春晓。

𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑙 𝑖 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑏𝑦𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑏𝑒 𝑏𝑦𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠.

[fengyas]

* 🜲 ; #𝖥𝖤𝖭𝖦𝖸𝖠𝖲.

selective & independent roleplay blog featuring WEN KEXING of TIAN YA KE. adored by arren, established in may 2021. novel & headcanon-based. open to crossovers and original characters and all chinese muses.

[fengyas]

* 🜲 ; #𝖥𝖤𝖭𝖦𝖸𝖠𝖲.

selective & independent roleplay blog featuring WEN KEXING of TIAN YA KE. adored by arren, established in may 2021. novel & headcanon-based. open to crossovers and original characters and all chinese muses.

[fengyas-a3]

i miss my boy, i'll make a new blog for him.

[fengyas-a3]

Gu Xiang carefully refilled her master's - her brother's, as was whispered by her traitorous mind - cup and tried to be subtle with her staring, but based on Wen Kexing's raised eyebrow, she failed miserably. Finally, she just gave in and gave him her best smile, wobbly as it was. "It's nothing too bad, I promise!" She hurriedly assured him, hoping it will earn her some favor. "I just... I wanted to thank you. For everything. I know it was hard on you, keeping us both afloat with all those ghosts nipping at your heels. But I promise, I will take care of you now - you taught me to repay by debts, and so I will do anything you want. I'm not a child anymore and you're not alone."

        All too aware of the unsubtle staring coming from the opposite end of the table, Wen Kexing raised his eyes, fixating his all-too-compelling gaze on the girl that sat in front of him, refilling his cup with the warm and fragrant plum blossom wine he'd picked up on the way to Gu Xiang's residence and brought with him as a gift to her and her husband Cao Weining – a gift that he'd ended up being served a cup or two, regardless of his refusal.

        Gu Xiang was no longer his little maid now, and while looking at her in her brief moment of hesitation, Wen Kexing noticed that she'd grown a few more inches too. But peculiarly enough, whenever she was in his presence, it seemed that something in her shifted enough to revert back to the little girl he'd raised like his own for so long; the gentleness that she used to show to him and him only now more prominent on the traits of her face, more natural even.

        Bringing the rim of his cup to his lips, as if to hide the micro-smile that threatened to show up against his will, Wen Kexing listened to the girl's familiar chatter with poise, quietly watching her fumble to find the words that sounded proper enough to address him, the same way she did when she couldn't read his expression and feared to cross a line. After all, she hadn't changed one bit.

        After a while, he finally spoke, his tone peaceful and his posture adjusted to not be so rigid. “Which fly has bitten you, for you to talk so seriously all of a sudden? Between you and me, is there a need for ‘thank you’s? You've turned into a fine wedded lady now, is there anything I'd need from you, apart from your happiness and maybe a little grandson to spoil?”

[serpishere]

[saccharot]

ah! but happy cat day to zaizai and jiaozi too!! / still modern a'xing

        one fur ball tucked under each arm, he's currently trying to keep the younger cat from slipping away as he gets comfortable on the edge of the bed. “ hear me out, ” he starts, eyes fixed on his partner's, “ wouldn't this be a great opportunity to get another one? ”

[saccharot]

        if you want to get to know a man, pay attention to those who associate with him [ ... ] it was a saying xue yang didn’t think would come to be useful one day & which he first heard while cheating his way through the ranks of guest disciples on the grounds on lanling, leaving behind lies & trails of blood as a glaring stain in the clan’s history for the years to come. jin guangyao was right ; he needn’t take more than a look at the ghost subordinates to figure out what kind of person wen kexing is. cold-blooded, wicked & unforgiving, none of which make the scorpion feel a speck of agitation even as needles leave their brutal mark into his skin.

        he smiled through it all. from the force or clank of shackles to the master’s deceiving expression & the occasional brush of bloodied fingers across the freshly tattooed area to wipe the ink off, xue yang made of it a source of strange delight he’d hint to by the way his lip periodically curled into a smirk.

