Ever since Luo Binghe's cultivation had leveled up he'd noticed his senses were much sharper. Like, unusually sharp.
Meng Mo pointed to that as proof of his demonic heritage but Luo Binghe was still holding on to the hope that he was just special in some other, non-demonic, way.
The weirdest thing about his enhanced hearing was the buzzing. It wasn't always there, and he only ever heard it in the Bamboo House. Shizun didn't hear it, he'd asked. It was weirdly faint and...it was almost like he felt it more than heard it? It was like a buzzing beehive but...higher?
No one else could hear it either though maybe that was because Binghe was garbage at describing it.
It isn't until he hears it on a night hunt that Luo Binghe realizes. He doesn't hear it only in the Bamboo House. He only hears it around Shizun.
That revelation allows him to narrow it down. Whenever he hears the noise Shizun will be staring into space, looking sad or upset. When Binghe interrupts him in these moments the sound will end and Shizun is the same as ever.
Sometimes when Binghe is busy in the kitchen or in his room late at night he'll hear Shizun muttering to himself. He doesn't mean to eavesdrop but with his advanced hearing it can't be helped.
"How many points do I have?"
"...no I don't need that."
"I don't understand how you get your scores for these things."
One night Luo Binghe dozes off in his room early, he'd been busy all day and had just laid down to read. He wakes up to Shizun entering his room some time later. He keeps his eyes closed. The buzzing is here too.
Shizun extinguishes Binghe's lamp and gently takes the book from Binghe's chest.
"System? Is the Abyss event unavoidable?" Shizun whispers.
Binghe cracks his eyes open just a sliver. In the dark Shizun's face is unreadable but there's... Something reflecting in his eyes, something blue.
Shizun sighs deeply and waves a hand dismissively. The buzzing stops, and Shizun leaves.
The Abyss buzzes. Like the invisible thing that follows Shizun. He can still hear that thing buzzing now, even over the noise of the Abyss. Shizun has his sword out, pointed at Binghe- but his eyes keep sliding off to the side.
"What are you looking at?" Binghe demands. "What's the buzzing thing that follows you around? Why do you listen to it??"
For the first time since his seal broke Shizun looks straight at him. He looks terrified.
"I'm not- There's nothing-" Shizun lies.
When Binghe moves towards him he moves his sword away, Shizun doesn't actually want to hurt him, Binghe is sure. The buzzing thing is a different story. He can see it again when he sets close enough to grab Shizun's wrist, the blue sheen in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry Binghe," Shizun says. "I-"
Shizun stops, going utterly still. His face goes blank, and his eyes are suddenly a vivid unearthly blue. The buzzing is so loud it hurts Binghe's ears.
Shizun slips out of his grip and before he realizes what's happening. A heartbeat later Shizun is at the edge of the Abyss. He jumps before Binghe can stop him.
Binghe follows immediately. He can't leave Shizun alone with that buzzing thing.
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