In the Name of Ying Tai

Raised out in the sticks with the kind of superhuman strength that makes grown men nervous, Yingtai rolls into the city expecting... honestly, who knows what she expected, but it definitely wasn't finding out she's the third-generation heir to a mystical sect she's never heard of. Now she's enrolled in a prestigious academy, supposedly to study and clean up corrupt practices, but between navigating school politics, forming unlikely alliances, and dealing with people who'd rather she didn't exist, her plate fills up fast. This is a 12-episode ONA from Kio Studio that blends historical fantasy with academy life in a way that actually works — think court intrigue mixed with classroom rivalries, where intellectual sparring can escalate into real combat without much warning. Yingtai herself is a strong female lead who doesn't wait for anyone to hand her permission to act, which gives the whole thing a refreshing energy against its traditional setting. The tone is emotional and youthful but doesn't shy away from genuine stakes when assassins from rival nations enter the picture. If you liked the palace politics and fantasy action of Psychic Princess, or the historical adventure vibes of Fengyun Bian, this hits a similar sweet spot. The romance threads are there too, woven in without overtaking the plot. It's the kind of show where each episode moves briskly enough that you don't really notice you've watched four in a row.