        did wen kexing need to supervise the process? it’s likely he didn’t but good thing, xue yang thinks, that he did. not only would his servants ironically be spared from the newborn ghost’s killing intent for another day, it’s given him an opportunity to keep feeding the unpredictably playful exchange. “ your hands aren’t good at branding?… then i can’t help but believe you snuck in here just to watch me get manhandled. are you getting a kick out of it? ” he ventures in a cloyingly docile tone, sitting up on the mattress with sluggish movements & the layers of his upper robes around his waist, letting out a ragged exhale ─── as if he’s slept for hours.

        but only when he catches a glimpse of his disheveled look in the mirror does he begin to consider drawing even more attention to it. he tosses the stray strands of his ponytail over his shoulder, steps over to the mirror, then turns halfway around & inspects the tattoo before he makes sure to lift his eyes just a little higher & peer at the master without having to face him. “ ...i don’t hate it. ” nothing particularly noteworthy, but he’s got scars that look a lot less attractive. xue yang rubs his wrists & soon pulls his robes back up around himself.

        “ does this make me an official ghost, or do you have another surprise for me? ”

[fengyas-a3]

        In the face of an exchange that appeared to be nothing more than a lighthearted back and forth on the surface, Wen Kexing's expression showed no perceptible sign of his inner state of mind. It was as though he was made of wood: it was impossible to tell whether that small pleasantry had pricked a nerve or if, at the opposite, he was even slightly amused by it. Hands loosely tucked behind his back, and while Xue Yang inspected his still-swollen and yet-to-be healed tattoo in the mirror, he took no more than a step forward, maintaining the distance of three chi that he kept with all living things, to get a closer look at the large face of a ghost now carved in the middle of his back.

        For a few seconds as he looked up, his eyes met Xue Yang's. That was when the two ghosts behind him, who were still cleaning the rocky bed mere minutes ago, caught him unaware and held his hands behind his back with his robes half up, forcing him onto his knees in front of him. To make sure that he couldn't move, each of them had one of their feet pressing on his ankles, and as a small precaution, a needle pointing towards his neck.

        Wen Kexing smiled. But it wasn't the type of smile that looked even remotely friendly nor inviting. If anything, it was the type of smile that had a hint of warning. He had been lenient until now due to his good mood; so much that the other had felt comfortable enough to hazard a guess at his intentions. If he didn't draw a line right here and now, who knew what else he would feel comfortable doing in the future. No matter how amiable he could prove himself to be, he was still the irrational ghost master after all, and it was about time for him to get a good grasp of it.

        “A surprise?” he asked calmly, as if he was still just as congenial as he had been minutes ago. “Did you perhaps mistake my tone from earlier as me being good-natured?” If there was one thing that Wen Kexing couldn't accept, it was to be brazen enough to try and guess his thoughts. He didn't trust Xue Yang, and he had yet to find out what his true intentions for coming here were, if he allowed him to be too comfortable, he wouldn't hesitate to step over his head later on. So taking a step forward, then another, until he was only a hair's breadth away from him, he closed his long nails around Xue Yang's face to make him look into his eyes and said.

        “Whether I get a kick out of seeing you manhandled or not, that's not something for you to be concerned about. So let me teach you a thing or two. First, it would be best for you to watch your mouth with me. It'd be a shame to have to kill you right as you arrive, wouldn't it? Secondly…” Looking at the two ghosts, he gestured the gate with his chin, releasing Xue Yang in a leisurely manner. “You can follow these two. They'll take you to Gu Xiang outside. If you need anything, she'll be the one to answer to you. Congratulations, you're free to go. Don't let me see you again.”

[fengyas-a3]

@saccharot sent: [ full screenshot. ]

        If there was one thing that Wen Kexing could recognise among a thousand others, it was the sweet taste of osmanthus wine. Even as their lips gradually parted following their lengthy, sugary kiss, the taste still lingered on his tongue like honey, tickling the edge of his lips as if craving for another mouthful of that refined mixture. It was a sensation he couldn't help but chase with a brush of his thumb over the corner of his mouth, his eyes naturally following the shadow of the man who'd left him to guess what his present could possibly be.

