Are you talking about JJY & JZ? If so, then yes. They were together in Rebirth For You.Or do you mean TJR…
JZ’s screen time in MJTY was like 5 minutes tops, so I completely forgot he was even in that one. 🤣🤣 And since she said she’s already watched their drama, I didn't even think of LOTRC because it’s still stuck in the basement. 🥹
This is their second project together right? I think I saw their drama before and If I'm not mistaken I loved…
Are you talking about JJY & JZ? If so, then yes. They were together in Rebirth For You. Or do you mean TJR & CDL from Fangs of Fortune? If so, this is their 2nd project together. Or maybe CDL & JZ? This is their 3rd time in the same project. They were in Mysterious Lotus Casebook and A Lonely Hero's Journey.
It’s actually hilarious how people always have a lot of negative things to say when an actor is very handsome and talented... 😌💅 If the edits look that good, it’s because the original material is already top-tier. You can’t polish nothing, babe!! Cry about it 😂! Anyway, let’s just block the trolls, we don’t need this negativity right now.😍
Definitely watching! I usually have zero patience for the weekly wait and end up losing interest halfway; I just…
Gurl?? Of course, it’s not!! (maybe) BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA we prefer the term "committed" okay!! Just grab a candle, because I know exactly how loud you’re gonna be sobbing in my ear if this doesn’t end well! 🤣✋
Definitely watching! I usually have zero patience for the weekly wait and end up losing interest halfway; I just…
The things we do for love, I swear. 😭 I’m prepared for the heartbreak, but it better be a good kind of sad. If the plot is messy AND the ending is bad, I’m throwing hands.🤣🤣
btw are y'all going to watch this while it's airing? i feel like i have to wait until half of it at least is out…
Definitely watching! I usually have zero patience for the weekly wait and end up losing interest halfway; I just end up dropping it.👀 But for Ruirui and Jingyi? I’m locked in. Even if the plot turns out to be absolute shit, I’m seeing this one through to the end for them.🤭
Don't put Nerezza and GJM in the same room because they're going to cook a script full of pain and suffering 😮💨
LMAO, not the pot calling the kettle black. 🤣If the two of us ever teamed up, we’d be sharing the same brain cell, and that brain cell only wants violence. Besides me, nobody loves writing a sad ending more than you👀🤣🤣
In the Imperial City of the Zhou kingdom, politics and the arts of war aren't the only things discussed in the…
This is why death is the easy way out. Being the one left behind is the real curse. She'll constantly think about the "what if's" for the rest of her immortal life. 🫠
Maybe the next ending will be a "match made in heaven"... literally.
Double funeral, anyone? Think of it as a buy one, get one free deal on death certificates. A matching set for the afterlife ⚰️⚰️😂😂
Fox Demons Wuyi / Wangyan x Generals Ji Ling / Shiguang
In the Imperial City of the Zhou kingdom, politics and the arts of war aren't the only things discussed in the teahouses.
Demons run rampant in this world, hunting and feasting on humans as if they are nothing more than livestock. In this world, they sit at the very top of the food chain.
But humanity wasn't left entirely defenseless. Centuries ago, It is said that a celestial high priest from an unknown land once blessed a man for his kindness, granting him the divine power to slay demons.
That bloodline survived through the centuries, manifesting in the Ji clan.
Ji Ling is the pinnacle of that bloodline. A general who has killed thousands on the frontlines to ensure his kingdom’s safety.
He is often called cold-blooded, a monster.
But beneath the armor and the blood-stained spear, he is a man who dreams of the peace he can finally give to his people.
Alongside his cousin, the boisterous but deadly Wu Shiguang, he balances the life of a frontier general with the duty of a demon hunter.
It was during one of those brutal encounters that he found her, Lu Wuyi.
To Ji Ling, she was a miracle: a lone survivor in a village where even the livestock had been killed.
To Wuyi, he was a puzzle.
She is a nine-tailed fox, a creature of over a thousand years, who has maintained her porcelain skin and youthful glow by feasting on the hearts of the men who lusted after her.
She had expected Ji Ling to be the same. She had waited for that familiar, hungry look in his eyes so she could tear his chest open.
Instead, he had looked at her with nothing but heavy, bone-deep pity. He had draped his own heavy military cloak over her, shielding her from the sight of the dead, and carried her straight to a physician.
He left her in the care of the local magistrate, disappearing back to the frontlines without a second glance.
The afternoon sun filtered through the paper screens of the room, casting long, geometric shadows across the floor.
Wuyi sat by the window, idly plucking the petals off a peony.
"You're going to go crazy if you keep that up," a voice drifted from the doorway.
Wuyi didn't turn around. She knew that voice and scent.
Her sister, Wu Wangyan, stepped out of the shadows, her silk robes rustling.
"Master always said humans are nothing but food, Wuyi," Wangyan said, leaning against a pillar. "But look at you. You’re waiting for a man who hasn't shown up in three weeks. Do you really feel something for that man?"
Wuyi smiled, a slow, predatory curve of the lips that would have terrified any mortal. "I’m not waiting, sister. I’m just thinking. He’s different. Most men want to own me. He just wanted me to live. I want to know why. I want to know how a heart that cold can feel so... soft. Besides, life is boring. What’s wrong with doing something fun?"
Wangyan’s eyes narrowed. "The humans are getting stronger. The Ji clan carries the bloodline blessed by the celestials. If they find out what you are, you won’t live to see the sunrise. You’re playing with fire."
"Then let’s make the fire bigger," Wuyi laughed, her red eyes glinting under the afternoon sun. "Living is so boring when the world is at peace. Let’s give the Generals a reason to come home."
The plan was simple. Under the cover of night, Wangyan stirred the lesser demons of the city, creating panic of "demon sightings." It worked like a charm.
Within hours, the news quickly reached Ji Ling and Shiguang, which made them quickly assemble their best soldiers to go to that city.
When the chaos reached its peak, Wangyan executed the final move.
She staged an "attack" in the marketplace, then pretended to be a terrified maiden while Shiguang and Ji Ling charged into the chaos.
After the fight , Wangyan ran in front of Shiguang looking for “help”, claiming Wuyi had been struck down while trying to protect her.
The doors to the estate slammed open with enough force to rattle the windows.
Ji Ling stormed in, his black armor covered in blood.
Behind him, Shiguang was half-carrying a "sobbing" Wangyan.
"Where is she?" Ji Ling’s asked while looking around the estate for demons.
"In the inner chamber!" Wangyan wailed, burying her face in Shiguang’s shoulder. "The demon... it had claws like daggers... she pushed me out of the way..."
Ji Ling didn't wait for the rest. He took off, his boots pounding a rhythmic, heavy beat against the floorboards of the hallway.
He burst into Wuyi’s room to find her lying on the bed, her shoulder wrapped in white linen that was stained with blood
He reached out to check the bandage, his fingers trembling slightly. But he stopped himself.
"General Ji," Wuyi whispered. She looked up at him with wide, watery eyes. "You... you came back."
"Don't move," Ji Ling commanded, though his touch was incredibly light as he adjusted the silk pillow behind her head. "Shiguang! Get a physician. Now."
"Already on it!" Shiguang shouted from the hallway, though he sounded a little distracted as he tried to console the "traumatized" Wangyan.
"I told you to stay within the walls," Ji Ling said, his voice low and raspy. He reached out, his hand hovering near her neck before he caught himself. He settled for adjusting the blanket. "Roaming around the city isn’t safe."
"I was worried about you," Wuyi lied, her eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. She reached out, her small hand brushing against his cold, metal gauntlet. "The rumors... they said the demons were looking for the Ji family. I had to see if you were coming back."
Ji Ling’s expression didn't soften. He looked down at her hand against his armor, the contrast of her soft, pale skin against the blood-stained metal was jarring.
"My life is a small price for the peace of this city," he said, though his thumb brushed accidentally against her wrist.
Near the door, Shiguang sighed, looking at Wangyan. "See? I told you she was fine. Ji Ling is the best doctor we have when he isn't busy stabbing things."
Wangyan leaned into Shiguang, her eyes trailing over to Wuyi with a look of pure mischief. "I was so scared, General Wu. If you hadn't arrived when you did..."
"It's my job," Shiguang said, though he looked a little too proud of himself.
"Miss Wuyi," Ji Ling said, calling her name for the first time. " Once you are healed, the magistrate will arrange for you to move to the inner provinces. It’s safer there."
Wuyi felt a surge of genuine irritation. Move? Away from the feast?
But she has no choice but to comply or else, she would seem suspicious.
Outside, you could hear the constant clatter of soldiers packing up crates.
Ji Ling stood by the desk, staring at a military scroll like he wanted to set it on fire with his eyes.
He looked exhausted, the kind of tired that a night’s sleep wouldn't fix.
"It’s a direct recall," Ji Ling said, his voice flat.
He tossed the scroll onto the table toward Shiguang. "The High Priest has sensed a shift in the celestial alignment. They want us back in the Imperial City by the end of the month."
Shiguang picked up the scroll, squinting at the seal. "Great. Just when I finally got used to the mud out here. Are we leaving the border wide open?”
"A direct recall?" The Magistrate asked, his voice trembling slightly. "But the frontlines—"
"The local garrisons will have to manage," Ji Ling sighed, rubbing his face. "We leave at first light." He turned to the Magistrate, who was hovering nervously in the corner. "About the two women. I’ve left enough silver in the drawer to cover their food and housing for a year. Once her shoulder is healed, find them a job. Somewhere quiet."
The Magistrate started to nod, but someone knocked and the door creaked open.
