#The Scholar Walking at Night

[kdram-chjh]

Kdrama: The Scholar Who Walks the Night (2015)

밤을 걷는 선비 Scholar Who Walks the Night Behind the scenes #leesoohyuk #이수혁 #อีซูฮยอก #leesoohyuk

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GHjuJbhQrLw

[zhaozi]

lee soohyuk on his way to the dolce & gabbana show

[kalena-henden]

In the Thanksgiving afterglow, I’m thankful for so many good kdramas.

Family By Choice - I was satisfied with how it all turned out if a little rushed in areas. Hwang In Yeop finally got his due as ML in a romance and did not disappoint. I really loved them once they got together; so many cute couple moments and great support of each other. I loved all of the found family dynamics. And it was so fun to see Song Geon Hee!

The Scholar Who Walks The Night - This was wan’t a great drama but it was a good one. The vampire rivalry between Lee Sook Hyuk’s power hungry, Gwi, and Lee Joon Gi’s noble, martial arts fighting, Night Scholar was well played. I wish they had delved a bit deeper into Gwi’s history but we were given just enough highlights to fill in the blanks ourselves. There were quite a few twists and turns in this and I didn’t see some of them coming. Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and was pleasantly surprised that most of the characters were given proper development arcs. The romances were okay and did become more believable towards the end. One of my favorite things was various factions building relationships through trust to eventually overcome their differences to become friends and come together to defeat the enemy. The one thing that was repetitive and sometimes frustrating was that if someone or some group made a plan it was almost certain that said plan wouldn’t happen. It got to be a bit laughable. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a drama where this many plans got ruined. This drama has been on my watchlist for years and I’m glad I finally watched it.

Brewing Love - I really love how the leads are there for each other and bring out the best in the other person. Allowing them to feel loved and accepted. 

Love Your Enemy - Hello romcom with mature leads acting like their love-hate bickering teenage selves. Present day is a little over the top but I’m looking forward to them working out whatever went wrong all those years ago. The teenage years have been my favorite part so far. 

When The Phone Rings - I’m sat for this makjang of parentally-controlled adults in a marriage-of-convenience about to go absolutely feral when they realize they have been secretly in love with each other this whole time and will do anything to protect each other from their families and the world out to get them but first have to break through their longheld misunderstandings. Honestly, the hardest part is trying to stay away from spoilers from the novel that are floating all over the internet. I already accidentally stumbled across one great spoiler which makes me even more excited but I don’t want to ruin all the mystery for myself.

[sanctuary1988]

Les Petals D'Amour

| Gwi | Masterpost

Pairing: Gwi (the scholar who walks the night) x fem! noble! Reader

Summary: A heartless vampire falls in love for the first time in centuries of loneliness. Passion, secrets, betrayal and love drown the royal palace. Will your love for Gwi prevail through time or will it wither away like a fallen rose petal? Maybe love was his punishment, maybe love was your salvation. Or wasn't it a curse to you both? Because, who can beat a race against time? Who can love in the dark? Who can love without truth? After all, even the most beautiful flower will wither away and end in ashes of time, remembered only by the one who cherished her the most.

General Warnings: fluff, angst, blood, biting, general vampire stuff, secrets, obsession, twisted retail of beauty and the beast, death, character death, typical period misogyny, DARK ROMANCE, spiciness, love?, (specific warnings will be given in each chapter)

Total Word Count: in process

A/N: Welcome to my first fic on this new blog, darling! I finished watching TSWWTN like a month ago and I have officially fallen in love. I took one of the scenes to start this story that could serve as a prequel of the drama from Gwi's perspective. Like a backstory for him that we were denied on the show.

I really hope you will like it, loves. Please share your thoughts with me and feel free to ask me anything! From extra scenes for this story to what's the last thing I ate, I'd love to interact with you all!

*A/N: This story will be updated when I have the time to write, darlings. I'll do my best to keep it alive and ongoing but I have a lot on my plate right now. I'm doing this mostly for myself as I need some space to vent and create without pressure. This blog is a safe space for anyone and that obviously includes me. So please be patient when it comes to updates! I'm giving my all trying to balance my life with all the responsibilities I, myself, put over my already busy life. But be for sure that this story will be finished... someday.

**A/N: Darling, please mind the warnings on this post and on each chapter. I'm still pondering on whether I should include smut here or not as I personally think there should be a solid reason why there must be a spicy scene in a story but aside from that, this story will have some pretty dark contents and behaviours. Disturbing scenes may appear throughout the story and I am not responsible for your media consumption. Please, be careful, love.

~ Main Work

Chapter 1 | Handsome Stranger |2.3k words|

Chapter 2 | Owned Flower |2.4k words|

Chapter 3 | Caged Petal |2k words|

Chapter 4 | Silver Innocence |2.5k words|

Chapter 5 | Subtle Conscience |2.5k words|

Chapter 6 | A Flower For A Flower |4.2k words|

Chapter 7 | Reborn Petals Of Emotion |4k words|

Chapter 8 | Veil Of Temptation |4.5k words|

Chapter 9 | Fate's Cruel Hand |5.1 words|

Chapter 10 | The Heart Of The Poet |3.4 words|

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𖹭 Interlude pt.1 |1.4k words|

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Chapter 11 | The Moon That Embraces The Sun |4.6k words|

Chapter 12 | Melodic Promises |5.5k words|

Chapter 13 | The Silence Of Solitude |3.2k words|

Chapter 14 | Stolen Rose Of A Promise |4k words|

Chapter 15 | Flames Of Passion |4.5k words|

────────────────────────────────────────────

𖹭 Interlude pt. 2 |2.2k words|

────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 16 | Secret Of Darkness |3.4k words|

Chapter 17 | The Age Of Romance |3k words|

Chapter 18 | Echoes Of Eternity |4.2k words|

Chapter 19 | The Enemy's Lover |5.4k words|

Chapter 20 | The Price Of Love pt. 1 |3k words|

────────────────────────────────────────────

Interlude pt. 3

────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 21

???

~ Side Content...

Moodboard

The Playlist 🫶

Started: January/28/2024 Finished: ???

[sombredancer]

Asian dramas and my favorite types of characters

There are my favorite types of characters as a list. A villain with a fatal weakness

Drama: The Scholar Who Walks the Night /밤을 걷는 선비 Character: Gwi Screentime: Secondary Gwi is an ancient vampire and a master of puppets (and Joseon's king is the main of them). He is merciless, invincible and scheming all the drama long, until he accidentally kills a girl, who was his hostage and recalcitrant puppet from her childhood on and was the only one who could scold him and deny him. Nothing about it is said directly in the drama, but after her death he goes insane, kills all of his puppets and this way causes his own death. So, I suppose, she was his only weakness, and I like this type of a personal drama for a villain.