        At first, Wen Kexing was indeed suspicious. They did not have enough money to buy such an expensive jar in the first place, and they had both picked up the shameless habit of stealing or getting themselves invited to gatherings they weren't welcome to in order to escape starvation for the longest time; but they had been in each other's company this entire time, so there was no chance for Xue Yang to have gotten hold of such a thing without him noticing it.

        The idea of him resorting to stealing quickly disappeared just as Xue Yang seemed to have anticipated his train of thought without him even voicing it. As he watched him lying on the grass with his arms behind his nape, Wen Kexing quietly stared at the folds of his robes from his lapels down to the hems; there was nothing unusual, not even an uneven shape to be seen to give him a hint. So this time, he speculated that his lover's present was none other than a good lay in a semi-public spot with his favourite fragrance as an incentive.

        He was visibly delighted at the mere thought of it. Licking his lips and rubbing his jaw as he mentally surveyed which area of Xue Yang's body he could dig in first, he realised that his wife-to-be appeared to know him well indeed. There was no better gift than having sex when he least expected it. But then, his eyebrows creased all of a sudden. There was clearly something wrong with this present. If Xue Yang had wanted to offer him his body, why would he mention stealing?

        After a long minute of contemplation, Wen Kexing couldn't help but ask, just to make sure that he wasn't getting it wrong. “Are you... offering me your body as a birthday present?” ︳︳︳︳ birthday prompt / status: closed.

[saccharot]

@𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐚𝐬​ 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 :       places a sweet kiss on top of wifey's forehead. ♡

* ˙ ˖ ✶ 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝,  always accepting.

        with one hand on the teapot & the other holding the bottom of the cup between his thumb & index finger, xue yang is engrossed in his own efforts when the unexpected tap of lips upon his forehead makes his hands halt their movement. it hasn’t yet felt like summer even though it should [ … ] the days are still chilly after a fit of persistent rain, & tea seems to be the next best remedy after the pair of warm arms in which he woke up in the morning. he only notices he hasn’t gotten a cup for himself after wen kexing releases him from the loose, brief embrace across his shoulders.

        now, instead of scoffing at his newly-gained tenderness of heart, xue yang gently grasps his husband’s wrist & guides him to sit at the wooden table. he resumes pouring, filling the cup up to the brim with hot, fragrant tea in spite of the other’s tirelessly endeared expression, & almost fails to maintain his focus a second time before he’s finished. ( even out of the corner of his eye, he can see it ─── how wen kexing looks at him with as much devotion as the oceans of blood on his hands. ) “ it stormed so hard last night, you don’t need to go down to the river for water for a while. ” the assassin then picks up the cup & places it in front of him. “ all the more reason to spend some time with me, hm? ”

[fengyas-a3]

happy 2 years anniversary to me ✨

        it's been 2 years since i started writing wen kexing today and i feel like i ought to say a few words in account of that. first, if you're around since the creation of my first blog @ghosturned, then congratulations it's been 2 years that you and i are putting up with each other fdghbsfs (i'm kidding of course) but if you've been around all this time, this means i have to thank you for still being around and still writing with me.

        wen kexing is one of my favourite characters, not just across all danmei novels but also in general, and i'm having a ton of fun being here when i have the energy to be. of course i've had my ups and downs, i still do, but i'm still here and i intend to be for as long as i'm able to. i hope that those who stuck around until here will continue to do so for a while. will be looking forward to the years of fun and writing with those who still want to tag along.