Wangyan stepped in, looking small and a bit shaken, but her voice was steady.
"General Ji, sorry to interrupt," she said, bowing low. "I heard the servants talking. You’re leaving?"
Ji Ling straightened his posture, slipping back into his “General” persona. "Military orders. You’ll be safe here. I’ve made arrangements."
"Safe?" Wangyan let out a short, bitter laugh. "General, look at this place. Linhai is only standing because you’re here. The moment your horses leave, the demons that attacked us today are coming back to finish the job. My sister is lying in that room with a hole in her shoulder because she tried to save me. If you leave us, you’re basically signing our death warrants."
Ji Ling frowned. He wasn't a mean guy, and her reason stung because it was true. He hated leaving civilians in a lurch, but a military march might be hard for them, especially with Wuyi injured.
"Going to the Imperial City is a long trek, Miss Wangyan. We’re going to be riding hard," he said, trying to be practical.
"But the Imperial City is safe," she pushed, stepping closer. "Everyone knows the Ji clan's barriers keep the demons out of the capital. If we can just get there, we can find work. We won't be your problem anymore. Please. Don't leave us here."
Shiguang looked at Wangyan then back to Ji Ling and shrugged. "She’s right, Ling. It’s just two more people. We have the supply cart anyway. They can just ride in the back of one?"
Ji Ling looked at the map, then back at Wangyan. His conscience wouldn't let him leave them behind.
“Get a carriage here by morning,” Ji Ling said without looking at the magistrate.
The sun wasn't even up yet, and the air was freezing. The courtyard was full of shouting men. Ji Ling was already on his horse, looking like he’d been up all night.
He watched as two soldiers helped Wuyi into the carriage.
She was wrapped in a thick, wool blanket, looking pale and half-asleep.
As the carriage rolled past him, she pulled the curtain up and looked up, her eyes catching the dim morning light.
"General," she called out, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you. For taking us along."
Ji Ling didn't reply for a moment; he just tightened his grip on the reins.
"It’s nothing," he said, his voice rough from the cold. "Just stay in the carriage and keep your wound clean. We’ve got a long way to go."
He didn't wait for a reply. He kicked his horse and headed to the front of the line. Wuyi watched him go, pulling his old cloak tighter around her.
"He’s a real ray of sunshine, isn't he?" Wangyan muttered, climbing in beside her. "Treats us like a couple of extra sacks of rice."
Wuyi leaned back against the seat, a tiny smile on her face. "He thinks that we’re his responsibility. That’s the thing about men like him, sister. They don't have to like you to die for you. They just have to think it’s their duty."
She looked out at the walls of the city as they began to move. "I want to see if those 'divine' barriers of the Imperial City are actually as strong as the emperor thinks they are."
On the fifth night of their travel, the sky brought heavy rain that turned the road into a swamp.
Wuyi’s "wound" was acting up, mostly because she was bored and wanted to see if he’d notice.
She let her temperature rise just enough to make her skin flush.
Wangyan hurried to the command tent, looking frantic.
Minutes later, Ji Ling was ducking into the cramped, humid space of the carriage.
He didn't hesitate. He sat beside her and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead.
His skin was freezing from the rain, and Wuyi couldn't help but shiver at the contact.
"You’re burning up," he muttered, his brow furrowed in genuine frustration. "I told you to keep the bandages dry. Why is it so hard for you to listen?"
"It’s just a little heat, General," Wuyi whispered, watching him through half-closed eyes.
"It’s an infection," he corrected, turning to grab a cup of water.
He supported the back of her head with one hand, firm but surprisingly careful, and held the water to her lips. "Drink. All of it."
As she drank, she felt the steady calloused grip of his hand.
"I'll have the doctor change the dressing again," he said, pulling back and moving to leave. "Try to sleep."
By the tenth day, they’d been stopped at the river for two hours because one of the supply cart got stuck in the mud.
Everyone was irritable. Ji Ling had peeled off his heavy top armor and was by the water, just trying to scrub the mud and dust off his face and arms.
Wuyi had climbed out of the carriage to stretch her legs, leaning against a nearby tree. She just watched him.
He looked less like a "Legendary General" and more like a guy who desperately needed more than 13 hours of sleep.
Shiguang wandered over, chewing on a piece of straw. He looked at where she was looking and snorted.
"Don't expect a conversation out of him," Shiguang said, leaning against the same tree. "Once he’s on military duty, he’s about as fun as a brick wall."
"Does he ever actually take a break?" Wuyi asked, watching the water drip from Ji Ling's jaw.
"When he's dead, probably," Shiguang replied. " Since we were kids, it’s always been about going to war, killing demons, and back to war again. It just never ends. Our families aren’t exactly the lenient type.”
Just then, Ji Ling stood up, wiping his hands on a rag. He caught Wuyi’s eye across the clearing.
In any other story, this would be the slow-motion moment where the music starts playing.
But in this reality? He just looked annoyed that she was out of the safety of the carriage.
"Wuyi," he called out, his voice loud enough to carry over the rushing water. "The ground is damp over there. You’re going to mess up your bandages."
Wuyi didn't move. "I'm fine, General. The air is actually nice for once."
Ji Ling started walking toward them, tossing the rag onto a crate. "The air is cold, and you’re still pale. Get back in the carriage. We’re moving the second they get that wheel loose."
He reached them and looked at Shiguang. "And you. Why are you gossiping like a village aunt? Go check the scouts. If we don't clear this pass by sunset, we’re camping in the open."
"See?" Shiguang muttered to Wuyi with a wink. "A brick wall." He headed off toward the front of the line.
Ji Ling stayed put for a second, looking at Wuyi. He wasn't being romantic; he was literally scanning her like she was a piece of equipment. .
"Is your shoulder hurting?" he asked, his voice a bit quieter.
"A little," she admitted.
"Then why are you standing here?" He sighed, but he reached out and grabbed her good arm, not roughly, but with a firm grip to steady her as they walked back to the carriage. "The road to the Imperial City is 90% potholes. If you don't rest now, you'll be miserable by tomorrow. Go on. Get inside."
He waited by the wagon steps until she’d climbed back in and shouted for the soldiers to get ready.
After two weeks of travel, the massive gray walls of the Imperial City can finally be seen through the morning fog. They were huge, so tall you had to crane your neck just to see the top of the watchtowers.
Even from a distance, you could feel it. A strange, humming pressure in the air that made the hair on Wuyi's arms stand up. The divine barrier.
Ji Ling rode his horse alongside the wooden carriage where Wuyi was sitting. He looked tired, but he sat as straight as his spear.
"There it is," he said, nodding toward the gates. "Imperial City."
Wuyi shifted, leaning against the wooden frame of the carriage. She looked at the shimmering barrier that rippled like water over the stone gates. "It feels... heavy."
"That’s the protection of the Ji and Wu bloodlines," Ji Ling said, his voice flat but a little bit proud. "No demon can get past those gates without being turned to ash. You’ll be safe here."
He looked at her then, really looked at her, for the first time in days. "Once we’re inside, Shiguang will take you and your sister to a house in the lower district. It’s small, but it’s near the markets. You can start over there."
"And you?" Wuyi asked. "Do you just drop us off and head back to the war?"
Ji Ling looked toward the direction of the palace in the center of the city. "I have reports to file and troops to reorganize, I won’t be going back for a while."
He didn't wait for her to reply. He kicked his horse and trotted toward the front of the line to show his pass to the guards.
Wangyan leaned over from inside the carriage, her eyes narrowed as she watched the shimmering barrier. "Wuyi, that barrier is no joke. It’s stinging my skin just looking at it. Are you sure about this? If we cross that line and it recognizes us..."
Wuyi pulled the cloak tighter, the one Ji Ling had given her back in the frontier. She felt the heavy pulse of the city's barrier, but she didn't flinch.
"They invited us, sister," Wuyi whispered, a tiny smirk playing on her lips. "The barrier protects against enemies. And the generals took us inside themselves."
As the carriage rolled under the massive stone archway, the air turned ice-cold for a split second, then snapped back to normal.
They were in.
After a while, the carriage came to a halt in front of the massive stone walls of the Ji estate..
Ji Ling dismounted, giving his reins to a stable boy without looking. He walked over to the carriage and pulled back the heavy fabric.
"You’re staying here for now." he said,
Wuyi stepped down, leaning slightly on the wooden frame. She looked at the high walls. "I thought you said we were going to the lower district? To a house near the market?"
"Change of plans," Ji Ling said, his eyes scanning the houses near his estate. "The city isn't as quiet as I expected. My scouts are reporting weird movements on the west side of the city. If I put you two in a common house and something happens…I won’t take that risk. My focus needs to be on the city's defense, and I can’t do that if I’m constantly wondering if you two are still breathing. "
He started walking inside and toward the main hall, motioning for them to follow. "Here, there are guards. And the barriers are strongest at the center of the estate. It’s safer for everyone if you’re behind my gates."
"So, we’re prisoners now?" Wangyan muttered, trailing behind with a scowl.
"You’re guests," Ji Ling corrected, not slowing down. "Just don't touch the weapon racks."
They stepped into the main pavilion, where a man was sitting on a stone bench, slowly polishing a long sword. He didn't look like the other soldiers. He wore simple robes, and his left leg was stretched out stiffly, a heavy scar peeking from under his hem.
The man looked up, his eyes sharp and observant. "You’re back early, Ling. And you brought company?"
Ji Ling stopped. "Li Jie. I thought you’d be at the archives."
