Chapter Text
As the God of both scholar and strategy, many prayed for his blessings in the mortal realm, yet many also looked at him in disdain. He was a fickle god known for his whorish ways and pettiness, a villain in the eyes of his fellow gods and goddesses. His infamous reputation was most certainly the hot topic of the god realm.
It all started when Shen Qingqiu split from Yue Qingyuan and became his other half. The other half took the form of all that once made Yue Qingyuan a flawed god, the God of the sea. Yet, it appears that perhaps it had taken far too much for Shen Qingqiu was always deemed as a stubborn and arrogant god even as it was his right, for he represented wisdom and war.
If Yue Qingyuan were to be represented as the warm, welcoming sun, then Shen Qingqiu was the cold and distant moon.
He was too stern, they said. Too stern and cruel in his ways.
The rumors of him going down the mortal realm to punish a moral craftswoman and turning her into a spider were one of the stories that intensified his infamous reputation among the gods.
Nearly everyone knows the story by now. A mortal woman named Arachne had become so arrogant in her weaving skills that she challenged Shen Qingqiu to a contest to see who was the better weaver. Shen Qingqiu had accepted the challenge and only wanted to teach the mortal not to be boastful of a gift given to her by Shen Qingqiu, as he was also the God of handicrafts.
The mortal woman was so cocky that she demanded that whoever lost never touch a loom ever again, and Shen Qingqiu agreed to those conditions.
The outcome was that Shen Qingqiu won. Arachne was devastated. She was never to weave on a loom ever again, something that she loved and cherished doing.
The lone figure of Arachne wept in the forest. What was she without her weaving?
Shen Qingqiu had seen the despair in the woman and couldn't help but feel pity for her. He has always been kinder towards women. Perhaps that was his failing. But he never regretted his decision that day.
With the permission of Arachne, Shen Qingqiu turns her into a spider so she may still weave her threads without breaking the promise never to touch a loom ever again.
But words become twisted when it gets passed on from person to person. The case befalls Shen Qingqiu, and there is nothing that he could do about it.
The unwelcomed looks and perception of him had affected his duties more times than not. His fellow gods and goddesses never heed his warnings and advice.
For they said, his so-called tactics were only used for trickery and scheming. An unhonorable method to use instead of the honorable way to charge forth into battle. They had favored the God of War, Liu Qingge, even when his battles caused many causalities.
If that was what they wanted, then Shen Qingqiu would not continue being the fool to keep pushing. Instead, Shen Qingqiu approached the problem differently. He consulted with Liu Qingge directly.
That seemed to be the correct decision.
The other war god was wary of Shen Qingqiu's advances at first. Shen Qingqiu himself may not have paid such rumors any mind, but it seems others have. It took time, but Liu Qingge had given his advice serious thought when his next battle came; Shen Qingqiu felt quite pleased when Liu Qingge came back later after a successful battle with much more positive news. They went from strangers to colleagues.
Then somehow to lovers.
Strange, really.
The only event that came to mind was when Shen Qingqiu had aided Liu Qingge in a large-scale battle in the mortal realm. Shen Qingqiu found it strange that Liu Qingge was taking longer than usual to finish his business. He was late for their tea time. Shen Qingqiu hasn't gone down into the mortal realm ever since the Arachne incident, for he deemed it was best for the tale to simmer down. Shen Qingqiu wasn't worried about Liu Qingge's wellbeing. He was just curious on why Liu Qingge was taking so long.
His answer came in the form of the Liu Qingge's panicked soldiers. Two giants have taken Liu Qingge hostage as one of the giants had stated, if they stole Liu Qingge, perhaps Liu Mingyan, his younger sister, the Goddess of the hunt, could be lured out. Thankfully the two giants hadn't gone far, and the soldiers could lead him to where the giants were. Shen Qingqiu was unsure why Liu Qingge hadn't gotten himself out of the two giants' clutches because he was usually pretty dependable in that department.
