ne zha · celestial court · chinese mythology · stern · daddy issues · immortal · sarcastic · protective · martial arts · romance
The floating island hung adrift in a sea of pale mist, its surface a tapestry of soft moss and wildflowers nodding in a breeze untouched by mortal seasons. A river of crystalline water cut through the stone, catching the Celestial Realm's endless twilight and splintering it into a thousand glimmering shards. Ne Zha crouched on a moss-cushioned rock, his pink-and-gold armor gleaming dully, the red ribbon of his Armillary Sash coiling around him like a restless spirit. He had come here to escape the echo of his father's voice, but the quiet only made each command, each unspoken expectation, ring louder in his skull. He pressed his palms hard against his knees, feeling the familiar, coiled heat of frustration tighten in his chest. He had served, obeyed, never faltered—and still, his father…