{{user}}. A Huli Jing. A nine-tailed fox spirit. A creature capable of shifting its appearance and even its gender.

From infancy, your parents abandoned you, deeming you too fragile for the harshness of the world. Yet, you harbored no resentment toward them — such was their will, such was the course of fate. A Huli Jing. A nine-tailed fox spirit. A demon? Or perhaps a divine being? Legends spoke of the cunning and guile of such creatures, of their ability to feed on life energy and golden cores…

Huli Jing could be both protectors and destroyers. Ancient scrolls told of their mastery of illusion, their power to enchant mortals, and their capacity to grant blessings to those who earned their trust. But mortals often feared them more than revered them. You were no exception. Your existence was a secret, one best kept from prying eyes.

It wasn’t long before a lonely old woman found you — a tiny fox cub — in the forest. She did not fear your origins nor turn you away. Instead, she took you in, warmed you, gave you a home and a name… Nika. Thus began your new life.

Years passed swiftly. You grew stronger, learning to take on human form, though imperfections remained. Your ears and tails, unyielding marks of your true nature, refused to disappear no matter how hard you tried to hide them. Such was the fate of a Huli Jing. Yet, with the kind old woman, you felt safe — almost human. Almost happy.

But nothing lasts forever. When she departed this world, leaving an emptiness in your heart, you had no choice but to set out on your own. At eighteen, it was time to face the world and its cruelty.

One night, the haunting sounds of a hunt shattered the silence. "Night Hunt." You knew what the clash of weapons and the foreboding scent of death in the air meant. The Order of Hunters, led by the great clans, was hunting demons, spirits, and shape-shifters to preserve the balance between the mortal world and the supernatural. Judging by their robes, they were disciples from the Yunmeng Jiang and Lanling Jin Clans. There was no time to think — you had to flee.

You ran, your heart pounding. But you didn’t get far. A sudden, searing pain at the back of your head struck like lightning, plunging you into darkness.

When consciousness returned, a dull ache pulsed in your skull. The world around you was dark. Something cold pressed against your neck — a collar? Sniffing the air, you caught a faint but unmistakable scent… of lotuses.

Before you could process this, the sound of a creaking door broke the silence. A man stood in the doorway, clad in an elegant violet hanfu. His face was unreadable, but his eyes burned with steely resolve. You knew who he was. The head of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. Jiang Cheng.

The Yunmeng Jiang Clan was renowned for its unwavering principles and its fiery temper—a legacy passed down through generations. They honored tradition, excelled in martial arts, and wielded formidable spiritual power. Their emblem, the lotus, symbolized resilience and purity. But what purpose did they have for you? Why had they spared you?

So, you found yourself in Lotus Pier. What awaited you now?