Luo Binghe had been feeling like he could easily take them back home for the past three days, although he had hidden it a little from his Shizun. Not that he really wanted to hide it to stay here longer. Sure, it was really interesting and enjoyable to stay somewhere Shen Yuan seemed more openly himself, rather than toning it down to also play Shen Qingqiu. This was something he had noticed after a little while.
No, he had noticed how attached the man was to some things here and he was scared that taking him back would cause something bad. What if he ended up missing this place now that he had been back? What if he regretted leaving his family? What if he would like to stay for all those weird things the Demon Lord didn't understand yet? What if he preferred staying here now?
What if he didn't want to go home with him?
He had been a little scared that Shen Yuan wouldn't want to stay with him, despite knowing his worries weren't founding on solid ground. The man had shown him time and time again in the past years that he would stay with him. Luo Binghe felt like he would need to go back at some point, even if he wouldn't mind keep on living here. He still had promised he would come back with Shen Qingqiu.
Yet, he didn't want to rush him. He felt like this could be a hard choice to make. From what he had understood, he had believed to be dead all this time, so what could he have gone back to? But now? Now he had been able to taste back what he had missed all these years, it would probably be hard to leave it. Especially with how well he seemed to go with his sister.
These were all parts and reasons he hadn't really tried to tell him yet he would be able to bring them back. But he couldn't keep on lying to his husband, it would start eating at him otherwise. "Shizun" he called out to him, Shen Yuan taking his eyes off from the television, humming slightly at his call, "This disciple needs to tell you something".
Shen Yuan heard how serious his tone was, muting what they had been watching, turning fully towards his husband this time, ready to listen. The Demon Lord seemed like he was looking for his words, which wasn't something he was used to doing. He could be rather blunt sometimes when he wasn't trying to sneak in his request.
"This disciple... as now fully recovered Xin Mo, I can bring us back home" he finally stated, looking at Shen Yuan reaction.
The man seemed a little stun at first, thinking his husband still had a little while to go to be fully recovered. But then he thought about what it implied: they could go back home, or at least what he had been calling home in the past two decades.
He still had a little bit of hesitation about it. He really wanted to go back, he was missing that life in a way, despite it being full of problems. At least he was living something. And it was where he could be his best with Luo Binghe. Yet he was a little apprehensive of how his family would react, he had thought he was dead, only to learn he had been unconscious. Could he make them live through this again?
Plus, he was wondering how they would do it. Could Luo Binghe just snatch his soul and bring it back to Shen Qingqiu body? Could this very weak human body be transferred into Proud Immortal Demon Way? Would there be side effects?
Seeing how Shen Yuan seemed to think about it and looked slightly anxious, Binghe immediately started again. "Obviously, if Shizun wishes to stay here, this husband would be happy to do so too" he reassured, offering him a soft smile, "We will do whatever Shen Yuan feels is more appropriate".
The smaller man was really touched by how ready his husband was to accept giving up all he had achieved back in his own universe just to stay with him. Yet this is not something he wanted for him to do, but also he didn't want to be separated from him again.
"H-how would we do it?" he then asked, worried about that too. Luo Binghe then slipped closer to him, lifting him to sat him in his laps, trying to hug him reassuringly. "This disciple could try and bring Shizun's body back home" he suggested, not sure if he could just bring back his soul. "We could try doing a soul recall array to bring you back into Shen Qingqiu body if this is what you would prefer doing".
As much as he loved this form too, the Demon Lord didn't think this body would be the best to survive back home, and would probably bring confusion. He could already see the confusion and pity in Liu Qingge eyes, maybe believing he had lost it and would believe any random man is Shen Qingqiu.
"You think it would be alright for me to go through portals?" he asked, wanting to make sure. "Yes, this disciple will make sure everything is safe for Shizun" he replied confidently, sure of his skill in that area.
Shen Yuan then started thinking again, leaning in the warm embrace, Luo Binghe looking at him, waiting for his answer, knowing he was deep in his thoughts. If he had to left a body here it would be a hard shock for his family, to see him yet again unconscious after such a small amount of time. But no body? Maybe he could play it as though he had run away with his lover to a country that wouldn't be so harsh on them?
He felt bad to make his family go through this, yet the appeal of going back to what he was now feeling and calling home was greater. He had never been especially close to anyone other than his sister, but with her, he could probably play more honest in a way.
He would probably eventually forgive himself for doing this to her, again. He would most likely eventually forget about it. It was something he could deal with easily. But he wouldn't be able to live with the aching for Luo Binghe and he had started to feel this new aching for home. He had tried ignoring this longing for a home he now had the possibility to go back to.
He then looked back up, unsure how long he had been in this pensive state, meeting with a pair of loving eyes. Yes, he would eventually be able to deal with these feelings. He couldn't keep on going with such an aching and would most likely end up giving in the chance to go away.
"Do you think A-Jiao is going to be mad at me?" he wondered, a little scared of this possibility. Luo Binghe looking pensive at first, before replying "I couldn't tell, maybe if you do without telling her" he suggested.
Yes, he definitely needed to warn her, but how? He didn't have the courage to tell her to her face he was going to disappear again and this time for good. His eyes strayed to his phone, thinking it over a little bit. Maybe he could write her an e-mail? It would be good enough of a warning and would leave him enough time for them to prepare and go back with the help of Xin Mo.
And this is what he decided to do.
As he was writing his rather hard to word message, Binghe was working on getting what he might want to bring back with him. He couldn't say if the System would accept it, only sticking with things that could potentially fit in a cultivation world. The fan he had bought? Despite being cheap, he could still bring them with him. Some of his favourite printed novel? He supposed it was also alright, he could pass them as something from a very imaginative person. What a shame though that he couldn't bring with him some of his favourite web novels. Maybe he could bargain a possibility for the System to let him read them?
When he finished writing his message, he turned only to find Luo Binghe back in his robes, fitting him perfectly as usual. He was holding a bag with what he wanted to bring back, Xin Mo resting at his side. "Is Shizun ready to go?" he asked, looking as though he wanted to make sure a tenth time if Shen yuan was sure of his choice. Coming back wouldn't be impossible, but it wasn't something he wished they needed to do either.
Shen Yuan stood up, feeling anxious about all of this now that it would happen. Then he saw a hand reach out for him, gladly taking it. He was then gently pulled into the Demon Lord arms and it was it.
He knew he would probably accept to go anywhere as long as Luo Binghe was here with him. He smiled, looking one last time towards his computer, the notification from the "Message sent" still there. Then he nodded, "Yes I am ready".
It only took these four words for Luo Binghe to open a portal, the both of them stepping into it, ready to go back to the home he had been longing for.