@munyusz: BingJiu AU where soulmates can...

BingJiu AU where soulmates can hear each other’s thoughts 💭💕

When Xiao Jiu first heard about the legend, he spent days staring at Qi-ge, alternating between trying to read his thoughts and projecting his own at him. It didn’t work. Xiao Jiu sulked for weeks:

If not Qi-ge, then who else could be his soulmate?
Once a bit older he changed tactics: he would occasionally yell out in his thoughts “I’m here! Come pick me up!” hoping that one of the passersby would be his soulmate and take him away—along with Qi-ge, of course.

That didn’t work either.
After the Qius, after WYZ, after Qi-ge’s broken promise he gave up on ever finding his soulmate. A rotten gutter rat like him most likely didn’t have one anyway. And if he did? As soon as the poor fool heard his thoughts, they would turn tail and run,

never to be seen again. It would be for the better if they never crossed paths—SJ was used to loneliness by now.

*

When LBH goes to try his luck at the disciple selection of CQM, he’s been searching for his soulmate for seven years—more than half of his life.

He can't wait to find the special person the Heavens made just for him, someone who knew him and accepted him completely, someone who would never leave him behind.

As LBH climbs the steps of Qing Jing Peak he realizes he can hear SQQ’s voice even though his lips aren’t moving!

Could this be it? Is Binghe finally hearing his soulmate? But his Shizun's thoughts are all bad… he does not seem to think much of Binghe… has he not realized that LBH can hear him? When SQQ asks him why he came here, LBH gives his prepared speech about his departed mama.

That only gets him drenched in tea—along with a barrage of awful thoughts.
In the next few days LBH slowly comes to the awful, terrible conclusion that his Shizun cannot hear him at all, no matter how much he projects his thoughts at him. Is their connection somehow broken? 💔

Still, Binghe won’t give up! Maybe Shizun is just too cynical and lost his hearing ability! LBH just needs to make him believe in soulmates again!
First, he needs to get Shizun to at least like him. So LBH listens to SQQ’s thoughts carefully and adjusts his actions accordingly.

For one he learns that playing nice won’t endear him to SQQ. If he allows the other disciples to bully him his soulmate will just think of him as a doormat. So LBH starts fighting back. Dirty. He kicks, bites, pulls hair. Aloud SQQ berates him for behaving like a rabid dog,

but internally he is pleased by LBH finally showing initiative. Soon LBH fights his way into a room in the dormitories and kicks back the chores unfairly piled upon him at their rightful owners. He is still not liked by his peers, but he is at least respected.

From his Shizun thoughts he finds out that most of the rumors about him are untrue, and his martial siblings badmouth him unfairly.
So LBH appoints himself SQQ’s unofficial shittalk-buster. While he cannot touch the Peak Lords, their disciples are fair game:

whenever he catches a whiff of an untrue rumor, he goes to beat ass.

Then the demon invasion happens. It’s a hazy and painful memory in his mind, but LBH does clearly recall Shizun being worried for him. It warms his heart. What fill him with dread is the arrival of Meng Mo.

LBH finds out not only that he is part-demon, MM also confirms his deepest fear: that the reason Shizun cannot hear his thoughts is because LBH is not his soulmate. Their connection is one-way; it’s rare, but it happens. LBH cries himself to sleep many nights mourning this loss.

Still, it’s for the best. Shizun would be devastated if his soulmate turned out to be a demon. He certainly deserves better than that.
But even if they are not mutually fated, a hopeful part of Binghe thinks, there can still be love between them, right? He will make it so.

As the years pass, slowly but surely LBH worms his way into SQQ’s graces. Shizun now has as many nice thoughts about him as unkind ones! Maybe even more! LBH is glowing with joy. The only problem is, that SQQ keeps assuming that he has intentions towards NYY.

After weeks of deliberation Binghe works up the courage to address the issue.
“Shizun, I need advice about Ning-shijie.”
SQQ's thoughts churn with dismay.
LBH goes on, “I think she might have feelings for this disciple.”
“You dare to presume??” SQQ snaps.

