pretty shell

by thecelestialcow

Summary:

Tianlang-jun is enjoying his abdication when a gaggle of demons interrupt his peaceful days. The incident leads him to having a broken Liu Qingge veritably dropped into his lap. And it's hard to resist a naked Liu Qingge, who shakes his ass and moans for his cock, even though his eyes are empty the entire time.

“Demons on my lands, can you believe the audacity of them?” Tianlang-jun says, padding along after Zhuzhi-lang as they diverge from the main road and head into the thick of the wilderness.

Every year a little more of the surrounding forest is cut down for farmland but Tianlang-jun has kept his wild and untamed, despite offers from others to buy it for development. The beasts that make it their home pose no threat to him or his nephew, and he likes the occasional hunt to keep his skills limber.

It’s been a few years since Tianlang-jun abdicated, though he doesn’t think it’s been a decade yet. Surely, Zhuzhi-lang would have remarked on it somehow, if it had been that long. Their longevity as demons would probably necessitate moving to avoid calling attention to themselves.

Of course, demons and cultivators alike are long lived, and to the common man, could be virtually indistinguishable. He looks over his nephew with a critical eye, trying to see him as a normal human would, but Zhuzhi-lang looks his way, eyes wide as he tries to guess Tianlang-jun’s next command.

“They’ve been rather aggressive lately,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “Though it’s nothing I can’t handle. Would you like to return home and continue working on your manuscript?”

“Writer’s block,” Tianlang-jun says mournfully. “I’ve been staring at the blank pages for days. Ah, my dear nephew, I believe I owe words of apologies to any author whose books I have disparaged. It is a daunting task indeed. Though I am confident this spell will pass, right now, I am truly in the depths of despair over my adversary.”

“Adversary?” Zhuzhi-lang repeats slowly.

“The blank page! It mocks me!” Tianlang-jun grabs at his hair. “So many choices, so many words, but which is the right one? I can’t know until I mar the page and ruin it.”

Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t say anything for a moment. Then he gives a soft “ah” and says nothing more.

Tianlang-jun knows he doesn’t understand but it feels good to vent.

After retiring from ruling, Tianlang-jun had happily wandered the world over, indulging in books, plays, wine, and the occasional beauty. Women were gorgeous but he had no desire for another child, so he’d mostly stuck to men; but who could compare to the icy beauty of Cang Qiong, the War God that he had conquered?

Zhuzhi-lang had only been too happy not to have to clean up after many bed mates. He’d abstained from his own encounters, citing that no one would be interested in a half-snake, and Tianlang-jun had offered more than once to find him a suitable partner. Zhuzhi-lang had rejected him every time, so blunt that Tianlang-jun didn’t find it fun to tease him about it.

Tianlang-jun had expressed an urge to settle down for a while, satisfied with the nearby town; it was close enough that he could visit daily but far away enough that he maintained his privacy. The town was large enough to host cultural events, like operas and plays, and Tianlang-jun’s book club met weekly at one of the local restaurants. The allowance Zhuzhi-lang gave him was enough that Tianlang-jun could help support some of the local authors and Tianlang-jun devoured every early copy of a book he received, giving out praise and criticism as warranted.

Zhuzhi-lang had initially refused to increase his allowance though when he heard of his support of the arts, he ended up relenting. Tianlang-jun suspects he could spend quite a few decades living like this without getting bored.

Though he really ought to keep track of his own money. But it was so much easier to let Zhuzhi-lang do it.

“Why not reach out to the nearest cultivators to handle these demons?” Tianlang-jun complained, mostly for the sake of complaining. He was more than happy to get out of the house and beat something up.

“The cost,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “And many sects in the area are too small. After Cang Qiong and Huan Hua fell, no one rose up to take their place, and while many are still trying to fill the vacuum they left, there’s been a great deal of fighting between the minor sects. Demonic activity also wiped a good deal out. The cultivation world was heavily damaged and is still recovering.”

“A shame” Tianlang-jun says, aware of his role in all of that. “Maybe they should continue their training and become strong, eh?”

“Well said,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “As it stands, many sects won’t send cultivators out, either because they can’t afford to lose any more members. Or they believe they can’t win a fight against demons. Also, I’m hoping these demons have some valuables on them. I’d like to increase our funds.”

“Once I finish my book, it will be popular beyond all belief, and we’ll have plenty of extra money–”

“We have plenty of money,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “I would simply like to diversify some of our funds.”

Tianlang-jun sighs, but he doesn’t argue with Zhuzhi-lang, more than happy to let him take the reins on this matter. He abdicated for a reason; this was too much work!

“Did you pick a main character? I know you were undecided,” Zhuzhi-lang asks and Tianlang-jun takes off, rambling about the pros and cons of his two major characters. One of the pieces of consistent criticism he got was that his story was too confusing and that he needed to settle on a main character.

But other stories had multiple main leads, so why couldn’t Tianlang-jun’s story have two? It was unfair! Easier to criticize than to write!

Tianlang-jun was just wrapping up his speech about the indignity of it all when Zhuzhi-lang made a motion with his hand, signaling that the demons were ahead.

“Excellent,” Tianlang-jun says, twining his fingers together before him and stretching his arms out. “I could use some exercise."

Tianlang-jun laughs as he attacks, letting his bloodlust take over as he tears apart the demons before him. There’s no elegance here, just claws and brute force, the power of a heavenly demon easily ripping through the demons. Tianlang-jun rips the head off a demon, the first kill going to him, and the rest follow shortly after.

Zhuzhi-lang wipes the blood from his face, taking stock of the corpses.

“Not much of value here,” he says, a little put out.

“You haven't checked the wagon here,” Tianlang-jun says, gesturing with his thumb towards it as he rips the coarse shirt off a corpse to clean the worst of the blood from himself. Demonic blood reeks and it’s going to be a pain for Zhuzhi-lang to wash their clothes out. He might consider tossing these rather than trying to salvage them.

“I doubt it’s any better,” Zhuzhi-lang grumbles, and Tianlang-jun laughs at his morose expression. Zhuzhi-lang is rarely petulant so seeing him disappointed like this is too funny for Tianlang-jun to resist.

Zhuzhi-lang still goes to investigate, unimpressed with most of what he finds. A great deal of it is paperwork, deeds and such, which he ignores. He opens the last chest, then Zhuzhi-lang’s mouth drops and he doesn’t say anything. That’s strange, so Tianlang-jun goes over, going equally silent as he tries to process the sight before him.

Liu Qingge is in the trunk, bound and gagged. The bottom of the trunk is filled with some kind of liquid, a too sweet scent that must be some kind of aphrodisiac. His arms are tied behind his back and his legs are tied together. There’s something inside his penis as well as something at the base of it, keeping him from climaxing. His nipples are clamped, his mouth is gagged, eyes blindfolded, and a plug in his ass.

He jerks his head a little, perhaps sensing someone looking at him, and his moan is nothing but sin and lust. Tianlang-jun has to swallow a few times, feeling lightheaded from how fast his cock hardens. He ends up pressing a hand to it, relieving some of the ache, but right now is not the time to indulge.

“Liu Qingge?” Tianlang-jun calls his name but Liu Qingge doesn’t respond.

Tianlang-jun reaches in to pull him out, heartbeat racing at how quickly the liquid warms up his skin. He can feel a heat rising in him and he uses his Heavenly Demon blood to combat it, easily overpowering the substance.

“Whatever this liquid is, it’s potent. Wash it off him, quickly,” Tianlang-jun says and Zhuzhi-lang nods.

They don’t want to risk it getting into the water source so Zhuzhi-lang has to struggle to find some sort of container to transport the water. But he manages to find a helmet from one of the dead demons and together, they slowly clean Liu Qingge.

Tianlang-jun carefully eases the implements out of Liu Qingge’s cock and ass. Liu Qingge shivers in his arm as he finally comes, his cock twitching as he ejaculates for a solid minute. The rest Tianlang-jun tears off, ignoring if they get broken, and soon Liu Qingge is bare. He opens his eyes briefly when the blindfold comes off but he shuts them almost immediately after, too exhausted to look around.

Tianlang-jun isn’t surprised that he passes out now that he’s freed from the sexual stimulation. He takes his wrist, sighing at how his qi roils about. Demonic energy is so tightly entwined in his spiritual system that removing it might be impossible at this point. Tianlang-jun takes off his outer robe and uses it to wrap Liu Qingge up, mindful of the various bruises on his body. The worst are on his wrists, no doubt from the bindings, but there are plenty of others marring his beautiful body.

“Luo Binghe will surely come after him,” Zhuzhi-lang murmurs.

“That should be fine, no? Liu Qingge was gifted to him,” Tianlang-jun says even as he bites at his wrist.

He forces his blood into Liu Qingge, kissing him to make the unconscious man swallow it. Zhuzhi-lang watches then does the same. Together, their blood drives out Luo Binghe’s, even as it fights against them. But combined, it’s no match, and Liu Qingge shudders as he coughs out the remaining dregs of Luo Binghe’s blood.

“Uncle…” Zhuzhi-lang says, even as he leans over Liu Qingge, pushing the hair away from his sweaty forehead.

“I assumed he’d care for Liu Qingge,” Tianlang-jun says, oddly irritated in a way that he rarely feels. “That if he killed him, it’d be for some great offense. I’m not sure what to make of this. It seems to me that he’s tossed Liu Qingge aside. And why should Luo Binghe be upset if I wish to have his trash?”

Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t say anything. They rush back home, silent and harried compared to their leisurely walk before. Zhuzhi-lang finishes wiping Liu Qingge down, hands gentle over the various bruises on his lean body. Tianlang-jun frowns, taking a moment to look over his nude form while Zhuzhi-lang finds him clothes. He runs a hand over his chest, feeling his rib bones far too prominently. Liu Qingge doesn’t look emaciated but he’s definitely thinner than before.

Tianlang-jun draws back, letting Zhuzhi-lang dress Liu Qingge, and tuck him into bed. Liu Qingge’s sleep is uneasy but he doesn’t wake. Tianlang-jun uses his blood parasites to push him into a deeper sleep, forcing them through until the furrow in Liu Qingge’s brow melts away.

“Uncle, I’ll need to go to town, to get human medicine,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “It will cost quite a bit.”

“Do what you need to,” Tianlang-jun says.

“We may need to sell some of the treasures we have.”

“Fine.”

Zhuzhi-lang looks at Liu Qingge for a moment then takes off.

Tianlang-jun nearly calls him back, a little unsure of what to do next. He ends up sitting beside Liu Qingge, holding a book, but every time he tries to read it, his gaze leaves the page and goes to watch the sleeping Liu Qingge.

