Chapter Text
It began with the death of Su Xiyan.
A strong Cultivator, and Disciple of the Huan Hua Sect. Her death was used as the linchpin to direct an assault at Tianlang-Jun. The Palace Master who was beside himself with grieve spoke about Tianlang-Jun murdering his Disciple and when the Cultivators staged an attack, froze to see the demon crying over the womens form cradling a baby to his chest.
The old man wanted to attack and kill the demon- but the other Cultivators stopped him.
It was a rare sight to see a Demon being vulnerable, and the baby cradled in his arms also had the sigil, the ark of sin on it’s forehead.
It proved the impossible, that a demon could love a human.
Immediately the attacked, using tailsmans to trap Tianlang-Jun and the Zhao Hua Peak took the child- Tianlang-Jun screamed bloody murder while the Monk approached.
“Listen well, Beast. These men and women came to see to your destruction. But this Master has began to revise such a thing.”
He moved to his knees looking at the demon in the eye who was watching his son, seeming as if he would do anything to get his son back.
A perfect bargaining chip.
“We will create a contract. You, Tianlang-Jun will protect the humans from the demon realm maintaining order-” Which he had already done, the Monk knew if Tianlang-Jun disappeared it would bring disaster if he was keeping the Demons behaved.
“Since it’s possible for a human and demon to procreate and for a powerful demon such as yourself. This Master see’s no harm in arranging a political marriage.”
Tianlang-Juns eyes narrowed.
“Each Sect would marry their own to you, uniting demons and humans as well as making offspring for each sect. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”
“Do you really think this Lord will accept?”
The Monk hummed, “It’s either that or…” He glanced down at Luo Binghe.
Tianlang-Juns eyes widened trying to move forward to grab his son but unable to move, he could break out his chains but by the time he did he would be too late.
It wasn’t custom to name their child until after the first year- but Su Xiyan picked the name, the name of the Luo river they first met. Also as the future Emperor and Empress figured it’d be safer if Luo Binghe had a ‘name’ only the public knew to keep him safe.
It wasn’t doing him much good now.
“Very well.” Tianlang-Jun growled, eyes burning with hatred.
After placing his blood on the contract he was finally free to hold his child tucking him close but unable to kill anyone of them. Now he was their dog, forced under their heel to do as they wanted.
“This Master will volunteer Qin wanyue as his first wife.”
Now they were having a bidding match, the old man who after losing his disciple suddenly proposed another?
But he was tamed now, he won’t kill anyone else now that he obeys their orders. And since Su Xiyan was Huan Hua it was their sect that had the most claim on the heavenly palace.
Tianlang-Jun ignored them, shushing Binghes cries from the noise of the old men arguing.
It was now a power play on who had the most claim it raised their own social standing.
Huan Hua first, then Cang Qiong as they were the ones who were strong enough to trap a Heavenly demon it would make sense to put forward strong cultivators to keep Tianlang-Jun under control.
And even if the Monks and Nuns had devoted themselves they had Disciples who had joined the sect who didn’t take such vows who can be sent as representatives instead.
Tianlang-Jun cooed at Luo Binghe ignoring them and focusing on Luo Binghe trying to block everything out.
He had just lost his wife, who the Huan Hua delegation were delicately taking her body, and now he had to marry another so soon when his whole world had just crumbled around him. Luo Binghes crying was the only thing he was focusing on right now…
All the Cultivation Masters had reconvened at the great hall, it was only emergencies when all Sect Masters of all sects were gathered to speak of Tianlang-Jun and the Heavenly Palace and what they would do with it.
Since they had no time to properly go over procedure, it was all last minute. Metaphorically trapping a dangerous demonic beast with chains.
The chains being spouses all stood around Tianlang-Jun with a knife ready to strike with one wrong move.
Already there was word of some children being born so knowing it can be done, was when the Masters had decided to bargain even more and stake more claims of power.
With Huan Hua sending their own heir the Palace Mistress as a wife along with other disciples, Cang Qiong had to respond.
Sending their own head disciples wasn’t enough. Sending his own heir was the equivalent of a Peak Lord.
The Old man wanted Yue Qingyuan to be sent as the First Husband to Tianlang-Jun.
Afterall he was the strongest and the first to force the man to a stand still only stopping when he saw the child but his distraction was enough to trap the demon.
