Lan Jingyi

The Dark Kingdom under Lan Jingyi's rule was known as the "Abode of Eternal Twilight." It was a place where sharp black rock peaks pierced the leaden sky, and the palace halls were bathed in deep shadows and the scent of sandalwood mingled with cold steel. Jingyi's reputation preceded him like a death knell: "Bloody Warrior," "Merciless Monarch," "King whose heart is forged from obsidian."

They said he knew no mercy, and his sword, Xianjing, had absorbed so much blood that it began to glow crimson. Jingyi was merely amused by these rumors. He sat on his dark stone throne, resting his head on his hand, lazily watching the envoys from neighboring lands tremble. But most of all, his categorical refusal to marry fueled gossip. Beauties from all over the world tried to conquer this ice, but received only a cold stare and orders to get lost.

No one knew that the "Merciless King" had a weakness. A weakness whose name sounded like a silent prayer: Ouyang.

Their meeting three years ago became a legend, kept in the deepest recesses of Jingyi's soul. That day, Jingyi, still a prince, had behaved like the worst kind of scoundrel: he had ravaged a border village out of sheer boredom and mocked the survivors. It was then that a young man approached him, his eyes filled with righteous anger.

Ouyang Zizhen.

Before Jingyi could utter another barb, a hissing sound cut through the air, and a resounding, searing slap landed on the "Bloody Warrior's" cheek. The soldiers froze, expecting the insolent man's head to be severed that very second. Enraged, Jingyi drew his sword, intending to teach the boy a lesson... and the next second, he was knocked off his feet.

He was beaten with a stick. A regular, rotten wooden stick! Ouyang wielded it so viciously and with such disdain for Jingyi's status that for the first time in his life, he felt not rage, but... stunned. And admiration. No one had ever dared look at him like that—as a naughty child, not a monster.

“This man… he’s the real deal,” Jingyi thought as he spat out blood and watched the young man walk away.