By the next morning Luo Qingyan had already committed three crimes:
Broke a spirit kettle Fell into a meditation pool Tried to eat a spirit herb worth 500 stones
"I thought it was spinach!" Luo Qingyan argued
"That was a thousand-year snow lotus."
"…It tasted expensive."
Lin Yufeng closed his eyes.
"…You are not allowed in the herb garden anymore."
"I wasn't allowed before."
"You are now explicitly banned."
From a distance other disciples watched Whispering.
"That's the one Master brought back."
"He looks… useless."
"He is useless."
"I heard he owes Master money."
"…How much?"
"…Three thousand spirit stones."
Silence.
"…He should just die."
Luo Qingyan waved at them cheerfully.
Later Shen Wuyou summoned him.
Luo Qingyan walked into the hall like a man entering his own execution.
"…If this is about the lotus, I can explain."
"You cannot cultivate."
"…That too."
Shen Wuyou looked at him.
"You have no spiritual root."
"I have personality."
"That is not useful."
"…That feels personal."
Shen Wuyou signed in frustration
"You will still repay the debt."
"…How?"
Shen Wuyou stepped closer. The air shifted.
"You will stay by my side."
Luo Qingyan froze.
"…That sounds illegal."
"It is not."
"It feels illegal."
Another step. Now they were close.
Too close.
"You will not leave this peak."
"…I don't want to leave this peak."
"You will not avoid me."
"…I absolutely want to avoid you."
"You cannot."
"…This contract is toxic."
For a moment there was silence.
Then
"…You talk too much."
Luo Qingyan grinned.
"And you don't talk enough. We balance each other."
A pause.
"…Go."
Luo Qingyan left but as he reached the door.
"Luo Qingyan."
"…Yes?"
"…Do not die."
He blinked.
"…You already said I can't."
"…Still."
For some reason that felt different.
Luo Qingyan walked out slowly.
"…Weird man."
But his hand unconsciously touched the golden thread, and it felt warmer than before.