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The hard-line problem almost always comes from a moisture gradient mismatch — the damp zone dries unevenly, so the pigment races toward the drier edges before you can work it back. Two things to address: first, drop your water-to-pigment ratio by about 30% so the wash moves more slowly and you have a wider working window. Second, instead of dampening only the wash area, extend your pre-wet zone about 2cm beyond your intended boundary — that buffer absorbs the forward momentum before it hits dry paper.

For the atmospheric softness you're describing, wet-on-wet is the right call — but the timing window is critical. Work into the wash when it still has a damp-matte sheen: not wet enough to pool, not dry enough to resist. If you can see a slight gloss on the surface, wait 30–60 seconds more. At damp-matte, the second layer blooms in a controlled way and gives you that luminous, diffused edge. Going in too early causes the pigment flood you experienced; going in after bone-dry creates a hard line regardless of brush pressure.