"Boring," Li Jie said, a dry expression on his face. He leaned his sword against the bench and stood up with a noticeable limp. He was a retired general; he had fought alongside Ji Ling before an injury took him off the frontlines.
Li Jie’s gaze drifted to Wuyi and Wangyan.
"This is Lu Wuyi and her sister, Wangyan," Ji Ling said, gesturing vaguely. "They’re from Linhai. They’re staying in the west wing until the city settles down."
Li Jie limped closer, stopping a few feet from them. And smiled,"Linhai, huh? Rough place. You girls look like you’ve seen a lot of things."
Wuyi ang Wangyan gave a shy bow. "General Li. It’s an honor."
"I'm just a retired cripple now. Don't 'General' me," Li Jie laughed, though his eyes remained fixed on them. He turned to Ji Ling. "You’re putting them in the west wing? Right next to the ancestral hall? Bold choice."
"It’s the most secure," Ji Ling said, already turning to leave. "Li Jie, keep an eye on them. Shiguang and I have to report to the Palace. Don't let them wander into the restricted areas."
"Yeah, yeah. Go play politics," Li Jie waved him off.
Once Ji Ling and Shiguang were gone, the courtyard went quiet.
Li Jie turned back to Wuyi, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
"The General has a big heart, even if he pretends it's made of stone," Li Jie said, picking up his sword again and turning to a nearby maid, “Take them to their room”
Wuyi just smiled, her voice smooth as honey as she conversed with the maid on the way.
Li Jie let out a short, bark-like laugh as he watched Wangyan and Wuyi’s retreating back.. "Maybe I should sharpen my blade tonight. Just in case."
In the days that followed, Ji Ling spent most of his time in the training grounds, but at night, the four of them would end up in the estate garden just to escape the heat.
Ji Ling was sitting on a stone step, constantly checking the straps on his forearm guards. Wuyi sat down a few steps away.
She didn't say anything at first, just watched his hands.
They were calloused, scarred from a decade of holding a spear.
"You're going to wear the leather out if you keep pulling at it like that," Wuyi said quietly. Ji Ling stopped, his fingers resting on the hook.
He didn't look up, but his shoulders dropped.. "The High Priest says the barrier is failing faster than last year. I’m thinking about the ritual."
Wuyi moved a little closer. "You’ve already given this kingdom enough. Your father died for it. Your brothers died for it. Now they want your blood too."
Ji Ling finally looked at her, and for a moment, the General that the people looked upon was gone.
All that was left was a man who looked utterly tired. "It’s not for the Emperor, Wuyi. It’s for the people who can’t fight back. Like you."
The way he looked at her said everything he wasn't ready to put into words.
A few yards away, Shiguang was leaning against a pillar, tossing a small green pear into the air and catching it.
He looked like he didn't have a care in the world, but his eyes kept darting towards the direction of the palace.
"You're going to drop that,” Wangyan teased, leaning back against the wood.
"I never drop anything," Shiguang grinned. He took a bite and held the rest out to her. "Eat. You’ve been looking pale since we got to the capital."
Wangyan took the fruit, her fingers brushing his. She looked at him, her usual sharp tongue failing her. "General... if the ritual goes wrong..."
"It won't," he interrupted, his voice uncharacteristically firm. He stepped closer, his shadow overlapping hers. "I’m a Wu. We’re too stubborn to die. And… while we’re out at war… Just stay here, alright?."
Wangyan looked down at the half-eaten pear, feeling a knot in her throat. Her heart—the one she was supposed to be using to manipulate him was twisting with a guilt she didn't know how to handle.
The Imperial City was indeed beautiful, but its heart was dying.
The ancient barrier, a shimmering dome of celestial light that kept the demon hordes at bay, had begun to crack.
To fix it, the High Priest, a man whose eyes looked like clouded glass, demanded a ritual of blood.
The inner courtyard was dead silent. Only the high-ranking ministers and the imperial astronomer were allowed inside the high walls during the ceremony.
In the center of the altar stood a massive, three-legged bronze ding, an ancient sacrificial cauldron engraved with the faces of forgotten gods.
Ji Ling and Shiguang stepped up to the altar. Their white robes were a stark contrast against the grey stone of the palace. Ji Ling didn't wait for the High Priest to finish his chanting. He drew his blade and sliced his palm.
The blood hit the bottom of the bronze cauldron with a dull ring.
As it pooled, the engravings on the side of the cauldron began to glow with a faint, pulsing gold. Shiguang stepped up next, his face emotionless as he added his own blood to the mix.
Suddenly, the ground beneath the palace shook. A pillar of light erupted from the cauldron, soaring straight into the clouds.
Above the Imperial City, the shimmering, cracked dome of the barrier snapped into place, turning a vibrant gold that could be seen for miles.
Outside the palace walls, the praises of the common people were muffled but unmistakable. The people didn't need to see the ritual; they saw the sky.
They knew whose blood had just bought them another year of life.
High above, hidden behind the heavy embroidered curtains of the Palace, the Emperor watched the display.
He was a man who had spent his life being told he was the center of the universe, the son of heaven, but standing there, he felt remarkably small.
"Listen to them," the Emperor muttered, gesturing toward the muffled cheering of the masses beyond the walls. "They aren't shouting 'Long live the Emperor.' They’re shouting for the 'Pillars of the State.' As if this kingdom wouldn't be standing if it weren't for those two."
Lord Chen, the Head Scholar, leaned in, his voice like silky poison. "Your Majesty, it is a delicate balance. A ruler should be the sun, the only source of light. But today, the people see two other suns..."
"They are my Generals," the Emperor snapped, though his voice lacked conviction. “ And they are essential for the barrier, Chen. The High Priest made it clear."
"For now," Chen replied, leaning in. "But dangerous for the Throne. Every drop of blood they give the city is a debt the people feel they owe to the Ji and Wu clans, not to you. If the people believe the Generals are the only thing between them and a demon’s teeth, who do you think they will follow? They already hold the people's hearts. It’s only a matter of time before Ji Ling and Wu Shiguang decide the ‘Son of Heaven’ is no longer fit to lead.”
"In the tea houses, they tell stories of Ji Ling’s bravery. They say he is the 'True Pillar.' What happens when the Pillar decides the roof is too heavy? One does not wait for the hound to grow larger than the master before reaching for the collar," another scholar added, flicking a speck of dust off his long sleeve.
The Emperor looked at Ji Ling, who was currently bandaging his wound. "He thinks his blood makes him holy," the Emperor muttered. "We shall see how holy he is when he is starving at the front."
In the weeks that followed, the atmosphere in the Imperial city shifted. It started with whispers in the markets, planted by the ministers' people.
"Did you hear? General Ji Ling is hoarding grain for his private army." "I heard General Shiguang frequents brothels... perhaps their bloodline isn't as pure as they say."
In the Imperial Court, the scholars were more direct. They presented falsified ledgers and reports to the Emperor daily.
Ji Ling and Shiguang stood in the center of the court, surrounded by men who had never set foot on a battlefield.
Ji Ling looked at the Emperor, his expression stoic but his heart heavy. He could feel the coldness in the room.
"The scouts are reporting a massive army at the North Pass," Ji Ling reported, " Your Majesty, we need the southern grain reserves moved up, and we need the iron shipments from the capital’s smiths to supply the soldiers on the frontline."
One of the scholars looked up, looking completely unimpressed. "The South had a bad rain, General. If we move that grain, the prices in the city will double. We can’t have the capital rioting just because you’re worried about some campfires in the mountains."
"It’s not 'some campfires,'" Shiguang snapped. "It’s an invasion force. If they break the pass, the grain prices won't matter because there won't be a city left to sell it in."
Lord Chen stepped in, his tone condescending. "General Wu, let’s be reasonable. Every time you want a promotion or a bigger budget, 'enemy invasion' and 'demon threat' suddenly get ten times worse. We’ve seen the reports. It’s a few scouting parties. You’re the 'Pillars of the State,' aren't you? Surely the two of you can handle a few stray demons without draining the Imperial Treasury."
The Emperor sat there, letting the ministers do the talking. He didn't look Ji Ling in the eye. "They have a point, General Ji Ling. I can't leave the capital's people hungry just to pad your supply lines. You are the 'Pillars,' after all. Surely you can hold a pass with what you have. Or is your loyalty only guaranteed when the treasury is open?”
Ji Ling stared at the Emperor. He realized then that these men didn't care about the war. They were more afraid of him coming back as a hero than they were of the demons running amok.
"I see," Ji Ling said in a monotone voice. "We will defend the border with what we have. But if the 'Pillars' break, the roof comes down on everyone. Even those sitting on thrones."
As they walked out, the scholars gathered and whispered with each other. "See? He threatens the son of heaven."
When Ji Ling and Shiguang walked out of the palace, Shiguang spat on the ground. "They’re going to kill us, Ling.."
Ji Ling looked back at the palace, then at the city he had just bled to protect. "Then we go to the front. If we fall, at least we fall facing the enemy, unlike the cowards behind us."
That afternoon, as they walked out to their horses, Wuyi and Wangyan were there in front of the gate, waiting for them.
"Come back," Wuyi whispered, stepping toward Ji Ling.
He didn't promise he would. He just adjusted his cloak and looked at her one last time. "Stay inside the City, Wuyi. It’s a lot safer here than outside," he said, then looked at the city; he didn't know it would be the last time he’d see it standing.
He kicked his horse into a gallop, Shiguang right behind him, heading toward a war they were never meant to win.
The North Pass was a miserable place, covered in fog and rain all year round, where the soldiers lived in drafty tents and ate congee to make the rations last.