The Cang Qiong delegation were offended at such a statement, if the Sect Leader left it would leave the mountain defenceless and not only that but disrespectful for Huan Hua to say such a thing.
Shen Qingqiu wanted to leave, this had nothing to do with him. He had no disciples to volunteer he asked and yet his Martial siblings were very shifty telling him no need…it was strange as the strategist no one came to him with this- he didn’t even know there was a Immortal master Conference until it was last minute.
He scowled at Yue Qingyuan from behind his fan, it felt almost…deliberate to embarrass him by being absent of the Meeting and bringing shame to him.
He was also new to the knowledge that instead of Qi Qingqi offering herself up in place for Yue Qingyuan afterall didn’t they need wives?
Sure enough the could use miracle elixirs but they were rare, or hard to come by- then again they did have a Heavenly demon to ‘fetch’ such ingredients. It was just shameful making Tianlang-Jun do all the work for people he probably would kill if free from his chains.
Shen Qingqiu could relate and almost felt…bad for the man.
Instead it was her prized Disciple Liu Mingyan sent as a wife, Shen Qingqiu almost lowered his fan in shock glancing at Liu Qingge he couldn’t believe the war god would say nothing to his sister being given away!
And Ning Yingyin who was Yue Qingyuans head disciple.
Of course they were the best and brightest of Cang Qiong, and the strongest too. Even so, what on earth were they thinking? They didn’t have to raise to Huan Hua’s bait they didn’t have to offer or volunteer anyone . This whole thing was ludicrous-
Who would put so many young women in the hands of a Heavenly Demon who apparently killed his wife?
Did they truly not care? Shen Qingqiu didn’t either, men or women they were all useless to him.
And what was worse, was the Old Palace Masters look, almost smug when he caught Shen Qingqiu’s eye.
That old man seriously creeped him out, he had no idea what the mans problem even was the two barely interacted at all so he had no idea why he felt as if he was being perceived in such a way.
Then again Shen Qingqiu always rubbed people the wrong way, he wouldn’t be surprised if his own mountain tossed him to the wolfs just to be rid of him. He could see it now, him as the Heavenly Demons husband, hah!
“Why not just kill Tianlang-Jun? What use is volunteering wives and husbands to a demon?”
“Tianlang-Jun is powerful, he alone had united the demon clans and kept them contained at the borders away from humans, with no one in that seat would create a power vacuum and the human casualties would be immeasurable. He may be unrefined but he keeps order.” The same Monk who created this mess in the first place spoke.
The Zhao Hua ministry, they even sent their own masters Wu Wang as a husband to the demon along with Wu Chen as a servant.
Both Tian yi Outlook and the Zhao Hua had sent people to wait on and assist the cultivators in the palace as protection. It was their way of doing their part without breaking their vows. Shen Qingqiu would skin someone alive if they made him a eunuch and made him wait on hand and font of a snotty cultivator.
He would probably kill himself if they did that.
“Also he is the last of Heavenly demons, which could be seen as a direct threat but in three years has been able to go places cultivators could not and found artifacts and rare cures in just a short amount of time. Having offspring loyal to their sects with the power of Heavenly demon blood in their veins is a boon we shouldn’t pass up.”
Ah so an army, if they can control Tianlang-Jun they can control the brats too, and once they have the numbers up they wouldn’t even need Tianlang-Jun anymore.
“How can men create offspring?” A master asked, and Shen Qingqiu had the same question but never asked, yes he knew where children came from the normal way but was always curious how two men or two women would suddenly be with child.
He didn’t have the face to ask Mu Qingfan not wanting to be perceived as stupid.
The Old Palace master asked, strangely enough.
“Most can create life with Spiritual cultivation. It’s how most after using Dual cultivation to offset a qi deviation end up with a child, the problem is that most times the children age too quickly they look like adults with the mentality of a child. Miracle elixirs,flowers or other remedies have been used to create offspring.”
Shen Qingqiu felt embold to ask, so he lowered his fan, “Excuse me.” he could feel the tension from his martial siblings almost as if they wanted him to remain quiet. The glares from the other Sects made him puff up offended.
He was a Master too in his own right and yet he was treat like he was lower than dirt! And outer disciple who should be seen and not heard!?
“Did Tianlang-Jun express his desire for more wives, especially the loss of his Empress?”
