Chapter 20

He turned back immediately. "Does Master have further instructions?"

Shen Qingqiu said, "The rooms are that way. Why are you heading in the opposite direction?"

Whether it was the disciples' bamboo dormitories or the woodshed, both required a left turn after exiting. Yet Luo Binghe had turned right without hesitation.

"I wished to go to the kitchen," Luo Binghe explained. "To prepare Master's breakfast for tomorrow morning."

Shen Qingqiu felt a pang of conflict.

He genuinely wanted to eat Luo Binghe's cooking. But ordering a child to cook for him in the dead of night instead of sleeping… it sounded downright Cinderella-and-the-wicked-stepmother. It felt utterly inhumane.

In the end, his conscience won out over his appetite. He coughed. "Nonsense. What kind of meal preparation happens in the middle of the night? Go back to sleep."

Luo Binghe, understanding his master’s concern for his rest, smiled and agreed. Secretly, he planned to slip into the kitchen a little later to experiment.

Shen Qingqiu nearly asked if the boy was still sleeping in the woodshed, but held his tongue. Young people had their pride; asking directly would be an embarrassment. Besides, even if he ordered Luo Binghe to sleep in the disciples' quarters, Ming Fan would likely incite the others to bully him—stealing his blanket, hiding his shoes. The thought was pitiful.

"Tomorrow," Shen Qingqiu said instead, "gather your things and come to my residence."

Luo Binghe didn't comprehend. "Master?"

"There is an adjoining room beside my bamboo house. Starting tomorrow, you will move in and live there."

If he’s closer, it’ll be more convenient for him to make my breakfast and clean my room in the future… Shen Qingqiu’s ability to adjust his mindset was truly peerless. Moments ago, he couldn't even look Luo Binghe in the face. Now, he was already scheming to have the protagonist serve him tea, wash his clothes, and fold his blankets. Lost in these thoughts, he missed the boy's reaction.

Suddenly, Luo Binghe launched himself forward in a full-bodied tackle, wrapping his arms tightly around him.

Caught completely off guard, Shen Qingqiu’s first instinct was shock. Then, his old face flushed red.

In all my years, the first real hug I get isn't from a soft, fragrant maiden, but from a teenager radiating overpowering protagonist aura from head to toe—ahhhhh!

Luo Binghe seemed overjoyed. He clung to Shen Qingqiu’s neck, refusing to let go, chanting "Master! Master!" by his ear.

Shen Qingqiu’s hands hovered awkwardly. After a moment's internal struggle, he finally settled them on Luo Binghe’s head, giving his hair a gentle pat and smooth. "Alright, alright. You've called out, you've hugged. Such a noisy fuss. Aren't you ashamed? You're not a ten-year-old child anymore. What is this display?"

Luo Binghe hadn't thought much of it, but these words suddenly made him self-conscious. If not for the surge of overwhelming joy, he would never dare behave so familiarly with his normally aloof and revered master. He hastily, and somewhat reluctantly, detached himself from Shen Qingqiu, his face burning. "I… this disciple has overstepped."

Asking for a hug was adorable when done by a child under ten. When done by fifteen-year-old Luo Binghe… it was still adorable!

With that fresh, handsome face of his, anything he did was adorable!

Luo Binghe stood flustered for a moment, his initial panic subsiding only when he noticed Shen Qingqiu’s complexion looked rather poor.

Even with the protection of immortal cultivation, the combination of old injuries, prior poisoning, and being dragged into the Dream Demon’s realm on his behalf had taken its toll. Without proper rest, a certain weariness showed. Not daring to delay his master's recovery any longer, Luo Binghe bid a reluctant farewell. He still didn't return to the woodshed, instead taking a deliberate detour to the kitchen.

He made a firm resolution: from now on, he must prioritize Master’s dietary health and nourishment!

The moment Luo Binghe’s foot crossed the threshold, a system notification popped up.

[Protagonist Satisfaction Points +50!]

Shen Qingqiu was baffled.

Another 50? System lag? Or has the system developed a conscience and decided it was too stingy before?

Whatever. I'm exhausted. Points are points, no need to overthink it. It's definitely not because he hugged me, hahahaha…

The next day, Shen Qingqiu was roused from sleep not by nature, but by the tantalizing aroma of fish and rice. Outside the bamboo house, Luo Binghe had already meticulously prepared a meal. The fragrance drifted so enticingly that numerous Qing Jing Peak disciples, accustomed to their bland fare, peeked from the sidelines.

Ming Fan and others were so furious they could have gnawed on their sleeves while watching, especially when Shen Qingqiu took his seat at the table and praised Luo Binghe’s skill and thoughtfulness with evident affection. The sight of master and disciple smiling at each other in perfect harmony drove their resentment to its peak.

So shameless! Using such underhanded, fawning tricks to win Master’s favor!

And when evening came, and Luo Binghe moved into the adjoining room of Shen Qingqiu’s bamboo house, it struck like a bolt from the blue, laying waste to the spirits of every disciple on Qing Jing Peak who had ever bullied him.

"Moving" was a generous term. Luo Binghe essentially just moved himself over. He had left nothing of value in the woodshed.

A pillow? A bundled stack of straw from the woodshed sufficed. A blanket? His outer robe could serve as one… Shen Qingqiu naturally provided proper ones for him now.