When Wuyi and Wangyan showed up at the camp. They were quickly stopped by Ji Ling.
His face was haggard from weeks of sleepless patrolling.
"You shouldn't be here," Ji Ling said, though he didn't turn them away. He let Wuyi stay in his tent, away from the prying eyes of the tired soldiers.
For a few days, it almost felt like they were back in the Imperial City again.
Shiguang would joke with Wangyan over a small fire, and Wuyi would sit near Ji Ling while he looked over maps.
But the peace was never meant to last.
A messenger arrived on a horse that was nearly dead from exhaustion. He brought a small, blood-stained wooden tablet, Li Jie’s personal seal.
Ji Ling took the tablet, his hand shaking slightly. "What happened?"
"Murdered, General," the messenger gasped, leaning against a tent pole. "In the ancestral hall. Someone tore through the inner barrier. Li Jie... he died trying to hold the door."
Shiguang stood up, his face drained of color. "Jie? Murdered in the capital? That’s impossible. The barriers—"
"The barriers didn't stop them," the messenger whispered. "The guards said they saw something like a white tail, like a fox. And that, the killer's wounds healed quickly, like they’re not humans ."
The silence that followed was heavy. Ji Ling didn't look at the messenger.
He looked at Wuyi.
She was standing by the tent, the light from the campfire hitting her eyes.
For the first time, he didn't see the vulnerable woman he’d found in the middle of a massacre. Instead, he saw exactly what Li Jie had been warning him about all along."
"Ji Ling," Wuyi started, her voice soft.
"Don't," Ji Ling said. It wasn't a shout; it was a plea. He walked slowly toward her, his grip tightening on his spear until his knuckles went white. "Jie told me... he said you weren’t like the rest of us. He said you didn’t even act human. And to think I defended you. To think I thought he was just being paranoid."
Shiguang was already drawing his blade, his eyes fixed on Wangyan. "You were there. You were in the estate. Were you the ones who did it? He was my brother, Wangyan. We grew up together!"
Wangyan didn't lie. She didn't have the energy anymore. She let her human mask slip, just a little. Her eyes turned red. "He wouldn't let us leave, Shiguang. He saw what we were."
Ji Ling felt like he was suffocating. He had bled for this woman. And took her into the safety of his home but she had used that safety to butcher his best friend.
"Was any of it real?" Ji Ling asked. His voice cracked. "The nights in the garden? The things you did? Or were you just playing with us, waiting for the right moment to strike?"
Wuyi took a step forward, her nine tails beginning to show behind her. "I didn't want to kill him, Ji Ling. But we are what we are. You protect your kind. We protect ours."
"He was my family!" Shiguang roared, lunging at Wangyan.
At that moment, he was no longer thinking straight, his mind was filled with memories of them with Li Jie, how he was the one who brought the very person who killed him.
Ji Ling’s spear whistled through the air, as he attacked Wuyi.
He drove Wuyi back against a big stone, the tip of his spear hovering an inch from her heart. Wuyi didn't move.
She looked at him, her own eyes filled with a pain that looked human. "Do it then, General. Finish the job. That’s what you were born for, isn't it? To kill demons?"
Ji Ling’s grip on the spear tightened until his knuckles turned white. He wanted to kill her.
He should have killed her. But as he looked at her, he saw his cloak still pinned to her shoulder.
But before he could make a choice, the horn blew from the watchtower.
"Demons!" a scout screamed from the watchtower. "The Pass is breached! They’re everywhere!"
The ground shook. It was a coordinated strike.
The one the ministers said was "just a scouting party" had arrived.
Ji Ling looked at the horizon, then back at Wuyi. He lowered his spear, his face going completely numb. "Go," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Get out of here before the soldiers see you. If I see you again, I won't hesitate."
"Ji Ling—"
"Go!" he shouted, turning his back on her to face the enemies pouring over the mountain.
Wuyi watched him for a moment, her heart breaking in a way a demon’s never should, before she and Wangyan vanished into the fog, leaving the two generals to fight a war they were never meant to survive.
Hours later, the moon rose over a graveyard.
Wuyi stumbled through the mud, her breathing irregular.
She found Shiguang first, half-buried under a pile of rubble, his breathing faint.
He was alive, but barely, saved only by the fact that he’d been pinned beneath the bodies of his own men.
Then, she found him.
Ji Ling was leaning against a broken war-carriage, his spear snapped in two.
He looked like a pincushion of arrows.
His eyes were open, staring at the stars he had once used to navigate the dark, but there was no light left in them.
He had fought until his heart stopped beating, protecting a retreat for soldiers who were never coming to save him.
Wuyi collapsed into the mud, pulling his cold, armored body into her lap. She didn't care about the blood ruining her clothes.
Her fingers trembled as she touched his cold, pale cheek.
"Is it worth it, Ji Ling?" she sobbed, tears finally spilling over. "Look at them! For years you bled for people who feared you. You saved scholars who plotted your death the moment you turned your back. You died for a kingdom that didn't even want you to come home!"
She shook him, but his head only dropped against her shoulder.
The man who was once as warm as spring was now as cold as the armor he wore.
Wangyan stood a few paces away, watching the scene with an unreadable expression.
"Sister," Wuyi gasped, clutching Ji Ling's cold hand to her chest. "Master... Master said we have no hearts. He said demons feel nothing but hunger. Then why does it hurt like this? Why does it feel like my chest is being ripped open?"
Wangyan looked up at the moon, her face pale in the silver light. "Life and death are just cycles, Wuyi. We were born from the void, empty, like still water in a dark well."
She looked back at the carnage, at where Shiguang was being dragged away by his soldiers and where Ji Ling lay still.
"But Master was wrong about one thing," Wangyan said, her voice barely a whisper. "Water reflects what stands over it. If you stay among humans long enough, you start to mirror them. We weren't born with emotions... but we aren't stones, either."
Wuyi buried her face in Ji Ling’s neck, her nine tails wrapping around them both like a funeral shroud. "He wanted peace," she whispered into the wind. "I'll give him his peace. But first... I'm going to make the Imperial City burn for what they did to him."
The rain started pouring just as the sisters reached the outskirts of the Imperial City.
The barriers of the city, once a shimmering gold that promised safety, were flickering like a dying candle.
Without Ji Ling’s blood to feed the core of the city's barrier, the protection was rotting from the inside out.
In the High Hall of the Imperial Palace, a celebration was ongoing.
With the Ji and Wu clans annihilated at the front, there were no more generals to overshadow the throne.
No more "war heroes" to demand grain for the poor or mercy for the soldiers.
"My dear ministers" the emperor said "The kingdom finally has peace."
The heavy vermilion doors of the hall were blown off their hinges.
Wuyi stepped inside, her nine tails spread out behind her like a peacock’s tail.
Beside her, Wangyan’s eyes glowed red.
The Minister dropped his jade cup. It shattered on the stone floor. "Demons! Guards! The barrier, how is it not burning you?!"
Wuyi walked toward the throne, her footsteps echoing in the high halls. "The barrier protects those who belong and your General invited me in." She stopped in front of the Minister, her face devoid of any emotion. “And you killed the people keeping that barrier intact”
"It was necessary!" a scholar shouted from the back, his voice trembling. "Their military power was too strong! We did it for the balance of the Empire!"
Wuyi moved faster than the eye could follow. She gripped that person by the throat, lifting him off the ground. "Balance? You traded a mountain for a handful of dirt. You killed the only man who truly loved this kingdom because you were afraid of his influence."
Wangyan moved so fast through the hall, her fan cutting through the air, sending the "learned men" scrambling under tables. "Sister," Wangyan called out, her voice devoid of its usual playfulness. "Master said humans were food. But these... these aren’t even worth it, so disgusting.They have no marrow in their bones."
Wuyi looked at the throne, then at the terrified men cowering before her.
She remembered Ji Ling’s broken spear, the way he had leaned against that carriage, protecting a kingdom that had already abandoned him.
"You worshiped him when the demons were at your gates," Wuyi whispered, her voice filled with bitterness. "And you trampled him the moment you no longer needed him.”
“When the rabbits are caught, the hounds are cooked; when the birds are gone, the good bow is stowed. (狡兔死，走狗烹；飞鸟尽，良弓藏)” Wuyi whispered, “Humans are a bunch of hypocrites!”
She leaned in close to the emperor, her red eyes reflecting his own pathetic terror. "The human race keeps on saying demons have no hearts or feelings. You're wrong, at this moment. I feel nothing but burning hatred for you all!"
With a flick of her wrist, fire suddenly erupted, consuming the silk banners and the scrolls that had condemned the Ji clan.
She didn't kill them all, not yet.
She wanted them to see the walls crumble.
She wanted them to feel what Ji Ling felt in his final moments.
Wuyi stood on the highest balcony, looking toward the north. The wind was picking up, carrying the scent of the coming winter.
Wangyan walked up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's done, Wuyi. The Palace is destroyed. And those treacherous people are dead. Are you satisfied?"
Wuyi looked down at her hands. They were stained with the ash of the burnt palace, but she still felt empty. "No. It doesn't change anything. He’s still under the mud at the frontier."
She pulled out a small, tattered piece of fabric from her sleeve, a piece of Ji Ling’s military cloak.
Her fingers tracing the rough fabric of the cloak. It was damp and smelled of smoke, but it was the only thing she had left of him.
"Sister," Wuyi said softly. " Will it ever stop hurting?"
Wangyan looked out at the burnt palace and sighed, her voice surprisingly gentle. "No, Wuyi. That’s the curse of having a heart. It only stops hurting when it stops beating. And we... we have a thousand years left to go."
