prompt post | liuzhu requested by @hyperfixpixistix
The first time he saw it, it had been in the middle of the day after a fierce battle with a beast. Liu Qingge was bleeding. There was a sensation of being drained. He felt like a barrel that cracked. Except he couldn't find where the leak was.
Pollen rose in the air like a mist, coating him and burning the inside of his lungs. He vaguely wondered if it was an aphrodisiac. He knew he should wash it off. His throat was getting dry. The edges of his vision darkened.
Shen Qingqiu would know what was going on. He clutched at his side, at a fan tucked away and out of sight. One that he should have returned earlier - one that he had not.
"Shen Qingqiu..." he muttered.
That's when he heard it. A stirring in the leaves. He immediately had Cheng Luan in hand, eyes narrowed in the direction of moment. His body felt weak. He was so weak. He knew he should leap onto his blade and rush back to Cang Qiong Mountain. The very idea of such a trip left his knees quivering.
The entity darted out from the underbrush. It was an ugly thing - something snake. Liu Qingge moved on instinct. With a roar, he charged after it. He stumbled through thick foliage, hacking away stubborn vines, determined to-
To what?
The thing was running from him. He stumbled to a stop, collapsing against a tree and panted. His sweaty forehead rested against the bark and he tried swallowing again. His throat was so dry. His body ached.
That's when he realized something was watching him. He cracked his eyes open. The ugly thing stared at him.
Shen Qingqiu... would probably like to see it, wouldn't he? Liu Qingge didn't realize he was murmuring that name again and again like a plea or a mantra. "Shen Qingqiu..."
He stumbled after the creature again, Cheng Luan dragging against the dirt. He chased after the snake-like monstrosity.
Right into a river.
Liu Qingge broke the surface with a surprised gasp, his head clearing. The draining sensation stalled. As he waded the water, he saw the snake-thing watching him. It flicked its tongue almost judgmentally before disappearing into the undergrowth.
---
The next time he saw him, the sky was the burning amber of dusk. Liu Qingge flew back to Cang Qiong Mountain after another humiliating defeat. Grief clogged his throat and made each breathe feel like swallowing needles.
There was a sword beneath his feet, and then there was just air. He didn't realize he had passed out until after he woke up to the burning sky, pain echoing through every single joint in his body. Pain cracked across his skull.
"What did he do for you?"
The voice came from the shadows. Liu Qingge was too exhausted to flinch. His mind was so wrapped up in the grief of losing a close friend that he didn't even question who the voice was referring to. Closing his eyes against the burning light, he choked out, "...saved my life."
He had done so much more than that since then. He had given Liu Qingge smiles. Given him tea and treats. Conversation and...
He had given him friendship.
Saving his life - it was everything but at the same time it didn't seem like enough. And Liu QIngge couldn't even give him the courtesy of a proper burial.
"I want to save him, too," the voice said with soft yearning and understanding.
It was quiet enough that Liu Qingge thought that the strange voice had disappeared with its owner.
Then something metallic passed through his lips. His eyes snapped open and he saw snake-like eyes staring down at him, determined and cold.
His heart stopped - not from fear.
He had... never seen someone like this before. He had never cared about beauty; not really. In their youths, Shen Qingqiu had proven that beauty could be ugly. But...
"You will have to try harder," the voice said.
I will, Liu Qingge wanted to answer. Then there was a strange squirming sensation through his body. He shouted through his teeth, surprised and appalled.
Then he passed out.
---
The third time they meet, the world is about to end. Everyone else is focused on the heavenly demons surrounded by a demonic sword, and conversation is roaring. But all of Liu Qingge's attention is on the snake demon, who won't stop watching him.
His hand is in Cheng Luan. His mind should be on the battle at hand - the impending doom of the entire cultivation world, but all he can do is stare at the man across from him.
A man who somehow knitted him back together. A man who delivered him to the base of Cang Qiong Mountain. A man who understood his grief of losing a friend.
You will have to try harder.
He had. Every battle after that was... easier. His wounds healed quicker. Until he was finally able to take Shen Qingqiu's body back.
It was something that the snake demon did to him. Even know, he felt the phantom squirm of something underneath his skin. He should be afraid and wary.
Instead he was lured in.
"You didn't come for him," the snake demon said. His voice didn't cut across the din, and no one seemed to notice him speaking. He almost seemed like he was... pouting.
Liu Qingge furrowed his brow.
"I took him." Unsaid, you never tried to get him back.
The day Shen Qingqiu's body had disappeared - again. Liu Qingge narrowed his eyes.
The demon was... upset?
"You didn't tell me," Liu QIngge answered, angrily. How was he supposed to figure out where Shen Qingqiu had gone? How was he supposed to know that the demon had wanted him to follow!? For what reason!? To-
To fight?
Like he had fought Luo Binghe day in and day out?
His palms itched.
When there was an explosion of energy and everything was crashing down, Liu Qingge rushed forward.
Everyone might have expected him to use the moment to cut and break.
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