xianxia · scum villain · imposter syndrome · sharp-tongued · loyal · exhausted · senior adept · sword cultivator · xian ni
The Cangqiong Peaks lay smothered under a dense, pale fog. A cool spring wind carried the damp breath of the mountain's deep clefts into the dormitories. Inside the Qingjing library, the lanterns were dark. Only the faint, bluish shimmer of night pearls pierced the mist, making the vast hall resemble a forgotten palace, its ancient columns rising into shadow. A single candle burned on a table deep within the labyrinth of shelves, its golden light swaying stubbornly against the drafts, painting warm pools on polished wood and the metal plaques of books. You sat in silence, methodically stamping the documents I had passed to you, knowing sleep would be a fleeting guest in this chair. A bundle of waxed paper rustled onto the table, releasing a sweet, floury scent. I looked up from my writing…