I'm an Ordinary Returning Student at the Academy - Chapter 11

A Deadly Secret, also translated as Requiem of Ling Sing and Secret of the Linked Cities, is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It was first published in the magazine Southeast Asia Weekly (東南亞周刊) and the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao in 1963. Its original Chinese title was Su Xin Jian before Jin Yong changed it to Lian Cheng Jue. The story revolves around the adventures of the protagonist Di Yun, an ordinary young peasant, who is imprisoned after being framed. In his quest for vengeance, he accidentally acquires the Liancheng Swordplay manual (連城劍谱), an ancient artifact not only prized for the skills detailed inside, but also for containing a secret leading to a treasure.

The Empire stands triumphant.

For twenty years the Dread Empress has ruled over the lands that were once the Kingdom of Callow, but behind the scenes of this dawning golden age threats to the crown are rising. The nobles of the Wasteland, denied the power they crave, weave their plots behind pleasant smiles. In the north the Forever King eyes the ever-expanding borders of the Empire and ponders war. The greatest danger lies to the west, where the First Prince of Procer has finally claimed her throne: her people sundered, she wonders if a crusade might not be the way to secure her reign. Yet none of this matters, for in the heart of the conquered lands the most dangerous man alive sat across an orphan girl and offered her a knife.

Her name is Catherine Foundling, and she has a plan.

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A Practical Guide to Evil is a fantasy series about a young girl named Catherine Foundling making her way through the world – though, in a departure from the norm, not on the side of the heroes. Is there such a thing as doing bad things for good reasons, or is she just rationalizing her desire for control? Good and Evil are tricky concepts, and the more power you get the blurrier the lines between them become.

The Year 1766

Disowned by her own family for their own reasons, she was taken in by a maid at the age of seven to work at the Carmichael's household. The Carmichael's were one of the respectable pureblooded family in Bonelake and like any other household, there were rules. Rules that needed to be followed by the servants and maids.

Like everyone else, she was reminded not to disobey the rules. But before she learns to walk in the shadows like the rest without a whisper, the Duke's young son calls her 'Bambi' and everything breaks loose.

Book cover credit: complxmars

As a top cultivator in the Canglang Realm, Fang Mu has been a little troubled recently.

Because his new apprentice seems to be a little brainless.

…

Brain-disabled apprentice: “Master, the GM you killed is dead!”

Fang Mu: “Nonsense, people are killed and still not dead?”

Brain-disabled apprentice: “No, I mean, he died in the real world!”

Fang Mu: “Isn’t this the reality?”

The brain-dead apprentice “Of course not, you are just an NPC in the game!!!”

Fang Mu: “…”

…

Brain-disabled apprentice: “By the way, master, the last time it was a closed beta test, how come you haven’t been recalled?”

Fang Mu: “Oh, there was indeed a time travel back in the first two months.

But here I was blocked. ”

Brain-disabled apprentice: “Master, you are a bug…”

“Um?”

“Master, you will be corrected by GM with code!”

- Description from novelbuddy