JustJae

Following his father's murder, Wu Ling's mother returned to the life of a courtesan, disguising her young son as a girl to take refuge in the Bamboo Silk House, a women's only sect dedicated to the arts.

Now, as Wu Ling comes of age, he'll attempt to shed the disguise he's worn for so many years to step onto the path of cultivation. If only life would let him do so. Haunted by his father's enemies, Wu Ling leads a double life as the handsome Brother Wu Ling and the enchanting Sister Hua Qianhu.

Guided by a mysterious immortal master, Wu Ling will face the world's dangers with art as his weapon. His greatest challenge, however, may lie in matters of the heart: as he pursues the woman he loves in one guise, he is entangled by the affections of men captivated by the other. In a world where identity is fluid and love knows no bounds, can Wu Ling find true happiness without sacrificing half of who he is?

Note: This was originally submitted as part of a previous WPC, however, it has undergone significant revisions (volume one alone is 27,000 words longer than the previous version), so if you've seen it before, give it a chance again!

Unparalleled Artist: Unlikely Hero

"Explain. You know I have little trust for the Hall Master's schemes when the scales aren't balanced between us," Wu Ningli said, still scowling darkly at the idea her delicate son would be forced into a Dark Mission. "Right now, she has too much strength and I have too little to offer her, that never makes for a good bargain."

"And here I thought that you and Hall Master Bian were friends," the other woman said. "You certainly killed enough people for her."

"We are friends," Wu Ningli acknowledged. "But she's still a Hall Master and I'm still just an Elder. She's always been clear that our friendship is limited by the roles we occupy and the responsibilities we both have. That's why I can't ever trust her the way I trust you. If it comes down to me or the sect, she'll choose the sect. Again," she said bitterly. "But tell me about this Dark Mission and why you think it's good that I allow her to assign it to my little man."

Bamboo Silk House Lays Claim (Part 2)