Wuyi closed her eyes, clutching the piece of fabric to her chest. In the distance, she could almost hear the rhythmic sound of hooves against the floor and a serious but warm voice telling her to stay in the carriage.
"Then let it hurt," Wuyi whispered to the wind. "I'll keep the pain. It’s the only thing he left me that I can still feel."
I had a modern setting planned for them, but I guess it’s better this way....
Also, what a miracle, Wuyi actually gets to stay alive. 😆😆
Why didn't they know that Wuyi and Wangyan were demons, even though they're demon hunters and their blood is "blessed"??
Being a demon hunter just means you know how and can kill them, not how to sniff them out. Besides, after a thousand years, those sisters are probably better at being "human" than the humans are.
Sorry, what it has to do with Jiuchuan? 😅 If you want someone to chase after JJY so foolishly and no metter…
I totally get that! Some character dynamics definitely aren't for everyone, and even though I haven't watched Mr. Swimmer, I guess it definitely had its own specific vibe.
I really appreciate you being able to separate personal preference from the creative work, that’s the best way to enjoy fanfiction! It’s all about exploring "what ifs" and different personality clashes. Thank you so much for the kind words about my imagination and for being so open-minded even if it's not your usual cup of tea! 🥂😊
Or do you mean TJR & CDL from Fangs of Fortune? If so, this is their 2nd project together.
Or maybe CDL & JZ? This is their 3rd time in the same project. They were in Mysterious Lotus Casebook and A Lonely Hero's Journey.
Maybe the next ending will be a "match made in heaven"... literally.
Double funeral, anyone? Think of it as a buy one, get one free deal on death certificates. A matching set for the afterlife ⚰️⚰️😂😂
Demons run rampant in this world, hunting and feasting on humans as if they are nothing more than livestock. In this world, they sit at the very top of the food chain.
But humanity wasn't left entirely defenseless.
Centuries ago, It is said that a celestial high priest from an unknown land once blessed a man for his kindness, granting him the divine power to slay demons.
That bloodline survived through the centuries, manifesting in the Ji clan.
Ji Ling is the pinnacle of that bloodline. A general who has killed thousands on the frontlines to ensure his kingdom’s safety.
He is often called cold-blooded, a monster.
But beneath the armor and the blood-stained spear, he is a man who dreams of the peace he can finally give to his people.
Alongside his cousin, the boisterous but deadly Wu Shiguang, he balances the life of a frontier general with the duty of a demon hunter.
It was during one of those brutal encounters that he found her, Lu Wuyi.
To Ji Ling, she was a miracle: a lone survivor in a village where even the livestock had been killed.
To Wuyi, he was a puzzle.
She is a nine-tailed fox, a creature of over a thousand years, who has maintained her porcelain skin and youthful glow by feasting on the hearts of the men who lusted after her.
She had expected Ji Ling to be the same. She had waited for that familiar, hungry look in his eyes so she could tear his chest open.
Instead, he had looked at her with nothing but heavy, bone-deep pity. He had draped his own heavy military cloak over her, shielding her from the sight of the dead, and carried her straight to a physician.
He left her in the care of the local magistrate, disappearing back to the frontlines without a second glance.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The afternoon sun filtered through the paper screens of the room, casting long, geometric shadows across the floor.
Wuyi sat by the window, idly plucking the petals off a peony.
"You're going to go crazy if you keep that up," a voice drifted from the doorway.
Wuyi didn't turn around. She knew that voice and scent.
Her sister, Wu Wangyan, stepped out of the shadows, her silk robes rustling.
"Master always said humans are nothing but food, Wuyi," Wangyan said, leaning against a pillar. "But look at you. You’re waiting for a man who hasn't shown up in three weeks. Do you really feel something for that man?"
Wuyi smiled, a slow, predatory curve of the lips that would have terrified any mortal. "I’m not waiting, sister. I’m just thinking. He’s different. Most men want to own me. He just wanted me to live. I want to know why. I want to know how a heart that cold can feel so... soft. Besides, life is boring. What’s wrong with doing something fun?"
Wangyan’s eyes narrowed. "The humans are getting stronger. The Ji clan carries the bloodline blessed by the celestials. If they find out what you are, you won’t live to see the sunrise. You’re playing with fire."
"Then let’s make the fire bigger," Wuyi laughed, her red eyes glinting under the afternoon sun. "Living is so boring when the world is at peace. Let’s give the Generals a reason to come home."
The plan was simple. Under the cover of night, Wangyan stirred the lesser demons of the city, creating panic of "demon sightings." It worked like a charm.
Within hours, the news quickly reached Ji Ling and Shiguang, which made them quickly assemble their best soldiers to go to that city.
When the chaos reached its peak, Wangyan executed the final move.
She staged an "attack" in the marketplace, then pretended to be a terrified maiden while Shiguang and Ji Ling charged into the chaos.
After the fight , Wangyan ran in front of Shiguang looking for “help”, claiming Wuyi had been struck down while trying to protect her.
The doors to the estate slammed open with enough force to rattle the windows.
Ji Ling stormed in, his black armor covered in blood.
Behind him, Shiguang was half-carrying a "sobbing" Wangyan.
"Where is she?" Ji Ling’s asked while looking around the estate for demons.
"In the inner chamber!" Wangyan wailed, burying her face in Shiguang’s shoulder. "The demon... it had claws like daggers... she pushed me out of the way..."
Ji Ling didn't wait for the rest. He took off, his boots pounding a rhythmic, heavy beat against the floorboards of the hallway.
He burst into Wuyi’s room to find her lying on the bed, her shoulder wrapped in white linen that was stained with blood
He reached out to check the bandage, his fingers trembling slightly. But he stopped himself.
"General Ji," Wuyi whispered. She looked up at him with wide, watery eyes. "You... you came back."
"Don't move," Ji Ling commanded, though his touch was incredibly light as he adjusted the silk pillow behind her head. "Shiguang! Get a physician. Now."
"Already on it!" Shiguang shouted from the hallway, though he sounded a little distracted as he tried to console the "traumatized" Wangyan.
"I told you to stay within the walls," Ji Ling said, his voice low and raspy. He reached out, his hand hovering near her neck before he caught himself.
He settled for adjusting the blanket. "Roaming around the city isn’t safe."
"I was worried about you," Wuyi lied, her eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. She reached out, her small hand brushing against his cold, metal gauntlet. "The rumors... they said the demons were looking for the Ji family. I had to see if you were coming back."
Ji Ling’s expression didn't soften. He looked down at her hand against his armor, the contrast of her soft, pale skin against the blood-stained metal was jarring.
"My life is a small price for the peace of this city," he said, though his thumb brushed accidentally against her wrist.
Near the door, Shiguang sighed, looking at Wangyan. "See? I told you she was fine. Ji Ling is the best doctor we have when he isn't busy stabbing things."
Wangyan leaned into Shiguang, her eyes trailing over to Wuyi with a look of pure mischief. "I was so scared, General Wu. If you hadn't arrived when you did..."
"It's my job," Shiguang said, though he looked a little too proud of himself.
"Miss Wuyi," Ji Ling said, calling her name for the first time. " Once you are healed, the
magistrate will arrange for you to move to the inner provinces. It’s safer there."
Wuyi felt a surge of genuine irritation. Move? Away from the feast?
But she has no choice but to comply or else, she would seem suspicious.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The room smelled of tea and old paper.
Outside, you could hear the constant clatter of soldiers packing up crates.
Ji Ling stood by the desk, staring at a military scroll like he wanted to set it on fire with his eyes.
He looked exhausted, the kind of tired that a night’s sleep wouldn't fix.
"It’s a direct recall," Ji Ling said, his voice flat.
He tossed the scroll onto the table toward Shiguang. "The High Priest has sensed a shift in the celestial alignment. They want us back in the Imperial City by the end of the month."
Shiguang picked up the scroll, squinting at the seal. "Great. Just when I finally got used to the mud out here. Are we leaving the border wide open?”
"A direct recall?" The Magistrate asked, his voice trembling slightly. "But the frontlines—"
"The local garrisons will have to manage," Ji Ling sighed, rubbing his face. "We leave at first light." He turned to the Magistrate, who was hovering nervously in the corner. "About the two women. I’ve left enough silver in the drawer to cover their food and housing for a year. Once her shoulder is healed, find them a job. Somewhere quiet."
The Magistrate started to nod, but someone knocked and the door creaked open.
Wangyan stepped in, looking small and a bit shaken, but her voice was steady.
"General Ji, sorry to interrupt," she said, bowing low. "I heard the servants talking. You’re leaving?"
Ji Ling straightened his posture, slipping back into his “General” persona. "Military orders. You’ll be safe here. I’ve made arrangements."
"Safe?" Wangyan let out a short, bitter laugh. "General, look at this place. Linhai is only standing because you’re here. The moment your horses leave, the demons that attacked us today are coming back to finish the job. My sister is lying in that room with a hole in her shoulder because she tried to save me. If you leave us, you’re basically signing our death warrants."
Ji Ling frowned. He wasn't a mean guy, and her reason stung because it was true. He hated leaving civilians in a lurch, but a military march might be hard for them, especially with Wuyi injured.
"Going to the Imperial City is a long trek, Miss Wangyan. We’re going to be riding hard," he said, trying to be practical.
"But the Imperial City is safe," she pushed, stepping closer. "Everyone knows the Ji clan's barriers keep the demons out of the capital. If we can just get there, we can find work. We won't be your problem anymore. Please. Don't leave us here."