He finally sets his book aside and reclines in his chair, eyes looking over Liu Qingge, deep in thought. When he’d left Liu Qingge to Luo Binghe, he thought the boy would have been delighted. Luo Binghe had been lusting over Liu Qingge for years; Tianlang-jun wouldn’t have been surprised if Luo Binghe had attempted to make his own play for Liu Qingge.

But Luo Binghe was smarter than that. He’d waited, until the pressures of ruling had eroded Tianlang-jun's patience, and he’d abdicated. Liu Qingge had been delivered into his hands without a fight or fuss. Had Luo Binghe grown bored of him? Had Liu Qingge proven to be too much for him to handle?

Nothing seems right but Tianlang-jun can neither stop thinking about it nor come to an answer. When Zhuzhi-lang returns, bag full of bottles, boxes, and reeking of herbs, Tianlang-jun is pacing around, tired from sitting.

“I don’t know how much these will help,” Zhuzhi-lang says.

“Something is better than nothing,” Tianlang-jun says. They probably need cultivation grade medicine but any one who makes such items will recognize them as demons instantly.

Zhuzhi-lang pours a few draughts down Liu Qingge’s throat, and even unconscious, Liu Qingge is obedient. He swallows them down, never stirring from his slumber, and Tianlang-jun wonders at how long he was in that trunk. Was it a punishment? Had Luo Binghe been the one to bind him like that?

Zhuzhi-lang drags in a more comfortable chair for Tianlang-jun to rest in, and Tianlang-jun sleeps in the room with Liu Qingge, dozing off whenever he can’t keep his eyes open. True sleep is impossible as his mind churns but he’s able to get some rest. Being able to wake up and see Liu Qingge immediately eases some of the more anxious thoughts that flit through his head.

It was meant to be a mercy, not to fuck Liu Qingge. But the next morning he wakes with a fever and his cock is hard, dripping enough to soak his pants. Tianlang-jun sits at his bedside, deep in thought when Zhuzhi-lang enters the room with a plate of food for Liu Qingge.

“Uncle, what do you suspect is his malady?” Zhuzhi-lang asks as he sets the tray down.

“It feels to convenient to my desires that Liu Qingge probably needs to be fucked,” Tianlang-jun says, arms crossed as he tips his chair back and forth in thought. “But I know this is a common issue with bedwarmers; most demons simply discard the human and procure another if it becomes an issue. People think it’s a kindness not to fuck them. But their bodies are used to it. Going without sex upsets their internal balance.”

Zhuzhi-lang nods. He sets the lid back onto the bowl and starts stripping. Tianlang-jun blinks at him. “If he needs sexual intercourse to function, then I would assume we would be providing it, correct?”

“You seem very keen on it, is all,” Tianlang-jun says.

“I enjoyed my time with Liu Qingge,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “As did you.”

Tianlang-jun chuckles but that’s very true. He sees now why Zhuzhi-lang is taking such decisive action. Tianlang-jun’s hesitation has pushed him into it.

“So bold, little nephew. As a reward, you should fuck him first,” Tianlang-jun says, taking off his outer robes.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Zhuzhi-lang says simply, as he coaxes Liu Qingge’s limbs out of his wear. Liu Qingge groans and tries to move into his touch but Zhuzhi-lang keeps him away from his body. He waves a hand to Tianlang-jun. “I’m content to wait my turn. Please, Uncle.”

“You say that but you seem eager,” Tianlang-jun says as he takes off his top.

“I can wait,” Zhuzhi-lang repeats, eyes feasting upon the now naked Liu Qingge.

Tianlang-jun sighs but he recognizes a lost battle. And he’s no saint; he’s been throbbing in his pants ever since they found Liu Qingge. He finishes removing his clothes and climbs over Liu Qingge, looking down at his nude form. He’s skinnier, it’s easier to feel his bones like this, but his body is still beautiful. Tianlang-jun runs his hand across his chest, unsurprised that Liu Qingge moans in approval at being touched so possessively.

“I missed these sweet tits,” he says and leans down to suck on them. Liu Qingge’s sounds are just as good as before. He’d never been able to hold back, no matter how much he tried, and Tianlang-jun’s cock grows hard as Liu Qingge’s pleasured noises fill the room.

Tianlang-jun licks at his nipples, unsurprised at how quickly they harden; Liu Qingge has always enjoyed having his breasts played with, despite hating it. Though to be fair, he hated any sexual play with demons.

Perhaps if Tianlang-jun had found a human, Liu Qingge would have allowed himself to enjoy it more. But Tianlang-jun doesn’t know if he could have brought himself to share Liu Qingge with another human. There was too much potential for Liu Qingge to fall in love with them and think they could escape together.

He would have had to kill the other, and that posed too many risks. What if it had broken Liu Qingge’s spirit entirely, so he ended up like this? What if the grief drove him to kill himself? Or if he had attacked Tianlang-jun and his court, determined to take down as many with him as possible?

Tianlang-jun cups the meat of Liu Qingge’s breasts, kneading and massaging them, quite content to suck on his nipples like this. Liu Qingge is trying to grind up against him, hands twisting in the bedsheets as he plants his feet on the bed and tries to thrust up. He’s so wonderfully wanton like this. Tianlang-jun remembers him being far less enthusiastic. It’s probably some of the leftover aphrodisiac but Tianlang-jun intends to enjoy it.

As he plays with Liu Qingge’s chest, he slides one hand down, wrapping his hand around Liu Qingge’s cock. He’s staggeringly hard, his entire cock coated with his fluids, and as Tianlang-jun strokes him, he feels more liquid drip out from the tip. There’s so much that Tianlang-jun quickly loses whatever friction he had and when he pulls his hand away, the strings of come are so thick they don’t break immediately.

“What did they do to you,” Tianlang-jun murmurs, showing Zhuzhi-lang.

Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t say anything but his breathing is coming hard as he patiently waits for his turn.

Tianlang-jun doesn’t want to waste Liu Qingge’s come. He places his finger in between Liu Qingge’s cheeks, rubbing all over the crevice. Liu Qingge’s hole is soft and he moans as Tianlang-jun slides a finger in. He rocks his hips wildly, wordlessly begging for more. Tianlang-jun takes his finger out and rubs his cock against it, gets it wet with Liu Qingge’s fluids, then slams inside him. Sure enough, he’s open enough to take him without injury, and Liu Qingge tosses his head back, eyes and mouth going wide as his pleasure skyrockets.

“Still so sweet,” Tianlang-jun moans, hating himself a little for how much he’s enjoying this. Liu Qingge is a broken man but his body has been fully transformed into a veritable sexual feast. He rocks his hips, moaning like he wants more, a beautiful slut for cock. It’s false, a shattered being before him, but as Tianlang-jun fucks into Liu Qingge’s body, he almost falls for illusion.

It would be so easy to just keep him here, writhing on Tianlang-jun’s cock like he belongs on it. Liu Qingge’s cock is hard, dripping, and Tianlang-jun could convince himself very easily that it’s proof Liu Qingge likes this.

All too soon, Tianlang-jun is coming, and he thinks he loses consciousness for a moment at how hard he comes. He feels Liu Qingge clench down tight around him, pulsing, his come splattering across his belly. For a few moments, they stay like that, panting and heaving as they let pleasure wash through their bodies. Then Tianlang-jun slowly pulls out, something in his chest aching when Liu Qingge whines; he tries to wrap his legs around him but he moves too late, and as Tianlang-jun’s cock slips out, he makes the most adorable wriggle as he desperately tries to keep his cock inside.

Liu Qingge rolls over onto his knees, reaching back to spread his ass cheeks apart. He’s panting against the bed, drool escaping both corners of his lips, and he looks at Zhuzhi-lang while shaking his ass.

“Take a turn, nephew,” Tianlang-jun says, aware that he’s more than a little breathless. “You remember how good he was, don’t you? Liu Qingge wants more. You should oblige.”

Zhuzhi-lang stares at him, eyes wide open. He wets his lips.

“Uncle. Fucking him once might have been enough to calm his urges. Liu Qingge is truly not in his right mind. Don’t you think excessive sexual activity might harm him further?”

“I don’t know,” Tianlang-jun says honestly. “It might not matter.”

Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t move right away then nods slowly. He stretches out along Liu Qingge’s back, pressing close to him so he can touch his chin and guide his face for a kiss. Liu Qingge responds beautifully, pushing his ass into Zhuzhi-lang’s body and kissing him deeply. He moans as their tongues play, spit escaping from the corner of his mouth at the messy kiss.

Tianlang-jun sits back, watching Liu Qingge’s face with interest and concern. He’s seen that beautiful face flushed with pleasure countless times but it had to be forced out of him. Now, Liu Qingge is like a slave to it, seeking out nothing but the ecstasy of the flesh. There isn’t a single hint of the proud cultivator that Tianlang-jun had enslaved.

Zhuzhi–lang is kind, as always. He only slides in one of his cocks, going slow even though Tianlang-jun has more than opened Liu Qingge up. Liu Qingge rocks his hips back, meeting Zhuzhi-lang thrust for thrust, moaning loudly whenever Zhuzhi-lang fucks him deep enough.

“You feel so good,” Zhuzhi-lang pants in his ear, licking at it, making Liu Qingge shiver around his cock. “Are you ready for the second one, Peak Lord Liu?”

Liu Qingge doesn’t answer with words, but he pushes his hips back, bowing his back, more than ready for it. Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t make him wait. He takes his second cock in hand and pulls back, then starts pushing them both into Liu Qingge.

Liu Qingge groans and collapses against the bed, his entire body trembling as Zhuzhi-lang’s two cocks wreck him. He comes on the spot but that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop. Instead, he shakes and shudders, ass still clenching tight around Zhuzhi-lang’s cocks. He’s got tears dripping from his eyes, saliva escaping the corners of his mouth, sweat pouring off him, cock leaking come, with Tianlang-jun’s and Zhuzhi-lang’s come slipping out of his ass.

He’s a mess. He’s beautiful.

Liu Qingge’s hole is dripping come, a common side effect after Zhuzhi-lang comes with both his cocks. He doesn’t make a disgusted face, like he might have before; Tianlang-jun remembers how he would pump Liu Qingge full of come then finger it out of him. Liu Qingge would be scowling until the pleasure of getting fingered overcame that ire.

Liu Qingge spreads his thighs apart with his hands, showing off his dripping hole. He moans, aching for more.

“Again?” Tianlang-jun asks, a little surprised. He used to abuse Liu Qingge’s unwilling body for days at a time. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Liu Qingge has developed a robust sexual endurance. He can only imagine what Luo Binghe put him through.

Liu Qingge whines, hole fluttering, dripping with their come. Tianlang-jun is no saint. He runs his fingertips across Liu Qingge’s ass, relentlessly teasing him, smiling when Liu Qingge tries to push his ass into his hands. Tianlang-jun stretches out on the bed, patting his thigh as he rests his back against the headboard.