Drama: Moonlight Mystique /白月梵星 Character: Mo Li Screentime: Minor The shell of Devil lord Mo Li (which has got his own consciousness) falls in love with the demon girl (and has a very complex enemies-to-lovers relationship with her). Later, Devil lord occupies his shell, cornering shell's consciousness into the darkest corner of his mind, and treats his shell's girlfriend with no particular interest (but better than he could). However, he ends up unintentionally killing her off, and it becomes his doom, because her death releases the ancient weapon, the only thing that can kill him, and the main heroes use it to destroy him. So, she was his only weakness, literally.

Punch-Clock Villain / the Dragon

Drama: 100 Days My Prince /백일의 낭군님 Character: Moo-yeon Screentime: Secondary Moo-yeon works as an assassin for the killer of his father, who is constantly threatening him with the life of his sister. Moo-yeon is a man of a very ill fate: his family was accused of a treason and executed, his sister became a fugitive, he was forced to sell his conscience for his and sister's lives and, as a cherry on the top of this cake, fell in love with the daughter of his captor. And died trying to save her... His story is sooooo sad, but it makes me feel for this character fully. Also, he is the king of whump because the half of the drama he is injured and suffers from his wounds. The whole sad story of this guy is analyzed by me here, here and here.

Drama: The King Loves /왕은 사랑한다 Character: Moo-suk Screentime: Minor Koreans, obviously, like this type of characters, too, so there is another Dragon of the main villain, Moo-suk. In his free from dirty deeds time he h̶e̶l̶p̶s̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶l̶a̶d̶i̶e̶s̶ ̶c̶r̶o̶s̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶o̶a̶d̶ literally saves cute children and restores self-confidence of young ladies. And then he falls in love, rethinks his life and dies from the hand of his master. Predictable and sad. Still a memorable guy, though. 50 shades of a Byronic Hero

Drama: The Wolf / 狼殿下 Character: Chu Youwen Screentime: Main A Mowgli boy was adopted by a wicked emperor, brought up like a cruel beast and was forced to do some dirty stuff for the emperor. He is mysterious, severe and you never know what's on his mind. As a true Byronic hero. He is some kind of Dragon, too, but it's a Chinese drama and he is a main hero in it, that's why he doesn't really do anything bad during the series. His soul is kind and his heart is pure, but he hides it from his love and deals with all of his problems on his own. It's the reason why all of this drama is a masochistic tango between him and his love. Whump lovers will be happy, too, because he is constantly in chains, pierced by arrows like a hedgehog or works as a slave in mines. As any other Dragon, he has a BE.

Drama: Lost You Forever /长相思 第一季 Character: Xiang Liu Screentime: Secondary A mysterious demon general, whose name makes everyone shake in fear. A former demon slave, who is true to his word enough to fight for his benefactor even if he knows crystal clearly that it's hopeless and he and his army will die in the end. A man who has huge problems with expression of his emotions in a socially approved way. Edward Cullen of Chinese dramaland. He is enigmatic, with thick vibes of a bad guy, yet very loyal to his benefactor as well as his love and very selfless. Because of this loyalty he will die and the love of his life will never-ever find out about anything he has done for her during the story.

Drama: My Journey to You /云之羽 Character: Gong Shangjue Screentime: Secondary A guy was through trauma in his childhood and it made him look intimidating and unfeeling. A tsundere is born! He coped with his trauma by taking extra responsibilities for everything and everyone and turned to be a walking killing machine instead of a man. But an enemy assassin comes to his life and teaches him how to be a human once more. It's a painful experience, but it`s necessary in order to grow up as a character and is beautifully fulfilled. It was a great joy to know that he survives at the end of the story, it's a rare thing for this type of characters, so even if there is season 2 someday, I will not watch it in order not to spoil my impression of the first one. I wrote about him detailed here, here, here and here.

Drama: Princess Agents / 特工皇妃楚乔传 Character: Yan Xun Screentime: Secondary It's the transformation story, too, like a previous one, but this time it's transformation from an ordinary man to a villain. Prince Yan Xun is a hostage colony prince in a metropolis empire, but he enjoys a noble life along with other nobility youth. The society around him is awful, each of these noble youths is a psycho who appreciate human hunt and so on, but cheerful and easy-going Yan Xun doesn't think their bloodthirstiness could turn against him. When relationship between the metropolis and the colony become tense, though, Yan Xun's friends of yesterday are happy to drink his blood. He loses his whole family and, insanely longing for revenge, slowly turns to one of those monsters himself.

Drama: Fangs of Fortune / 大梦归离 Characters: Li Lun Screentime: Secondary The Great Demon was dumped by his boyfriend because of his aggressive ways of protecting people of his own species and still can't get over their break-up. He goes through all five stages of acceptance of their break-up while being a villain of the story. In the end his obsession brings him to his doom, because he loves his ex-friend too much. He is morally grey yet a versatile and interesting character. I wrote about him here: 1 , 2, 3 and 4.

Drama: A Journey to Love / 一念关山 Character: Li Tongguang Screentime: Minor This guy has got a very realistic personality and background: he is a bastard who was deprived of mother's love since he was a child. The first circumstance made him power-hungry, scheming and outwardly emotionless, the second one made him longing for mother's love on insanely level. So he is invincible outwardly, but turns into a teary mess when it's about his female tutor, who is a mother figure for him. The contrast between these two personalities is enormous and makes this character very alive and interesting. During the drama he will not cope with his Oedipus complex but circumstances will solve this problem for him.

A pure-hearted hero

Drama: Creation of the Gods Ⅰ / 封神三部曲 Character: Ji Fa Screentime: Main It's maybe strange to find this type of characters in the list of my favorite types, but morality and selflessness of a character is very important for me, too. This story is some kind of King Arthur's legend, but in a Chinese way. The emperor is bewitched by a demon and is bringing the kingdom to it's downfall, the Gods are here to find the savior with the help of a magic scroll that can be opened only by a true king. Ji Fa, a hero of this story, doesn't care about scrolls, but his heart is loyal to his kingdom and to his family (in this very order). He genuinely wants to help his friend-prince to be a king his kingdom deserves and, despite awful things that were done to him and his family, doesn`t harden his soul and betray his ideals. And, I suppose, although he isn't aware of this, he IS the future King Arthur of China.

Interesting character decisions

Drama: The Legends/招摇 Characters: Jiang Wu Screentime: Minor This character is something like a rival of the male lead. He is a xinmo - an inner demon of some other character and represents the darkest features of a human's soul. He is a ruthless killer, a dark sorcerer without conscience, but what was very unique, being literary the worst part of a human personality, he values his assistants a lot and genuinely cares for them. A villain is usually a lone wolf. He doesn't trust anyone and doesn't value anyone, his loneliness is usually his weakness and a key to his downfall. So I was pleasantly surprised that sometimes a villain is capable of building healthy relationships with his subordinates.