Shiguang looked at Wangyan then back to Ji Ling and shrugged. "She’s right, Ling. It’s just two more people. We have the supply cart anyway. They can just ride in the back of one?"
Ji Ling looked at the map, then back at Wangyan. His conscience wouldn't let him leave them behind.
“Get a carriage here by morning,” Ji Ling said without looking at the magistrate.
The sun wasn't even up yet, and the air was freezing. The courtyard was full of shouting men. Ji Ling was already on his horse, looking like he’d been up all night.
He watched as two soldiers helped Wuyi into the carriage.
She was wrapped in a thick, wool blanket, looking pale and half-asleep.
As the carriage rolled past him, she pulled the curtain up and looked up, her eyes catching the dim morning light.
"General," she called out, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you. For taking us along."
Ji Ling didn't reply for a moment; he just tightened his grip on the reins.
"It’s nothing," he said, his voice rough from the cold. "Just stay in the carriage and keep your wound clean. We’ve got a long way to go."
He didn't wait for a reply. He kicked his horse and headed to the front of the line.
Wuyi watched him go, pulling his old cloak tighter around her.
"He’s a real ray of sunshine, isn't he?" Wangyan muttered, climbing in beside her. "Treats us like a couple of extra sacks of rice."
Wuyi leaned back against the seat, a tiny smile on her face. "He thinks that we’re his responsibility. That’s the thing about men like him, sister. They don't have to like you to die for you. They just have to think it’s their duty."
She looked out at the walls of the city as they began to move. "I want to see if those 'divine' barriers of the Imperial City are actually as strong as the emperor thinks they are."
On the fifth night of their travel, the sky brought heavy rain that turned the road into a swamp.
Wuyi’s "wound" was acting up, mostly because she was bored and wanted to see if he’d notice.
She let her temperature rise just enough to make her skin flush.
Wangyan hurried to the command tent, looking frantic.
Minutes later, Ji Ling was ducking into the cramped, humid space of the carriage.
He didn't hesitate. He sat beside her and pressed the back of his hand to her forehead.
His skin was freezing from the rain, and Wuyi couldn't help but shiver at the contact.
"You’re burning up," he muttered, his brow furrowed in genuine frustration. "I told you to keep the bandages dry. Why is it so hard for you to listen?"
"It’s just a little heat, General," Wuyi whispered, watching him through half-closed eyes.
"It’s an infection," he corrected, turning to grab a cup of water.
He supported the back of her head with one hand, firm but surprisingly careful, and held the water to her lips. "Drink. All of it."
As she drank, she felt the steady calloused grip of his hand.
"I'll have the doctor change the dressing again," he said, pulling back and moving to leave. "Try to sleep."
By the tenth day, they’d been stopped at the river for two hours because one of the supply cart got stuck in the mud.
Everyone was irritable. Ji Ling had peeled off his heavy top armor and was by the water, just trying to scrub the mud and dust off his face and arms.
Wuyi had climbed out of the carriage to stretch her legs, leaning against a nearby tree. She just watched him.
He looked less like a "Legendary General" and more like a guy who desperately needed more than 13 hours of sleep.
Shiguang wandered over, chewing on a piece of straw. He looked at where she was looking and snorted.
"Don't expect a conversation out of him," Shiguang said, leaning against the same tree. "Once he’s on military duty, he’s about as fun as a brick wall."
"Does he ever actually take a break?" Wuyi asked, watching the water drip from Ji Ling's jaw.
"When he's dead, probably," Shiguang replied. " Since we were kids, it’s always been about going to war, killing demons, and back to war again. It just never ends. Our families aren’t exactly the lenient type.”
Just then, Ji Ling stood up, wiping his hands on a rag. He caught Wuyi’s eye across the clearing.
In any other story, this would be the slow-motion moment where the music starts playing.
But in this reality? He just looked annoyed that she was out of the safety of the carriage.
"Wuyi," he called out, his voice loud enough to carry over the rushing water. "The ground is damp over there. You’re going to mess up your bandages."
Wuyi didn't move. "I'm fine, General. The air is actually nice for once."
Ji Ling started walking toward them, tossing the rag onto a crate. "The air is cold, and you’re still pale. Get back in the carriage. We’re moving the second they get that wheel loose."
He reached them and looked at Shiguang. "And you. Why are you gossiping like a village aunt? Go check the scouts. If we don't clear this pass by sunset, we’re camping in the open."
"See?" Shiguang muttered to Wuyi with a wink. "A brick wall." He headed off toward the front of the line.
Ji Ling stayed put for a second, looking at Wuyi. He wasn't being romantic; he was literally scanning her like she was a piece of equipment. .
"Is your shoulder hurting?" he asked, his voice a bit quieter.
"A little," she admitted.
"Then why are you standing here?" He sighed, but he reached out and grabbed her good arm, not roughly, but with a firm grip to steady her as they walked back to the carriage. "The road to the Imperial City is 90% potholes. If you don't rest now, you'll be miserable by tomorrow. Go on. Get inside."
He waited by the wagon steps until she’d climbed back in and shouted for the soldiers to get ready.
After two weeks of travel, the massive gray walls of the Imperial City can finally be seen through the morning fog. They were huge, so tall you had to crane your neck just to see the top of the watchtowers.
Even from a distance, you could feel it. A strange, humming pressure in the air that made the hair on Wuyi's arms stand up. The divine barrier.
Ji Ling rode his horse alongside the wooden carriage where Wuyi was sitting. He looked tired, but he sat as straight as his spear.
"There it is," he said, nodding toward the gates. "Imperial City."
Wuyi shifted, leaning against the wooden frame of the carriage. She looked at the shimmering barrier that rippled like water over the stone gates. "It feels... heavy."
"That’s the protection of the Ji and Wu bloodlines," Ji Ling said, his voice flat but a little bit proud. "No demon can get past those gates without being turned to ash. You’ll be safe here."
He looked at her then, really looked at her, for the first time in days. "Once we’re inside, Shiguang will take you and your sister to a house in the lower district. It’s small, but it’s near the markets. You can start over there."
"And you?" Wuyi asked. "Do you just drop us off and head back to the war?"
Ji Ling looked toward the direction of the palace in the center of the city. "I have reports to file and troops to reorganize, I won’t be going back for a while."
He didn't wait for her to reply. He kicked his horse and trotted toward the front of the line to show his pass to the guards.
Wangyan leaned over from inside the carriage, her eyes narrowed as she watched the shimmering barrier. "Wuyi, that barrier is no joke. It’s stinging my skin just looking at it. Are you sure about this? If we cross that line and it recognizes us..."
Wuyi pulled the cloak tighter, the one Ji Ling had given her back in the frontier. She felt the heavy pulse of the city's barrier, but she didn't flinch.
"They invited us, sister," Wuyi whispered, a tiny smirk playing on her lips. "The barrier protects against enemies. And the generals took us inside themselves."
As the carriage rolled under the massive stone archway, the air turned ice-cold for a split second, then snapped back to normal.
They were in.
After a while, the carriage came to a halt in front of the massive stone walls of the Ji estate..
Ji Ling dismounted, giving his reins to a stable boy without looking. He walked over to the carriage and pulled back the heavy fabric.
"You’re staying here for now." he said,
Wuyi stepped down, leaning slightly on the wooden frame. She looked at the high walls. "I thought you said we were going to the lower district? To a house near the market?"
"Change of plans," Ji Ling said, his eyes scanning the houses near his estate. "The city isn't as quiet as I expected. My scouts are reporting weird movements on the west side of the city. If I put you two in a common house and something happens…I won’t take that risk. My focus needs to be on the city's defense, and I can’t do that if I’m constantly wondering if you two are still breathing. "
He started walking inside and toward the main hall, motioning for them to follow. "Here, there are guards. And the barriers are strongest at the center of the estate. It’s safer for everyone if you’re behind my gates."
"So, we’re prisoners now?" Wangyan muttered, trailing behind with a scowl.
"You’re guests," Ji Ling corrected, not slowing down. "Just don't touch the weapon racks."
They stepped into the main pavilion, where a man was sitting on a stone bench, slowly polishing a long sword. He didn't look like the other soldiers. He wore simple robes, and his left leg was stretched out stiffly, a heavy scar peeking from under his hem.
The man looked up, his eyes sharp and observant. "You’re back early, Ling. And you brought company?"
Ji Ling stopped. "Li Jie. I thought you’d be at the archives."
"Boring," Li Jie said, a dry expression on his face. He leaned his sword against the bench and stood up with a noticeable limp. He was a retired general; he had fought alongside Ji Ling before an injury took him off the frontlines.
Li Jie’s gaze drifted to Wuyi and Wangyan.
"This is Lu Wuyi and her sister, Wangyan," Ji Ling said, gesturing vaguely. "They’re from Linhai. They’re staying in the west wing until the city settles down."
Li Jie limped closer, stopping a few feet from them. And smiled,"Linhai, huh? Rough place. You girls look like you’ve seen a lot of things."
Wuyi ang Wangyan gave a shy bow. "General Li. It’s an honor."
"I'm just a retired cripple now. Don't 'General' me," Li Jie laughed, though his eyes remained fixed on them. He turned to Ji Ling. "You’re putting them in the west wing? Right next to the ancestral hall? Bold choice."
"It’s the most secure," Ji Ling said, already turning to leave. "Li Jie, keep an eye on them. Shiguang and I have to report to the Palace. Don't let them wander into the restricted areas."
"Yeah, yeah. Go play politics," Li Jie waved him off.
