The Young Master in the Shadows - Chapter 404: The Ashflint Auction(1)

“I can clear all your debts, but you have to substitute me in my marriage…”

When Liang Dou Kou was diagnosed with cancer, she formed a contract with Qin Zhi Ai to substitute her in the time she would be absent, including her marriage with Gu Yu Sheng.

Initially, Qin Zhi Ai suffered under the cold and harsh attitude of Gu Yu Sheng, who mistook her for Liang Dou Kou. But his heart gradually softened and he fell in love with her.

Just when he thought that he could live happily ever after with her, it is time for Qin Zhi Ai and Liang Dou Kou to revert their identities, and Qin Zhi Ai evaporated from Gu Yu Sheng’s life.

Months later, Gu Yu Sheng meets someone who possesses the gaze of Qin Zhi Ai who captured his heart…

- Description from Novelupdates

A young man playing games in his basement is struck by a mysterious bolt of lightning, killing him instantly. However, he wakes up in the body of a disgraced young lord, now tasked with managing a ruined, crumbling kingdom. With no experience and a tarnished reputation to overcome, his future seems bleak.Fortunately, he possessed the Omnishop System, a mysterious tool that enabled him to purchase skills and supplies as well as upgrade his existing skills using points. Rebuilding the kingdom is no easy feat, but Alexander has his sights set on more than just survival.With ambition burning in his heart, he dreams of ruling an empire, if he can survive the challenges ahead.

On a continent where every soul is born with a Seal that defines their destiny, there is no place for the weak.“Mo Bai” son of the Demonic Seal Sect, had his childhood stained in blood—forced by his own father to kill at the age of six.With only average talent but an unbreakable will, he enters the Demonic Academy, where his journey begins—to prove that sheer will can shatter all limits… and even rewrite the very laws of the Seal.Tags:1. Unique Cultivation System2. Dark Fantasy3. Cunning Protagonist4. Evil MC5. Anti-Hero6. Power Absorption7. Martial Arts8. Sect Politics9. Intelligent MC10. Villainous MC11. World Building12. Psychological13. Twisted Morality14. Mystery15. No Romance16. Gore17. Average Talent18. Betrayal19. Survival20. Slow Burn Power Progression21. Cold-Hearted MC22. Scheming23. Dark World24. Tragic Past25. Growth Through Suffering26. No System27. Morally Gray MC28. Descent Into Darkness29. Heaven-Defying30. Clans and Bloodlines

Takahiro Nao, a 25-year-old drowning in debt and despair, lives only for his struggling family. Every sacrifice he makes is for them—until a selfless act costs him his life. Instead of the end, Nao encounters a Goddess of Benevolence who offers him a miraculous deal: “Live in a new world, and your efforts there will support your family back on Earth.”Reborn into the dead body of Naoki von Blackmore, the so-called “Failed Hero,” he finds himself burdened with the daunting task of saving the world by defeating the Demon King—all while supporting the family he cherishes. Armed with formidable powers yet haunted by his past failures, Nao steps into a dangerous realm of swords, magic, and ferocious monsters. Facing relentless enemies, harrowing trials of life and death, and an unyielding fate, he’s forced to confront the ultimate question: how far is he willing to go to protect the people he loves?Filled with emotional struggles, determination, unexpected humor, and a touch of romance, this story asks a powerful question to the readers: What would you sacrifice for the people you love?