He did some digging, and there was a startling contrast to the baseless rumours that the man preyed on a women and assaulted her or whatever they made up on the spot to excuse their behaviour when really they acted like barbarians preying on a vulnerable man.
What he heard from his own information was that Su Xiyan eloped, she loved Tianlang-Jun and the two would go to plays or bookstores and just experience human culture. Tianlang-Jun was a romantic and adored Su Xiyan.
And after such a tragic loss, is then forced to marry for political gains against his will?
Shen Qingqiu didn’t care, but he felt sorry for the poor bastard.
The old mans eyes narrowed, “Yes all Sect Leaders had discussed it and Tianlang-Jun had agreed it was the best course of action.”
That’s how they were gonna spin it, that it was a mutual agreement to keep the peace and that the honourable Cultivators didn’t threaten the man and his child at sword point.
Humans were just as vile as demons. They were all the same.
“Cang Qiong, only two disciples? Is that really all that you are willing to give?” The Old man asked changing the subject, Shen Qingqiu glanced at Zhangmen-Shixiong and wondered what was going on in his head. It was an obvious ploy there was no need to raise to the bait-
“Cang Qiong volunteers Shen Qingqiu, Peak Lord of Qing Jing Peak as First Husband.”
“Are you out of your mind?”
It slipped out- Shen Qingqiu knew he should show a united front and not embarrass himself in front of the other Sects, but to think that Yue Qingyuan could say such a thing-
He gripped his fan tightly the rage barely contained on his face.
“It was an unanimous vote all Peak Lords agreed-”
“This Lord did not.” He spoke low, they voted without him? And would do such a thing in front of the others without warning him before hand?
Is that why they failed to tell him of this meeting planned to keep him in the dark till the last possible second?
He felt buried under the hot hatred he suddenly felt for his sect and the betrayal, and a small part he would never tell anyone was unsupervised. Deep down he knew he was a difficult person that his Martial siblings couldn’t stand him, fine then.
He would go down to the Heavenly Palace right now if thats what they wanted! Anything to get away from his Sect siblings- if they didn’t want him, then fine.
Peak Lords together and ascend together- bullshit!
He couldn’t stand to look at them, worrying his fan and trying to keep calm as his heartbeat was pumping too fast.
“Is there a problem, Master Shen?”
The old man probed, and Shen Qingqiu gritted his teeth.
“This Master has no problem. It’s just as they say, this one will gladly accept this honour to marry Tianlang-Jun.”
What about his peak? His disciple’s were too young to take over-
“What of Qing Jing Peak?” The old man asked, and Shen Qingqiu wanted to tear his tongue out, what was his problem!?
“The Peak would be dissolved, with the union of Cang Qiong joining The Heavenly Palace there is no need for Qing Jing Peak. And with disciples sent as candidates for the Emperor we will run low on numbers and instead they would be placed in other peaks to keep the numbers.”
There was mentions of Mu Qingfang also coming with him to the Palace but not as a husband, only as a Doctor to assist in the child birth and other such things, since assasination attempts or cultivators being vulnerable need the best Doctor to assist them. And the men for miracle elixirs if they so choose to use such methods.
Shen Qingqiu scowled, that way Mu Qingfang can return to his Peak and Cang Qiong whenever he wished. Meanwhile that door was slammed shut in Qingqiu’s face!
Shen Qingqiu swore he may just black out and stab the sect leader then himself- dissolve Qing Jing Peak!? Could they slap his face any harder it would fall off!
He openly glared at his Sect leader, his sect siblings avoiding his eyes. What had he done? Sure he wasn’t the most approachable or was even close with his siblings…but did he offend them in such a grievance way to make them not only throw him away but to even remove his own sect?
Did they hate him that much?
He felt too much and knew everyone was watching him and he had already given too much away. He sat up straight, returning back to his cold mask and detaching himself from the meeting, there was no point listening to anymore, as of right now he wasn’t even a Master anymore.
Just a piece in the plan to subjugate Tianlang-Jun, it made him think of his past and wondered if he ever escaped it at all.
Shen Qingqiu couldn’t move fast enough as he turned to leave, afterall he had so much to prepare with this surprise wedding of course! Thats why the Peak was dissolved all of his possessions, belongings his library! All of it was a dowry now!