Drama: Sh**ting Stars / 별똥별 Characters: Do Soo-hyuk Screentime: Minor

This guy truly surprised me. Firstly, he is supposed to be something like a third wheel in relationships of the main couple, but he just calmly got a refusal from the female lead, said "OK" and, absolutely relaxed, proceeded to live his life further. It's something unbelievable for me, because I used to see the insanity caused by an unrequited love to be the plot engine of a lot of dramas. Secondly, he is well-written as a character, straightforward, principled and has tsundere-ish or Byronic vibes - all the character features that I like =) Also you can see: Asian dramas and relationship dynamics (Pt. 1) Asian dramas and relationship dynamics (Pt. 2) Asian dramas and Love tropes Enemies to Rivals/Lovers recipe

[synthetickitsune]

Hello! I don't know if your requests are still open, but if they aren't just ignore this. May I request some romantic, fluffy & emotional content for Gwi (Scholar Who Walks The Night) with a human s/o who loves him deeply and is always gentle, caring and kind towards him? Like she genuinely respects him, and treats him with so much love? Cause look, I have theories about Gwi and affection. Namely that he was always treated like a beast and basically betrayed by his loves. But I think he is both touch starved and affection starved. Legit I feel like he'd melt for someone who gives him their heart sincerely, and sees him as a wise ancient being worthy of respect, rather than a monster to be destroyed.

PLEASE i could go on and on about my takes on gwi and affection and everything, he literally deserves so much more than he got </3 tbh i definitely will write more about this prompt because i want to give him at least some sort of happiness

Gwi (Scholar Who Walks the Night) | Affection fluff | 1k | (kind of implied) f!reader

Their voices join the water and blood dripping in the expanse of the cave, so do their faces, all of them just the background. If you were told they’re only another rock growth in the underground palace, you’d accept it without a second thought. So insignificant they were. Maybe not for the palace, for the grand scheme of things, but it’s always been easy to detach yourself from the world.

You’re not really looking at them, perhaps through them would be a better word. But when he speaks, your eyes surely find his profile and you pay attention. Most of what he says is mocking the humans standing before his throne. He’s sneering at them, taunting them. They can’t do anything about it. They can’t do anything to him. Everyone in the room knows it. So they come after the obvious easy prey.

“Gwi, isn’t it about time you got rid of the toy?” you know without looking at them that the official speaking is pointing at you. You’ve heard them mutter about him playing with his food before. And if you heard, he heard too.

“What toy?” the vampire asks, and you know that to them his voice is nothing but amused. But you don’t need his enhanced hearing to take precaution. When the backs of his fingers brush against your cheek, it must look to them like you’re motionless. You lean your body towards him just enough that he takes notice of your weight shifting on his lap. Just leaning into his touch isn’t enough. He’s a creature that deserves more respect than that. “Which one should I get rid of?”

If he only could look at both you and the subject before him, you know he would. Jealousy was never your strong suit. Even less so in the face of Gwi. Sometimes you’d get the feeling he doesn’t appreciate that. Other times you think he seems relieved. Either way, he was not for you, or any human, anyone, to own. You keep your eyes on him. The officials are predictable enough, all of them plotting, trying to figure out how to get their daughters involved, how to get closer to power. 

They sputter and back down as they always do. Trying their most to stay in Gwi’s good graces while crossing every boundary clearly set. It’s pathetic. And the vampire is as predictable as them, so you don’t flinch at all when the gentle caress turns into a death grip on your jaw while his fangs bury into the flesh of your neck.

They run away. Of course they do after the vampire’s mocking. They take it as a threat to their family, so you don’t blame them for closing their eyes and turning their back. It is a threat. Not a fully empty one either. But the officials and their petty palace drama and power struggle are irrelevant and definitely not the thing your mind wants to focus on as it grows fuzzy. Your body is getting weaker but you don’t panic. You hear your heart in your ears and it’s beating steadily.

“Your blood tastes so sweet,” his voice graces your ears, his bloodied lips gently pressing against your cheek not a second later, leaving a mark, “I never tasted anything like it. Is it because you’re not scared of me?”

It’s not the first time Gwi wonders aloud about your blood. Perhaps that truly is the reason, maybe panic ruins the blood, just like when hunters try to catch their prey unaware. It wasn’t always like this, and you entertain the thought of your will and desire overrunning even your instincts and biology. Your tongue feels like lead in your mouth, so you can’t respond and he doesn’t force you to. Instead he guides your head to rest against his shoulder, allows your body to lean on his.

You feel a sense of guilt for being so weak. You wish he could feed from you all the time, drink your blood until he’s sated. He’s tried that in the past. He kept feeding from you day after day - as a desert, he’d claim - kept feeding from you right until you were on the verge of death. The doctors barely saved you. You never asked how did it happen that you were nursed back to health. Then again, did you need to? It was about that time that you started noticing that the officials despised you.

“Should I get rid of you?” he muses, and yet his arm is wrapped around you so tenderly it’d make you sleepy with comfort if it wasn’t for your desire to listen to him, “Should I set you free?”

You don’t think he’s playing with you, but then again Gwi is unpredictable at the best of times. Either way, it’s all the same to you. Your answer would always be the same.

“I’d worship you still,” you whisper, gathering your strength only to be shushed by the vampire holding you. There’s a smirk on his lips. Proud. But it softens. He knows. He knows. And maybe that’s why you get to be held by him.

“Worship is not a word many would use,” he sounds amused, and you enjoy how freely he converses with you. Not too long ago he’d be much more guarded. He’d snarl at you, make you feel like he’ll attack any moment. It’s a little surprising he allowed you to stay alive. You meet his eyes with a questioning look that he answers with a curious smile before he shakes his head. So you stay quiet.

He picks you up and carries you to the space he made for you, where your bed is hidden away from sight. You know once you wake up there will be a meal waiting for you to get your energy back. He lays you down and covers you with a blanket. He strokes your hair, reassuring you that you’re allowed to rest now. 

And so you slowly, obediently, fall asleep.

[kevinssecretplace4546]

I haven't had a decent obsession in ages and it now feels so good to have found something to obsess about.

I recently saw Flower of Evil and had to look up Lee Joon-Gi because what a freaking talent!!! That little tremor he does in his cheek?! Wtf?!

So yeah, I am currently watching both Moon Lovers and Scholar who Walks the Night the gods help me!

[g-division]

Gwi modern version 🔥🫠❤️

[avampyone]

The gentleman who walks the night-

[kdram-chjh]

Kdrama: The Scholar Who Walks the Night (2015)

The Scholar Who Walks the Night 밤을 걷는 선비 #leesoohyukpp #leesoohyuk #이수혁 #lxxsxxhkkk

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-bg5o39HwCs

[kalena-henden]

I'm finally caught up with The Judge From Hell so I can watch the new episodes this weekend. Park Shin Hye is killing it with her sassiness and reluctant foray into feeling emotions. Kim Jae Young is winning me over too with his struggle over justice versus revenge while helplessly falling for Justitia.

So happy to see Hwang In Yeop in his first romantic ML role in Family By Choice. The found family dynamic is one of the sweetest things ever contrasted by the terrible things that have happened to them. My heart goes out to all of them.

Though I've been slowly watching Ghost Docotor, it hits the sweet spot of funny yet sincere with high enough stakes to keep me invested in what happens next.