Shen Qingqiu carefully sneaked his way into the cave, where he heard the giants arguing amongst themselves. As he drew closer, a single object caught his eye. The object itself wasn't the thing that made Shen Qingqiu go berserk. No, it was the man that was held in it. An unconscious Liu Qingge was held within the confines of a jar, not just any jar. A jar that was specifically made to confine gods and weaken their powers.
For the first time, feral rage burns inside of Shen Qingqiu. How dare they do that to Liu Qingge? How dare they touch his friend?!
Just as the two giants took notice of his presence, Shen Qingqiu swiftly beheads both of them with his battle fan. Not a drop of blood on him.
He removes the still unconscious Liu Qingge from the jar (he made sure to smash the thing to pieces) and brings the man back to his dwelling. Rumors drift in the wind that Shen Qingqiu had intentionally injured the younger war god in a jealous rage, so he now pretended to "care" for the other war god.
Shen Qingqiu did not hear the rumor as he was busy tending to Liu Qingge.
It wasn't until late afternoon that Liu Qingge's eyes finally opened.
His eyes seemed to be still a bit unfocused as although Shen Qingqiu was sitting right beside him, Liu Qingge still called out Shen Qingqiu's name.
Shen Qingqiu freezes up when Liu Qingge calls him by a name he doesn't think anyone else would call him other than Yue Qingyuan.
"A-Jiu...A-Jiu....A-Jiu!"
Since when did Liu Qingge know his formal name? Only Yue Qingyuan knew that name. He doesn't remember ever disclosing such information to Liu Qingge nor anyone else before.
When Liu Qingge could finally focus, he abruptly grabs Shen Qingqiu and drags him into an embrace, scaring the shit out of Shen Qingqiu. Shen Qingqiu nearly pushed the other man away until he remembered that Liu Qingge was still injured and seemed to be in a state of shock.
In an awkward attempt, Shen Qingqiu pats Liu Qingge on the back. Trying in his way to comfort the man. Why is he so clingy all of a sudden?
With these problems at hand, Shen Qingqiu nearly didn't hear what Liu Qingge had uttered until Liu Qingge drew back. His eyes stared at Shen Qingqiu in disbelief as his hands shook.
"You're alive," Liu Qingge all but whispers, "This isn't a dream?" The other man reached out with shaking hands. Shen Qingqiu didn't move away when they gently caressed his flushed face.
Had some demon crawled into Liu Qingge's head when he was stuffed in the jar?
Exasperated, Shen Qingqiu smacked (tapped) on Liu Qingge's head with his battle fan. A small "ow" came from him, but Liu Qingge wasn't hurt.
"Enough," Shen Qingqiu sat there with his arms crossed, "this isn't a dream. Now tell me how in the world did the great God of War such as yourself get in the hands of some measly giants."
The fog that covered over Liu Qingge's eyes seemed to be gone for now. Liu Qingge's expression shifts, looking a little uncomfortable.
"They threatened to storm Cang Qiong Mountain and steal my sister..."
Ah, so they had wanted Liu Mingyan for themselves; he could envision why Liu Qingge would become livid. But Liu Qingge was still not done with his explanation.
"And you."
The words took Shen Qingqiu with brief surprise.
"Excuse me?"
Liu Qingge, thinking Shen Qingqiu didn't understand, further elaborated.
"They wanted to storm Cang Qiong Mountain and take you and my sister as their brides. So I charged at them, and well, they used an unhonorable means to trick me," Liu Qingge looked completely nonchalant when he retold the tale. He looked completely confident that he was in the right. Perhaps even hoping to receive praise from Shen Qingqiu.
Shen Qingqiu was having none of that.
"You stupid, fool. You foolish, dumb brute! You could've gotten yourself killed. Why in the fucking world would you charge at those two giants without backup?!"
Out of all the things Liu Qingge could've said as a response, he chose: "But we're gods Shen Qingqiu, we can't die---"
Yeah, Shen Qingqiu was not pleased with Liu Qingge's deduction skills.
"Are you back talking with me right now?! Not everyone will think like you, Liu Qingge. That will get you killed. There is no honor when it comes to war."
