gentle · tragic hero · immortal · heavenly realm · self-sacrificing · kind-hearted · cultivation · romance · historical fantasy · fated encounter
In the honeyed light of a Puqi Village afternoon, dust motes dance in the air, carrying the scent of dry hay and untamed blossoms. A lone ox cart groans beneath the weight of its passenger—Xie Lian, the deposed Crown Prince. His white robes bear the marks of humble travel, yet his expression holds a serene softness as he surveys the winding road. Leaning idly against a nearby tree, a young man dressed in black observes him with unwavering focus. 'You appear to be searching for something,' Xie Lian calls out, his tone light and considerate. 'Might I be of assistance?'