LBH gulps. “Yes, but this disciple is not interested in return.”
SQQ's mind fills with images of LBH begging for mercy as he is whipped to death.
“Is she not good enough for you?” he asks acidly.
“She is wonderful!” LBH reassures. “It’s just... she is not my soulmate.”

SQQ scowls. “What a naïve, romantic notion. The chances of you finding—"
“I already found him.”
LBH nearly stumbles as he is hit with an explosion of jealous fury. SQQ’s face remains impassive, but in his thoughts he rages at LBH for being naturally talented,

for having a mother’s love despite being an abandoned orphan, for having the chance to cultivate in his prime. And now, to add insult to injury, the thrice-blessed whelp also found his soulmate! But of course, the little beast already had everything SQQ was never offered,

so why wouldn’t he have a soulmate too? Unlike him, who is destined to rot into old age all alone.

Binghe struggles to keep a straight face and has to blink back his tears. He wants to grab Shizun by his shoulders and shake him, tell him that his soulmate is right here,

that he will never be alone again, that Binghe will stay with him forever!
But he is too afraid.
“How lucky for you,” SQQ bites out. “And why haven’t I seen you two frolicking around and scattering dogfood?”
LBH takes a deep breath. “Because he doesn’t know.”

SQQ gives him a disbelieving look. “How? Is your head so empty he can’t read anything in there?”
“Because…” LBH hesitates, “I’m not the soulmate of my soulmate.”
He expects SQQ to laugh and mock him in his thoughts: finally the beast is getting a taste of well-deserved misery!

But he hears nothing. Silence stretches between them.
In the end all SQQ offers is a quiet, almost timid “The fates are cruel in the most unexpected ways.”
LBH takes it as the clumsy consolation it’s intended as, and changes the subject to something brighter:

“Shizun, you haven't helped me with my original question yet: how do I nicely tell Ning-shijie that I'm already in love with a man?”
"What am I, a love counselor?" SQQ flusters. "Figure it out on your own! Now shoo!"
LBH leaves, his heart lighter, filled with hope again.

*
After their talk SQQ keeps an eye out for the little beast’s soulmate, but he cannot determine who it could be. LBH acts like always, playing around with NYY (with SQQ’s approval, now that he knows the boy is a cut sleeve),

gamely tormenting his shixiongs (mainly MF, the beast can hold a mean grudge) and randomly showing up at SQQ’s house with a plate of homemade sweets (SQQ suspects NYY of tattling about his sweet tooth). There are no signs of pining looks or soulful gazes at anyone on their peak.

Could it be someone outside QJP, or even their sect? But the boy barely ever leaves…
SQQ sighs. If he was in the beast’s shoes, he would keep his distance as well. He imagines finding his soulmate only to find out they don’t need him at all.

That the missing piece of his soul is complete on its own and doesn’t miss him in return. Such a profound, absolute rejection… SQQ is not sure if he would have the strength to go on. He would certainly not abide such a soulmate’s presence beside himself—

Heavens, he can barely abide Qi-ge’s and his betrayal wasn’t anywhere on the same level. No, in hindsight it makes perfect sense that LBH doesn’t seek out his not-quite soulmate: such disappointments are better left behind and forgotten.

SQQ’s dark musings are interrupted by the clicking of plates.
“Shizun looked so gloomy sitting here all by himself, this disciple decided to bring over some snacks,” LBH announces.
SQQ gives him a disapproving look.

The boy’s been taking way too many liberties with him as of late; a good whipping would cure him of this ailment.
Instead, SQQ silently reaches for the still steaming red bean buns—no use in letting good food go to waste. He determinedly ignores the beast’s answering smug grin.
*

The Immortal Alliance Conference is sabotaged. SQQ enters the arena along the other masters to rescue their trapped disciples. As he fights his way through demonic beasts and ushers survivors towards safety, he internally keeps tabs on his own disciples.

