Scene 1: The Unwanted Meeting
The mountain path was shrouded in mist, the air crisp with the scent of pine. A lone traveler walked along the narrow road, his deep blue robes trailing behind him. Devran was tired after days of journeying, but his sharp golden eyes scanned the road ahead with caution. He had learned long ago that trusting strangers was a mistake.
As he rounded a bend, another figure appeared, walking in the opposite direction. The man was dressed in elegant white and silver, his expression unreadable, his posture too perfect-as if he walked with the weight of the heavens on his shoulders.
Devran narrowed his eyes. He hated people like this.
The stranger's cold gaze flickered toward him. "Move."
Devran scoffed, folding his arms. "You have two feet. Walk around."
The moment their eyes met, an odd feeling rushed through both of them-a strange pull, like a thread tying them together.
Tianlan frowned. He didn't like this.
Devran clicked his tongue. He didn't like it either.
Without another word, they stepped past each other, both irritated for no reason.
They had no idea this was only the beginning.
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Scene 2: A Playful Stranger
At a bustling tea house in the nearest town, a cheerful young woman sat by the window, watching the people outside with curiosity. Saanvi had been traveling for days and finally found a place to rest.
She sipped her tea, eyes twinkling as she spotted a certain blue-robed traveler entering the tea house, looking like he was ready to murder someone.
"Hmm," she hummed to herself. "This could be fun."
A moment later, another man in silver robes entered, his expression just as annoyed.
Saanvi almost choked on her tea. Oh, this is going to be very fun.
She smiled and waved. "Why don't you two sit together?"
The two men, who had just unwillingly met on the mountain, turned and glared at each other.
"Absolutely not," Devran muttered.
"I'd rather sit outside in the storm," Tianlan replied coldly.
Saanvi grinned. She had a feeling their story would be an interesting one.
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Scene 3: Second Couple's First Meeting (The Chase)
At the training grounds of the Imperial City, a young prince practiced his swordsmanship, his movements sharp and controlled. Wei Zhan had always been the perfect warrior-elegant, disciplined, and powerful.
So when an annoyingly persistent wanderer showed up at the palace gates, demanding to spar with him, he was not amused.
"I heard you're the strongest warrior," the man said with a lazy grin. Xie Lian twirled his sword playfully. "Want to test that?"
Wei Zhan sighed. "Leave."
Xie Lian grinned wider. "Make me."
And so the chase began.
Wei Zhan had no patience for troublemakers. And Xie Lian? He lived for them.
But behind Xie Lian's carefree smile, there was a secret he himself did not know. And behind Wei Zhan's indifference, there was a heart that would one day break for the man he now found so irritating.