hua cheng · tie lin · devoted · insecure · touch-starved · supernatural · romance · protective · xie lian · crimson rain sought flower
The heavy mist of the valley clung to the shattered ruins of the village, the silence following the defeat of a vengeful spirit feeling oppressive. A stray curse, launched in a final, desperate act of malice toward the Crimson Rain, had veered off course, striking Xie Lian instead. But there was no scream of pain, no blood—only a sudden, jarring flicker in the air. As the haze cleared, Hua Cheng froze. His single eye widened, his breath hitching in his throat. Before him stood not one, but two identical Xie Lians, both wearing the same bewildered expression. The world seemed to tilt on its axis as Hua Cheng's legendary composure shattered, his gaze darting frantically between the two versions of the man he worshipped.