Some more Plant Baby SY Ramblings
This time delving more into Gongyi Xiao, Luo Binghe and Huan Hua! (I had a lot of ideas floating around in my head, but wasn't sure how to convey them in comic or art format, so you get this infodump instead <3)
((Though some information will be kept secret for the future arcs such as Jinlan City :3c))
During LBH and GYX's time in the Abyss, they're of course able to get to know each other a lot better as they rely on each other to survive. This also leads to many times where they just talk about anything and everything (though lbr between both of their crushes, SY is often a topic of conversation ((even if it took a while for LBH to accept that it's okay for others to have a crush on SY, though GYX actively trying to help LBH get back to SY has helped his case lmao))
It's in one of these conversations where LBH brings up why GYX approached SY at the Immortal Alliance Conference to begin with. Seeing as SQQ had made an effort to keep SY away from other sects, especially Huan Hua's contingent. Leading to GYX essentially going "Oh the Palace Master wanted me to make connections with other sects, probably to help for when I become palace master, though he did insist I go to SY first for some reason, which is kind of weird since he's not the head disciple or a member of Qiong Ding-" LBH is sitting there, knowing some things about SY's origins, spiritual energy and how protective SQQ is over him, and is actively putting together some Very Concerning dots about the possible reasons Why the Palace Master would want to go behind SQQ's back to have some one from his sect befriend SY.
LBH is used to people who are cruel and manipulative, whilst GYX is still a little bit naive to Huan Hua's more corrupt ways, having been raised in the sect. So when LBH starts pointing out the inconsistencies in logic, GYX eventually also starts to have some doubts. But those don't fully solidify until the two of them make it out of the Abyss and to Huan Hua Palace. Because with this new lens and LBH being there to point out some of the manipulation or suspicious activities going on (as well as how creepy OPM is to LBH as well), they both decide to make it there mission that the OPM does not get anywhere near SY even in they're relying on HHP to eventually reunite with him. The exact reasons Why the OPM is interested in SY are unclear to them, but nothing they could come up with is good in any way. (it's also a spoiler so y'all will have to wait and see :3c)
Another aspect to LBH and GYX's return to HHP is that LBH is not trying to become the Palace Master in this AU and is instead helping GYX root out corruption and ensure his survival to become the Palace Master. Which means LBH out here dodging the OPM's attempts to make him both a disciple of Huan Hua and the head disciple at that. The reasoning behind this is one, LBH now has a lot of trust in GYX from their time in the Abyss, and therefore can trust him to run HHP and have connections through it. And two, LBH knows how SY feels about demons, being that they're the same as anyone else. It was SQQ that scorned him at the IAC for his heritage so unlike canon, he isn't going to try and prove that he's a righteous only human cultivator to SY. (In fact, SY already had a slight suspicion that LBH may have some non-human heritage, but how much and what kind was unknown) LBH is now currently focused on ensuring SY's safety and trying to reunite with him so that he can finally court him properly.