Also, I'm three episodes into The Scholar Who Walks The Night which has the perfect amount of ridiculous fantasy fun along with all the neck-biting blood-sucking I could want in vampire tale. Lee Joon Gi is doing his best tortured noble vampire trying to save the kingdom while he mourns his first love. And Lee Soo Hyuk is every bit the epic vampire villain shirtlessly strutting about in a huge open robe while he threatens kings and turns people into vampires to do his bidding.

[sanctuary1988]

~ The Enemy's Lover |19| Gwi

French: /the petals of love/

Pairing: Gwi x fem! noble! Reader

Summary: A heartless vampire falls in love for the first time in centuries of loneliness. Passion, secrets, betrayal and love drown the royal palace. Will your love for Gwi prevail through time or will it wither away like a fallen rose petal? Maybe love was his punishment, maybe love was your salvation. Or wasn't it a curse to you both? Because, who can beat a race against time? Who can love in the dark? Who can love without truth? After all, even the most beautiful flower will wither away and end in ashes of time, remembered only by the one who cherished her the most.

Warnings: fluff, angst, romance, love, confession, kissing, battling of emotions, TENSION!, misunderstandings, toxic relationship, Gwi is WHIPPED for his petal, royal complot, treason, talks about rebellion, blood, general vampire stuff, secrets, historical! AU, royal! AU?, cannon copilant (let me know if I missed anything!)

Word Count: 5.4k words

A/N: Hello my beautiful darlings!!! Happy 2025!!! I wanted to get this chapter done as soon as possible as we are going to get to a very important part of the story! O.O

I wanted to make this chapter as long as I could to "compensate" how long it has taken me to continue 🫣 I hope you'll enjoy it! 😌😁 .

Wishing you all the best, darlings and thank you a lot for your support and love ❤️❤️❤️ You lot have made this story come alive so thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Tagging: @my-day6 | @yumisventingmachine | @yukihatesreoyo | @anonymous2828 | @solivagant444 | @nitimurinvetitumsposts | @queenjang21 | @ib026 | @emneedshelp |🙈❤️*let me know if you'd like to be tagged or if you want me to get you off my taglist!

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments! I'd love to hear from you, loves. Enjoy! 🫶🫶🫶

The full moon illuminated his path ahead, the shadows from the trees obscuring his walking form as Gwi made his way back to the royal palace. His clothes were stained with blood, his hands were tainted in the crimson sin of his temptations. But his heart, as dark as his conscience was, reserved a part for his petal. For you. For his beautiful flower. In the cursed nature of his existence a flower had bloomed in a forgotten garden of shadows and thorns. 

Gwi sighed to himself, his large hand ran through his long and messy black strands of hair. He remembered how cold he had been the last time he spoke with you. He remembered the way you had pursed your lips when he called out your questioning of his actions, the way your hand had fisted his robes a little bit tighter, the scent of your blood going a little bit sour. And your eyes. Oh, your eyes. The way he had seen the light dim out from those (e/c) pools, how a veil of coldness that hid your pain had obscured your gaze. 

The night was silent as the vampire lord stepped into the royal grounds. He walked among the paths, not even the sound of crickets reached his ears. But it wasn’t the silence that unsettled him but the noise that plagued his mind. The storm of emotions that swirled his soul. The pain in his heart he didn’t want to acknowledge. 

The descent to the underground palace was slow. His steps echoing through the empty and cold walls. Gwi took a deep breath as he arrived at the throne room, the torches illuminated the place yet there was no warmth in the room he had once found solace. 

He turned to look down the corridor that eventually led to your room. He felt the urge to walk down the hallway and see you but the pain in his heart was too much. There were too many emotions in his mind, too many thoughts that left his judgement unclear. He didn’t want to hurt you with his words again, he didn’t want to see those eyes of yours filled with that cold veil of masked pain. 

Gwi turned around, not even looking at his throne for he walked the opposite way. He made his way to his own room. To the only place he could ever find peace. Where his thoughts wrestled for dominance and his instincts calmed from their monstrous nature. And yet, the moment he slid the door open to his room he was met with a sight that softened the darkness in his eyes. 

You were laying on his bedding, the skirts of your white pyjama dress puffed around you. Your hair sprawled itself over the silk under your head as you softly fisted one of the blankets. You were curled on your side, completely relaxed and unaware of the vampire that loomed over you. 

A wave of tranquility washed over him. Gwi sighed, sliding the door close behind him as he stepped into the room. The light from a single candle illuminated your delicate features, relaxed in sleep. You glowed under the dim light with your ethereal beauty. A beauty that always left him surprised. The shadows that painted the walls and elongated the place sharped the deep angles of his face as he shrugged off his outer robe. He descared it somewhere, not quite sure where it landed as his eyes, those deep dark eyes of his couldn’t look away from you. 

The blood from his clothes stained his soul. But in your presence, he stripped himself from his torments and sins. It wasn’t the privacy of his room that gave him peace, it was you. His petal. His beautiful flower. You were the source of his solace, the fountain of his strength. Gwi put on a loose robe made of dark blue silk that had golden leaves embroidered on the hems where it brushed at his ankles and the loose cuffs that reached past his wrist and covered his palm. 

He lay down next to you on his bedding. He spooned you, cradling you against him as his arms draped over your waist, pressing your back to his bare chest. The scent of wild roses that clung to your hair reached his senses and he closed his eyes for a second, savouring the feeling of having you in his arms. This moment of bliss that was gifted to him with your hands. 

“My petal.”

He nuzzled his face against your soft hair, his grip tightening around you. It was only in your presence that he forgot everything. He didn’t remember the horror of the night, all the blood he had spilled. With you in his arms, there was nothing else he needed to live. Even if it was not for eternity. 

You shifted in your sleep, turning around in his embrace before you snuggled into his chest. He felt your soft breaths against his skin, your warmth touching his. Your skin dancing with his. Gwi closed his eyes, resting his chin on top of your head as he rested. From all the turmoil of his life, from all the emotions that plagued his mind and the heavy feelings that clung to his heart. 

Morning had come a couple of hours ago. The vampire hadn’t slept. He held you, watched you and protected you during the night. You let out a soft hum as you woke up, you felt safe and warm. You were cradled against his chest and you felt his long fingers playing with the strands of your hair. 

“Good morning, petal.”

Your eyes opened and you looked up only to be met by the sight of Gwi. He was popped up on his elbow, his head tilted to the side as he looked down at you with deep and tender yet sorrowful eyes. 

“I didn’t hear you come in.”

The vampire smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. It was a subtle curve of his lips and it made your heart tighten with the weight of the secrets he carried. 

“You were probably tired.”

You hummed, closing your eyes as you felt his large hand cradle your cheek as his thumb ran over the apple of your cheek. You nuzzled against him and he sighed, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. 

“Forgive me, petal.”

He continued, his grip tightening around your body as he pressed you more firmly against him. 