“Come and suck my cock,” Tianlang-jun orders. “I’ll play with your ass over here. That’s a good boy. Liu Qingge, you listen so well nowadays, don’t you? I’ll reward you for that.”

Liu Qingge places himself over Tianlang-jun’s knee, eagerly reaching for his cock. Without hesitation or qualms, he takes his cock deep into his throat, the wet noise arousing Tianlang-jun further. As promised, he slides two fingers into Liu Qingge’s ass, watching as Liu Qingge thrusts back before he can even start moving.

“Whatever you want, however much you want it, we’ll provide it for you, Liu Qingge,” Tianlang-jun promises, driving his fingers in deep.

Liu Qingge shudders as he comes but he doesn’t pull off or move away.

Tianlang-jun watches, worry and arousal warring in his heart. But his dick twitches and he comes deep down Liu Qingge’s throat.

They fuck him for the whole day, taking turns, and pressing Liu Qingge into every piece of furniture they have in the room. Midday, Zhuzhi-lang goes to open the windows, but the smell of sex doesn’t dissipate. There’s no chance for the room to air out, not when Liu Qingge opens his legs and whines so sweetly for another cock to fill him up.

Even when he passes out, he still rocks his hips on whichever cock he’s clenching around, and Tianlang-jun can never resist how peaceful he looks as he sleeps. He’s compelled to touch and arouse him all over again. Whenever Liu Qingge wakes, he’s reaching out for one of them, eager to kiss, suck, or be fucked. It’s like all of Tianlang-jun’s wildest dreams come true.

By the time the sun has set and evening has settled in, Zhuzhi-lang and Liu Qingge finally pass out, and in truth, Tianlang-jun isn’t too far off. Even his demonic stamina isn’t enough to completely outpace Liu Qingge. He looks over at the two, smiling a little at how thoroughly Zhuzhi-lang had been emptied out. Meanwhile, Liu Qingge has been stuffed full, his belly thick with their come. He’s a mess in between his legs, come dripping out of him and staining the bed, but he’d whined and shaken his ass for more. It’d been irresistible.

Tianlang-jun doesn’t get to wax poetic for long. He’s been utterly drained and he passes out shortly after the two of them, feeling exquisite at how much pleasure Liu Qingge drew out of him.

~

They settle into a pattern, where Tianlang-jun takes Liu Qingge to his bed for three nights then gives Zhuzhi-lang a turn. Zhuzhi-lang is satisfied with this, and Tianlang-jun bemoans of it, then quickly shuts up when Zhuzhi-lang asks if he’s alright with giving him some of his nights. In truth, he’s quite content to have Liu Qingge in his arms again, and he fucks him like he’s making up for lost time.

Liu Qingge is a dream come true. His body is lithe, tight, and so hot around him. But Tianlang-jun sees areas of damage, places where even as Liu Qingge moans like a slut, he also winces in pain. Tianlang-jun’s healing ability is phenomenal on himself but it doesn’t carry over to others. The demonic energy pumped into Liu Qingge through their come damages his cultivation, so his healing isn’t as robust as it once was, and the effects are obvious to see. Bruises take longer to heal and Liu Qingge bears scars now, whereas once upon a time he could have healed them entirely.

Even Tianlang-jun’s blood mites carry risk, for they might heal Liu Qingge’s physical wounds, but they damage his spiritual core.

Liu Qingge never speaks out, never complains, unlike before where if he wasn’t gagged, he was snapping at them to stop. His voice is unaffected but it seems like he doesn’t see the need to talk.

“Perhaps it was beaten out of him?” Zhuzhi-lang suggested. He pauses making the shopping list, and looks at Tianlang-jun, who is clearly fresh from having fucked Liu Qingge after waking up late. He’d groggily thanked Zhuzhi-lang for his morning (afternoon) tea and was sipping it, eyes closed as he slowly regained his cognitive thinking skills. “I don’t understand it but maybe Luo Binghe didn’t want to hear him speak. Powerful men have strange desires.”

“I don’t,” Tianlang-jun says.

“You don’t,” Zhuzhi-lang says in that tone that Tianlang-jun knows means he doesn’t care about arguing even though he obviously disagrees. “I can’t remember the last thing Liu Qingge has said though. Is it possible his throat was damaged?”

Tianlang-jun tries to recall. Liu Qingge is very vocal but now that he’s trying to think back, he can’t remember him actually begging for more. He makes his desires well known though, shaking that tight ass or whining prettily while spreading his thighs so Tianlang-jun can ram himself in. Tianlang-jun clears his throat and shuffles in his seat, lower body heating up despite emptying himself inside Liu Qingge this morning.

“It’s possible,” Tianlang-jun says, setting his cup down. “It could even be as you said, perhaps Binghe trained him not to speak but still make those pretty little sounds. It isn’t the wildest concept. We haven’t sealed his cultivation like before but he doesn’t heal like a proper cultivator should.”

Tianlang-jun stops for a moment, looking at the table without seeing it. He can’t look at Zhuzhi-lang when he speaks next though. His nephew always sees right through him.

“Her healing was phenomenal and it wasn't even her strength like other cultivators,” he says quietly. A piece of him will always ache at having lost Su Xiyan. Destroying Huan Hua had eased some of it but not even their deaths could erase his grief; it could only allay it for a while.

“I have noticed something similar,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “Perhaps some medicine? I don’t know much about a cultivator’s system. I assume they need more advanced medical care than a normal human. It might require we seek out the advice of specialists. But they might not be willing to accept our business.”

“A reasonable cultivator will,” Tianlang-jun says. “I had a few contacts willing before and Binghe has only stabilized the demonic realm further. I’m sure, especially at the borderland, that more cultivators exist who don't see demons as spawn to kill but as customers.”

Tianlang-jun snaps his finger for a paper and Zhuzhi-lang hands one over; he can recall some individual who operated out of the borderlands, though it was anyone’s guess if they were still alive. Demons could be long lived but their very nature made it difficult for them not to take stupid risks. An older demon was either strong or cunning enough to get to that age.

Tianlang-jun is finishing up his list when he tilts his head as he hears an odd noise.

“Where is Liu Qingge?” Tianlang-jun asks.

“Resting after this morning,” Zhuzhi-lang says. Then he frowns. “You were with him, you should know better than I.”

Tianlang-jun finds it hard to resist a morning fuck. Sometimes, Liu Qingge beats him to it, and starts blowing him. A few times, Liu Qingge has managed to wake him up by riding him, though Tianlang-jun usually wakes up long before then.

Today was no different and Tianlang-jun had happily opened Liu Qingge up with his fingers, waking the man up with a harsh thrust of his cock. Liu Qingge always reacts so adorably to getting fucked awake. He spreads his legs and rocks into it right away, moaning like the slut he is.

Tianlang-jun gets up to investigate, not liking how his stomach has dropped. Zhuzhi-lang follows without a word but his gaze is an intense thing.

There’s a shattered bottle on the floor, which had been the noise that had attracted their attention. It’s one of the many bottles of lubricant they possess, since every room now has some, for Liu Qingge is insatiable and has no care about which room he’s fucked in.

Liu Qingge’s ass is dripping with lubricant as he forces three fingers inside his hole. His other hand is pulling at his cock, and by the mess on the bed, it’s clear this isn’t his first orgasm. He continues playing with himself, coming hard, but he doesn’t stop. Instead he keeps thrusting his fingers inside his ass, biting on the blanket to keep from making too much noise.

“Nephew, as delectable as this image is, I don’t think this is a good thing,” Tianlang-jun says quietly. “We’ve been fucking Liu Qingge every day and that still doesn’t seem to be enough for him. How much was he being used, after I left?”

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say it was around the clock,” Zhuzhi-lang says, a little stricken with surprise. He looks at his uncle with concern. “It might help explain why he’s so broken. He was being used quite a lot during your reign but he kept his spirit.”

Liu Qingge finally notices them and whines, shifting so that he’s on his knees, showing off his drenched hole.

“What a display,” Tianlang-jun murmurs.

It's too much and Zhuzhi-lang steps forward, unable to resist the siren's call. Zhuzhi-lang spreads his thighs and starts licking at his cheeks, quickly going in between them to drive his tongue into Liu Qingge’s hole. Liu Qingge moans and rocks his hips into Zhuzhi-lang’s mouth. Zhuzhi-lang’s long tongue slips deep inside Liu Qingge, forcing him to shout and shudder through an orgasm.

Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t take his tongue out, continuing to lick him from the inside, and Liu Qingge’s knees give out. His legs tremble, but he doesn’t move away. Instead he groans as Zhuzhi-lang continues to assault his hole.

“So pretty, when you’re being pleasured like this,” Tianlang-jun says, going over to the top of the bed so he can slide his cock into Liu Qingge’s mouth. Liu Qingge opens wide, accepting him, swallowing him down like he’s the most delicious thing he’s ever tasted. Once Tianlang-jun is all the way down his throat, Liu Qingge moans, and his eyes roll back in his head.

“Fuck,” Tianlang-jun says, trying to move slow. He wants to feel Liu Qingge’s throat clench around him. But it’s hard to resist the wet, warmth of him. Tianlang-jun breathes harshly, fighting to rock his hips forward.

Liu Qingge’s throat vibrates as he tries to moan, his legs kicking out as Zhuzhi-lang drives his tongue in deeper. Tianlang-jun pulls out before he comes, as tempting as it is.

“I need to fuck you,” Tianlang-jun tells Liu Qingge and Zhuzhi-lang pulls his tongue out, with one last hard lick to Liu Qingge’s trembling hole. Tianlang-jun stretches out on the bed, setting Liu Qingge to ride him. Liu Qingge goes obediently, sinking down on his cock like he belongs there. His moan is truly sinful, a long and pleasured sound that makes Tianlang-jun shiver.

“Liu Qingge, open up,” Zhuzhi-lang says, touching his chin and directing him to face him. Liu Qingge swallows Zhuzhi-lang’s cock down, slamming his ass up and down on Tianlang-jun’s cock.

He comes, shaking and trembling, but he doesn’t stop. Liu Qingge keeps rocking his hips, pulsing around Tianlang-jun’s cock, no intention of stopping. Tianlang-jun runs his hands up and down Liu Qingge’s thighs, feeling how they flex as Liu Qingge continues to fuck himself stupid. He’s making the most delightful sounds as he sucks Zhuzhi-lang off.

It doesn’t take long before Tianlang-jun is coming, pushing his seed deep inside Liu Qingge. Liu Qingge groans at the sensation, belly twitching as he’s filled up. Tianlang-jun presses his hand against it, remembering the days when he would fill Liu Qingge up so much, his stomach would bulge with demon come.

