Beers and Beards - Chapter 38Book 2: : The Emerald Lake

In the world of cultivation, countless tales follow righteous protagonists, fated heroes blessed by destiny, or those chosen by heaven to walk the path of immortality.But what of those who stand in their way?What of the villains? The so-called obstacles to the hero’s journey—do they not bleed, dream, and struggle as well?Xiao Ning was never meant to succeed.From the very beginning, the Grand Dao wove him as a stepping stone—a necessary sacrifice to elevate another. His path, like that of all designated ‘villains,’ was doomed to failure by design.But what happens when that design is defied?After death, Xiao Ning awakens—not in the cycle of reincarnation, but in the cold silence beyond it. There, he is offered the Eternal Paradox Codex—a forbidden artifact containing the hidden truths of the Grand Dao System itself.Rules. Loopholes. Vulnerabilities.Knowledge not meant for those like him.With this power, Xiao Ning is granted a single, impossible choice: accept oblivion, or step outside the Grand Dao entirely—to abandon fate, sever karma, and cultivate a path unbound by heaven or law.It is Xiao Ning’s journey, from ashes to something beyond comprehension.Not to become an Immortal among men.But something even the heavens dare not bind.If fate is a chain…Then let him forge his own path in the void beyond.Welcome to this humble tale.The cultivation world is vast and unkind.Let us begin again—on our terms.

Amid the silence of the aftermath, a sealed envelope was found resting beside the fallen Infinity Blade. Its edges were worn, as though it had been carried for many years, yet the seal remained intact. Gok, known for his stoicism and strength, had written it long before the final battle, anticipating that one day his journey would reach its end.

Yi Feng, who was terminally ill, was reborn in the year 2000. In that year, his childhood sweetheart and school beauty Gu Muxi turned 18.“Yi Feng, lend me a pen!”“…Didn’t you just borrow one yesterday?”“Yesterday was yesterday, today is today, things change, don’t you understand?”“…I’m convinced, alright, here you go.”“Yi Feng, tear off a piece of paper for me to use!”“…Why tear mine? Don’t you have any?”“I do, but I don’t mind tearing yours.”“…You really have a way of thinking! Fine, fine, here you go.”“Yi Feng…”“…What do you want to borrow now? I don’t have anything left.”“Hmph, lend me your hand for a moment!”“…What for?!”“Nothing much, I just want to hold my boyfriend’s hand.”“Huh???”This is the daily life of a romance between childhood friends, filled with social awkwardness.A story full of sweetness, without any melodrama or heartache.Welcome aboard!~

William was but an ordinary man—until fate saw fit to thrust him fifteen years into the past. Yet, this was no mere journey through time; he awoke not in his own flesh, but in that of the third son of Duke Herne, the most formidable noble in the realm.Now, amidst the glittering halls of power, where smiles conceal daggers and honour is but a well-spoken lie, William must navigate a world where commoners are naught but dust beneath the boots of the aristocracy. In this treacherous game of deception and ambition, he must learn quickly—for in the world of the nobility, ignorance is a death sentence----------------------------Hear ye, my loyal readers… From this day onward, updates shall be limited to three chapters per day—no more!Alas, my quill grows weary, and my stockpile of chapters runs thin. The weight of silence presses upon this tale, and my passion falters…I ask but a simple boon—Golden Tickets and a flood of reviews! Shall this humble plea go unanswered?.