Once Ji Ling and Shiguang were gone, the courtyard went quiet.
Li Jie turned back to Wuyi, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
"The General has a big heart, even if he pretends it's made of stone," Li Jie said, picking up his sword again and turning to a nearby maid, “Take them to their room”
Wuyi just smiled, her voice smooth as honey as she conversed with the maid on the way.
Li Jie let out a short, bark-like laugh as he watched Wangyan and Wuyi’s retreating back.. "Maybe I should sharpen my blade tonight. Just in case."
In the days that followed, Ji Ling spent most of his time in the training grounds, but at night, the four of them would end up in the estate garden just to escape the heat.
Ji Ling was sitting on a stone step, constantly checking the straps on his forearm guards.
Wuyi sat down a few steps away.
She didn't say anything at first, just watched his hands.
They were calloused, scarred from a decade of holding a spear.
"You're going to wear the leather out if you keep pulling at it like that," Wuyi said quietly.
Ji Ling stopped, his fingers resting on the hook.
He didn't look up, but his shoulders dropped.. "The High Priest says the barrier is failing faster than last year. I’m thinking about the ritual."
Wuyi moved a little closer. "You’ve already given this kingdom enough. Your father died for it. Your brothers died for it. Now they want your blood too."
Ji Ling finally looked at her, and for a moment, the General that the people looked upon was gone.
All that was left was a man who looked utterly tired. "It’s not for the Emperor, Wuyi. It’s for the people who can’t fight back. Like you."
The way he looked at her said everything he wasn't ready to put into words.
A few yards away, Shiguang was leaning against a pillar, tossing a small green pear into the air and catching it.
He looked like he didn't have a care in the world, but his eyes kept darting towards the direction of the palace.
"You're going to drop that,” Wangyan teased, leaning back against the wood.
"I never drop anything," Shiguang grinned. He took a bite and held the rest out to her. "Eat. You’ve been looking pale since we got to the capital."
Wangyan took the fruit, her fingers brushing his. She looked at him, her usual sharp tongue failing her. "General... if the ritual goes wrong..."
"It won't," he interrupted, his voice uncharacteristically firm. He stepped closer, his shadow overlapping hers. "I’m a Wu. We’re too stubborn to die. And… while we’re out at war… Just stay here, alright?."
Wangyan looked down at the half-eaten pear, feeling a knot in her throat. Her heart—the one she was supposed to be using to manipulate him was twisting with a guilt she didn't know how to handle.
The Imperial City was indeed beautiful, but its heart was dying.
The ancient barrier, a shimmering dome of celestial light that kept the demon hordes at bay, had begun to crack.
To fix it, the High Priest, a man whose eyes looked like clouded glass, demanded a ritual of blood.
The inner courtyard was dead silent. Only the high-ranking ministers and the imperial astronomer were allowed inside the high walls during the ceremony.
In the center of the altar stood a massive, three-legged bronze ding, an ancient sacrificial cauldron engraved with the faces of forgotten gods.
Ji Ling and Shiguang stepped up to the altar. Their white robes were a stark contrast against the grey stone of the palace. Ji Ling didn't wait for the High Priest to finish his chanting. He drew his blade and sliced his palm.
The blood hit the bottom of the bronze cauldron with a dull ring.
As it pooled, the engravings on the side of the cauldron began to glow with a faint, pulsing gold. Shiguang stepped up next, his face emotionless as he added his own blood to the mix.
Suddenly, the ground beneath the palace shook. A pillar of light erupted from the cauldron, soaring straight into the clouds.
Above the Imperial City, the shimmering, cracked dome of the barrier snapped into place, turning a vibrant gold that could be seen for miles.
Outside the palace walls, the praises of the common people were muffled but unmistakable. The people didn't need to see the ritual; they saw the sky.
They knew whose blood had just bought them another year of life.
High above, hidden behind the heavy embroidered curtains of the Palace, the Emperor watched the display.
He was a man who had spent his life being told he was the center of the universe, the son of heaven, but standing there, he felt remarkably small.
"Listen to them," the Emperor muttered, gesturing toward the muffled cheering of the masses beyond the walls. "They aren't shouting 'Long live the Emperor.' They’re shouting for the 'Pillars of the State.' As if this kingdom wouldn't be standing if it weren't for those two."
Lord Chen, the Head Scholar, leaned in, his voice like silky poison. "Your Majesty, it is a delicate balance. A ruler should be the sun, the only source of light. But today, the people see two other suns..."
"They are my Generals," the Emperor snapped, though his voice lacked conviction. “ And they are essential for the barrier, Chen. The High Priest made it clear."
"For now," Chen replied, leaning in. "But dangerous for the Throne. Every drop of blood they give the city is a debt the people feel they owe to the Ji and Wu clans, not to you. If the people believe the Generals are the only thing between them and a demon’s teeth, who do you think they will follow? They already hold the people's hearts. It’s only a matter of time before Ji Ling and Wu Shiguang decide the ‘Son of Heaven’ is no longer fit to lead.”
"In the tea houses, they tell stories of Ji Ling’s bravery. They say he is the 'True Pillar.' What happens when the Pillar decides the roof is too heavy? One does not wait for the hound to grow larger than the master before reaching for the collar," another scholar added, flicking a speck of dust off his long sleeve.
The Emperor looked at Ji Ling, who was currently bandaging his wound. "He thinks his blood makes him holy," the Emperor muttered. "We shall see how holy he is when he is starving at the front."
In the weeks that followed, the atmosphere in the Imperial city shifted. It started with whispers in the markets, planted by the ministers' people.
"Did you hear? General Ji Ling is hoarding grain for his private army."
"I heard General Shiguang frequents brothels... perhaps their bloodline isn't as pure as they say."
In the Imperial Court, the scholars were more direct. They presented falsified ledgers and reports to the Emperor daily.
Ji Ling and Shiguang stood in the center of the court, surrounded by men who had never set foot on a battlefield.
Ji Ling looked at the Emperor, his expression stoic but his heart heavy. He could feel the coldness in the room.
"The scouts are reporting a massive army at the North Pass," Ji Ling reported, " Your Majesty, we need the southern grain reserves moved up, and we need the iron shipments from the capital’s smiths to supply the soldiers on the frontline."
One of the scholars looked up, looking completely unimpressed. "The South had a bad rain, General. If we move that grain, the prices in the city will double. We can’t have the capital rioting just because you’re worried about some campfires in the mountains."
"It’s not 'some campfires,'" Shiguang snapped. "It’s an invasion force. If they break the pass, the grain prices won't matter because there won't be a city left to sell it in."
Lord Chen stepped in, his tone condescending. "General Wu, let’s be reasonable. Every time you want a promotion or a bigger budget, 'enemy invasion' and 'demon threat' suddenly get ten times worse. We’ve seen the reports. It’s a few scouting parties. You’re the 'Pillars of the State,' aren't you? Surely the two of you can handle a few stray demons without draining the Imperial Treasury."
The Emperor sat there, letting the ministers do the talking. He didn't look Ji Ling in the eye. "They have a point, General Ji Ling. I can't leave the capital's people hungry just to pad your supply lines. You are the 'Pillars,' after all. Surely you can hold a pass with what you have. Or is your loyalty only guaranteed when the treasury is open?”
Ji Ling stared at the Emperor. He realized then that these men didn't care about the war. They were more afraid of him coming back as a hero than they were of the demons running amok.
"I see," Ji Ling said in a monotone voice. "We will defend the border with what we have. But if the 'Pillars' break, the roof comes down on everyone. Even those sitting on thrones."
As they walked out, the scholars gathered and whispered with each other. "See? He threatens the son of heaven."
When Ji Ling and Shiguang walked out of the palace, Shiguang spat on the ground. "They’re going to kill us, Ling.."
Ji Ling looked back at the palace, then at the city he had just bled to protect. "Then we go to the front. If we fall, at least we fall facing the enemy, unlike the cowards behind us."
That afternoon, as they walked out to their horses, Wuyi and Wangyan were there in front of the gate, waiting for them.
"Come back," Wuyi whispered, stepping toward Ji Ling.
He didn't promise he would. He just adjusted his cloak and looked at her one last time. "Stay inside the City, Wuyi. It’s a lot safer here than outside," he said, then looked at the city; he didn't know it would be the last time he’d see it standing.
He kicked his horse into a gallop, Shiguang right behind him, heading toward a war they were never meant to win.
The North Pass was a miserable place, covered in fog and rain all year round, where the soldiers lived in drafty tents and ate congee to make the rations last.
When Wuyi and Wangyan showed up at the camp. They were quickly stopped by Ji Ling.
His face was haggard from weeks of sleepless patrolling.
"You shouldn't be here," Ji Ling said, though he didn't turn them away. He let Wuyi stay in his tent, away from the prying eyes of the tired soldiers.
For a few days, it almost felt like they were back in the Imperial City again.
Shiguang would joke with Wangyan over a small fire, and Wuyi would sit near Ji Ling while he looked over maps.
But the peace was never meant to last.
A messenger arrived on a horse that was nearly dead from exhaustion. He brought a small, blood-stained wooden tablet, Li Jie’s personal seal.
Ji Ling took the tablet, his hand shaking slightly. "What happened?"
"Murdered, General," the messenger gasped, leaning against a tent pole. "In the ancestral hall. Someone tore through the inner barrier. Li Jie... he died trying to hold the door."
Shiguang stood up, his face drained of color. "Jie? Murdered in the capital? That’s impossible. The barriers—"
"The barriers didn't stop them," the messenger whispered. "The guards said they saw something like a white tail, like a fox. And that, the killer's wounds healed quickly, like they’re not humans ."