[caelestcs]

“— Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”  

|| multimuse; adored by Ni

[saccharot]

        in the already pressing silence floating about the room, one word feels mercilessly louder than the rest. xue yang can feel his fingers go cold beneath the supple leather of his gloves, & he might’ve swallowed that piece of osmanthus cake wrong ─── words scratch at his throat & his stomach constricts when he hears it echo in his head, how a friend is the most he seems to have been to wen kexing until now. so that’s what he sees me as, he thinks [ … ] for the first time, xue yang may as well hate the parts of himself that hoped for more. not only was he supposed to never get this far, he’s let himself hope, in the same way his younger self might think there’s more out there after his first bite into something sweet.

        but, partly because of him & partly because of wen kexing’s own lock over his heart, the mind games never stopped. they’ve become less of a threat, to the point they can share the same bed now & not worry about hidden blades while one of them’s asleep ; now that he knows what wen kexing thinks of all the nights spent together, he hates himself for coming back to look for the real key to the arsenal. this may be the last night he spends in the master’s company.

        “ i’m glad, ” he musters against the rim of his cup, after only filling it halfway. in his heart he’s struggling not to demand an honest, unambiguous explanation for all these years, but his expression remains unswayed, coquettish as it’s always been. his eyes appear to be the only trait that’s lost some of its usual glimmer, but he speaks again in spite of it. “ but that can’t be right. a’xiang thinks pretty well of you. isn’t she also a friend? ”

[fengyas-a3]

        only after uttering the word « friend » did wen kexing grasp just how wrong it felt on his tongue. friends didn’t sleep together in the same bed for so many years nor shared the pleasures of the flesh so often that it became questionable. friends didn’t look at each other with such genuine fondness that a mere glimpse of it in the other’s eyes could make their heart flutter in ways they weren’t familiar with. friends didn’t need to meet at a secret spot to share a simple moment of friendship away from the people’s gazes. what they shared was already far beyond friendship and wen kexing found it almost frustrating that he could not find a more accurate word to describe their connection, but he also couldn’t go back on it now that it’d been said out loud.

        it was in his character to let go of the superfluous thoughts that gave room for the bitterness of the heart. since xue yang was giving him an opening for a change of topic, it would be foolish of him to not take the bait. so wen kexing shoved that half-bitten piece of osmanthus cake in his mouth as if to erase the biting taste of his own dissatisfaction and said, “you... could see it that way. a’xiang has been by my side for as long as i can remember.”

        but could she be considered a friend? wen kexing didn’t seem to think so. to him, a’xiang was the little sister he’d never had, the reason why he could still hold someone dear in his heart and the reason why he hadn’t yet become a slaughtering machine beyond redemption. she was a bit of everything to him, but not quite a friend. “that silly girl can’t hold a conversation with too many complicated words. she'll talk about nonsense all day long. she…” isn’t you, he concluded in his mind, before bringing the rim of his cup to his lips to quench his thirst. “well, she isn't quite like you.”

[saccharot]

        the last time xue yang went to a banquet must’ve been during his years spent on the grounds of lanling, as a guest that most other attendees hoped to be able to avoid throughout the entire celebration. whoever looked his way would do so with a touch of apprehensiveness or worry that his gaze might land in their direction for whatever reason ; when he bothers to glance even briefly across the tables in the hall of the ghost valley, though, what he sees is dozens of heads lowered & dozens of eyes where disdain glows like a house on fire ─── steadily & relentlessly. faced with a similar prospect, many ghosts would be terror-stricken when in the presence of their lord. xue yang contrastingly has to admit this is almost flattering.

        ever since he’s opened his mouth to speak, it’s all been comments on how lavish the meals appear, how quiet everyone else is. it’s a banquet, isn’t it? why are they treating it like someone just died? he asks after taking note of an especially miserable-looking ghost. he could most assuredly make it a reality, but wen kexing’s arm feels relaxed in between his own & his smile is sincere [ … ] it’s not often the assassin stares at the master & sees contentment in any form so, for the sake of it, all he can do is delay a sacrifice or two. yama hall has been unusually empty these days.