Heaven or hell, it’s hard to tell which it is, as his cock burns. But he forces himself to go again, pushing past the pain, desperate to fill Liu Qingge and satisfy him. Zhuzhi-lang groans as he comes, both of his cocks ejaculating. Liu Qingge swallows it down and the rest goes all over his face, which doesn’t seem to bother him at all.

Liu Qingge licks his lips, catching every drop of come, and reaches down to his hole, pulling his cheeks apart for Tianlang-jun to fuck him deeper.

“Oh, you little slut,” Tianlang-jun groans, feeling his hips and cock ache. But there's no way he can stop. He grabs Liu Qingge’s hips and works him up and down on his cock, feeling tears well up at how much it hurts, at how good it feels. It’s been a while since he’s partaken in sexual encounters and being with Liu Qingge is like being thrown into the deep part of a lake.

But Tianlang-jun happily drowns in Liu Qingge’s hole, outright sobbing as he comes again. Liu Qingge makes the most delicious moan as he gets another load of Tianlang-jun’s come inside him, his hips quivering as he tries to ride him for every last drop.

Zhuzhi-lang takes over for a while, fucking into Liu Qingge with the larger of his cocks, and what should be a break for Tianlang-jun proves to be anything but. How can he calm down, when Zhuzhi-lang is fucking Liu Qingge so good that he starts crying from the overstimulation, legs kicking out when Zhuzhi-lang slides both cocks inside him, making him gush come from his ass?

Liu Qingge moans again, getting onto his knees, reaching back with his hands to spread his ass apart. He shows off his hole, the way it gapes and twitches, leaking come down his thighs.

“Fuck,” Tianlang-jun says, digging his hands into the meat of Liu Qingge’s thighs, unable to resist such a lewd image. He starts licking up the mixed semen, uncaring that it’s his own mixed with Zhuzhi-lang’s. That cute pink hole is too enticing and Liu Qingge makes the sluttiest sound as his asshole is licked.

“Peak Lord Liu truly cannot be satisfied,” Zhuzhi-lang says, one of his cocks hardening. He presses it to Liu Qingge’s mouth, sighing as Liu Qingge tries to swallow it down whole.

Tianlang-jun reaches up, sliding one hand around Liu Qingge’s throat, feeling how deeply he’s shoved Zhuzhi-lang’s cock inside. “No, Qingge, there’s no need to rush. Take him out and give him some attention. Spoil his groin, his balls, the way he deserves. Then you can have his cock again. We have all the time in the world. Let’s enjoy ourselves.”

Liu Qingge wordlessly obeys, sliding Zhuzhi-lang’s cock from his mouth and beginning to lick at the other sensitive areas there. He laps at him like he’d die without his cock, pushing his hips back into Tianlang-jun’s tongue, his entire body trembling. But he doesn’t stop, not even when he comes, and Tianlang-jun feels him clench down and pulse around his tongue.

Tianlang-jun shifts so he can slam back inside Liu Qingge, unable to resist taking him again. His vision is flickering, but he forces himself to keep going, desperate for another climax. Liu Qingge makes the most delightful muffled sounds as Zhuzhi-lang fucks his throat. In between two demons, Liu Qingge can’t escape, though it doesn’t seem to have ever crossed his mind. He’s trying to fuck himself on both of their cocks, but he’s weak right now, and he can’t keep a decent tempo.

Tianlang-jun tries to croak out a warning but he can’t make his tongue work right, and he pushes his cock as deep inside Liu Qingge as he can. He passes out as he fills Liu Qingge up, and when he wakes, Zhuzhi-lang is fucking Liu Qingge. He has him pressed up against the wall, fucking him with the larger of his cocks. Liu Qingge’s legs are dangling in the air, sweet little moans escaping him every time Zhuzhi-lang drives in, but he’s clearly exhausted.

Tianlang-jun’s body aches but his cock still stirs at seeing Liu Qingge being fucked. Liu Qingge meets his eyes and he moans again, coming without ejaculating anything. But the way he tosses his head back and jerks, he can’t have done anything else.

Tianlang-jun temporarily envies Zhuzhi-lang’s two cocks, as it lets him switch when one gets exhausted. Still, as Zhuzhi-lang comes inside Liu Qingge, both his cocks releasing, he acknowledges the downsides. Zhuzhi-lang barely manages to set Liu Qingge down, before he collapses onto the ground, panting heavily.

Liu Qingge takes wobbly steps until he reaches the bed, and he flops over Tianlang-jun’s legs. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Liu Qingge reaches for his cock but Tianlang-jun isn’t actively thinking right now. Tianlang-jun groans as Liu Qingge starts to lick at his cock.

“Fine, you’re right, something is wrong,” Tianlang-jun gasps to Zhuzhi-lang as Liu Qingge slides his tongue against the base of his cock.

~

It’s Zhuzhi-lang's suggestion to go out for a hunt. They’ll need rare materials to barter for any medical services Liu Qingge might need and while Tianlang-jun has a stash of precious metals he’s kept, it’s finite compared to their lifespans. And he’s not the most responsible with money. That was why he hired and trained accountants when he’d run the demonic realm. Zhuzhi-lang keeps track of their spending and investments nowadays, happy to play book keeper.

“Once upon a time, I looked over a whole realm," Tianlang-jun waxes as he spreads his arm out, gesturing to land around them. A storm had rolled through last night but this morning, the air is crisp and clean; it’s a beautiful day for a hunt. “Now, I only focus on this small part of the world. I find it suits me, being the silent protector over a little fertile piece of earth. I need no thanks, no reward, only the knowledge that I have kept my people here safe.”

Zhuzhi-lang isn’t rolling his eyes, like the good nephew he is. But he’s definitely giving him a side glance, amused at his ramblings. Tianlang-jun will admit that Zhuzhi-lang is often the one going around eradicating any demons or monsters that try to make this land their new territory. With hundreds of snakes able to act as scouts and warnings, he’s much better suited to this task.

Tianlang-jun tends to descend when an exceptionally strong opponent meanders his way onto his grounds or if he’s bored. Lately, he’s been going along with Zhuzhi-lang, trying to focus on the feelings of a fight in order to write about it more clearly. But his works feel stiff, derivative, without a spark, and Tianlang-jun thinks he’s simply better suited to being a reader and critic than a writer.

Liu Qingge doesn’t say anything to his ramblings. Tianlang-jun isn’t sure if he’s even listening. But he’s pretty and pliant, so Tianlang-jun doesn’t think he’ll run away. Liu Qingge had been an infamous hunter. A hunt will surely be a welcome activity.

Tianlang-jun runs his fingers across Liu Qingge’s arm, liking how he looks in regular clothes. The dark brown cloak is pulled back, since the sky had quickly cleared up. He’s in a dark blue outfit, with gold trimmings, and everything is easy to take off. But Tianlang-jun is already thinking of how to improve it; the blue is the wrong shade for Liu Qingge, washing him out slightly. It’s a testament to his beauty that he still looks gorgeous.

He’s so used to seeing him naked and disheveled, that there’s a real appeal to seeing him as everyone else does. Liu Qingge is a handsome man, his delicate features almost enhanced by his past suffering. It’s not a surprise Tianlang-jun had picked him out of the thousands at Cang Qiong.

“I should have kept your clothes from back then,” he complains.

“Recreating a Cang Qiong outfit shouldn’t be too hard,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “There are hundreds of pictures of them. Bai Zhan usually wore white, if I recall correctly.

Tianlang-jun frowns. “Isn’t that more likely to get messy?”

“I believe the concept was that a skilled cultivator could avoid dirtying the clothes, such was their strength.” Zhuzhi-lang smiles. “I could see Liu Qingge in white.”

“He looks best without anything,” Tianlang-jun sniffs then laughs. “In truth, I believe a man as beautiful as Liu Qingge would look good in most clothes. But ah, I don’t mind the chance to dress him up. It’s too bad I don’t have the palace coffers. I could have designed something sublime.”

“You don’t design clothes,” Zhuzhi-lang says, blinking.

“I could,” Tianlang-jun says. “Seems like a good skill to have. And what better model to use?”

Liu Qingge doesn’t react, not even when Tianlang-jun smooths his front collar, and pretends to adjust his cloak. Though Tianlang-jun suspects this entire topic of conversation would never have interested him.

“He’s missing a key piece of his outfit though,” Tianlang-jun says, reaching down to stroke the handle of Liu Qingge’s sword. He’s the one wearing it, a little peeved that Zhuzhi-lang refused to touch it, but there’s something in both of them that’s still hesitant to give Liu Qingge a weapon.

There’s no way Liu Qingge would hesitate to kill them both if he had his full mental faculties, after all.

“It isn’t Cheng Luan but a cultivator shouldn’t be without a sword,” Tianlang-jun says.

Tianlang-jun isn’t sure where Cheng Luan ended up. He thinks it was destroyed in that initial battle, so many decades ago. Liu Qingge never made mention of it. It would have been a good, cruel way to mock Liu Qingge, withholding his prized sword from him. Tianlang-jun knows he would have used it to hurt Liu Qingge.

Tianlang-jun stops walking and calls Liu Qingge to his side. Liu Qingge steps over to him, obedient and quiet as always. There are dozens of lines that Tianlang-jun wants to use at this moment, but with Liu Qingge before him, subdued and broken as he is, Tianlang-jun says nothing as he hands the weapon over.

Liu Qingge takes the sword but he doesn’t grip it properly. He merely holds it. Tianlang-jun frowns and goes over to fix his hand position but there’s no strength in his grasp.

Zhuzhi-lang has more patience. He takes the sword and adjusts the sword holster so it sits on Liu Qingge properly, patting him over to make sure it’s secure.

“So handsome,” Tianlang-jun murmurs, stroking his face. Liu Qingge turns into the touch, his eyes sliding shut as he anticipates being fucked. Tianlang-jun rubs his thumb over his lips, adoring the way Liu Qingge shifts in preparation for a kiss. “Not now, my dear. We’re on a hunt. We’ll have time a plenty for such debauchery when we return home.”

Zhuzhi-lang coughs lightly, as if to remind Tianlang-jun that their ‘debauchery’ should be kept to a minimum. After seeing how insatiable Liu Qingge could be, they had decided not to indulge him so much, seeing as how nothing would get done if they had sex every time that Liu Qingge wanted it. Tianlang-jun ignores him and slings an arm around Liu Qingge’s shoulders.

“Come, Liu Qingge. I want to see how the famed War God hunts. Even one with clipped claws like yourself should still give us a dazzling sight.”

Zhuzhi-lang had gotten reports of some kind of beast mauling the local’s livestock. It had recently upgraded to killing humans, with two victims already claimed, though Zhuzhi-lang says they were both drunks and he feels they were asking for trouble. Zhuzhi-lang suspects one of his little snakes was lost to the beast as well, though that might have been an accident, as the smaller snakes were sometimes crushed beneath giant creatures.

