The One Fever Heavenly Demon papapa Can't Cure
cw implied mpreg, tentatively rated M (over T)
BingQiu get baby fever. ~1,400k words.
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Shen Qingqiu was holding a baby. The news had circulated along the rainbow bridge, or so it appeared from the various uniforms in the crowd gawking at him. He ignored them. There was nothing undignified about holding a baby: Shen Qingqiu was a teacher, after all, and the baby in his arms was a future disciple of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. Soothing her was part of his duty.
Shen Qingqiu pitched his voice low and soft, so no one would overhear the nonsense he was telling her; and lowered his face whenever he wished to smile, so that the smile was just for her. Soon she had stopped crying in favor of cooing and reaching for his face. Shen Qingqiu was equally delighted. He hadn't had the chance to hold a baby at all since his transmigration. She reminded him so much of his little sister with her pudgy cheeks and wide eyes and gummy smile. For the first time in a long time, he missed this one aspect of home.
He had almost forgotten about the onlookers until one of figures there made its way towards them. Shen Qingqiu composed himself into putting on a more serious expression until he saw who it was that had come over.
"Binghe," he greeted happily.
Luo Binghe closed the distance and wrapped an arm around Shen Qingqiu's waist. Shen Qingqiu was very aware of the onlookers then. He blushed lightly and wished he had a free hand with which to hold his fan.
"Shizun," Luo Binghe murmured in greeting.
His eyes took in Shen Qingqiu's shy, happy expression before glancing at the baby in his arms.
"Ah, Binghe, this is your newest shimei from Kuxing Peak," he explained.
"She is quite...young to begin cultivation."
"They've changed their recruitment policies to improve enrollment."
Luo Binghe snorted. Shen Qingqiu rocked the baby a little to express his sympathy for her fate.
Kuxing Peak's cultivation techniques required an ascetic lifestyle. As a result, it was not very popular among prospective disciples who usually entered Cang Qiong Mountain Sect as children. The Peak Lord had finally resigned himself to accepting younger and younger orphans from the local area. Many of them were sure to lack aptitude for cultivation once they grew up, but they would also benefit from having grown up in a manner that optimized their natural aptitude.
"Don't worry, you can run over to Qing Jing Peak once you're old enough," Shen Qingqiu whispered.
He then looked up guiltily. Luo Binghe was usually unhappy whenever Shen Qingqiu discussed the prospect of expanding the little flock of lambs that were his disciples. However, today, Luo Binghe did not seem troubled. He only gazed at Shen Qingqiu in a way that made Shen Qingqiu's heart flutter nervously. There was a hunger in Luo Binghe's gaze. Hunger and simmering intent.
"Um. Do you want...do you want to hold her?" he asked.
Luo Binghe shook his head slowly.
"I would rather keep looking at Shizun like this," he explained in a low voice.
Shen Qingqiu gulped. What was that supposed to mean? Shen Qingqiu was doing nothing out of the ordinary! And Luo Binghe was still staring at him.
"Binghe," he complained in a low voice.
"En. I will make them go away," he said.
Luo Binghe turned from him to glare at their nosy visitors, to immediate effect. Most of them scurried to the gates of Qing Jing Peak. A few of them went to conclude whatever legitimate business had brought them to Qing Jing Peak. Only one young woman was brave enough to linger and approach them.
"Shen-shibo," she said shyly, before flinching at Luo Binghe's smile. "I must take my shimei back to Kuxing Peak."
Shen Qingqiu nodded and passed the baby into the Kuxing Peak disciple's arms. He couldn't help releasing a sigh of regret.
"You may come see her whenever you want," the disciple said.
Luo Binghe tightened both his smile and the arm around Shen Qingqiu's waist. Shen Qingqiu gave her a gracious, distant smile in the hopes of discouraging further vinegar leaks.
"You're always welcome at Kuxing Peak," she added boldly.
The disciple fled after her invitation. Luo Binghe gazed after her thoughtfully. Thinking that he was probably plotting how to make himself sufficiently terrifying to his fellow disciples again, Shen Qingqiu tried to distract him.
"What do you think?"
Luo Binghe blinked and looked at him.
"En?"