Shen Qingqiu had always felt Luo Binghe’s living conditions were excessively harsh, a veritable record of child abuse. Cang Qiong Mountain was, after all, a major orthodox cultivation sect. Its collective heart couldn't be that dark, its resources that scarce.

That night, for the first time in his life, Luo Binghe lay down on a proper bed.

In the past, he had slept on a wooden tub drifting on a glacier, on cold damp ground, by noisy streets, and in caves while braving the elements. He was accustomed to it all. Now, lying on a soft, clean bamboo bed, he felt strangely weightless, disconnected from reality.

Especially knowing Shen Qingqiu was sleeping just a wall away in the main chamber.

Perhaps due to overthinking, the Dream Demon did not appear in his dreams that night.

Luo Binghe waited patiently, without a trace of agitation. After a few days, the Dream Demon’s presence returned as expected.

This time, there were no mysterious barriers or attempts at concealment. The demon appeared directly in Luo Binghe’s dream… albeit as a swirling mass of black mist.

The mist coalesced and dispersed before his eyes, and the ancient voice emanated from within. "Well, boy? Have you considered my offer these past three days?"

Luo Binghe countered, "Wouldn't Senior Dream Demon already know the outcome of my considerations?"

The Dream Demon chuckled. "You have chosen a path you will never regret. Boy, remember this day well. Today marks the beginning of your glorious ascent!"

What young man didn't dream of glory? The words were grand and inspiring, yet Luo Binghe remained unmoved. He merely cupped his fist in salute. "This junior has one more request."

"Out with it! Say your piece quickly so we can proceed with the apprenticeship!" the Dream Demon urged, unaware he was being far too optimistic.

"What this junior wishes to say concerns precisely that," Luo Binghe said. "My master's kindness to me is as weighty as a mountain. I truly cannot, without his permission, recklessly acknowledge another as my teacher—"

Before he could finish, the Dream Demon cut in, unable to bear it. "Fine, fine! This old man relinquishes any claim to the title of 'master,' alright?!"

Was there any other rare expert or lofty figure more short-changed than him? Eagerly offering to teach his clan's secret arts, yet denied even the address of 'teacher.'

What difference is there between me and a concubine who enters the household, suffers hardship, devotes herself completely, yet gains no official status?!

Luo Binghe smiled. "Then I thank you, Senior."

He had no desire whatsoever to call anyone but Shen Qingqiu "Master."

Seeing his demeanor, if the Dream Demon still possessed a physical body, his nose would likely have twisted in anger.

This Luo Binghe is so obedient and sweet in front of his master, like a pure little white flower. How does he become so difficult and intractable in front of others? It's like he's two completely different people!

Absolutely infuriating!

Time flew like an arrow; days and months slipped away like a shuttle.

…Shen Qingqiu really didn't want to use such a cliché, but he couldn't find a more fitting phrase.

His days on Qing Jing Peak passed in a blur: plucking the zither, reading, practicing calligraphy, painting, cultivating, occasionally nitpicking Luo Binghe’s cooking, sometimes visiting Liu Qingge to bicker and spar, and periodically reporting to Yue Qingyuan. Life moved swiftly, perfectly achieving his goal of "loafing around, waiting for death, and living out his years in comfort."

Until the Immortal Alliance Conference finally arrived.

The day had come after all. Life had been too leisurely; Shen Qingqiu had nearly forgotten the first major climax of the entire book.

The moment where the cheat-like Luo Binghe ascended to new heights, won the beauty, and took the first irreversible step towards his dark destiny… and he had almost forgotten about it!

Thus, when he received the gilded invitation, Shen Qingqiu stared at it blankly for a good while.

The Immortal Alliance Conference was the first major climax of The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System. It was also a turning point in the story.

Held once every four years, the Conference was a prime opportunity to select outstanding new talents and make a name for oneself. The format changed based on discussions among the great sect leaders, but one thing remained constant: a Golden Ranking.

Whether from a prestigious sect or a wandering rogue cultivator, exceptional performance at the Conference guaranteed a place on that Golden Ranking and fame throughout the land.

Previously, The Scum Villain had maintained a lukewarm performance. But with the introduction of the Immortal Alliance Conference arc, reader comments, subscriptions, and donations had immediately skyrocketed!

The reason wasn't just because this was where the author, "Facing Heaven and Shooting Planes," finally abandoned what little restraint he had left, showering the male lead with a steady stream of beauties, packing chapters with titillating descriptions and countless blush-inducing innuendos. There was another crucial reason, the very one that had kept Shen Qingqiu hooked and reading all those nights.

The monster system!

While the author was notorious for not bothering with proper cultivation research—often mixing up Foundation Establishment and Nascent Soul realms—few readers ever complained. Because that wasn't what his novel was selling.

"Proud Immortal Demon Way" was less a "cultivation" novel and more a straight-up "monster hunting" saga. The "hunting" completely eclipsed the "cultivating." As a xianxia story, it was an unmitigated disaster. But as a bestiary of bizarre creatures? It was actually pretty fascinating.

Which meant, very soon, Shen Qingqiu would be coming face-to-face with the nightmarish, grotesque demons and monsters described in those pages.

More importantly, very soon, he would reach the moment where he, with his own hand, would cruelly reveal Luo Binghe's half-demon heritage and cast him into the Endless Abyss.

The gears of fate—or rather, the plot—had begun their inexorable turn...