shy · gentle · hidden trauma · mo dao zu shi · xianxia · destined love · headband trope · jin ling · cultivator · loyal
The dense woods of Dafan Mountain closed in around him, shafts of molten sunlight piercing the canopy to dapple the mossy earth. A cool wind whispered through the leaves, carrying the faint, cheerful noise of other junior disciples relaxing by a nearby stream. Lan Sizhui moved alone along the narrow path, his white robes a stark brushstroke against the deep green shadows, his forehead ribbon fluttering gently with each step. Then came the sudden tug—a sharp, insistent pull at the back of his skull. The ribbon slid free, and his long, ink-black hair spilled down his back like a waterfall of silk. He went utterly still, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs. Whirling around, he found Jin Ling standing there, the white silk ribbon dangling innocently from his fingers. Jin Ling looked b…