Suddenly a hand grabbed his arm, and he scowled at Liu Qingge, the man noticed how obvious he was acting like a wronged maiden and was irritated that Shen Qingqiu couldn’t remain calm until they returned to the Sect.
Not only Shen Qingqiu was losing everything important to him!
“You are acting unbecoming of a Peak Lord, you are not the only one who is suffering-”
“What would you know?” Shen Qingqiu sneered, ripping his hand out from the War gods, looking down his nose at hin, “You didn’t even have the nerve to offer yourself-no. It was your sister who has to be married to a demon while you sit here acting like you’ve been wronged.”
How dare he!?
Liu Qingge almost drew his sword, the sudden pain snapped to anger “Shen Qingqiu-”
“Shidi, enough.” Yue Qingyuan was the last person he wanted to see right now. Liu Qingge faltered then scoffed, stomping away.
Shen Qingqiu would feel sympathy, afterall Liu Qingge was close to his sister and doted on her whenever he could he probably felt trapped with politics and felt frustrated that he couldn’t cut something down to deal with his problems.
But Shen Qingqiu felt nothing but pure contempt, a rich pretty boy who never beared responsibility and would never have to be put in such a position. It wasn’t as if he was marrying Tianlang-Jun.
“Shen-Shidi,”
“What? Want this Master to thank you? For humiliating me, or shunning me to the entire Cultivation world!?”
Shen Qingqiu yelled, and Yue Qingyuan only looked wronged and that made it worse .
Do you hate me that much !?
He never said such a thing he looked away, “Yue Qingyuan has already said everything he had to say. This Qingqiu can take the hint.”
“Shen-Shidi please, listen-”
“No. This Qingqiu has to prepare for his wedding . Especially on such short notice!” Shen Qingqiu snapped turning with his robes flaring behind as he mounted his sword and flew to his Peak.
It was the last time he would see it.
_________________________________________________________________________
Shen Yuans heart panged for Tianlang-Jun. As he read through the story about the Demonic Emperor who would chain himself down for the sake of his own son! It was too tragic, anyone would be moved at the worlds best dad!
The Demon Emperor would gladly take the brunt of the world just to save Su Xiyans son, only for it to be in Vain!
He was a good father! It wasn’t his fault the cultivators took advantage of his vulnerable state and tricked him into a contract forcing him to take wives and make offspring.
The same wives and offspring that bully and torment Luo Binghe! Being on missions and forced away from the Heavenly Palace he was unaware of the danger his son was in!
But it got worse when after three years he had his First Husband Shen Qingqiu who was in charge of looking after all of the children of the Heavenly Demon, with Binghe having turned three and the others older through Spiritual cultivation, but had the mentality of a baby could barely walk or talk yet so they were constantly under the care of the wives.
Leaving Shen Qingqiu to raise Luo Binghe.
Like a wicked Step-mother in a fairy tale, he abused Luo Binghe each chance he took but the man was cunning, he knew if it was seen as discipline or corporal punishment it wouldn’t register as abuse and since Tianlang-Jun did nothing even though he could detect it in his blood paraisites if anyone wished his son harm-
And Luo Binghe felt abandoned as his father did nothing against his cruel Step-Father.
It was a good story, but he hated how it ended! He regretted picking up the book, why did he read this trash!?
Luo Binghe, after being pushed into the abyss by his Scum Step-Father, he returned with a vengeance, killing both Tianlang-Jun and Shen Qingqiu.
It was too cruel! Tianlang-Jun did all of that to save his son but through misunderstandings his Son thought he was abandoned! And Luo Binghe didn’t see Tianlang-Juns suffering, only thinking of himself, and when he killed Tianlang-Jun the man accepted it, letting himself die at his sons hands.
And then a stupid twist where Binghe took over the harem killing his siblings and took the wives and husbands for himself, Binghe had a type and that was cougars!
He was too young for them! Shen Yuan was spitting fury, and what was worse is that there was some build up with Huan Hua! It showed hints they were evil but in the end instead of revealing that maybe they had a hand in taking down the Heavenly Palace it was all-
“Oh well whatever, we don’t care about demons anymore!”
The fuck!? It made no sense that the ending just… fizzled out like that! It honestly sucked, and with his full chest he raged out-
“Dumb fuck Author, and dumb fuck novel!”