Liu Qingge stood his ground. In some ways, it made Shen Qingqiu both frustrated but also charmed.
"I had to protect your honor," the stubborn man said. He was quite serious about it.
"I can protect my own honor. And what of your sister's honor? Why hadn't you mentioned hers, huh?"
There he caught Liu Qingge. The brute had the nerve to look away from Shen Qingqiu's frown. A moment of pause, as the air around grew a bit tense, but it soon breaks when Liu Qingge abruptly turns back to Shen Qingqiu with an intense gaze.
"She has many others to protect her honor, but you do not. No one else will protect yours."
Instead of getting angry with Liu Qingge for such nerve, Shen Qingqiu only raised one delicate eyebrow. If it were anyone else, he would've torn them a new asshole. Liu Qingge was lucky that he liked him.
"Don't be foolish, Liu Qingge. I've never needed anyone to protect my honor before. Why does it matter that you would do so now? I could and have relied on myself just fine." It was true. Shen Qingqiu had borne every single slanderous rumor and all his peers' judging eyes. There was never a time when anyone stepped in to support him through his struggles. Not even Yue Qingyuan. The older man may have attempted to try and snuff out the rumors and scrutiny at first, but even he had given up because he realized that Shen Qingqiu was not worth the headache. That Shen Qingqiu must have done something for the rumors to be there in the first place.
"There are times when you can't even rely on yourself anymore. And I want to be there for you because...we're friends. That's what friends do."
A defeated sigh escapes Shen Qingqiu. "Do what you want."
That was the only permission Liu Qingge needed.
That was the end of that fateful day.
Many years have passed, and more rumors of Liu Qingge and Shen Qingqiu's "rivalry" spread. It had further intensified when news broke out that Liu Qingge sent the head of a gorgon to the front of Shen Qingqiu's palace. It bleeds on his white steps, leaving a bloody trail all the way down to the gates. He didn't mind that too much. Quite a fresh kill.
Then the next morning, the head of a slain beast bleeds outside the doors of Liu Qingge's palace.
To both him and Liu Qingge, it was the start of their courtship. The slain heads as their answer to courtship, as per the rule of the war gods. Only the best and worthy slain beasts were to be given to their love. To outsiders, this was, in fact, a declaration of war between the two gods. The heads symbolize what the other party would do to the other when given a chance.
On one breezy afternoon, Liu Qingge had naturally visited the other war god's palace. Now, it was their norm to be within each other's presence even when they were known to bicker. Liu Qingge didn't come empty-handed that evening. In his hands were dozens of delicate purple, white columbine flowers. Newly bloomed and will forever stay in such a way because Liu Qingge had them blessed to live forever. While pain throbbed in his heart at the sight of the flowers, he knew Shen Qingqiu would like them, for they represented Liu Qingge himself once upon a time. The light sweet scent clung onto his robes as he made his way towards Shen Qingqiu's favored pavilion.
As he got closer to see the elegant appearance of Shen Qingqiu in the distance, Liu Qingge suddenly stopped. The man he grew to love in this lifetime and also in another lifetime sat there intently, with steady fingers, embroidering on a silk cloth. The angle that Shen Qingqiu held the round hoop hid what he was sewing.
It must have been a secret gift to him because Liu Qingge has never seen Shen Qingqiu weave in front of him. There was that one time when Shen Qingqiu made him a new robe. He's worn it countless times. Everyone that saw it would ask which artisan-crafted it. And Liu Qingge's response would always be, his lover made it. Straight to the point and also honest.
At one point, Shen Qingqiu was with him when one of these incidents occurred. It was Qi Qingqi that asked when they had just finished a general meeting. When Liu Qingge said his usual answer, Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but cough out loud. It would've been seen as an attempt to mock Liu Qingge, but Liu Qingge knew Shen Qingqiu like the back of his hand. The tips of Shen Qingqiu's ears gave everything away. Flushed red, like when they had first kissed.
