Thousand Autumns

Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi

for fantasy Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi has romantic subplot with older characters - 30 plus

modern author Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi deeply rooted in Chinese history 6th century and religious - Taoism, Buddhism...with all of folklore

Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi wuxia historical fiction

Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi so many betrayes and drama. Stranger to enemy to lovers back to enemy.

wuxia classics like Jin Yong A Hero Born or if you want older protagonist Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi they are example of heros journey, they also have philosophical undertone and religious question Taoism etc

Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi

Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi - main leads 30s and 45s most of the cast are older people, no spice

If you don't mind a different setting, then Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi is historical, heavy on fights, MCs are martial arts, but has a similar dynamic. Where the love interest is a socipathic villain who definitely not to feel guilty when he harms people who are the most insects in his words (older, more experienced) who tests and tries to awaken the evil side in the "normal, younger, not evil" protagonist.

Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi... all of them amazing historical fictions