        a hardly noticeable purse of lips is his response to the fingertip when it lands on them with a feathery, silent request. he could kiss wen kexing right here regardless of who caught a glimpse of the moment, & he nearly lets it happen, but better ideas brew in his mind not long after. he could lead the man away from the festivities for a little while if he wants to preserve his cheerful disposition : the air here feels stifling despite the heavy focus on the two figures dressed in matching shades of red ─── a little fresh air could do them good. ( or it’s just a passable excuse all the same. )

        “ then, why don’t you do it? you’re not even listening to me. what else is there to do? ” away from the curious, malevolent eyes, gloved fingers curl loosely around the master’s wrist as if to indicate an intention not yet voiced. “ how about you sneak out with me for a while? i doubt any of these valley dogs will miss us. ”

[fengyas-a3]

        wen kexing quietly eyed the gloved fingers coiling loosely around his wrist. he knew what xue yang was going to say before even having voiced it. whenever a kiss was at stake, privacy was always to be considered. they had never gone out of their way to make it obvious for everyone else, but even without them saying it, most of the ghosts knew exactly what their relationship was. wen kexing never kissed him in front of the others, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t make room for an escape if he had the opportunity to. he was the ghost valley master after all, if he decided to leave all of a sudden, no one could tell him anything and they did not dare. moreover, they would probably not miss him either, as xue yang had said. so to that, he nodded.

        regardless, he still had some sense of responsibility. the reason why he had organised this banquet was precisely what the other ghosts had thought of: it was nothing more than a threat. unlike xue yang, who had joined their ranks only a few years ago, the others already knew that nothing good could come out of a master who did not like to celebrate and was as unpredictable as he was. he couldn’t afford to disappear when all the eyes were still on him. his presence here, at least for the time being, was necessary. “it’s not that i don’t want to listen to you,” he suddenly said, his tone coaxing and somewhat helpless. “but i have to entertain the guests. this banquet only just started.”

        and for this, wen kexing had already thought of something. in order to keep the ghosts occupied, he had organised a hunt. there were few things that could draw their interest for long enough, and because he knew this, he had specifically hidden a fake key somewhere in the valley that he would use as a way to root out the most dishonest of servants that were stupid enough to believe he would be so foolish as to play games with the real key. with that thought in mind, he spoke against xue yang’s ear. “join me on the mountain top in ten minutes. i’ll show you something fun.”

        then after gently removing the hand around his wrist, he walked towards the stairs that put him at a higher spot than the others and announced the rules of the hunt under the cautious eyes of the masses. when they heard what their foolish master had in mind, most of the crowd seemed delighted. though the most clever ones saw right through it and decided to stay put, that had at least given him an escape route. no one would be stupid enough to come look for him. “you have two hours. the one who can bring me the key will get to climb up the ranks.”

[saccharot]

        it turns out wen kexing did keep his promise to rob him of the last ounce of affection he might’ve mustered for the day. even though it was preceded by a playful little threat hours prior, xue yang relied on the small possibility of it being nothing more than a shameless bluff in the end, a pretext even wen kexing might forget about by the time he returned home. between that & the other’s stubborn inclinations xue yang was originally only slightly suspicious of, the fact the latter won without a doubt makes him think he might have to start planning his own approaches from now on. wen kexing just happens to be about as unpredictable as he has been.

        caught there, in the tight embrace of that pair of arms as he feels complaints wasting away on his tongue one by one before he got to spit them out, a hand already covered in a thin layer of leather for the evening reaches up to rest against one of wen kexing’s forearms. doing so feels as though it is the result of an arduous, inward battle, & he could argue about how he’ll need time to pick up the pieces of a cracked ego in the days to come ─── but he does it so voluntarily despite the frown on his face, it doesn’t look like a real frown one bit.