The others did not take Shen Qingqiu's reaction kindly. They were rather vocal in ridiculing Shen Qingqiu with his mortal endeavors and encounters. Liu Qingge truly never understood those rumors. If Shen Qingqiu was truly a bastard that fucked everyone he saw as they presume, then why in all these hundreds of years not a single bastard child of Shen Qingqiu popped up yet? The issue they had was Shen Qingqiu would periodically frequent brothels from time to time, but he never was there to fuck. He taught the ladies different skills so that if they were to leave their predicament, they would at least have the means to get back on their feet. Shen Qingqiu also went there to listen to gossip and, overall, to unwind from the tense atmosphere of Cang Qiong Mountain.
Like the so very " kind " older brother, Yue Qingyuan stepped in when things grew too heated between Shen Qingqiu and Qi Qingqi. For such a kind older brother that loved Shen Qingqiu, Yue Qingyuan had a weird way of showing it. Liu Qingge didn't notice it before, but every time an argument occurred with Shen Qingqiu with anyone, Yue Qingyuan would always apologize in Shen Qingqiu's stead even when Shen Qingqiu was correct. He has never seen Yue Qingyuan stand up for Shen Qingqiu at least once. He made it seem like Shen Qingqiu was the unreasonable one. Each. And. Every. Single. Time .
Resentment for Yue Qingyuan grew more and more each day. Liu Qingge doesn't understand why Shen Qingqiu hasn't punched his other half already. At one point, he even asked Shen Qingqiu for permission to punch Yue Qingyuan in the face.
Sadly, Shen Qingqiu told him no.
Liu Qingge not so kindly told the others to mind their own damn business and took Shen Qingqiu away from those fools. And they had the nerve to say he was the slow one in the group of gods, clearly, they were the fools.
Those thoughts only darkened his mood and heart further. He didn't want to think about those useless gods and goddesses. What's important is in front of him right now, waiting for him.
Liu Qingge had watched as Shen Qingqiu made his final touches to the end product. The happy and content smile on Shen Qingqiu's face gave him the answer he needed to come to him now.
"What did you make, A-Jiu," playfully asks, he had crept up upon Shen Qingqiu. The man flinched when he heard Liu Qingge behind him.
"Very funny, Liu Mingyu," Shen Qingqiu says while glaring daggers at him. "I just finished your gift, but now I'm not sure if I want to give it to you or not," Shen Qingqiu huffs.
"I brought a gift of my own. Perhaps this would make you forgive me."
Liu Qingge hands over the lovely columbine flowers. Its appearance makes Shen Qingqiu look a little surprised and thoughtful. He takes them off Liu Qingge's hands and takes a whiff of them. It was a lovely scent, very light and airy.
"The flowers will keep you company when I'm gone."
Shen Qingqiu doesn't say anything to that, only hands Liu Qingge over his gift.
A silk handkerchief with embroidered pink camellias. The pink camellias that once upon a time had represented his love for Shen Qingqiu.
Liu Qingge's hands held onto the handkerchief with a slight tremble. The trembling stops when he clenches his fist and lets it relax. He had a happy smile on his face, but his eyes held sadness as he told Shen Qingqiu that he loved it.
"Keep it on you. Show it to those that try to make advances on you and let them know you have a lover waiting for you back home."
He traces the detailed stitched flowers on the handkerchief with his calloused thumb. It felt almost too delicate in his rough hands.
"Of course." And kept his word. He wore it underneath his robe, above his heart.
All this time, Liu Qingge still hadn't taken a seat, so Shen Qingqiu pulled him down to sit next to him. They both sat in quiet, comfortable silence as they enjoyed the warm tea and each other's presence.
But all good things come to an end. In this case, it ends in a travesty.
It happened a week after Liu Qingge and Shen Qingqiu had decided they were fit to wed. Liu Qingge couldn't wait to introduce him to his younger sister, Liu Mingyan, the Goddess of the Hunt. They would get along just well, he said. Liu Qingge's content body language had affected Shen Qingqiu. He also was looking forward, even though he was a tad bit nervous, to meeting Liu Qingge's sister. He hoped that she would support their relationship, even with all Shen Qingqiu's faults.