Still, Tianlang-jun had seen this as a good chance to protect his land, and give Liu Qingge a chance to revive those deadly skills of his. He hopes it’s like riding a sword, that it’s something you never really forget. Not that Tianlang-jun can ride a sword, but from the sounds of it, he figures it must be the same.

Tianlang-jun follows Zhuzhi-lang, who is doing the bulk of the tracking. Every now and then he casts out his senses, but he doesn’t sense anything.

“What sort of beast do you expect this to be, Liu Qingge? Surely you must have some idea. The famed War God was a prodigious hunter in his day,” Tianlang-jun asks but Liu Qingge says nothing, of course.

Zhuzhi-lang listens, then sighs at Liu Qingge’s lack of answer, but it’s not a surprise. Instead he starts talking about the tracks his little snakes had found and explaining his theories. Tianlang-jun keeps his gaze on Liu Qingge, who doesn’t react at all. It would be nice if the two could converse about different beasts they hunt. Zhuzhi-lang isn’t much for hunting for the thrill of it but he knows most everything about every snake that exists in the world. Surely they could find some common ground, once Liu Qingge recovers his wits?

The more likely scenario is that Liu Qingge will try to kill them both but Tianlang-jun can dream about good possibilities too.

Zhuzhi-lang stops them, and it doesn’t take long for Tianlang-jun to hear the heavy, labored breathing of a beast.

“My companions found it first, it seems,” Zhuzhi-lang says, eyes darting about as he sees some of his snakes, their corpses scattered about.

“Looks like they weren’t enough to kill it,” Tianlang-jun says, stepping over one of the larger snakes.

“But wound it, paralyze it? Slow it down? Perhaps,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “And that’s more than enough for me.”

Tianlang-jun doesn’t recognize it but the beast is on four legs, massive claws, and a tail that splits into four. Its scales glisten, wet and reeking of blood. The beast must have made a recent kill. When it roars, the very trees tremble and shake, and Tianlang-jun grins at the prospect of a challenge. It can’t hold a candle to him, but Liu Qingge should be able to fight this thing effectively.

The beast is fast and Tianlang-jun barely avoids a blow, the thrill of battle beginning to hit. Tianlang-jun and Zhuzhi-lang scatter to avoid it. Its eyes are hazy and it’s definitely been affected by some kind of venom. But that only weakened it, not made it weak.

It lashes out, determined to take someone down with it, eager for one last kill and one last taste of flesh. Tianlang-jun doesn’t let it get close, wary of how much power it has in its claws.

“Look out!” Zhuzhi-lang shouts but Liu Qingge doesn’t move.

Tianlang-jun knows what a killed fighter Liu Qingge was. Decades, centuries of instinct won’t fail him. But he isn’t moving away, isn’t avoiding the beast, and Tianlang-jun realizes that nearly too late. He manages to scoop Liu Qingge up seconds before the beast’s claws slice at him.

Good mood evaporated, Tianlang-jun leaps forward to grab the beast’s head, and tears it off. The beast barely has time to give a dying howl before Tianlang-jun tosses the head aside.

“Uncle, what happened?” Zhuzhi-lang asks.

Tianlang-jun is still holding Liu Qingge. He presses a kiss to his head, new worries roiling through him at how thoroughly Liu Qingge has been stripped of any identity and soul. Never, not in a thousand years, would he have thought that the War God would fail to stand up to an opponent.

“This is more serious than I had initially believed,” Tianlang-jun says.

“He’s less Liu Qingge and more like a pretty shell of him,” Zhuzhi-lang notes.

“Precisely,” Tianlang-jun says, something tight in his voice. He shouldn’t feel upset about this. Wasn’t this his goal initially, to break Liu Qingge into being subservient to him? But he’d never wanted to destroy him entirely. His idea had been more along the lines of a Liu Qingge who would eagerly open his mouth to take his cock then slice whatever demonic foe was bothering Tianlang-jun so he could go back to riding his cock.

They’re quiet as they return home. Zhuzhi-lang sets up the bath, gently moving Liu Qingge’s hands when he tries to reach for his cocks. Tianlang-jun lets Zhuzhi-lang clean Liu Qingge up, deep in thought, though he does manage a chuckle when Liu Qingge's hands go to try to arouse him.

“Insatiable,” he murmurs, unable to help a smile. He takes his hand and presses a kiss to the back of it, knowing that wouldn’t satisfy him at all.

Tianlang-jun waits until after dinner to pull them both into his room, holding back a sigh at how easily Liu Qingge falls into his bed.

Liu Qingge spreads his legs for Tianlang-jun, takes Zhuzhi-lang’s cocks down his throat, and comes like a wild thing. Tianlang-jun wonders if he can ever be satisfied now. It seems like he’s always ready to take a cock now.

“Rest, Qingge,” Tianlang-jun says, sweeping his sweaty hair from his forehead to kiss it. “You still have a long road to recovery.”

Liu Qingge blinks sleepily at him then curls up in Zhuzhi-lang’s embrace while holding Tianlang-jun’s hand tightly. Tianlang-jun smiles at the sweet image he makes then looks up at Zhuzhi-lang.

“He’s rather adorable like this, isn’t he?”

“Yes,” Zhuzhi-lang says, stroking Liu Qingge’s side. “Uncle? We aren’t going to give him up, are we?”

“No, I don’t think I can do it a second time,” he says. “But if he recovers, will he stay? I doubt it. Still, as much fun as this docile Liu Qingge is, I’m afraid it isn’t sustainable. I believe he would waste away before our eyes like this. It might happen in a year or ten, but it is finite. Better that he be allowed to recover and regain his strength. I’m not sure how he’ll manage that though, when he’s so hungry for cock.”

Zhuzhi-lang nods seriously, as much as he can when both his cocks have been drained dry by Liu Qingge’s mouth and ass. He sighs deeply then curls around Liu Qingge, linking their legs together. Zhuzhi-lang is quite sweet with Liu Qingge; he had sheepishly confessed one night to liking how Liu Qingge’s spiritual energy warmed him up, despite his demonic nature. Like being too close to a fire, the burn was too delightful to avoid.

Tianlang-jun doesn’t sleep for a long time, contemplating what he’s to do next. For so long, he’s done as he pleased, ever since he felled Huan Hua and Cang Qiong. Now, if he does so, it risks Liu Qingge’s life. And Tianlang-jun doesn’t know if he wants to jeopardize that even more than he already has.

~

Zhuzhi-lang takes off for a few weeks, to consult with various healers and medics, about what they can do to aid Liu Qingge’s recovery. Tianlang-jun enjoys himself thoroughly with Liu Qingge, certain that Zhuzhi-lang will return and tell him to cut it out.

Sure enough, Zhuzhi-lang returns with two bag fulls of scrolls, with different opinions from various masters. The only thing similar? Refrain from excessive sexual intimacy. They differ in what the allowable amount would be, but all of them agree that the minimum is needed for recovery.

“You did this to spite me,” Tianlang-jun accuses him as they redraw a new night time routine. He’s holding Liu Qingge in his lap as he says this, stroking his back; Liu Qingge was rarely far from him the past few weeks and seems a little more aware as long as he’s near someone. He has his eyes closed, in a somewhat meditative state, though Tianlang-jun isn’t sure it’s a full meditation. He can feel Liu Qingge's spiritual energy pulsing through, a deliberate push and pull on Liu Qingge's part.

Su Xiyan had done it before, which is why he recognizes the rhythm of it.

“Uncle,” Zhuzhi-lang says, sighing heavily. “You are still getting him the majority of the time. We both know Liu Qingge does not sleep well alone. Even if put to bed alone, he will come find one of us in the middle of the night, and usually begin sexual activities. How many times has he woken you up with his mouth on you?”

“Not enough,” Tianlang-jun says just as Zhuzhi-lang says “too many.”

They pause and look at each other.

“Too many,” Zhuzhi-lang repeats firmly. “In order for Liu Qingge to recover to a previous state of self, we cannot be indulging in his body as we did before.”

“You’re impossible. You say he needs sex to live and now you’re saying I can’t fuck him? Which is it?”

“You are being deliberately obtuse. That is not what I said. I said we need to limit our sexual activity with him. We are perfectly capable of restricting ourselves. Liu Qingge is not.”

Tianlang-jun’s pout and subsequent tantrums are entirely sincere, even as he knows this is best for Liu Qingge’s recovery.

It’s rare that Zhuzhi-lang and Tianlang-jun fight, so he’s not really sure what to do with himself. Zhuzhi-lang busies himself concocting medication for Liu Qingge so Tianlang-jun takes Liu Qingge to the library, figuring Zhuzhi-lang won’t bother him for a while. Tianlang-jun has an impressive collection by now, and he’s woefully behind on his readings, distracted as he’s been with Liu Qingge.

“I assume Peak Lord Liu was an educated man,” Tianlang-jun says. “To be honest, most of my library is comprised of, ahem, more modern fare. But a few shelves in here are dedicated to Zhuzhi-lang’s studies. His tastes are more…well, one might say refined. I would say boring.”

Liu Qingge doesn’t protest the books placed beside him but he doesn’t reach out for them either. Tianlang-jun opens one about demonic warfare, something Zhuzhi-lang had specifically picked up for Liu Qingge. Under Tianlang-jun’s reign, he attempted to encourage an interest in the written arts. Few demons had embraced it but some had created entire compendiums.

Liu Qingge sits there, eyes on the book, but it’s clear he isn’t reading. Still, Tianlang-jun leaves him, hoping that perhaps a word will catch his attention.

It takes about a half hour before Liu Qingge slides to his knees and starts rubbing his face against his cock. Tianlang-jun groans, unable to resist jerking his hips forward, his cock aching.

“You little minx,” Tianlang-jun pants, torn between wanting to keep reading and wanting to fuck Liu Qingge. He knows they’re supposed to be moderating how often they bend him over. But Liu Qingge sought him out! Surely, they have allowances for that?

While Tianlang-jun is debating himself, Liu Qingge is happily pulling his cock out from his robes. Tianlang-jun swears and smacks his hand against the table as Liu Qingge licks up and down his cock, then swallows him down, forcing Tianlang-jun’s cock as deep as he can go.

Tianlang-jun abandons his book, unable to concentrate, not when he’s getting his brains sucked out through his cock. He moans, wrapping his fingers in Liu Qingge’s hair, undoing his hair tie so he can wind his fingers through his loose hair. Liu Qingge doesn’t care, keeps gobbling his cock down like he’ll die without it. Tianlang-jun doesn’t know how true that is.

Tianlang-jun doesn’t, can't warn him that he’s about to come . He thrusts forward, deep into Liu Qingge’s throat, groaning at how hot and tight it is. Liu Qingge drinks his come down, pulling off and licking at the tip to get every last drop. His tongue swirls around his slit, and it’s too much, but Tianlang-jun doesn’t stop him.