After a shichen or so all QJP participants are safely bundled outside except, of course, Luo Binghe. Always a problem child, that one.
SQQ puts MF in charge of his traumatized martial siblings and flies back into the arena. Where could that foolish beast be straggling behind?

Flying over the gaping wound of the Endless Abyss bisecting the gorge with visceral cruelty, he nearly stumbles off his sword and into the chasm as he's struck by a piercing headache. He catches his balance and steers Xiu Ya towards the ground.
The headache sounds like screaming

“What kind of curse is this??” he grouses internally.
The screaming abruptly stops.
“Shizun?” SQQ hears. The voice is coming from inside his own head.
He whirls around and spots a dark silhouette on the other side of the chasm. He almost doesn’t recognize the little beast.

LBH’s eyes are blazing with unholy fire, the same shade of crimson as the demonic mark upon his forehead.
SQQ’s temples pulse with a headache he now recognizes as not his own, but belonging to his… he swallows, and cannot finish the thought.

“Shizun, Shizun, Shizun” LBH teeters towards the edge of the abyss.
“That fool is going to fall!” SQQ thinks and the boy halts immediately.
Their eyes meet over the endless chasm separating them.
“How symbolic,” SQQ thinks with wry amusement, overwhelmed by the implications.

The fire in LBH’s eyes go out, but the demonic mark remains.
“Shizun can’t see me like this!” SQQ hears the panicked thought. “He will hate me! He will hate me and then I will die!”
“So dramatic,” SQQ scoffs.
Silence.
Then a fragile whisper, more a wish than a thought:

“Shizun can hear me? Shizun replied, he never—you never did before! Why now? Why when I—the seal. It was the seal all along!” LBH’s chaotic thoughts spiral into uncontrollable laughter: crazed, desperate, relieved. “Shizun is mine too! I’m not alone, I’m not broken! My Shizun..."

SQQ should deny these words, should refuse the boy’s claim. He should demand an explanation for LBH’s blatant betrayal of their sect. He should shout, yell and scream at the wolf in sheep’s clothing hiding on his peak. At the injustice of a demon being his chosen pair.

He should, he should, he should.
But all he can choke out through the tightness in his throat is:
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
The admission tears itself out from the deepest recesses of his soul and sounds too much like the pathetic child that foolishly believed in fairy tales.

He wants to say more, he wants to say *so much more*, but they are out of time. He can feel a group of powerful cultivators heading their way.
SQQ takes a ragged breath and unhooks Xiu Ya from his belt.
“Shizun?” the boy asks, dazed with pain and exhilaration.

The phrase “I’m here, I’m here, Shizun, I've been always right here,” repeats on an endless, joyous loop in his head.
Shen Qingqiu swallows, and with a precise throw, tosses his sword to Luo Binghe.

“I will wait for you again!” he shouts his promise across the abyss between them.
Luo Binghe hesitates, his grip on Xiu Ya trembling with suppressed emotion. He nods, understanding.

Five minutes after finding him, Shen Qingqiu watches his soulmate plunge himself into hell.
*

Once back on Qing Jing Peak, Shen Qingqiu has many things to ponder. He can’t believe his soulmate is… Where does he even start? That it’s his disciple? That it’s a heavenly demon? That Luo Binghe's been secretly by his side for *years*?

SQQ’s insides tremble with mortification when he realizes LBH has been privy to his private thoughts the whole time. What kind of awful, horrible things did the boy overhear? Did he find out that the lofty QJ Peak Lord began as a lowly slave? Was he ashamed of such a soulmate?

Did he despise SQQ, and that’s why he never said anything??

“I’m not the soulmate of my soulmate,” LBH once told him, looking infinitely sad. Resigned.

SQQ pushes down his insecurities. No, the reason LBH kept his silence was because he believed their bond to be one-sided.

If he was smart, he would have left too. But not only did LBH remain by SQQ’s side, he sought him out: small conversations, helping with paperwork, offering snacks. The boy had wanted his soulmate, wanted *him*, even when he thought he had no chance of being wanted in return.