“I was… not myself yesterday. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”

A moment of silence passed. It was probably a second, though for him it felt like a century. You looked up, meeting his dark eyes with your (e/c) ones in a deep dance of emotions neither of you both fully understood yet. 

“Will it always be like this? Am I to navigate myself through your emotions like a galley without sails? You do not allow me to understand yet you expect that from me. It pains me… every time you turn your back on me, it hurts.”

The vampire closed his eyes. Your words, though soft-spoken, stabbed him on the chest like a poisonous dagger. He had to swallow again, to bury down the emotions that coiled within him and that he had never been able to fully grasp. 

“It won’t be like this anymore, flower.”

Gwi looked back down at you, meeting your eyes wide with expectation. For a moment, he lost himself in those eyes of yours. Those eyes that reflected your soul. A soul that loved only him and him alone. 

“I will not take out on you the problems that taint my life. Imagine if you were to discover your most precious jewel is not diamond but glass. I am a man of secrets, my beautiful petal. I don’t want you to think ill of me.”

You frowned at his words. Still speaking in riddles. But you saw the conflict in his eyes, the tightness on his lips and the tension in his posture. You sat up, now being you who looked down at the vampire lord. Your hand took his large one, your fingers playing with his own as you spoke in a tender but firm voice. 

“Even if my most precious jewel turned out to be glass instead of diamond, glass still reflects the light. I can still feel your love through the storms you hide from me.”

He sat up as well, his eyes softening at your words. He squeezed your hand between his strong hands, taking in the softness and warmth of your skin. Gwi pressed your hand against his chest, your fingers expanding as you felt the slow beats of his heart beneath his bare cold skin. He pressed your hand there, letting you feel the strength of his heartbeat, the life you gave to his weary soul. 

“This heart beats for you, petal. It will always be yours.”

You smiled, your features softened under his comforting words. His voice, that deep and dark sound vibrated through every nerve of your body. Your eyes lifted to meet his own and the vampire felt as his heart skipped a beat the look of pure love he saw in your eyes. A look he knew he didn’t deserve. But he still claimed it to himself selfishly. 

“I forgive you.”

The skirts of your dress kissed the ground as you walked to your room. The flickering flames from the torches on the walls illuminated your features. The corridor was empty, cold in its nature. Your mind was a turmoil of thoughts and emotions you hadn’t yet deciphered. 

Gwi was a puzzle. An enigma no matter how much you put in effort, you couldn’t completely figure out. His apology had stirred at your delicate heartstrings; you had forgiven him. How could you now? However, that didn’t mean you weren’t still hurt and confused by his changing emotions. 

You often wondered what he did, what kept him busy. You wondered what was the source of his problems and mood changes. You wanted to know, to understand, to help him. But he didn’t let you. If you continued to swim in the rebellion ocean that was his emotions, you were going to drown in his secrets. 

A sigh escaped your lips as you entered your room. The big cherry blossom tree stood proud at the very centre of the spacious place. Pink petals fell to the ground in slow motion and the sight of the peacefulness of that magnificent tree eased your soul. You walked to the large mirror, your eyes staring back at your reflection. 

Your fingers ran through the large river of your (h/c) locks, your head was subtly tilted to the side as you looked at yourself with an empty gaze. You reached over to the table at your right. The one that had the vase with the eternal roses. You grabbed your silver comb but as you looked down at it, a frown marred your features. 

There was a stack of notes resting on your table. Notes you hadn’t left there. You hadn’t even written them. You put the comb down, grabbing the notes only to discover they were letters addressed to you. 

You frowned as you recognised the first wax seal, it belonged to a wealthy lord from the northern provinces. You remembered your father had once hosted him in your childhood home. You broke the seal, your eyes dancing over the hanja characters of ink that were drawn on the parchment. 

My Lady,

It is of utmost urgency that you partake into our cause. His Highness, Crown Prince Wang Hyu is determined to take the throne back from the tyrant who shadows his inheritance. He bleeds the land dry and even the king’s voice is silenced by his iron fist. 

You could help turn the tide. Help us, my lady. The cause needs your loyalty, your agency, your secrecy. Do not ignore the cries of the people who love you so much. 

The next letter was from a merchant, the ink was smudged as though written in haste. 

Lady (y/n),

The townspeople whisper your name as a symbol of peace and justice. We are desperate. This tyrant has robbed us of our livelihoods and left our families to live in fear. You have the power to help us fight back. Do not let this darkness consume our land.

Your pulse quickened. What were these letters talking about? Who was the tyrant who shadowed the throne? You frowned, pursing your lips as you recognised the seal on the next letter. It was the royal crest of the Crown Prince. You placed the other letters down on the table as you opened the letter that undoubtedly came from the royal family. 

"My Dearest Lady,

It is with great urgency that I write to you. The kingdom is on the brink of collapse, strangled by a force that defies all decency and humanity. The king is but a puppet in his grasp, and the people suffer in silence.

You are known for your wisdom and generosity, and I implore you to lend your support to our cause. Meet me in the marketplace at dusk, I’ll be waiting in Gangchangnyeon. We must discuss how best to ally against this growing darkness. Do not tell anyone. Traitors are everywhere, my lady. Please, for the throne, for the people, I ask this of you. 

Burn this letter, Lady (y/n). And may your heart be as pure and compassionate as I have heard.

The decision weighed heavy on your heart as you folded the letter and placed it back on the table. The words of the Crown Prince lingered in your mind like an echo in an empty hall. You could no longer ignore the cries of the people, their desperation evident in the trembling ink of their pleas. You had to do something, your heart hardened with resolve as you accepted to help the prince in however way you could. 

But to do that, you’d have to leave the underground palace during the day. And you knew Gwi only allowed you to go out at night, especially to the marketplace. You didn’t know why he insisted on you ever leaving when the sky was dark but he always made sure to go with you. 

Your fingers gripped the paper, your eyes turning to the candle that flickered on the table. You couldn’t let the people die under the rule of this tyrant the Crown Prince talked about, but for that, you’d have to disobey Gwi. 

And yet, despite the conflicting thoughts swarming your mind, your hand extended and the edge of the paper caught the flame. The paper turned black and you placed it on an empty silver dish while watching how the letter burned. You threw the remaining letters as well, not knowing you had burnt your heart as well.

You walked into the library seaking Gwi. The wine red fabric of your dress trailed behind you, marking your steps. Your heart was heavy, as if a stone stood in its place. The towering shelves confused your soul, making you question whether what you were about to do was right or wrong. 

The flickering light from the candles and torches shadowed your conscience. Your eyes scanned the vast room before your gaze landed on Gwi. He sat sprawled on some cushions as he read a book. His sharp features were darkened by the candle’s light absence but the thought of what you were about to do, to say, churned your stomach with nauseating disgust.

His eyes lifted from the book he had been reading, his dark gaze found yours across the room and you forced a smile at him. The vampire softened upon seeing you, he put the book down and you understood the silent permission for you to approach him. Your steps were slow, cautious. Hesitant. And before you knew it, you stood in front of him. He looked up at you with those piercing eyes, the starless galaxies you often lose yourself in. His large hand grabbed yours and your fingers instinctively curled around his. Gwi frowned at the quiet and tension he felt through your tight grip on his hand. 

