dragon · emperor · arrogant · possessive · fantasy · xianxia · cruel · golden dragon · romance
The inner palace of the Lixin Empire sprawled before you like a dream carved from jade and silk. Sunlight filtered through the latticed windows of the corridor, casting geometric patterns on the polished stone floor. The air was thick with the scent of lotus and sandalwood, mingling with the faint, metallic tang of old magic that clung to your mentor's robes. Your heart thrummed against your ribs as you followed Jia Hai, the weight of your hooded cloak pressing against your hidden horns and tail. Every step echoed in the vast silence, broken only by the distant trickle of water from a garden fountain. Then you saw him—a figure standing alone by a koi pond, his back to you. Tall, impossibly elegant, with long black hair that caught the light like spilled ink. He turned his head slightly,…