghe’s chin, forcing him to look at him. Luo Binghe doesn’t react, his eyes glazed over with a look that Shen Jiu has never seen before. That’s all it takes for him to be out of it? A slap? “You truly are pathetic.”

Luo Binghe seems to come back to himself, wrenching free of the grip on his chin and surging forward to bite Shen Jiu’s neck, his teeth clamping down hard. Shen Jiu pulls at his hair desperately, afraid that the damn animal is going to rip his throat out, but it seems that he only wanted to shut him up, the teeth loosening just a few moments later. Shen Jiu feels Luo Binghe’s hips starting to lose their rhythm and, one last time, with all of his strength, slaps the man in the face.

Luo Binghe’s moans crescendo all at once as he tips his head back, pressing as close as he can to Shen Jiu, wrapping an arm around his back and pulling their bodies tight together. Shen Jiu claws at Luo Binghe everywhere he can: his arms, his shoulders, his back. He doesn’t know what he’s aiming to achieve but it does nothing at all as he feels Luo Binghe twitch inside of him as a hot stream of cum starts to fill him deep inside. Shen Jiu huffs, contemplating biting Luo Binghe back but thinking that it’d only prolong his suffering, and so he lays there like a ragdoll while he’s held there.

When Luo Binghe finally lowers him back down onto the throne he thinks that they’re going to be done with it, that he might finally be rid of his limbs again and forced back into his pickle jar, but instead Luo Binghe lowers himself down until his head rests between Shen Jiu’s legs. He knows what’s coming before the tongue swipes against his dick and immediately he shudders, conflicted. On one hand, he’s surely owed pleasure after the beast just used him as a cock sleeve, but on the other, should he permit the animal to lay his tongue upon him? Shen Jiu frowns, squeezing his legs tightly together, suffocating Luo Binghe between them. But all the while the man continues to loyally lick and suck until he has to pry Shen Jiu’s legs back open to breathe.

Shen Jiu’s stomach twists when he looks down between his legs to see the look on Luo Binghe’s face, his cheeks flushed slightly red and his eyes half-lidded, his hair a mess over his face. He looks… handsome. Beastly, but handsome. Shen Jiu closes his eyes, tilting his hand towards himself as if to hide his face with a fan, instead obscuring his lips with his fingers. Luo Binghe’s tongue is expert as it licks stripes along his folds, circling around his entrance, and Shen Jiu feels a little sick remembering that there’s probably cum dripping out of him, that the complete animal is tasting himself there mixed in with Shen Jiu.

Still, he can’t deny that Luo Binghe is good at what he’s doing. He comforts himself with the notion that this is owed to him, that Luo Binghe is attempting to repay a debt that he can never fully compensate for, but he does delight in squeezing the life out of him every now and then, at least until he looks down and sees that Luo Binghe reddens each time, as if enjoying it. Shen Jiu finds it disgusting to watch so he keeps his eyes averted, watching the hallways in anticipation. It’s a wonder that they’ve been left alone for this long in the first place.

Shen Jiu endures until finally Luo Binghe’s talented tongue works him up enough to spill, his legs clenching tight around the beast’s head and squeezing as waves of pleasure flow through him. Shen Jiu clings to Luo Binghe’s hair, pulling, especially when the feeling starts to get overwhelming. Luo Binghe tortures him for a while, forcing him to lie there through the torturous stroking of his tongue, until finally he’s had his fun and he towers over Shen Jiu, picking him up.

“Unhand me, you beast,” Shen Jiu beats at his back to no avail, grimacing and going slack once he realises he can’t do anything to get away. But then suddenly he’s placed on his feet and he almost topples, forced to cling to Luo Binghe for support.

“Ah, looks like Shizun needs me after all,” Luo Binghe laughs, wrapping a stupid arm around Shen Jiu’s back as he manoeuvrers him back around to their clothes. “I think he should keep wearing these sorts of clothes. Perhaps this one will spare his limbs if he makes them pretty to look at.”

Shen Jiu says nothing as he’s helped back into them. He can do nothing but wonder what entirely new grave he’s just dug himself, and where exactly it’s all going to go.