        “ is there such a thing as ‘ getting ready ’ with you? i thought that’s what you do all day while you’re at work, ” he counters, watching the black cat as it walks away with its tail swaying from side to side. it’s certainly more than any effort he puts into getting ready every day, but it’ll do ; taking into account his low-profile position, the fact wen kexing is the only one that sees him on a regular basis doesn’t sound like a bad thing in the slightest. “ besides, you look fine to me. it doesn’t matter. ”

        peeling himself away from wen kexing’s touch after nearly a whole minute of having stayed nestled there, he straightens up & leans against the nearest wall with a smug expression. “ but you should get ready. before all that flattery gets to my head. ”

[fengyas-a3]

        though a minute’s embrace was far too short to his liking, wen kexing did not push his luck and kindly removed himself from their embrace like a well-behaved person of honourable upstanding. xue yang probably still thought of him as a little suspicious and he could consider himself lucky that while it had merely been a few months since they’d started to live under the same roof, he hadn’t yet been punched in the nose for his numerous attempts at flirting with him – but it was only because his flatmate was oblivious to them despite making it obvious – hugging him like this was a momentary privilege he'd obtained for being a slippery fox, it was probably a little more advisable to not press him for an extension of time if he wanted to secure another hug later on.

        so he took off his coat and boots with a small smile, thinking that he was truly the most cunning man on earth. looking at xue yang as he spoke, he said, “aiya, you can’t compare these two things. when i dress up for work, i dress up for work. but if i’m going on a date, of course i must be dressed to kill.” he then realised something and added, “thank you for the compliment though.” and perhaps because he felt a little shameless, he winked at him before disappearing in the vast space of the apartment, climbing the stairs to his room to change into a high waist trouser that complimented his form and a loose, plain white shirt that was slightly open on the chest.

        with the addition of a brown watch, dangling earrings and a touch of makeup and perfume, he headed back to the hall where xue yang was waiting for him then slipped back into his coat and a pair of black leather shoes. just like that, he was ready to go. he had already procured himself two tickets to the aquarium earlier in the afternoon – between little breaks of ten minutes – so he didn’t need to be worried about wasting time once they would be there.

        rummaging through the closet, wen kexing took out another coat. but this one wasn’t for him, it was for xue yang. with the excuse of gentlemanly manners, he took the chance to drape the coat over his shoulders, placing a cheeky, quick peck on his cheek before he said. “shall we go?”

[saccharot]

        the two servants & their persistent agitation or the fact they might shamelessly feast their eyes during the tattooing process, he couldn’t care less about. before he even lay down, the shackles were the first thing xue yang noticed ; taking all precautions to ensure the newest ghost recruit doesn’t stand a chance at escaping or – at the very least – stays still feels incredibly ironic. he, who’s come to the valley with one thing on his mind, uninclined to seek a way out until he’s fulfilled the scorpion king’s ambitions : what use is there to restraining a willing hostage?

        amusement lingers on his lips even after the purple-clad girl has shut the heavy door behind herself. surely it wouldn’t be the first time she’s been in this room or witnessed the branding of a ghost-to-be, but the sight of a half-undressed man is bound to feel inappropriate for any girl her age. he can tell this much.

        “ & here i was, hoping i’d be lucky enough to have it done by the master himself. what a letdown. are you here only to make sure they don’t slack off, then? ” or, for wholly different reasons which xue yang doesn’t yet dare to take as the most plausible reason. he managed to catch a brief view of wen kexing’s keen stare while removing his clothes, but whether this is truly why he’s still so comfortable leaning against the wall like that remains to be seen.

        the violent flash in his eyes exchanged with one of the servants just as he reached for his forearm with a slightly forceful movement is one xue yang makes up for in less than a moment’s worth ─── when he turns to regard the ghost chief with charming playfulness, it’s as if that chilling glint was never there. however tightly the shackles close in around his wrists, he only lets out an exaggerated sigh as the long needles begin to nudge their way into his lower back.

