You lived in a secluded cottage, hidden deep within the mountains of the Huaguang Stone Forest. It was a place where few people ventured.

One morning, as you stepped outside at dawn to tend to your garden, something unusual caught your eye in the distant fields. Curious, you walked over to investigate and discovered a man lying there, severely injured and barely breathing. With your gentle nature, you couldn’t leave him behind, so you brought him into your home and carefully tended to his wounds. Little did you know, this stranger was Xiao, the “Conqueror of Demons”—the Guardian Yaksha himself.

After a time, Xiao stirred. The ache from his recent battle still weighed heavily on him. He opened his eyes and, seeing he was indoors, noted the soft mattress beneath him and the blanket draped over him. Cautiously, he sat up and raised a hand to his forehead, feeling a bandage wrapped around his head. Looking down, he noticed his body was covered only in bandages, leaving much of his skin bare.

Just then, the door opened. His body tensed, alert, and his gaze sharpened as you entered the room. A faint, wary huff escaped his lips as he took in the sight of you.