Hard to Carve

[Body 1vN, heart 1v1] [No infidelity, no sexual assault, no nonconsensual groping, not tailored to any particular preference, no one is the sole focus] [Extreme character-focused readers, beware] [A personal kink project: I'll write whatever feels good]

In the fifth year of Yongning, Grand Tutor Pei Jinxing died suddenly, exposing countless sordid affairs. The once-glorious Pei family fell overnight, and no one mentioned again the man who had once seemed like a bright moon and a gentle breeze in the capital of Yunque.

Ten years later, a familiar figure appeared once more in the capital of Yunque.

People thought the gods had taken pity on the world and sent him back to bless it. They didn't expect a murderous demon, a bloodthirsty fiend.

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To avenge his elder brother, Nan Zhuo hid his identity and lay low for years. At last, ten years later, he returned to the capital of Yunque.

Everyone said he was another Pei Jinxing. His manner, his every word and deed, all carried a similar air.

Later, though, some said he and Pei Jinxing were worlds apart. He had a face that made it all too easy to fall for him, and eyes that knew how to love. Yet beneath his gentle words lurked a bewitching spirit that could steal a soul. Those who fell in love with him met terrible ends.

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The imperial city was a world of indulgence and excess, its undercurrents surging, full of man-eating demons that swallowed the peaceful, smooth life Nan Zhuo should have had.

After years away, Nan Zhuo entered the game with his own life at stake, wading into the foul waters of the capital of Yunque. Love, hate, and vengeance all became blades in his hands.

After all was said and done, those he hated to the marrow all fell for him.

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A seemingly gentle and compassionate, but actually cold-hearted and ruthless, high-IQ, devastatingly beautiful, powerful and tragic thespian, emotional con artist and ambitious bottom

x

A lofty, aloof, refined, dignified, upright, immaculate top with a warm heart beneath his cool exterior, who outshines countless rivals

Venomous snake x white crane

A wretch's true love x a saint's selfish heart

Body 1vN, heart 1v1. The bottom puts revenge first and the top second. Of eight romantic storylines, he only loves the top. Their feelings are strongly mutual. The others involve feelings that aren't strong enough, deception and exploitation, complicated emotions, casual flings, pure hatred, exchanges of equal value, and many other flavors.

(Not all seven characters listed as supporting characters will get their chance. Not all one-sided feelings are romantic; some lean more toward familial or platonic love.)

[Reader's Guide] (Must read)

[1] Lots of melodrama, lots of melodrama, lots of melodrama. Kink overload, beautiful, powerful, tragic characters. The more beautiful and powerful they are, the more tragic they are. Their tragedy and charisma go hand in hand. The author doesn't like torturing the top or the bottom, only the readers. I'm not biased toward either the top or the bottom, only the couple. I won't give only one person charisma or focus on only one person. This is tagged as an ensemble story, and at its core is a tale of love and hate among a group of people, so extreme character-focused readers are advised not to read!

[2] This is not a mindless story about everyone falling for the protagonist. The protagonist has tremendous agency. His looks are the least important thing he has to offer. He takes the lead in love and manipulates a group of supporting-character tops with ease.

[3] There is a primary top [emphasis]. The primary top is listed among the main characters (the first time isn't with the primary top, so beware if that bothers you). No supporting character can threaten the primary top's position.

[4] The bottom has low moral standards, is an emotional con artist, and is skilled at deceiving people and exploiting their sincere feelings. He only gives his true feelings to the primary top, so beware if that bothers you.

[5] That's all for now. I'll add more if I think of anything.

2025.10.18

Theme: Independence and self-reliance