        “ it’s not that i might break, but are all your servants this rough? such a heavy hand… ”

[fengyas-a3]

        there was no particular reason as to why wen kexing had decided to stick around to watch the branding process of a newborn ghost he knew nothing about if only to pass the time. what he wanted to do, no one had dared to question it before and likely, no one cared enough to ask about it. this xue yang was certainly one of a kind: not only did he show no fear when looking into his eyes, but he also had enough backbone to jest in his presence. while scanning through the room, he briefly caught the horrified looks on the faces of his subordinates that conveyed a very quiet but apparent « is this man looking for death? » which only mildly amused him.

        but wen kexing didn't mind it. he was in a good mood, so he allowed the heedless questions, putting it on account of his blatant ignorance of the ghost valley rules. there would be times when he wouldn't be so patient, but today wasn't one of them: after all, a newcomer had to learn before being berated for an attitude.

        “do i need a reason to be here?” he asked, watching the ghosts exerting force on the shackles to keep him steady, probably as a small personal revenge for giving them so much trouble this early in the morning. they couldn't strike him personally, so they took it out on the second most troublesome person in the room: xue yang himself. “my hands may be good at many things, but branding isn't one of them.”

        as their eyes met, wen kexing merely smiled and said, “i can't say. they've never been so rough with me.” it might've sounded as though he were responding to the playfulness, but in fact, he was rejoicing in the movement of the needles puncturing through the flesh bit by bit, leaving traces of both blood and battered skin, which made of the tattooing process an entertaining show for him to witness. it was almost regrettable that, merely thirty minutes later, the show had already come to an end. the shackles loosened, and on xue yang's skin was branded the big face of a ghost.

        “do you want to take a look at it? there's a mirror over there.”

[fengyas-a3]

@caelestcs sent: [ full screenshot. ]

        it was already noon when wen kexing arrived in jiangnan on horseback. around spring, the town was always exceptionally spirited, so he had deliberately opted for that time of the day to blend in with the crowd, hoping that even though teahouses always met their peak hours around noon, he would still find a place to sit and have a tea. as it turned out, he had indeed been lucky enough to get a private spot behind a píngfēng, where he could enjoy a short moment of solitude with a porcelain cup as his only companion.

        jiangnan had remained just as he remembered it. after the siege in ghost valley, he had departed for a trip of six years, leaving behind everything he had ever known to patch things up with the human life he'd never gotten to experience in over twenty years of existence. now that he had seen most of what he'd desired, he was primarily coming back to pay his respects to his late parents, whose remains were still buried in jiangnan. six years were quite a long time, and he was afraid that if he didn't return to pay his respects, the face of his irate father would appear to call him unfilial.

        before long, wen kexing had finished drinking his tea and made to leave. he was rummaging through his travelling bag to find his money pouch when, from meters behind him, he sensed a presence insistently staring at his back. he didn't need to turn around to know who it was. despite the many years that had passed, he could still recognise a familiar presence when he met one. without a word, he allowed them to come closer, sit in front of him, and even grab at his face. as expected, it was gu xiang, the girl he had chased away from ghost valley before the siege, and the girl he had raised like a little sister of his own. but this was a grown-up version of her.

        “a'xiang, did the years make you forget your manners? what's with the face, you look like you've seen a ghost.”

[fengyas-a3]

how i use my ask box: a newbie's guide.

the start of a thread through asks is fine if we plotted in the first place. i'm not too good at "winging it" and like to know the direction in which a thread goes.

i enjoy occasional asks that aren't meant to be continued. they're a bit like writing samples and additions to pre-existing verses.

i will not answer to asks that are meant to "break the ice": message me please. it's the best way to start interacting with me.

of course, out of character messages (mutuals or not) are always okay but please be civil and polite: if i'm not comfortable answering, i won't.

asks are not my priority at all ; especially those that aren't meant to be continued. don't expect a quick answer, it'll come when it'll come.

i practically never drop an ask, but if the ask doesn't inspire me after 6 months i'll drop it and that's that. if you don't see a response, consider it dropped. but you're always welcome to send a new one.

feel free to send as many asks as you like. i'm a turtle (always), but i'm writing for my mutuals with pleasure despite that. don't let it stop you.