The Bird and the Wyrm - Chapter 25: Worry & Doubt

Ripped from a dead-end life and plunged into a world where danger lurks behind every smile, Xiulan must learn to thrive in a realm ruled by ruthless ambition and deadly secrets. When Li Mei dies in a traffic accident after another soul-crushing retail shift, she awakens in a familiar yet dangerous world—inside her favorite game, . Now inhabiting the body of Lin Xiulan, the scorned second daughter of a noble family, she finds herself thrust into a nest of vipers where her very existence is an offense to those around her. Armed only with her knowledge of the game and the wounds from a lifetime of dealing with entitled customers, Xiulan refuses to play the role of the family’s punching bag. Determined to rise above, she’ll need to master immortal alchemy, tame arcane spirit beasts, perfect her martial arts, and face off against her scheming sisters and stepmother. But in Arinthia, a land where power reigns supreme and the weak are swept aside, Xiulan must do more than just survive and fade into the background. With the knowledge of a devastating future that awaits the realm’s beloved Crown Princess, she’ll need every ounce of her modern wit and growing abilities to prevent a catastrophe that would ruin the entire realm—assuming she can survive her own family long enough to do anything about it. Only by transforming herself into a force of reckoning can Xiulan hope to protect those she comes to care about—and survive the darkness that awaits.

The mysterious master returned to the village, skilled in medicine and Martial Arts, using extraordinary methods to lead the villagers on a path to wealth.

A century ago, colossal stone swords descended from the skies, stabbing deep at the heart of twenty-eight cities.Like so began the Sword Trials.Worlds against worlds, species against species, set in a separate, unique, battleground realm that resembled the greatest sword-themed, faction versus faction MMORPG to ever exist.Levels, Legendary Equipment, Hidden Quests, Guilds, Territories, Spawns, NPCs, Sword Skills, Loot that could transcend worlds through a special currency…Only those who can awaken their sword marks would be called Bladeborns, warriors of their race.Armed with Soulbound Swords of varying tiers that decided their ranking in the modern hierarchy, they would fight for the continued existence of their worlds.Ending the battle, however, proved far more difficult than expected. A seemingly unbreakable hundred-year stalemate was reached.The apocalyptic ending eventually faded from everyone’s minds, and being a Bladeborn suddenly turned into a profession.Some even treated the Sword Trials as a mere game.Schools began adding swordsmanship classes as a major subject, and those who excelled beyond their peers at the same high school would be called Sword Prince and Princesses.One such celebrity was Daru Finnley, a young man who had an unusual love for the sword.Named the Fallen Sword Prince after a disastrous awakening ceremony, the label of genius changed into garbage overnight.But his “trash” sword held a secret.And so did his soul…Three worlds WILL fall.

“If you really want to kill me.” She gritted her teeth. “Then do it.” She wouldn't mind. Maybe she was better off dead.He watched her with a stillness that made her skin crawl, like a storm deciding when to strike.The silence between them stretched.Then, finally, he spoke. Shadows seemed to dance in his eyes. “Tell me, what's your name?”She hesitated. That pause, brief as it was, seemed to amuse him. A corner of his mouth twitched, like he already knew she wouldn't answer.She parted her lips…But before she could speak, the sound of a loud howl ripped through the garden.She froze. That wasn't just any howl. It was sharp. Piercing.A signal of danger.Vivien was born the daughter of a respected Beta. Now, she’s a servant – selected not for honor, but for her womb.Her pack’s Alpha needs an heir but refused to take a mate. War is everywhere, and if he falls, the pack dies with him.Vivien is chosen to carry his child.She’s nameless in the halls of power. Mocked. Watched. Used. Everyone says she’ll be discarded once the destined Luna awakens.But fate plays cruel games.Desperate for an escape, she finds herself in the forbidden Undercity – where a savage pack that rules without laws. There, hidden beneath stone and savage dominance, she meets him.A rogue Alpha. Lawless. Dangerous.And far too interested in what she is.He offers her help. A way out.But the most dangerous traps are the ones that feel like safety.And in the dark… he’s already claimed her without laying a hand.---This is very, very R18. Read at your own risk.