“How is anyone supposed to resist you?” Tianlang-jun groans, stroking Liu Qingge’s hair once he uncurls his fingers. At some point he’d grabbed fistfuls of it, but Liu Qingge hadn’t protested, not even a little.

Liu Qingge gets up and pulls his pants down, stepping out of them, and pushes Tianlang-jun's books off the table so he can stretch out on it. Tianlang-jun is too aroused to be outraged. Liu Qingge spreads his legs and looks back at him, eager and ready to get fucked.

“No one, no mortal or immortal, man or demon, could resist,” Tianlang-jun mutters like a crazed person as he gets behind Liu Qingge, his cock already hard.

He doesn’t have to open Liu Qingge up. Liu Qingge jerks a little as Tianlang-jun starts to press in, going slow to start. He tosses his head back and whines, breaking what little control Tianlang-jun had left. Tianlang-jun pins Liu Qingge to the table and starts fucking him, groaning at how good Liu Qingge feels.

“You’re so tight for me,” he gasps.

Liu Qingge rocks his hips back, clenching down around his cock, making the most delightful sounds whenever Tianlang-jun hits deep inside him. He’s already drooling, like he’s been starving for this, and he thrusts his hips back to meet Tianlang-jun's cock. Tianlang-jun wonders if Liu Qingge would keep fucking himself on his cock if he stopped but as tempting as the thought is, he’s feeling too good to stop.

Tianlang-jun reaches around to stroke Liu Qingge’s cock, making the other come. Liu Qingge always tightens up so deliciously around him and Tianlang-jun comes like that, filling Liu Qingge’s pulsing hole with his come. Some of it drips out immediately from how hard Liu Qingge is clenching down on him but the feeling of come sliding down his thighs and legs only makes Liu Qingge moan.

Tianlang-jun doesn’t pull out, grinding up inside Liu Qingge’s twitching hole, enraptured with the feeling. The way it clings to him, like he should stay for longer, like leaving doesn’t have to be an option. Tianlang-jun stops, and sure enough, Liu Qingge starts pushing his hips back immediately, seeking out that friction for himself.

There’s the sound of someone clearing their throat and Tianlang-jun doesn’t stop to look at him, fully aware that Zhuzhi-lang is looking at him in disappointment.

“I thought you said you were going to read with Liu Qingge,” Zhuzhi-lang says, his tone making it clear that he expected this.

“He got bored,” Tianlang-jun says defensively. Liu Qingge moans, grinding his hips back, like he’s supporting Tianlang-jun’s claim. “I didn’t start it!”

“Looks like you’re about to finish it though,” Zhuzhi-lang says.

“Would you like to join–?”

“I’ll be giving Liu Qingge a bath when you’ve finished,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “And cleaning him out. We need to minimize how much we come inside him. How many times have you come inside him already?”

“....once?”

Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t say anything. For a few moments, the only sound is Liu Qingge’s panting and moaning as he fucks himself on Tianlang-jun’s cock. Then Zhuzhi-lang sighs. He goes over, sliding a hand into Liu Qingge’s hair. Then he leans down to kiss him deeply, his tongue driving deep down Liu Qingge’s throat.

Liu Qingge spasms as he struggles to breathe, clenching down around Tianlang-jun’s cock.

“Fuck,” Tianlang-jun hisses and he tries to pull out but it feels so good. He whines as he comes, aching at how much pleasure has been pulled out of him in such a short amount of time.

Zhuzhi lang sighs and pulls his cock out.

“Uncle, if I may?”

“Of course, of course,” Tianlang-jun says, not at all ashamed that he needs a break. Liu Qingge makes a long, high pitched sound as Tianlang-jun leaves his hole. Zhuzhi-lang takes the chance to strip Liu Qingge naked, sliding a hand across his bare back, making him shiver and whine. But he’s satisfied shortly after as Zhuzhi-lang slides in.

Liu Qingge moans, rocking his hips back so he can get Zhuzhi-lang all the way in.

“You should be punished for tempting uncle to come inside your hole,” Zhuzhi-lang says, nuzzling at his neck. He slides his hands, so one can play with Liu Qingge’s chest and the other can grab his chin. “I’ve told you, you can’t have our come all the time. We’re trying to help you.”

Liu Qingge doesn’t say anything and Zhuzhi-lang slides his fingers into his mouth, smiling at how Liu Qingge laps at his fingers. He starts sucking on them like it’s a cock.

“Nephew, hurry up—“

“I want to go slow,” Zhuzhi-lang says, deliberate and calm. Liu Qingge hears that and whines, trying to rock his hips back. But Zhuzhi-lang is deep inside and doesn’t give him the chance. “You can’t help it, Liu Qingge, so you shouldn’t get punished. That would be cruel. But neither can you be allowed to do as you please. So, take my cock. But at my pace.”

“You’re going to break him,” Tianlang-jun says, amused despite everything. Zhuzhi-lang really is pissed about this. He’d never take it out on Tianlang-jun so Liu Qingge is forced to bear the brunt of his ire.

Liu Qingge has tears rolling down his face as he tries to fuck himself on Zhuzhi-lang’s cock. But he has no leverage or space to do so.

“Don’t worry, this feels good for me,” Zhuzhi-lang murmurs. “You’re so tight around me. I can feel you pulsing. I could stay like this for hours.”

Both Tianlang-jun and Liu Qingge protest at that, for different reasons. Zhuzhi-lang pinches Liu Qingge’s nipple.

“None of that. You get my cock, not my come, and you’ll be happy for it.”

Zhuzhi-lang is true to his word. He slams in and out of Liu Qingge, fucking him good, and when he comes, he does it over his ass and back.

Liu Qingge is rendered unaware, teased for so long before that he barely shudders as Zhuzhi-lang come hits him. There are tears steaming down his face and he inhales shakily as he’s denied. But his cock is soft from having come so much, writhing on Zhuzhi-lang cock until he had started coming dry.

“Nephew, I thought you liked Liu Qingge. Poor man. He’s wrecked,” Tianlang-jun says, stoking Liu Qingge’s back.

“He has to learn,” Zhuzhi-lang says simply. “Come, Liu Qingge. I’ll clean you up.”

Tianlang-jun is about to offer but he stops as he watches Zhuzhi-lang pick Liu Qingge up gently. He sighs and scratches at the back of his head, understanding that this is Zhuzhi-lang's apology.

He really does need to stop coming inside Liu Qingge but it’s impossible, especially if Liu Qingge initiates. Tianlang-jun goes to join them in the bath, unsurprised that Zhuzhi-lang is kissing him as he lathers him up. A wet, submissive Liu Qingge is too hot to resist.

“You said I could come in his mouth?” Tianlang-jun asks, stroking himself as he watches Zhuzhi-lang grind his cock in between Liu Qingge’s ass cheeks.

“It would be preferable,” Zhuzhi-lang says.

“I suppose it will have to do,” Tianlang-jun says with a theatrical sigh. “Now, Liu Qingge, you heard him. Open up.”

Liu Qingge obeys, groaning as Zhuzhi-lang slides two fingers into his ass. He fucks his face on Tianlang-jun’s cock and rocks his hips back, splashing water around them, but never stopping.

“Ah, I don’t want to let this sweet mouth go,” Tianlang-jun says as he comes down Liu Qingge’s throat. Liu Qingge drinks his come down greedily, and he doesn’t release Tianlang-jun’s cock, like he needs another helping. Tianlang-jun pets his cheek, stroking it tenderly.

“If you want Liu Qingge to recover…” Zhuzhi-lang trails off then snarls, slamming his cock inside Liu Qingge. Liu Qingge cries out, the sound muffled, but it doesn’t diminish the ecstasy.

Tianlang-jun smiles at his nephew, unsurprised that he also falls to Liu Qingge’s body. It’s too delicious, too perfect for them. Resistance is useless before the beauty that is Liu Qingge.

“Pull out,” Tianlang-jun says, mischievous, reaching down to pinch Liu Qingge’s nipples.

Liu Qingge cries out as he comes, clenching down on Zhuzhi-lang’s cock. His fingers dig into Tianlang-jun’s thighs, cock dirtying the water with his ejaculate.

Zhuzhi-lang fucks him hard and pulls out, coming over his backside. Liu Qingge finally releases Tianlang-jun’s cock, his sounds free and unrestrained now, delightful as moans shakily from his last orgasm.

“Such restraint,” Tianlang-jun says, pulling Liu Qingge into his embrace so he doesn’t topple over. He wipes at his wet hair, kissing the top of his head. “Shall we continue?”

“We shouldn’t,” Zhuzhi-lang says, even as he grabs Liu Qingge’s ass, rubbing and manhandling his cheeks.

“One night won’t hurt,” Tianlang-jun says. “Right, Liu Qingge?”

Liu Qingge moans and reaches for Tianlang-jun’s cock again.

“See?” Tianlang-jun says with a gasp, as Liu Qingge’s hand strokes him. “He wants it. And you can have it, Liu Qingge. As much as you want.”

~

One of Liu Qingge’s great qualities in this state is that if he’s given a task, he’ll complete it without fuss. Unlike Tianlang-jun, who whines and usually foists his chores onto Liu Qingge. Case in point, Liu Qingge is chopping firewood for the stove, and on Tianlang-jun’s orders, he’s doing it shirtless, only wearing a pair of white pants. He’s regained some weight and Tianlang-jun sits in the shade with a plate of snacks, happily enjoying the sight of Liu Qingge’s rippling muscles.

If he oiled Liu Qingge’s chest up before, insisting it was necessary, that’s for his benefit. Liu Qingge never complains or stops him now. Before, when he’d enslaved him, Liu Qingge would fight, trying to push away the jewelry and flimsy wear, bite at any gag he forced on him. Tianlang-jun misses that, more than a little, but there’s something delightful about a docile Liu Qingge who bends over and lets Tianlang-jun stuff him with a dildo before sending him off to hang laundry.

He should have done that this time. But, as Liu Qingge raises the axe and slams it down, muscles in full display, Tianlang-jun finds this to be quite acceptable.

But since Zhuzhi-lang and Liu Qingge are busy, there’s no one to grab stuff for him, so Tianlang-jun is forced to get up and retrieve his own refreshments. The smell of something putrid hits him as soon as he opens the door and he holds his nose as he walks into the kitchen, where Zhuzhi-lang is staring intently at whatever concoction he is working on.

“That smells vile. Do it outside,” Tianlang-jun commands.

“It’s for Liu Qingge,” Zhuzhi-lang says. He wrinkles his nose. “It’s supposed to smell like that. It’s not appealing to demons.”

Tianlang-jun frowns. “Explain.”