It was rare for him to be so inattentive when he was with Shen Qingqiu. Shen Qingqiu reprovingly tapped his demon mark with his pointer finger. Luo Binghe blinked again and obediently looked his Shizun in the eyes. Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but smile.
"Your shimei. She's cute, isn't she?"
"En," Luo Binghe said.
Shen Qingqiu's smile fell. He frowned a little and tapped Luo Binghe's demon mark again.
"En? That's all you have to say?"
Luo Binghe got that thoughtful, intent look on his face again. Shen Qingqiu found himself blushing without knowing why, especially when Luo Binghe used the arm around his waist to begin tugging him in the direction of Bamboo Cottage.
"Shizun truly wants to know what I think?" Luo Binghe asked as they walked.
"..."
Suddenly the question felt quite dangerous. Shen Qingqiu was afraid to say yes, and afraid to meet Luo Binghe's gaze. He pulled out his fan. Luo Binghe pulled him closer and whispered against his ear.
"I think Shizun looked very good with a baby in his arms."
The whisper made goosebumps spring up all over Shen Qinqgqiu's body. He fought to maintain his composure and ignored the bit of warmth along his cheekbones.
"I didn't manage to get her to go to sleep," he said. "Why did my disciple fail to help me when I asked him?"
"En? But Shizun looked happy holding the baby," Luo Binghe observed.
"Nonsense," Shen Qingqiu scoffed. "I was only seeing to my duties as a Peak Lord of Cang Qiong Mountain."
Luo Binghe would usually let the matter go at this point and so his Shizun could save a little face. Indeed, he was quiet for the rest of the day. It took him almost twice as long as usual to make dinner, and Shen Qinqiu noticed a corner of his sleeve had burnt off.
But...that night, Lou Binghe was particularly energetic. Shen Qingqiu woke up with sore, bruised hips and Luo Binghe stroking his hair so tenderly that Shen Qingqiu knew he'd likely been watching him sleep all night. He grumbled incoherently about the aches and pains before hiding his face against Luo Binghe's chest.
"Good morning, Shizun."
"Hmph."
"Shizun..."
Shen Qingqiu responded with a sleepy complaint.
Luo Binghe lowered his voice but persisted.
"Did Shizun think the baby was cute?"
"Not as cute as yours," Shen Qingqiu replied without thinking.
Luo Binghe's breath caught.
Shen Qingqiu wondered why. A few moments later, he opened his eyes wide and thought, 'oh no.' Luo Binghe had tricked him. His shameless disciple had purposely waited all night to ask him this question when he was half-asleep and unwary.
Luo Binghe continued in a voice that trembled with suppressed excitement. "Does Shizun really mean it?"
"..."
There was nothing to do except pretend he was still asleep. He closed his eyes and tried not to noticeably squirm with discomfort.
"Shizun," Luo Binghe pleaded.
Since Shen Qingqiu did not respond, Luo Binghe sighed and began playing with his hair.
"I also think Shizun's babies would be cute," he said. "The cutest."
Shen Qingqiu had scoffed before he could stop himself. Since he had given himself away, he finally relented and lifted his head to give Luo Binghe an unimpressed look.
"Hm? Does Shizun disagree?" Luo Binghe asked.
Shameless. He was utterly shameless.
"Your babies would be the cutest," Shen Qingqiu argued.
Luo Binghe's eyes glinted with satisfaction. He smiled. The hand that had been innocently playing with his hair parted the strands to lay directly against Shen Qingqiu's skin.
"We are talking about the same babies," Luo Binghe said, "Since the only person with whom I would have babies is Shizun."
Shen Qingqiu shivered under that gaze. He then must have flushed red like wedding robes at is own reaction. He tried to gather a semblance of dignity by rolling away slightly, but Luo Binghe held him against his body as if he didn't notice.
"Have- Have you been reading more of those," Shen Qingqiu stuttered as he tried to wriggle free, "those porn novels?"
"Yes," Luo Binghe replied immediately. "I've been meaning to ask Shizun-"
Shen Qingqiu was a bit relieved at the change of topic. What had the world come to?
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Author's note: I find it very encouraging when people reblog my posted fic. I hope you enjoyed reading!
