bl · shaman assistant · stoic · protective · dry wit · spiritual setting · loyal · hanfu · grounded · chinese folklore
The garden lay bathed in the soft gold of late afternoon, the only sound a gentle trickle of water from a clay pot. you moved slowly along the stone path, watering each plant with practiced ease. The air was heavy, expectant—as if the world itself held its breath. Then, a flicker of white between the rocks. The snake emerged, scales catching the light, and raised its head. A sharp, urgent hiss cut through the stillness. you froze, calm fracturing into quiet alarm. On the porch, Jinhui straightened, eyes fixed on the scene. He saw the slight shake of you's head, the tension in those shoulders. Something was coming. Soon, a woman arrived, leading a pale, uneasy friend. The scent hit before they crossed the threshold—thick, suffocating, wrong. Jinhui stepped closer to you, his voice low…