Chapter Text
The lifeless form of the former Peak Lord of Qing Jing laid in an unknown cave, filthy and foul. His formerly prim figure was nothing like before, eyes and tongue gouged out, arms ripped from his body, he was a sight to behold, he muses in his head. Footsteps echo into the cave as someone draws near--- tap, tap, tap ---he already knew who it was.
"Shizun, this student is here to pay respect..." The footsteps come closer to his body. He could feel the person's, no beast's presence close to him. Something probes in his guts, he could feel yet also could not feel this once torturous pain. Why, no, how could this be, you might ask?
"..."
"Shizun?" He could feel those hands, no, he could see those hands stray to his grim neck and his nose, feeling for a pulse, for any sign of life. There was none.
Shen Qingqiu sees the man who became the bane of his existence, Luo Binghe, rising from his crouched position and backing away. For all that he expected from the boy---loud curses, sneers, laughter---at his outcome, he received none of that, only silence. Luo Binghe just looks at his corpse with unfocused, empty eyes, and walks out of the cave without another word.
Shen Qingqiu sneers at his retreating back, can't face his creation, can he? Turning back to his corpse, he sees only a shell of his former self. There was nothing left for him in this forsaken world. He was truly nothing now. No more Cang Qiong Mountain, no more Qing Jing Peak, no more Qi-ge. Nothing. So what was the point in remaining here? But for some unknown reason, he just can't move on. He stares blankly at the damp walls, surrounding him, and he does something he hasn't done since he was at the Qiu's. He allows his body to curl and wraps his arms around his knees and buries his face in them.
Like a chant in his head, the words that are continuously repeated are, he wants to see Yuè Qīngyuán one more time, just one more time...
Suddenly, he hears a loud unusual sound in his head.
SYNCING.
SYNCING.
89%
99%
100%
[067 is now connected. We have detected high levels of regret and resentment. If Host wants to have his wish granted, Host must play in the lives of others, such as yourself, and complete their wishes. Does Host accept?]
Shen Qingqiu eyes the cave frantically, searching for any tricks Luo Binghe could've placed to mess with him. Did he torture him so much that even in death he can't find peace?
[067 can only be heard by Host. 067 is a programmed system that allows people, such as Host, to find redemption and fulfill wishes.]
Shen Qingqiu fails to hide the scowl that appears on his face, "How do I know if this isn't just one of Luo Binghe's tricks?"
[067 is unsure of the object: Luo Binghe. But 067 can prove this isn't a trick by telling you something about you that others may not know.]
"Oh? And what would that be?"
[You did not kill your shidi, Liu Qingge.]
Shen Qingqiu pulls himself to stand up after hearing this, eyes widen in alarm. No, that's impossible. There was no way anyone, even he, himself was unsure what happened that day. A growing chill consumes his body; what the hell was this thing?!
"What the hell are you, and why do you know this information?"
[067 is a programmed system that allows people, such as Host, to find redemption and fulfill wishes. If this system didn't have information on Host, then this system wouldn't be assigned to you.]
"So what you're saying is true, if I do as you say, 'living in the lives of others' I will get to see Qi-ge, again?"
[That is correct. What shall be the Host's answer? Yes or No?]
Without thinking twice, Shen Qingqiu firmly answers, 'yes'. Because really, what did he have to lose?