[Two male leads + Miaojiang seme + younger love interest + refined uke + scheming + evenly matched]
(Refined, aloof artifact-restorer uke × obsessive, devoted young Gu King seme)
“Your blood carries the scent of Qingshan Stockade.”
A Zhu’s fingertips traced the old scar on Zhou Wangqiu’s wrist. His dark green eyes concealed an obsession as misty as the mountains.
A white snake slipped from his sleeve and licked the scar, its touch icy cold.
Ten years ago, in the rain on Yuanbao Mountain, a little boy in coarse Miao clothing had pressed a wooden token engraved with “Peace” into his hand. Silver bangles chimed as he said:
“Brother Zhou, you have to come back.”
Now, deep in the undeveloped Qingshan Stockade, the child from back then has become the Gu King.
Using Zhou Wangqiu’s sister, Zhou Ya, as bait, he pushes a bronze case toward him. Its snake patterns seem alive, concealing the clan’s secrets and holding captive the only “light” in his life.
“If you can’t open the spirit case, Zhou Ya won’t wake up.”
A Zhu smiles with poison in his eyes as a centipede crawls along Zhou Wangqiu’s arm. “But if you want to leave…”
Zhou Wangqiu holds down the mechanical lock, his gaze sharp behind his glasses. “What you left me was a lock, not a talisman for peace.”
…
Rain drums against the stilt house. A Zhu grips his wrist, panic from his boyhood flashing in his eyes. “Don’t go. I’ll protect you.”
The bronze case gives a faint rattle, its stench mingling with the scent of plants and trees in their memories.
The bond that began ten years ago will finally be settled in Qingshan Stockade, in the fiercest way possible.