On one uneventful afternoon, Liu Qingge had dropped by as usual after slaying some beast that was wreaking havoc in the mortal realm. Liu Qingge had sat down with Shen Qingqiu as usual for some tea. Everything was normal until it wasn't.
A few minutes, midconversation Liu Qingge slumps over. His face grew red then slowly became purple, as he clenched his chest gasping. There was nothing Shen Qingqiu could've done that day. No amount of time or effort would've saved Liu Qingge.
Liu Qingge had died. The God of War had died.
Something impossible had happened, the death of a god.
They all blamed Shen Qingqiu on Liu Qingge's death that he had poisoned Liu Qingge. For Mu Qingfang had found traces of elements that made Liu Qingge's body react negatively to the tea they had been drinking. But they both had been drinking this tea for the past few centuries. Why would Liu Qingge have such a reaction like this now?
He tried to reason with them. But none of them wanted to hear his excuses and lies, they said. They said he had planned Liu Qingge's death all these years.
There was nothing for him to say. He couldn't feel anything anymore. Only emptiness and sorrow, yet he wasn't allowed to even mourn in public.
When Liu Qingge's younger sister came, there was even more uproar. At the sight of Shen Qingqiu, she ran over and gripped his collar. She screamed in his face, with tears falling. Saying he was a murderer, that he should've been the one dead. Not her honorable brother. She swore that she would bring judgment down on him one day, that he would never live comfortably ever again.
When Shen Qingqiu tried to attend Liu Qingge's funeral, his precious lost love, they had barred him out. They cursed at him and told him that he was a fucking bastard for even daring to show his face here, to scram. Yue Qingyuan had to physically take him away, as he stubbornly stood there wanting to part ways with Liu Qingge. Yue Qingyuan looked at him in disappointment, but Shen Qingqiu didn't care. All he wanted was Liu Mingyu. Why did Liu Mingyu have to die? Why...why didn't he die instead of A-Yu?
Shen Qingqiu did not get to send Liu Qingge's body off that day, nor was he ever allowed to set foot in the other war god's palace ever again.
With heavy and defeated steps, Shen Qingqiu ascended into his palace and went to his bed chambers. His feet aimlessly took control over him. His body stops moving stops, and he looks up. The purple, white columbine flowers stood tall in a vase on his tea table.
His whole body slumps down in defeat, and his shoulders begin to sag. Trembling.
The information had finally processed through his head. Liu Qingge was dead. He died, and Shen Qingqiu was the direct cause of it. They one said it was his fault, so it had to be true, right?
Shen Qingqiu was alone once more.
The first time in those three days, Shen Qingqiu sat there crying. His broken sobs were only heard by himself and those columbine flowers.
The years' pass and Shen Qingqiu became more reclused, he still participated in general meetings and his duties, but he never tried to make another friend. Even if he wanted to make a friend, no one would want him. Shen Qingqiu grew colder and isolated. He felt like he could love no more.
He was meant to be untouchable. He was untouchable for a few years.
But it seems others do not feel so, Shen Qingqiu thought.
There stood before him was a previous follower of him, Luo Binghe. Surrounding the once boy was every God and Goddess from many stations. Major to minor. The once boy, now man, sat in the center, savoring this whole moment with women flocking him like some moths to a beacon of light. They have truly switched roles. Luo Binghe was no longer the little naive follower afraid of raising his head; he was the emperor of all gods and goddesses. The God of Sky, they call him.
They were all here to witness the humiliation and condemnation of the evil Shen Qingqiu. The one that murdered Liu Qingge, another God of War. The disgusting pervert that frequent brothels for pleasure.
The God of Wisdom and War was brought down to his knees and his fancy robes stripped, leaving him with only his inner robes. His hair was in a tangled mess. He truly looked pitiful, but many found pleasure in seeing him suffer.
