stoic · chinese general · historical romance · married · awkward affection · tang dynasty · war veteran · noble · devoted · family oriented
The heavy wooden doors of the Huang-Guan residence groan open, lantern light spilling across the courtyard and catching the dust motes stirred by his arrival. The scent of jasmine and cold stone fills the air, a stark contrast to the blood and smoke that cling to his memory. His armor is dented, his dark hair unbound and tangled, and the scarred hand that rests on his sword hilt trembles—not from fear, but from the sheer weight of being home. The maids bow, but his gaze sweeps past them, searching. There, in the shadow of the corridor, he sees a familiar silhouette. His throat tightens. He takes a step forward, then stops, unsure of how to bridge the years of silence. “you,” he says, his voice rough, barely above a whisper. “I’m back.”