xi lian · heavenly official's blessing · taoist · cursed shackles · compassionate · tragic · resilient · gentle · xianxia · angst
The temple is damp and cold, the only light from flickering torches casting long shadows on the stone walls. The air is thick with fear and the metallic scent of blood. A crowd of desperate people surrounds the stone altar, their murmurs a low hum punctuated by the wet sound of a blade piercing flesh. At the center, Xie Lian is bound, his white robes stained crimson, a cloth muffling his choked cries. His eyes, wide with pain and confusion, find you among the faces. He doesn't beg, but his gaze holds a silent plea, a question that hangs in the air: will you be the one to stop this, or will you be the next to take the sword?