Such blind devotion… SQQ feels flustered just thinking about it. Then gets self-conscious over being flustered. Gah! The little beast is not even here, yet he still manages to make a mess of him! Once the boy returns, SQQ will clobber his stubborn head with a fan.

Because Luo Binghe *will* return… right?

SQQ tries not to think too hard about the fact that though he promised to wait for LBH, the boy never actually made a promise back to come back for him.

It’s fine, Shen Qingqiu thinks. Promises never worked out for him anyway.

*

A month after the anniversary of the botched Immortal Alliance Conference, Shen Qingqiu comes home from his classes to a small wooden box lying on the table.
Approaching carefully, he cannot detect any obvious tampering.
He opens it.
There is tanghulu inside.

SQQ scoffs—but it’s fond: his disciples have been subtly trying to cheer him up for the past year. He is not sure where he went wrong with his aloof mask that they can tell he is down, but… free sweets are free sweets!

He takes a bite, humming in delight. It’s much better than the ones he usually purchases in town. He makes a mental note to interrogate his disciples about their supplier.
A bit of sugar flakes off the treat and falls to the ground.

SQQ clicks his tongue in annoyance and bends down to get it before it melts onto the floor.
“I want to bite those peaches~” The voice, dreamy and longing, comes out of nowhere.
Alarmed, SQQ spins around, brandishing his half-eaten tanghulu as a weapon.

He smacks the disciple standing behind him right in the face.
“Shizun!” the disciple whines, clutching his nose. The corners of his eyes curl up in mirth.
SQQ bristles with indignation.

“What is the meaning of this! Sneaking up on your master like some… some…” he trails off as he takes in the young man standing in front of him. “Binghe…?”
The disciple moves his hand away, revealing a tentative smile. “Shizun, I’m back.”

SQQ stares, disbelieving. He pokes LBH in the shoulder with the tanghulu stick.
“He is real,” SQQ thinks, blinking in shock.
“I am real,” LBH assures, stepping closer. “I missed you, Shizun. I missed you so much.”

SQQ listens to the words, entranced by the sight of LBH’s unmoving lips. He is not speaking. He really *is* hearing his thoughts.
SQQ’s eyes shift up and he notices the smear of sugar his tanghulu-attack left on the tip of LBH’s nose.

“I could lick it off,” the unbidden thought passes through SQQ’s mind. He blushes a bright cherry red when LBH leans closer with a grin—he can hear him!! He can hear everything!!
“Don’t worry Shizun, this disciple doesn’t mind!”
“But I do!” SQQ snaps aloud.

“Don’t think anything weird, don’t think anything weird,” he repeats in his mind. SQQ had a whole year to prepare, how did the beast catch him off guard so easily!
“Shizun is so cute~” croons Luo Binghe’s voice in his head.

SQQ wants to expire on the spot. He found his soulmate, he had his taste of happiness, he might as well let his heart give out from sheer embarrassment.
LBH reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind SQQ’s flushed ear.

“And Shizun called *me* dramatic. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Binghe already knows his soulmate well.”
Of course. LBH had years to spy on SQQ’s thoughts. He most likely already heard the worst of what SQQ has to offer. And still came back.

SQQ takes a calming breath.
It’s fine.
It’s fine.
“All is fine,” LBH agrees. More than his words, it's the look in his eyes that convince SQQ to believe him.
Blindly grasping for a change in topics, SQQ holds up the candied fruit still in his hand: “You said you wanted some?”

LBH tilts his head in confusion.
“Something about biting peaches?” SQQ reminds him. He looks down at the stick with a frown. “But there is only hawthorn.”
LBH clears his throat, eyes shifting to the side. Aloud he says, “Never mind then.” But his thoughts betray him:

“I want to eat Shizun! I want to kiss him all over and gobble him up!”
SQQ stares at him, lost for words.
LBH bites his lower lip with an embarrassed grin. “Ah, you heard that.”
SQQ raises the tanghulu. And makes a decisive strike.

(This is kinda off topic, but also relevant I swear:)

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