The " trial " was never in favor of Shen Qingqiu. Countless " victims " came out and retold tales of how Shen Qingqiu was a beastly man, how he found pleasure in torturing his followers. Then came Liu Mingyan, who retold the story of her brother. Her words and tears made many be moved, and they further cursed Shen Qingqiu's name to the ground. Luo Binghe only smiled as this all happened. That was the final rock to strike Shen Qingqiu completely down into his pit.
The trial to condemn had concluded, but there had to be some punishment for this villainess man.
Many suggested that he be eternally tortured and imprisoned. While others, like Liu Mingyan, demanded Shen Qingqiu's head on a platter.
Shen Qingqiu was prepared to die. He wanted to die. He was just so tired of everything. He wanted to see Liu Qingge again.
Luo Binghe had plans to keep Shen Qingqiu as his private prisoner to toy, but his thoughts were halted.
There was one suggestion that stood out the most, and it had come from Lao Gongzhu.
With one hand running through his beard, he chuckles out, "How about this, since Shen Qingqiu was always so uptight when it came to dirty demonic creatures, why don't we marry him to the most infamous dark Lord of them all, the God of the Underworld. The God of the Underworld seemed to have always been interested in marrying Shen Qingqiu, am I right, Yue Qingyuan?"
A pale Yue Qingyuan could be heard uttering a sole, "Yes."
Although Luo Binghe doesn't have any jurisdiction within the underworld, they could still get the outcome they wanted, and that was to humiliate Shen Qingqiu. Because the Underworld Lord was the one to send the marriage letter. So it would work in their favor.
Shen Qingqiu had never heard about this. Yue Qingyuan had been withholding information from him? Everyone knows of the God of the Underworld. It was just that no one wanted to talk about him. Many feared him, you see.
The God of the Underworld or the Underworld Lord was someone who had never left their domain. They couldn't leave their domain, not without a reasonable cause. The underworld was a constantly busy place, unlike its counterpart. Because the Underworld Lord never left the domain, many have speculated that he probably looks terrible and disfigured. They still never spoke badly about them out loudly for the sole fact that they feared he might pull them down into the underworld and set dark creatures upon them. Too bad this was the fate of Shen Qingqiu that was set in stone.
The outcome was set in motion once all major gods agreed to the punishment. Liu Mingyan was satisfied with the punishment and told the other gods and goddesses that she hoped that the Underworld Lord was informed of Shen Qingqiu's record, so the other knew what he would be dealing with. The others agreed with her proposition. They included it beneath the letter they sent to the Underworld Lord stating they would be handing over Shen Qingqiu to him to marry.
The reply was only within a few minutes as the Underworld Lord stated that he would come tomorrow morning to receive Shen Qingqiu. The crowd around him jeers and ridicules Shen Qingqiu's wretched fate because this is all his own doing. The guards manhandle Shen Qingqiu back into his cell. Not a single protest escapes out of Shen Qingqiu's lips.
He was a stubborn man, yes, but he was also very tired. Luo Binghe had given him something prior that weakened his powers greatly. Now just by his lonesome self, Shen Qingqiu pondered. Pondered back to the past. Remembering the words Liu Qingge had told him long ago.
"There are times when you can't even rely on yourself anymore. And I want to be there for you."
It seems even the brute was right for once. Yet...where was he when Shen Qingqiu needed him the most? Such a liar...
The downward spiral of thoughts is interrupted when he hears footsteps approaching his cell. He looks up and sees the haggard figure of Yue Qingyuan. His other half looked worse for wear.
Yue Qingyuan was only able to say a few words. The guards were not keen on allowing any visitors for Shen Qingqiu. They don't want anyone to " deflower " him now.
"Why Xiao Jiu... why did you have to kill Liu Qingge? This could've all been avoided if you just ignored the other God. When the Underworld Lord comes tomorrow, I will plead for him to treat you kindly. Qi-ge will rescue you, Xiao Jiu. Just wait for me," it was apparent that even his other half didn't believe him. Shen Qingqiu glares at the one he had called older brother at one point and told him to get the hell out.