The silence that followed was heavy. Ji Ling didn't look at the messenger.
He looked at Wuyi.
She was standing by the tent, the light from the campfire hitting her eyes.
For the first time, he didn't see the vulnerable woman he’d found in the middle of a massacre. Instead, he saw exactly what Li Jie had been warning him about all along."
"Ji Ling," Wuyi started, her voice soft.
"Don't," Ji Ling said. It wasn't a shout; it was a plea. He walked slowly toward her, his grip tightening on his spear until his knuckles went white. "Jie told me... he said you weren’t like the rest of us. He said you didn’t even act human. And to think I defended you. To think I thought he was just being paranoid."
Shiguang was already drawing his blade, his eyes fixed on Wangyan. "You were there. You were in the estate. Were you the ones who did it? He was my brother, Wangyan. We grew up together!"
Wangyan didn't lie. She didn't have the energy anymore. She let her human mask slip, just a little. Her eyes turned red. "He wouldn't let us leave, Shiguang. He saw what we were."
Ji Ling felt like he was suffocating. He had bled for this woman. And took her into the safety of his home but she had used that safety to butcher his best friend.
"Was any of it real?" Ji Ling asked. His voice cracked. "The nights in the garden? The things you did? Or were you just playing with us, waiting for the right moment to strike?"
Wuyi took a step forward, her nine tails beginning to show behind her. "I didn't want to kill him, Ji Ling. But we are what we are. You protect your kind. We protect ours."
"He was my family!" Shiguang roared, lunging at Wangyan.
At that moment, he was no longer thinking straight, his mind was filled with memories of them with Li Jie, how he was the one who brought the very person who killed him.
Ji Ling’s spear whistled through the air, as he attacked Wuyi.
He drove Wuyi back against a big stone, the tip of his spear hovering an inch from her heart.
Wuyi didn't move.
She looked at him, her own eyes filled with a pain that looked human. "Do it then, General. Finish the job. That’s what you were born for, isn't it? To kill demons?"
Ji Ling’s grip on the spear tightened until his knuckles turned white. He wanted to kill her.
He should have killed her. But as he looked at her, he saw his cloak still pinned to her shoulder.
But before he could make a choice, the horn blew from the watchtower.
"Demons!" a scout screamed from the watchtower. "The Pass is breached! They’re everywhere!"
The ground shook. It was a coordinated strike.
The one the ministers said was "just a scouting party" had arrived.
Ji Ling looked at the horizon, then back at Wuyi. He lowered his spear, his face going completely numb. "Go," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Get out of here before the soldiers see you. If I see you again, I won't hesitate."
"Ji Ling—"
"Go!" he shouted, turning his back on her to face the enemies pouring over the mountain.
Wuyi watched him for a moment, her heart breaking in a way a demon’s never should, before she and Wangyan vanished into the fog, leaving the two generals to fight a war they were never meant to survive.
Hours later, the moon rose over a graveyard.
Wuyi stumbled through the mud, her breathing irregular.
She found Shiguang first, half-buried under a pile of rubble, his breathing faint.
He was alive, but barely, saved only by the fact that he’d been pinned beneath the bodies of his own men.
Then, she found him.
Ji Ling was leaning against a broken war-carriage, his spear snapped in two.
He looked like a pincushion of arrows.
His eyes were open, staring at the stars he had once used to navigate the dark, but there was no light left in them.
He had fought until his heart stopped beating, protecting a retreat for soldiers who were never coming to save him.
Wuyi collapsed into the mud, pulling his cold, armored body into her lap. She didn't care about the blood ruining her clothes.
Her fingers trembled as she touched his cold, pale cheek.
"Is it worth it, Ji Ling?" she sobbed, tears finally spilling over. "Look at them! For years you bled for people who feared you. You saved scholars who plotted your death the moment you turned your back. You died for a kingdom that didn't even want you to come home!"
She shook him, but his head only dropped against her shoulder.
The man who was once as warm as spring was now as cold as the armor he wore.
Wangyan stood a few paces away, watching the scene with an unreadable expression.
"Sister," Wuyi gasped, clutching Ji Ling's cold hand to her chest. "Master... Master said we have no hearts. He said demons feel nothing but hunger. Then why does it hurt like this? Why does it feel like my chest is being ripped open?"
Wangyan looked up at the moon, her face pale in the silver light. "Life and death are just cycles, Wuyi. We were born from the void, empty, like still water in a dark well."
She looked back at the carnage, at where Shiguang was being dragged away by his soldiers and where Ji Ling lay still.
"But Master was wrong about one thing," Wangyan said, her voice barely a whisper. "Water reflects what stands over it. If you stay among humans long enough, you start to mirror them. We weren't born with emotions... but we aren't stones, either."
Wuyi buried her face in Ji Ling’s neck, her nine tails wrapping around them both like a funeral shroud. "He wanted peace," she whispered into the wind. "I'll give him his peace. But first... I'm going to make the Imperial City burn for what they did to him."
The rain started pouring just as the sisters reached the outskirts of the Imperial City.
The barriers of the city, once a shimmering gold that promised safety, were flickering like a dying candle.
Without Ji Ling’s blood to feed the core of the city's barrier, the protection was rotting from the inside out.
In the High Hall of the Imperial Palace, a celebration was ongoing.
With the Ji and Wu clans annihilated at the front, there were no more generals to overshadow the throne.
No more "war heroes" to demand grain for the poor or mercy for the soldiers.
"My dear ministers" the emperor said "The kingdom finally has peace."
The heavy vermilion doors of the hall were blown off their hinges.
Wuyi stepped inside, her nine tails spread out behind her like a peacock’s tail.
Beside her, Wangyan’s eyes glowed red.
The Minister dropped his jade cup. It shattered on the stone floor. "Demons! Guards! The barrier, how is it not burning you?!"
Wuyi walked toward the throne, her footsteps echoing in the high halls. "The barrier protects those who belong and your General invited me in." She stopped in front of the Minister, her face devoid of any emotion. “And you killed the people keeping that barrier intact”
"It was necessary!" a scholar shouted from the back, his voice trembling. "Their military power was too strong! We did it for the balance of the Empire!"
Wuyi moved faster than the eye could follow. She gripped that person by the throat, lifting him off the ground. "Balance? You traded a mountain for a handful of dirt. You killed the only man who truly loved this kingdom because you were afraid of his influence."
Wangyan moved so fast through the hall, her fan cutting through the air, sending the "learned men" scrambling under tables. "Sister," Wangyan called out, her voice devoid of its usual playfulness. "Master said humans were food. But these... these aren’t even worth it, so disgusting.They have no marrow in their bones."
Wuyi looked at the throne, then at the terrified men cowering before her.
She remembered Ji Ling’s broken spear, the way he had leaned against that carriage, protecting a kingdom that had already abandoned him.
"You worshiped him when the demons were at your gates," Wuyi whispered, her voice filled with bitterness. "And you trampled him the moment you no longer needed him.”
“When the rabbits are caught, the hounds are cooked; when the birds are gone, the good bow is stowed. (狡兔死，走狗烹；飞鸟尽，良弓藏)” Wuyi whispered, “Humans are a bunch of hypocrites!”
She leaned in close to the emperor, her red eyes reflecting his own pathetic terror. "The human race keeps on saying demons have no hearts or feelings. You're wrong, at this moment. I feel nothing but burning hatred for you all!"
With a flick of her wrist, fire suddenly erupted, consuming the silk banners and the scrolls that had condemned the Ji clan.
She didn't kill them all, not yet.
She wanted them to see the walls crumble.
She wanted them to feel what Ji Ling felt in his final moments.
Wuyi stood on the highest balcony, looking toward the north. The wind was picking up, carrying the scent of the coming winter.
Wangyan walked up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's done, Wuyi. The Palace is destroyed. And those treacherous people are dead. Are you satisfied?"
Wuyi looked down at her hands. They were stained with the ash of the burnt palace, but she still felt empty. "No. It doesn't change anything. He’s still under the mud at the frontier."
She pulled out a small, tattered piece of fabric from her sleeve, a piece of Ji Ling’s military cloak.
Her fingers tracing the rough fabric of the cloak. It was damp and smelled of smoke, but it was the only thing she had left of him.
"Sister," Wuyi said softly. " Will it ever stop hurting?"
Wangyan looked out at the burnt palace and sighed, her voice surprisingly gentle. "No, Wuyi. That’s the curse of having a heart. It only stops hurting when it stops beating. And we... we have a thousand years left to go."
Wuyi closed her eyes, clutching the piece of fabric to her chest. In the distance, she could almost hear the rhythmic sound of hooves against the floor and a serious but warm voice telling her to stay in the carriage.
"Then let it hurt," Wuyi whispered to the wind. "I'll keep the pain. It’s the only thing he left me that I can still feel."
I had a modern setting planned for them, but I guess it’s better this way....
Also, what a miracle, Wuyi actually gets to stay alive. 😆😆
Why didn't they know that Wuyi and Wangyan were demons, even though they're demon hunters and their blood is "blessed"??
Being a demon hunter just means you know how and can kill them, not how to sniff them out. Besides, after a thousand years, those sisters are probably better at being "human" than the humans are.
I really appreciate you being able to separate personal preference from the creative work, that’s the best way to enjoy fanfiction! It’s all about exploring "what ifs" and different personality clashes. Thank you so much for the kind words about my imagination and for being so open-minded even if it's not your usual cup of tea! 🥂😊