“What’s wrong, petal?”

He asked in a dark murmur. The sound making you shudder in expectation. Your gaze was fixated on your joined hands before you knelt in front of him on the cushions. Your skirts puffed around you and Gwi would be lying if you didn’t resemble a rose at that moment. With your dark red dress and your delicate nature. You looked up at him, your gaze soft as you smiled. But that smile was tainted with the knowledge of the letters you had received. It was a smile stained by secrets. 

“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to ask you something.”

Your voice was soft as you spoke. His frown deepened, his thumb brushing across your knuckles. Before he spoke once more in a gentler tone.

“You are trembling.”

Your lips parted, swallowing down your nerves you looked into his eyes. 

“Whatever it is, just ask.”

His words were so soft yet sinfully dark that you smiled again. Your hand tightened around his as you leaned forward, your expression earnest yet hesitant. 

“Can I go to the marketplace today… just for a little while?”

Gwi put his other hand over your own, holding your palm between his. He looked down at your joined hands, loving the feeling of your soft skin against his, adoring how your smaller hand fit perfectly between his large ones. 

“Of course, petal.”

You smiled but asked once more, in a gentler tone. 

“Can I go right now?”

His brow arched and you felt through his touch how he tensed at the idea of you leaving the underground palace during the day, where he couldn’t go with you. 

“Let’s go at night. You know I don’t like it when you go on your own, ease my mind, flower, mmmh?”

Your heart twisted at his response, his concern both endearing and suffocating. Gwi’s dark eyes searched your face for any hint of deception, but you forced yourself to hold his gaze, your smile unwavering despite the storm raging inside you.

“I understand,”

You murmured while your fingers played absentmindedly with the back of his hand, tracing his long fingers with your delicate touch. 

“But… it’s a surprise for you. If I wait until night, it won’t be ready in time.”

His lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze narrowing slightly and you feared he wouldn’t buy your excuse.

“A surprise?” 

He echoed, his tone suspicious yet curious. You nodded, your hand slipping from his to gently touch his arm, a gesture meant to soothe him. Your eyes met his, glinting with the light of the candles as your smile was warm yet your heart… your heart was heavy with the snow of your lie.

“Yes. You’ll see when I come back. I’ve been planning this for days. Please, I promise I’ll be back before the sun sets.”

Gwi studied you in silence, the weight of his gaze making your pulse quicken. You could see the conflict in his eyes, the possessive nature of the vampire battling with the part of him that wanted to please you. But after a while, he relented. He let out a sigh, tilting his head to the left as he gazed at you with those dark eyes that only softened for you. 

“You are far too persuasive, flower.”

 He murmured, his fingers grazing your cheek briefly before falling away.

“Go, if you must. But if you’re not back before sunset…”

Gwi didn’t finish the sentence, he didn’t have to for you to understand you were meant to be back before sunset. And he’d accept no excuses if you didn’t fulfil your promise. You smiled, and it was that smile that made the petals in his heart flutter. He’d do anything to see that smile on your face every day. He’d do anything you asked him only for you to always smile at him that way. That smile was worth the whole kingdom, the whole world. 

“Thank you. I won’t be long.”

And yet, the vampire was so enamoured by your innocent soul, but your beauty, by your love that he didn’t see the hesitation in your smile, the pain in your eyes. He didn’t see the lie that was hidden between your sweet words. He only saw you, his petal. His love. His woman. He didn’t see a traitor, he didn’t see a deceiver. And it was that blindness through love that would hurt him more than death. 

To mask your conscience, you leaned forward. Your lips pressed against his in a chaste kiss the vampire was barely able to reciprocate before your touch left his hands and you stood up. The silk of your dress brushed against the floor as you stepped back. He followed you with his gaze as you turned around and walked toward the exit of the large library. 

“Petal,”

The sound of his voice made you stop in your tracks. It sounded soft, vulnerable even. For all its dark glory, the sound of his voice pulled at your heartstrings. You swallowed, turning around with a soft smile to mask the turmoil in your heart. He was still seated at the cushions, his robes pooling around him but there was a softness in his gaze that made your heart skip a beat. 

“Be safe.”

You nodded at his words. Words that were laced with something dangerously close to longing. You didn’t trust your voice, so you smiled at him one more time before hurrying out of the library. Not knowing you were leaving your heart behind the moment you stepped out of the sanctuary of knowledge. 

The marketplace bustled with life as you wandered through the stalls, weaving between merchants calling out their wares and customers haggling over prices. The scent of freshly cooked tteokbokki mingled with the earthy aroma of herbs, and the air was filled with the clatter of coins and the rhythmic beat of a street performer’s drum.

You clutched the small package in your hands—a finely crafted music box with a delicate lacquer finish and painted with cherry blossoms. It was a gift for Gwi, the perfect cover for your secret mission.

Your steps quickened as you made your way toward Gangchangnyeon, a secluded corner of the market where merchants sold soju and the atmosphere was quieter. You glanced over your shoulder, ensuring no one followed, before slipping through the narrow alley that led to the meeting place.

The Crown Prince awaited you at the far end of the alley, leaning against the wooden post of a small teahouse. His attire was plain, his royal bearing subdued to avoid attention. Despite the simplicity, there was an unmistakable air of authority about him, his sharp gaze scanning the area before landing on you.

“Lady (y/n).”

He greeted you with respect, bowing at you. You returned the gesture as you addressed him. 

“Your Highness.”

The teahouse was modest, its wooden beams worn with age. You sat across from him on the floor, the low table between you set with a small jug of soju and two cups. The Crown Prince poured a drink, but neither of you reached for it.

“Did anyone see you?”

He asked, his voice low but urgent. You shook your head, your fingers tightening over the silk that wrapped the music box. 

“No, I took precautions.”

The prince nodded, his expression grim as he looked around, his eyes scanning the few people in the teahouse in paranoia before he returned his attention to you. 

“I appreciate your bravery in meeting me here. My cause needs all the help it can get.”

You leaned forward, your dress rustling slightly with the motions. 

“Your Highness, in your letter you spoke about a tyrant shadowing your right to the throne. Who is the traitor that would dare go against the royal family?”

Prince Wang Hyu tightened his jaw, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His fingers gripped the edge of the small table between you both in helplessness. 

“The tyrant is a monster who has ruled from the shadows for decades. He preys on the weak and uses fear to maintain his grip on the throne.”

Your brow furrowed, curiosity swirling in your heart. 

“A monster?”

The prince’s eyes met yours, his gaze was firm but evasive. He lowered his head as a couple of men passed next to your table and his gat obscured his eyes before he spoke once more. 

“He lost his humanity long ago, my lady, and has been preying on the throne for years. The kings do not rule Joseon, they are merely his puppets. You know of the deaths in the palace, innocent people are dying because of him and I refuse to let my kingdom be ruled by someone else.”