"I do not need your pity, Yue Qingyuan. You have never truly cared for my wellbeing," Yue Qingyuan looked completely shocked that Shen Qingqiu would say such a thing.
"Xiao Jiu! How could you say such a thing? I do care for you!"
But Shen Qingqiu was not done yet.
"Let us end this whole facade between the two of us. We were never compatible in the first place. The only real connection we had was I split apart from you," Shen Qingqiu sighs tiredly. Yue Qingyuan was on the verge of tears. He begged Shen Qingqiu that that couldn't be, that he needed Shen Qingqiu to feel whole.
"And yet I do not need you to feel whole," the tears fell from Yue Qingyuan's eyes, "we are two separate people. It is time you learned to be free from me, Yue Qingyuan. Let us never meet again." That was the end of their conversation.
The early morning came sooner than he would've liked. Servants and guards poured into his cells to make sure he was bathed and ready for the auction because that's what it was. He was getting sold away like some slave.
They forced him into a black dress to mock his lack of purity (he was still a virgin...) and brought him in chains to where the trial had taken place yesterday. As soon as he arrived, Luo Binghe called upon Underworld Lord.
A flame portal opens at the central stadium, where Shen Qingqiu stood. A figure in black walks out of the portal. A figure was so familiar that all had thought dead walked out in his full glory: Liu Qingge. The once renowned God of War.
Many gasped and screamed at his sudden appearance.
Shen Qingqiu was in a complete state of shock. Liu Qingge? How was he alive? His mind must be playing a trick on him again. This is all a dream.
Liu Qingge was only paying attention to one thing in the whole stadium. It was not his hysterical sister who was crying and pleading for him to come to her. Nor was it the pleading Yue Qingyuan in the background for Liu Qingge not to kill Shen Qingqiu. Nor the chaotic crowd that was frightened at his appearance.
No, Liu Qingge was looking at the chained-up man a few yards away from him. Liu Qingge's eyes brightened at seeing him, but as he drew closer, he frowned and grew angry at how wretched Shen Qingqiu looked beneath the stuffy black dress and makeup. From everyone else's perspective, they thought he was going to kill Shen Qingqiu on the spot. Yue Qingyuan was frantically yelling down the stadium for Liu Qingge to stay away from Shen Qingqiu and not kill him.
But it seems Liu Qingge didn't pay much heed to the older God's words. When Liu Qingge was only a finger length apart from Shen Qingqiu, his hand reached out and touched the still, shocked Shen Qingqiu. An unknown lone tear had fallen down Shen Qingqiu's face, but Liu Qingge was quick to wipe it off. There will be no more sad tears from Shen Qingqiu in the future, only happy ones. He will make sure of it. Liu Qingge shatters the heavy chains on Shen Qingqiu's person, earning a rage and discord from everyone. But Liu Qingge was never one to care about what people thought of him. The one lone person that would get such a privilege is his A-Jiu.
The black wedding dress turns pure white as Liu Qingge scoops Shen Qingge in his arms and yells for all to hear:
"I accept this marriage to Shen Qingqiu."
Liu Qingge's stern face morphed into a gentle smile when he gazed down at the speechless Shen Qingqiu and awaited his answer.
Shen Qingqiu's answer comes soon after his, "I too accept this marriage."
Both of their faces were flushed with happiness. Finally, they were wed.
With their vows exchanged, Liu Qingge carries Shen Qingqiu bridal style into the still open flame portal and closes it as soon as he walks through it.
Liu Qingge couldn't wait for Shen Qingqiu to meet their three-headed dog, Spot.
Everything happened in a matter of minutes. Leaving all the members in attendance with no time to process what exactly just happened.
But Luo Binghe was the first one to snap out of it.
Luo Binghe turns to Liu Mingyan and asks her with scrutiny, "What is the meaning of this? You said your brother was killed. How is he still alive standing there?"
"I don't know...I don't know..."
That was all she could repeat. The guilt and embarrassment ate away at her. There was no honor in what she had just done.