Zhuzhi-lang starts pointing to all the scrolls he had accumulated, waxing on and on about the various maladies inflicted on Liu Qingge. Obviously, none of the healers had been able to inspect Liu Qingge individually, and had only been going off of Zhuzhi-lang’s reports. But the way demonic energy had intertwined with Liu Qingge’s base was a problem for the spiritual cultivators. Ridding him of that would help clear his mind and restore his strength.

“That’s why we aren’t supposed to come inside him as much,” Zhuzhi-lang says, not glaring at Tianlang-jun, but he’s definitely giving him an accusatory glance. “Some is still necessary at this point but it’s preferable to do it in his mouth rather than anywhere else.”

“He wants it inside,” Tianlang-jun says, not pouting. He crosses his arms and turns away. Fine, he’s definitely pouting. Who can resist Liu Qingge’s tight hole? Coming inside is the natural order.

Liu Qingge starts bringing a batch of firewood in, neatly stacking the logs. Zhuzhi-lang glances at him then snaps his head back, eyes wide open as he takes him in. He switches his look to Tianlang-jun, who refuses to meet his eyes.

“Uncle.”

“He looks gorgeous like this,” Tianlang-jun argues.

“And you want to fuck him like this now, don’t you?”

“Who could resist? Come here, Qingge. Let me massage those arms. I’m sure they’re aching right now,” he says. Liu Qingge obediently sits in his lap, letting Tianlang-jun move his body around so that he’s facing outward, his back to Tianlang-jun’s chest. It’s not a surprise that Tianlang-jun’s hands go to his chest, using the oil to rub all over him.

Liu Qingge moans, tipping his head back as Tianlang-jun shamelessly gropes him. It doesn’t take long before his nipples are hard and Tianlang-jun pinches at them, rolling them between his fingers and flicking them to make Liu Qingge whine and pant. Tianlang-jun doesn’t stop, not until Liu Qingge cries out and comes like that, then sags in his embrace as he continues to abuse his pecs. It’s too much fun to grope and play with the meat of his chest, especially since he’s gotten some bulk on him and he’s oiled him up.

“Should I make you come again like this?” He asks, nosing against his ear, licking the shell of it to make him shiver. Liu Qingge moans, pushing his chest into his hands, and Tianlang-jun laughs softly as he pinches his nipples again. He could spend hours like this, pulling at those hard nipples, forcing Liu Qingge to make the most delightful of sounds.

“Don’t tease him,” Zhuzhi-lang admonishes, even as he stares at them, cooking forgotten.

“But he likes this,” Tianlang-jun says as he twists Liu Qingge’s nipples, making the man cry out. Liu Qingge doesn’t resist, doesn’t pull away, and he makes the cutest sounds as another nipple orgasm is coaxed from him.

He ends up leaning back against Tianlang-jun, panting heavily as he recovers from the two climaxes, but his hips are still moving as he aches for something inside him. Tianlang-jun gently strokes his arms and chest, not to arouse him, but to remind him that they aren’t done.

Tianlang-jun pushes his pants down, whistling at how wet they are, the fabric turned translucent and showing off his lower region. He won’t need any extra oil to lubricate Liu Qingge today. Tianlang-jun scoops up some of his come and starts to work at Liu Qingge’s rim, groaning at how easily his finger slides in.

Liu Qingge writhes in his lap, mouth open as he pants and gasps, legs trembling as his hole is fingered. He doesn’t try to pull away, only moves enough to help Tianlang-jun take his clothes all the way off. Naked and trembling, Liu Qingge rocks into Tianlang-jun’s fingers, hands scrambling to find some kind of support or leverage.

Zhuzhi-lang extinguishes the fire and comes over to watch, breathing heavily. Tianlang-jun gives a nod of his head and Zhuzhi-lang grabs Liu Qingge’s head, kissing him deeply. Liu Qingge grabs onto him like a lifeline, moaning as he’s fingered from behind and his throat fucked by Zhuzhi-lang’s tongue in the front.

It doesn’t take long before he’s coming again, trembling in their embrace. Tianlang-jun grunts as he comes too, smearing his come across Liu Qingge’s backside.

“Come,” Zhuzhi-lang says, holding onto Liu Qingge’s, who had collapsed against him after his climax. “Uncle has a point, you clearly desire and need to be fucked.”

“I’m so clever,” Tianlang-jun says, still breathless.

Zhuzhi-lang lays Liu Qingge on the table, carefully pushing the various dishes to the side, then thinking better of it and removing them. He opens Liu Qingge’s legs and gestures to Tianlang-jun, who doesn’t hesitate to slide in between them.

Liu Qingge’s hole twitches in anticipation, and Tianlang-jun takes a moment to decide what he wants to do to it. Lick it? Finger it more? Fuck him?

He slides his cock in, groaning at how good Liu Qingge’s feels as he clamps down deliciously

Liu Qingge’s head tips over the edge of the table, mouth opening wide so he can take Zhuzhi-lang’s cock. He moans as he laps at the head, throat accepting him deep inside.

They start fucking him, jerking his lax and willing body in between them. Liu Qingge moans and tries his best to pleasure them both, well practiced at it by now.

Liu Qingge spasms as he comes but he doesn’t ask for them to stop. Instead he clenches down on Tianlang-jun and keeps stroking Zhuzhi-lang’s cock, eager for more.

“You feel so good,” Tianlang-jun moans as he comes deep inside Liu Qingge. Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t say anything but he whimpers behind his hand, shooting his own come down Liu Qingge’s throat.

Dinner is late that night.

~

No matter how it smells, looks, or tastes, Liu Qingge is a good patient and accepts any medical concoction Zhuzhi-lang forces onto him. Several of them are potent and he ends up bleeding or vomiting, expelling more of the demonic energy in the process. A normal man would be hesitant to accept anything from Zhuzhi-lang at this point. But Liu Qingge still takes them all, downing whatever Zhuzhi-lang cooks up.

Zhuzhi-lang didn’t only use medicine. Mediation techniques, rare items, anything that can help Liu Qingge is attempted. Tianlang-jun admires his nephew's work, even though some of the attempts leave Liu Qingge too weak to indulge in sex.

Case in point, Liu Qingge exits his closed door meditation after three days, shaking and shivering, the purified jewel turned pitch black from absorbing the demonic energy in him. Tianlang-jun takes the jewel from him, whistling at how much demonic energy it had accumulated. He holds it up to the light, marveling at how blackened it has become.

“What a shame I don’t have a hundred more of these,” he says. “I could fuck you full and then just have you wear one.”

“That’s not how it works,” Zhuzhi-lang says, catching Liu Qingge before he can collapse. “See? The process is hard on him. We won’t be repeating it.”

Liu Qingge doesn’t say anything still, but Tianlang-jun wonders if it’s because he’s too busy trying to hold onto his consciousness.

“It was worthwhile,” Tianlang-jun says. “I can detect a marked decrease just from the last few days. Many of your other methods have been slow–”

“Removing a poison must be done carefully,” Zhuzhi-lang says as he takes Liu Qingge to his room and strips him of his clothing. It’s soaked in sweat. Tianlang-jun licks his lips but Zhuzhi-lang ignores him, redressing Liu Qingge in fresh, comfortable clothes. “And Liu Qingge was effectively poisoned for years. This isn’t a process that can be rushed.”

Tianlang-jun doesn’t say anything for a full minute then he smiles. “You’re awfully fond of Qingge, aren’t you? My, I never thought I’d see the day you’d snap at me.”

Zhuzhi-lang sets a cool cloth on his head, which causes Liu Qingge to give a minute groan of relief.

“Uncle, we both know you would be devastated if Liu Qingge passed away before recovering,” he says. “I am fond of him. But I’m not the only one.”

“I never denied it,” Tianlang-jun says. “Despite my vow to myself to never love again, I seem to find myself falling for a human all over again, like the fool that I am. Do I have a type, nephew? I think I do, though I wonder at myself for liking the prickliest of beauties.”

When Liu Qingge wakes, he continues as before, gaze empty and body moving automatically. But he begins wearing a sword again, and no one is sure when he began doing so. It looks so right on him that they hadn’t questioned it. Tianlang-jun and Zhuzhi-lang discuss the matter, but ultimately, it’s a step on his road to recovery. Taking it away might harm his psyche further.

“I don’t mind accepting this risk but I don’t want him to harm you,” Tianlang-jun tells Zhuzhi-lang, while Liu Qingge is lounging in a bath, so they can have this conversation away from him.

“I am humbled by Uncle’s concern. But I believe a Liu Qingge who has recovered his wits would despise us both. I will accept this risk alongside you, if it leads to better health for Liu Qingge," Zhuzhi-lang says.

Tianlang-jun glances into the room; Liu Qingge is washing diligently, scrubbing at his head. Earlier, Tianlang-jun had fucked him with a dildo, edging him over and over until he had finally come from having his nipples pinched. Tianlang-jun is far worse at resisting filling Liu Qingge up, and Zhuzhi-lang had suggested the use of implements. It helps, but Tianlang-jun’s cock still aches to pump Liu Qingge full, even though Liu Qingge had jerked him off.

Zhuzhi-lang sits at the table and pulls out his to-do list. He starts working on a new one for tomorrow. Tianlang-jun smiles as he rests against the wall. Zhuzhi-lang picked a decently large house, but it’s nothing compared to the palace they’d inhabited before. But here, he can look over at Liu Qingge bathing, and then to Zhuzhi-lang working away. It’s a much simpler existence and it suits Tianlang-jun far more than he had expected.

Zhuzhi-lang senses his look and pauses, turning to face Tianlang-jun.

“I received reports of a flock of some kind of giant bird. They are known to feast on human flesh. One cultivation sect has already declined to handle it,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “I’d like to track them down tomorrow night.”

“Surely that’s something you can handle yourself,” Tianlang-jun says, frowning at the thought of fighting a bird. They can be irritating, with that whole ability to fly.

“Yes. But if Liu Qingge goes, I assume you will want to join us,” Zhuzhi-lang says and he’s absolutely right.

“Are you sure about taking Liu Qingge?” Tianlang-jun asks. He glances at Liu Qingge again, remembering how close he’d been to getting injured, or worse. Liu Qingge is drying off, squeezing water out of his hair, and pulling his clothes on.

“He’s wearing a sword again. I feel that’s a good sign,” Zhuzhi-lang says. He shakes his head. “I don’t believe there’s a possibility that he’s lost his cultivation skills. They are too ingrained in him. I’ve been doing some reading on how Bai Zhan operated. It was a very battle focused peak. Most of their training seemed to revolve around the practicalities of fighting.”

“Too bad the leader of Bai Zhan can’t tell us this himself,” Tianlang-jun says, gesturing to Liu Qingge once he comes out of the bath. Liu Qingge goes over, sitting on his lap, but Tianlang-jun doesn’t do anything more than keep him close. He strokes his back, liking how warm Liu Qingge is from his bath. “So you think throwing him into a fight is the best way to regain some of his self?”