You nodded, your heart hardened at the words you were listening to. You lifted your chin, asking with a steady voice.

“What do you need to restore order, Your Highness? If what you are saying is true, then this tyrant’s influence is a threat to all of us.”

Prince Wang Hyu hesitated, his lips pressed into a thin line as his gaze shifted to the delicate music box in your hands. The carved cherry blossoms on its surface seemed almost mocking in their serene beauty, a stark contrast to the gravity of the conversation. He exhaled deeply, his voice a measured whisper.

“We need resources—funds, weapons, and people loyal to the cause. The rebellion is in its infancy, and without support, it will crumble before it begins.”

You looked down at the silk wrapping the music box, your mind racing. Supporting the rebellion would be a bold move, one that could cost you everything if discovered. But how could you ignore the prince’s plea? His determination was unwavering, his cause just.

“What assurance do I have that this rebellion will succeed? I am willing to risk much, but I cannot throw my fortune into a futile endeavor.”

Your words were soft but firm. You needed a guarantee, something to risk everything for. The prince leaned forward, his elbows resting on the wooden table. 

“Success is not guaranteed, my lady, but neither is failure. I have gathered allies within the court and the army—men and women who are ready to sacrifice everything for Joseon’s future. With your help, we can tip the scales.”

You nodded slowly. Your resolve solidifying. There was a way you could help. There was a way your collaboration to the prince’s cause would end the tyrant’s reign and the royal family could reclaim the throne. 

“I will help you, Your Highness. I will contribute to your cause, but I must remain discreet. I do not want people to know of my involvement in this war. You will have everything you need in exchange for your silence.”

Prince Wang Hyu bowed his head and you nodded upon his acceptance of your terms. You reached to your sleeve, retrieving a roll of parchment before you handed it to him. The young prince took it and opened it as you spoke. 

“Since you agree to keep silent about my involvement, Your Highness, I grant you half my fortune for you to restore this country to its glorious days.”

The letter was your written permission. The letter that would seal your fate. It had your handwriting, granting the prince complete control of half your family fortune. The document was sealed with the impression of your ring—the mark of your noble house.

“Use it wisely, my prince. This war cannot afford frivolity.”

His expression softened as he rolled the document back and stored it securely in his sleeve. His eyes spoke of gratitude, but gazes were often deceiving. 

"Your trust will not be misplaced, Lady (Y/N). You have my word."

You nodded, tilting your chin up as you gazed at the sky. The sun was about to set. Gwi would be expecting you. You looked back at the prince and spoke with the polite tone of a lady, your words graceful. 

“I fear I must return to my home, Your Highness. I do not want to raise suspicion of my meeting with you.”

He agreed, bowing in respect and gratitude. You both stood up, but the moment you straightened to your full height, you stumbled. The prince caught you by the arm and you shook your head, trying to clear your mind from the sudden dizziness that plagued your senses. 

“My lady, are you alright?”

Your eyes were closed as you regain your footing. When you gazed at the young prince, he had a look of worry over his angular features. You nodded, he let go of you and you took a step back. 

“Yes, thank you. I probably stood up too quickly.”

He observed you in silence as you tightened your hold on the silk cloth that held the music box—now completely covered by the fabric. 

“Be careful, my lady.”

“You too, You Highness.”

You bowed down at him, still weary on your steps before you turned around and walked out of Gangchangnyeon. You cradled the music box as you made your way through the marketplace and back to the underground palace. 

There was a tightness in your chest. Nausea swirled in your stomach and you couldn’t help but think that what you had just done was wrong. You had lied to Gwi to be able to meet with the Crown Prince, you had given him half your fortune that was collecting dust anyway, you allied with him and his cause to fight for his rightful throne. 

But something still felt off. 

You just hoped it wasn’t something that would harm you or Gwi. 

Dusk had settled, you feared you were late to your promise to Gwi about returning before the sun hid behind the mountains. The underground palace was silent as you descended the stone steps, the music box was cradled in your hand as if it were your most prized possession. 

The red wine silk of your dress contrasted sharply with the greyish cave the vampire had claimed as his home and you as his flower. The torches on the wall flickered, the flames doing little to illuminate the large throne room.

Gwi was nowhere to be found. The underground palace was empty of its master. You sighed, walking over to the magnificent throne he often was perched on. Your eyes caught sight of a beautiful bouquet of roses, the colour of the flowers matching the one of your dress. The vase was of white china, decorated with branches of cherry blossoms, you couldn’t help but smile. 

You looked down at the table where the vase rested and a note was against the vase. Curiosity picked at your senses and you took it in your hands. The handwriting was unmistakable Gwi’s, his hanja strokes delicate and precise. 

For my petal.

Not even in my wildest dreams have I ever imagined having a love like the one we share. It's so pure, so right, so mesmerizingly beautiful that it makes my heart beat for the first and last time in this lifetime, which I so gladly share with you.

Your heart skipped a beat. You understood the man who held your heart in his hands had left the underground palace as soon as the sun had set. Perhaps he went out to find you. Perhaps he had left to do whatever he did when he told you he’d be out for the night. 

Yet his words warmed your heart. Like a flame that burned through the winter storms. Only he could extinguish it. Life had been kind enough to gift you his love, you had given your heart to him, yet that very same heart was now poisoned with the secret you held in your possession. Your clandestine meeting with the Crown Prince was something you deeply desired to share with him, but you knew you couldn’t risk it. Not because you didn’t trust Gwi, you trusted him with your life, but because you didn’t want to compromise the cause the prince was fighting for. 

And so, you leaned forward, smelling the sweet-scented roses he had picked for you. The note in your hand was like a lantern at night. Guiding you through life like a man loves his wife. You walked over to his throne, sitting down on it as the wrapped music box rested on your lap. 

Your eyes read over and over the words he had written for you. Hoping he’d be back soon and ease the weight of your soul with his presence and dark eyes that softened only for you. 

His petal...

January/08/2025

A/N: Want to be tagged? Let me know in the comments!

Thoughts? O.O

My inbox is open, darlings Or feel free to leave a comment! I'd love to hear your thoughts and inputs for the story! Take care, love 🫶

~ Masterpost

[hanafarook]

OKAY BUT LISTEN Gwi as the Korean version of Ascended Astarion.

YES, I will FIGHT anyone on this.

Just LOOK AT THEM

[sombredancer]

Enemies/Rivals to Lovers recipe

(with the mild version aka Pride and Prejudice and the tragic version aka Romeo and Juliet) Step 1: The main heroes are on the opposite sides of any scale (the grumpy one vs a cheerful one, a kind and stupid one vs a cunning and vile one, a demon vs a god, a master vs a servant, people of enemy states or absolutely different cultures etc.).

A cheerful and funny little bird demon-yao Qing Qing and a grumpy and stone-faced deity of Netherworld Xue Qianxun Step 2: They are forced to communicate with each other without a chance to avoid it (e.g. an arranged marriage, being trapped somewhere together, working as a mole in the enemy camp etc.).

