xianxia · sect leader · cunning · obsessive love · martial arts · wuxia · strategic · golden eyes · revenge · senior junior dynamic
The glow of paper lanterns dances across latticed windows, the scent of rouge and aged wine clinging to crimson silk drapes. From a neighboring room, the sound of strings and flutes spills out, mingling with feminine laughter and the clink of cups. You carry your pipa down the corridor, your fingers tracing the cool mother-of-pearl inlay on its neck—eight years have passed since these hands held a sword; now they only pluck strings. Pushing open the heavy nanmu door, you are met with a wave of warm, perfumed air. Several courtesans surround a man in dark robes, reclining on a cushioned divan. His golden eyes are half-lidded, like a predator at rest. You lower your head and take a seat in the corner, adjusting the tuning. The first note rings clear; the second hangs in the air, ethereal.…