“As long as we’re with him to protect him, I think we can mitigate the risk, and reap the benefits,” Zhuzhi-lang says.

“And if I don’t want to take that risk?”

“Then I’ll handle this issue on my own,” Zhuzhi-lang says.

Tianlang-jun hums but he doesn’t disagree with Zhuzhi-lang’s take on the matter. He looks down at the blank Liu Qingge, who has started circulating his qi again. If he suspects sex isn’t going to happen, that’s usually what he starts doing. Zhuzhi-lang thinks it’s a good sign. Tianlang-jun presses a kiss to the top of Liu Qingge’s head, remembering how he’d snarl and fight him.

It’s a sight he won’t ever forget, the lone swordsman standing in a field of corpses, covered in blood, determined to battle to the end. Tianlang-jun’s chest aches at the memory, his arm tightening around the docile Liu Qingge in his lap.

If Liu Qingge chose to be here, chose this form…

But no, Tianlang-jun’s actions have brought this upon him. This isn’t a life Liu Qingge would ever wish for himself. He would have preferred an honorable death. And Tianlang-jun denied him that right.

“We’ll go,” Tianlang-jun says. “Give Liu Qingge a sleeping draught tonight. I want him well rested and no chance of him pawing at me in the middle of the night.”

“Very well,” Zhuzhi-lang says, blinking, but saying nothing more.

Tianlang-jun doesn’t rest easy. He’s given Liu Qingge to Zhuzhi-lang for the night, still not trusting himself to keep his hands off the sleeping man. And this way, when he tosses and turns, he’s not risking waking him up, even through a drugged sleep.

Tianlang-jun has made many choices, far reaching and long lasting, but none of them torment him quite like this one. He doesn’t regret felling Huan Hua and Cang Qiong. But if he hadn’t, would he have been able to vie for Liu Qingge’s hand? Or would he have been rejected summarily for being a demon? Tianlang-jun can’t help considering the possibilities of fate that never occurred, even as he knows it’s a useless task.

Su Xiyan is dead. Liu Qingge is broken.

Tianlang-jun’s dreams are dark and he feels like he’s moving through sludge in them. But he recalls none of the details when he wakes, only knowing that his tears are impossible to stop and the ache in his chest makes him wish he could rip his foolish heart out.

Zhuzhi-lang will notice straight away so Tianlang-jun turns to doting on Liu Qingge, pretending to inspect him all over, loudly protesting that Zhuzhi-lang better not have manhandled him during the night. Thankfully, Zhuzhi-lang simply blinks at him and busies himself preparing to set out, and by the time they’re on the move, Tianlang-jun has regained some of his equilibrium.

“Here,” Zhuzhi-lang says to Liu Qingge, putting a mask around his face.

“What’s that for?” Tianlang-jun asks. The mask should cover Liu Qingge’s gorgeous face. But the dark piece of cloth only accentuates his eyes.

Tianlang-jun watches him, something in his gut squirming as the blank look in Liu Qingge’s eyes flickers, little flashes of awareness that struggle to come to the surface but perish before they can reach the edge.

Liu Qingge is strong. He doesn’t give up fighting, not then, and not now.

“We thought Luo Binghe had abandoned him,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “I’ve been wondering if that’s true or not.”

“Any solid theories?”

Zhuzhi-lang shakes his head. “I haven’t investigated as much as I should have. My priority has been on helping Liu Qingge recover. But I’ve heard word from the borderlands that royal envoys have been asking around after the humans there, looking for something.”

“What does that mean, I wonder? Perhaps he regretted giving his toy away,” Tianlang-jun says, resting his arm across Liu Qingge’s shoulders “Well, no matter. I’ve claimed him once more. Even the Demon Emperor would hesitate before me.”

Zhuzhi-lang smiles at his boast, not doubting it for a second.

“Wear that whenever you go out,” Tianlang-jun commands to Liu Qingge, not wanting to risk losing him again. “And maybe at home, once in a while–”

“Uncle,” Zhuzhi-lang sighs, unsurprised that Tianlang-jun would find a way to make this kinky.

“He looks good in it,” Tianlang-jun says, defending himself.

“He looks good in everything,” Zhuzhi-lang says.

Liu Qingge stops, of his own volition, and Tianlang-jun and Zhuzhi-lang immediately look around.

“Remind me later–” Tianlang-jun starts, then curses as the birds dive down to attack them.

“Look for the flock leader,” Zhuzhi-lang says. “She commands the others. Once she dies, they will scatter, and look for a new flock.”

Tianlang-jun tries to say something to show he’s heard him but his attention is diverted, from trying to avoid the birds attacking and watching Liu Qingge dodge. At first, it seems effortless, but Tianlang-jun quickly realizes how much it’s taking out of Liu Qingge. His skills truly are part of his body and bones, but he doesn’t have the strength to keep it up for long.

A fear lights up inside Tianlang-jun. Before he can reach for him, Liu Qingge draws his sword, gritting his teeth as he fends off the flock leader. The beast had pinpointed him as the weakest and attacked, screeching as Liu Qingge’s blade bites into its feet. Liu Qingge holds the claws back, his sword catching them precisely, before he drives it back. His stance goes lax too quickly but that moment is enough for Zhuzhi-lang to jump in and tear the beast’s throat.

As Zhuzhi-lang said, once the flock leader dies, the flock disperses. Tianlang-jun watches them flee, then goes over to check on Liu Qingge, thankful that he’s uninjured. Tianlang-jun wants to celebrate by kissing him but instead he beams at Liu Qingge.

“Welcome back, Peak Lord Liu,” he says. Liu Qingge doesn’t say anything but his gaze doesn’t seem quite so empty and far away. “Ah, I didn’t think it would happen so suddenly. But this is the first step. And it deserves to be celebrated all the same. Come, Qingge.”

Liu Qingge goes, obedient, but there’s something tense in his body. Tianlang-jun kisses his forehead and links their arms.

“I’ll clean this up, Uncle. You can take Liu Qingge home,” Zhuzhi-lang says, like the filial nephew he is. “Harvesting the beast will take some time.”

“Thank you,” Tianlang-jun says and wraps an arm around Liu Qingge. “We’ll need to get you a better sword, so you can fly us back. That will be exhilarating. I haven’t flown in decades.”

Tianlang-jun has some knowledge of cultivators' swords. Su Xiyan had been quite proud of hers, and flight had been a delightful experience, one he wouldn’t mind experiencing again. He babbles about what he knows of famous swords as he takes Liu Qingge back. Liu Qingge doesn’t respond, not until Tianlang-jun starts taking his clothes off and pushing him down into the bed.

Liu Qingge moans and spreads his legs, jerking uncharacteristically as Tianlang-jun touches his rim.

“Did you get injured?” Tianlang-jun asks, looking him over. He doesn’t think so. Perhaps the strain of battle is hitting him now? He slows down, taking his time to open him up just in case.

Soon, Liu Qingge is panting and rocking into his touch, and Tianlang-jun forgets his concern. He plows into Liu Qingge, pulling out before he can come inside, coating Liu Qingge’s stomach in his come. Liu Qingge is still hard and he runs his fingers through the come, eyes dark with lust.

“We’re not done,” Tianlang-jun promises, using his blood mites to fill his own cock again by sheer force. Liu Qingge pushes down on Tianlang-jun’s stomach, and Tianlang-jun doesn’t hesitate to lie down so Liu Qingge can climb into top of him.

Liu Qingge rides him, moaning as he fucks himself stupid on Tianlang-jun’s cock. Tianlang-jun reaches out to try to touch his face and Liu Qingge slaps his hand away.

“That’s good, Qingge,” Tianlang-jun says, thrusting up into Liu Qingge’s ass. “I’m more than happy to fuck you through your recovery, slow and steady. You can hate me when you’ve recovered. I don’t mind. But a beauty like you deserves a far kinder fate.”

Liu Qingge’s face has a strange expression, as he struggles to focus on his pleasure, but some of Tianlang-jun’s words must be getting through to him. He shakes his head, slamming his hips down, clenching down hard as he comes.

Tianlang-jun doesn’t move, entranced by Liu Qingge as always. His mouth is open and there’s a line of spit between his lips as he breathes heavily, clearly not done. He climbs off Tianlang-jun and collapses onto his stomach, slowly starting to grind his cock against the bed.

“Shall we keep going?” Tianlang-jun says, running his fingernails across Liu Qingge’s trembling ass.

“Y…yes,” Liu Qingge murmurs, spreading his legs again. Tianlang-jun slows down, though his hands don’t leave Liu Qingge’s body. Liu Qingge glances at him then turns his face away, hiding it beneath his arm. “Fuck me more.”

“With pleasure,” Tianlang-jun says, sliding back deep inside him. He stops once his hips can go no further and presses a sweet kiss to Liu Qingge’s cheek. “Whatever you want, darling.

There’s a spark in Liu Qingge’s eyes but it gradually fades as pleasure overwhelms him. He swings his hips back, making the cutest sluttiest noises as he seeks out another orgasm with Tianlang-jun’s cock.

On his last orgasm, Tianlang-jun finally comes inside Liu Qingge, sending him spiraling into his own climax. He moans as he clenches down, reaching back to feel where Tianlang-jun pulls out and his come starts to slip out. Liu Qingge groans and tightens his ass, sliding his fingers in to coax his come out.

“Rude,” Tianlang-jun says and pushes Liu Qingge’s hand away, sliding its own fingers inside him. Liu Qingge cries out and tightens around Tianlang-jun’s fingers, like he doesn’t know if he wants them out or deeper.

Tianlang-jun pushes his come deep inside Liu Qingge, making him come again like that, and he presses a kiss to the top of Liu Qingge’s ass.

“I can’t help it,” he murmurs, somewhat apologetically. “The urge to fill you, to mark you as mine, it’s my nature.

Liu Qingge looks at him, scrutinizing in a way Tianlang-jun hasn’t seen in ages, then his expression smooths out as he closes his eyes to sleep.

Liu Qingge has a long way to go before he’s recovered to anything like his former self. As much as Tianlang-jun dreads that day, knowing it will mean Liu Qingge leaves his side, he’s also relieved that Liu Qingge seems to be on the path to recovery now. He holds him tight while he can and listens to his breathing, deep in thought, wondering at this tangled web he’s woven.

He can hear Zhuzhi-lang in the house, unsure of when he returned but he’s busy keeping the place nice as always. Tianlang-jun leans against Liu Qingge, wishing these days would last forever. He slides his cock in between his butt cheeks, knowing either he or Liu Qingge will initiate in the morning, and it’s easy to fall asleep with that knowledge.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of warprize