Asura King Xuan Ye plays out damsel in distress to get undercover into Heavenly Realm and his future lover Ran Qing is the one who "rescues" him.

Step 3: One party get impressed by unique character features of other (e.g. the person is the only one who isn't terrified by other's scary reputation, the only one who treats other party well etc.).

Even kings and princes are in absolute terror seeing Gwi - an immortal all-powerful vampire, and only Hye Ryung hates him so much that dares to bicker, scold and deny him. Step 4: One of the parties takes the first step towards another and that melts another`s heart.

Even if Hou Ling Changjin hurt Princess Bao Zhu for her miraculous blood, she still cares for him and doesn`t hold a grudge.

"You are injured!"

Step 5: Here come mutual pining, UST and moral sufferings "what is more important: to fulfil the mission / to be accepted by the society / whatsoever or to love?"

Gong Shangjue doubts if he can indulge himself being gentle with the girl he likes if she is an assassin from the enemy clan.

Shangguan Qian adds Shangjue`s favorite flowers into her tea and thinks about her mission of taking him down.

Step 6: It`s time to confess the feelings.

Leader of a diabolic sect Li Chenlan comes to save his beloved who hated him and tried to kill him and promises her to be her sword and shield. So romantic!

Step 7: The parties try to solve the problem that keeps them apart. If the problem is internal (it has something to do with beliefs and prejudice of a person), here it will be solved and «happily ever after» begins.

Despite of his low social status Hao Du ventures to participate in the competition, wins the right to marry the princess (who he is in love with) and dares to be honest explaining that he did it not only in order to save her from a Barbarian prince but because he truly wants to be with her. Step 8: If the problem is external (there is a large-scale conflict and the parties are just some insignificant participants of it), one of the parties sacrifices themselves to solve the problem.

Before saving the world by the cost of his life Demon God Tantai Jin engraves his name on his own tombstone placed next to his beloved wife's one, so in the future she could mourn him in a suitable place.

Step 9: In a satisfying story there is a magical reward of party's brave deed, which is a happy end.

Demon Lord Dongfang Qingcang sacrificed himself in order to save the girl he loved and died but his girlfriend (who happens to be a Goddess with abilities to resurrect the dead) nurtured a piece of his primordial spirit for 500 years and brought him back to life. Side note: If you want to add some chili pepper into your story, you can break this scheme any step from Step 4 on: pining could be one-sided, UST could never ever be resolved, characters could prefer their goals to love or maybe death or other circumstances would do them apart against their will.

The Wolf and Ma Zhaixing finally got together but the cruel world couldn`t allow it to last anytime long.

Bon Appétit! Your Enemies to Lovers story is well-baked!

Also you can see: Asian dramas and Love tropes Asian dramas and my favorite types of characters Asian dramas and relationship dynamics (Pt. 1) Asian dramas and relationship dynamics (Pt. 2)

[synthetickitsune]

May i request a Gwi x human!reader with the prompt "Witnessing them being whipped on accident"? I wanna see Gwi having a soft spot for his little human, who's always so obedient towards him

Gwi (Scholar Who Walks The Night) | Witnessing them being whipped on accident fluff | 0.8k | gn!reader

Everything blurs together until you feel life is just an out-of-body experience. Pain, cold, touch, breathing, all your long gone memories - it’s all a confusing mess clouding your mind. You can’t pinpoint a single thing. A single one. Safe for a longing for someone.

You’re too weak to remember who that person is. But you know they make you feel safe and protected. At the same time, there’s a sense of caution that makes you all the more curious. Just who could make you feel like you’re a moth flying too close to the flames?

In the rare moments when you’re lucid, you feel many things. Regret most of all. You don’t yet know why that is. Regret and yearning that you know belongs to the mysterious man.

A man. But not a human.

It’s so easy to accept when you’re so far away from reality.

Memories of your life so far come to you slowly. It feels like navigating a forest swarming with fog, but your last moments shine through. A sharp pain in your neck. Blood being drained from you, night after night. 

You remember the man. The vampire. His lips closing around the two puncture wounds in your neck.

It makes you want to cry, to scream.

It seems so natural that what you feel is not hatred or fear, but rather disappointment in yourself. You think you should feel scared - fear for your life. Then again in your current hazy state it’s all too easy to accept that even death is nothing but a natural consequence of your failing. Although you’re not sure what exactly was your shortcoming.

Soon you start hearing voices. You can only recognize the angry one, the one that sounds like a roaring of a wild beast. It’s the vampire - but to your surprise you’re not at the receiving end of his fury.

And it’s just as shocking, so much so that you’re half-sure it’s a mere hallucination, when he does speak to you. His voice is tender. Smooth like the water running down the walls of the cave. He touches you too, gently, his cold skin irritating your sensitive one. He feels like cold smooth stone, yet you want to lean closer and closer. Your body won’t listen.

The next time you come to, you hear the anger in his voice again. He’s closer - close. You feel his presence by your side. He’s demanding something - that you wake up? You’re not sure you’re hearing right, although maybe all these scenes are only happening in your imagination. Even so, you wonder who he’s speaking to. He should be reprimanding you.

There’s another voice, weak, but you know when someone is making excuses - you lost a lot of blood, you were kept weak for a long time, your diet is poor. The vampire doesn’t want to hear any of it. He wants you to wake up. You can’t.

Your life feels like a long spell of deja vu. The vampire’s confusing moods, his fury aimed indiscriminately at anyone who happens to enter, yet his tender touches and soothing voice belong only to you when there’s no one around.

When, after eternity, you open your eyes, you expect the tide to turn and for his anger to target you as his victim. Yet that doesn’t happen.

Your eyes blink open and adjust to the shade inside the cave. It only takes a minute before Gwi enters your field of vision. And the moment his eyes meet yours, he’s by your side.

“Slowly,” he instructs, helping you into a sitting position. It’s no issue to obey him. Your body feels like lead.

He helps hold up your body while forcing a cup of water to your lips. Drinking isn’t as easy as relying on him to help you sit up. You do it anyway, watching him watch you.

“What happened?” you wince at the hoarse sound of your voice. 

“You’re a human,” the vampire smirks, “Weak.”

There’s no humor in his voice, his shoulders are tense. You expect him to snap at you. He doesn’t.

“I heard your voice,” you mumble when he begins to turn away. He stops. “Thank you. It’d be boring to death without you.”

He sneers and turns back to you. “What did you hear?”

You try to remember, and frown settles on your face when you realize you don’t actually remember. “I don’t know anymore. But it made me feel safe.”

It’s dangerous - dangerous to be weak, to show vulnerability, but you feel like you just came back from the dead, so you speak freely.

“Foolish,” he spits while standing up quicker than your eyes can see. You fall back down, landing in the softness that is your pillow. You can only hear the sound of his clothes rustling as he moves. 

“Don’t fall asleep. The doctor will arrive soon.”

[villainous-porn]

Scholar Who Walks the Night (2015)