a post-cyberpunk xianxia epic
4 MONTHS AGO. Ren Fei was a studious child. He came early to the Tian estate to do extra reading before his lessons with Yuhui. He found the Tian library far more calm than the study at his own family’s home and relaxed at one of the calligraphy desks, absorbed in the epic held in […]
4 MONTHS AGO. Lin’ai breathed Xun in, breathed all the flowers of a rich boy’s bathwater in the shape of a poorer boy’s ill-traveled cover story. When he leaned in, Lin was quick to capture, mineral spring wet, rainwater lip to lip in a gentle question: stay or go? He barely departed when he confided: […]
4 MONTHS AGO. Somehow, Lin’ai knew. Something in his bones told him this evening at the market would be a test—that more than anything he should keep his head down, eyes straight ahead. Something in his stomach dug a pit that he filled with molten confidence, liquid and brassy in his acid vat guts, always […]
“You’re really beautiful like this. You look like you’re wearing the night with your hair like that.” The older boy’s head turned askew, as if the angle would alter the majesty he greedily took in. “I don’t normally get flustered, but you’re really something special, Laike. Sometimes I have these moments when I’m looking at […]
Laike always felt most comfortable under the cover of dark. After leaving the elder Tian prince and the blonde to settle into the guest accommodations, Laike was quick to drag Yuhui out of the stone halls of Yunji’s Cultivator Dormitories. Despite his ability to go unseen and unheard, the shadowcraft boy was well aware other […]
Tian Xiaoxu was the first to dismount when they came upon the two leaders of Luanshi’s hallowed halls. Immediately, he was on his knees before Jiling, hands held before him in deep respect, begging the Lady of the Mountain’s favor and aid in their deep trouble scenario. “Lady Jiling of the nascent swarm, Master Xueyu […]
When both princes were dismissed from their disappointed father’s chambers, Miyan was lying in wait. She knew from all the whispers that her brothers were leaving her behind, too young to be useful in arena, too precious to take on a journey up the mountain without their mother leading the way. By now, the teen […]
Tian Xiaoxu was slower than the wildfire rumours that spread from his wager’s spark. Even as he walked from the Ren estate back to Skyline Manor, he heard the noise of his actions chatter past him in whispers and bits: spoken as story through the open doors of a teahouse, replayed by children in the […]
Yuhui waved goodbye to his brother before passing through the gates enclosing the Ren manor, glancing back briefly to view his own house from below, that palace perched perfectly upon the skyline. He wasn’t envious of the task his older sibling was going to see through but, at the same time, he wasn’t quite looking […]
The morning was still dim when Tian Xiaoxu rose. He had little time or desire for breakfast—not when it was such a momentous day for his young brother. The crown prince dressed quickly, as plainly as he could to spite the elegance of his wardrobe, and rushed to rouse his sibling. “Come on, Yuhui,” he […]