Aspiring to the Immortal Path - Chapter 16: Ling Province

Ethan's head throbbed violently as he opened his eyes, his vision hazy and unfocused. A dull ringing filled his ears, drowning out his thoughts.“What’s happening…?” he thought, his mind sluggish, struggling to catch up with reality. One moment, he was asleep—or at least, he thought he was—and the next, searing pain forced him awake.His vision swam, shapes blurring together in a disorienting mess. But then, muffled noises filtered through the haze—frantic, panicked sounds. Someone was trying to scream, their voice smothered, choked by something.A cold shiver ran down his spine.As his sight gradually sharpened, Ethan's breath hitched.He was on all fours, looming over someone. A girl.Her body twisted and writhed beneath him, ropes biting into her wrists and ankles. Her mouth was gagged, muffling her cries. Her wide brown eyes, brimming with fear and fury, glared up at him.Ethan's body locked in place, his blood running cold.“What the…?” His mind reeled, thoughts slamming into each other in chaotic disarray. “What kind of bizarre dream is this?”Panic clawed at his chest. His breath came in ragged, uneven gasps as he scrambled backward, only to realize his limbs felt sluggish, uncooperative, like they didn’t belong to him.“Is this… is this some kind of twisted fantasy I never knew I had?” A sickening thought slithered through his mind, making his stomach churn.The girl's frantic squirming slowed for a moment, her gaze flickering with confusion as she took in his expression—his trembling hands, his wide, horrified eyes. But the fear returned just as quickly. She struggled harder, her body arching, her muffled screams rising in pitch.Ethan wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but before he could force out a word, a glowing blue window materialized before his eyes.His breath caught.A translucent, hovering screen?“What…?”Lines of glowing text scrolled across its surface.---[System Activated…][Host Confirmed.][Simulating Previous Data…]Ethan awakens in a mysterious world, shackled by a curse that clouds his judgment and drives him toward choices he never wished to make. Burdened by guilt and responsibility, he must navigate the fallout of his actions while unraveling the truth behind the curse—and his place in this enigmatic new reality.

She, Mu Qing, was holding space supplies and dressed like a silly village girl.

The beginning was difficult for everyone, and it was still one woman vs two men.

In the face of the upcoming arrest scene, she decisively gave up the goal set by her relatives and turned to the arms of the unlucky boss.

From now on, she will fight for the best, seek justice, and clean up all those who want to harm her.

By the way… Oh no, how could the luck of this unlucky boss get better, and he still hugged her and cried in the middle of the night?

- Description from Novelupdates

[Have you become more learned today?][Accounting for the capacity of your brain, your study efficiency has been increased to 28 times that of normal.][The remaining amount of energy you have for studying today, 26 hours.][You will enter an exhausted state when your energy is depleted and be unable to obtain new information.][Please relax by using the functions within the system and restore your energy as soon as possible.]With limited energy and the onset of fatigue, the Study Monster had no time to think too much--papers to come!Had the heavens not grant me this system, the unending sea of knowledge would seem like a long night.

She is a daughter of a marquis. People only know her as the timid and cowardly young maiden, unaware that her other identity is the imperial capital’s famous, who awes the world, “slender gentleman“ is her.

She was promised a marriage 10 years ago and painstakingly waited 4 years for her groom. The morning her supposed partner returned to imperial court, he’s holding another woman.

In a single evening, from primary spouse she was demoted to secondary spouse.

For love, she supports and assists him. Together they share trials and tribulations, flying side by side. Who would expect all he did was for another woman?

He was born in the top chain of power, yet he grew up inside the darkness, enduring among conspiracies. Maturing from a weak youngster to a war-god.

For the woman he has once loved, he met her on the battlefield [1]. Every move fierce. He helplessly watched her ripping apart her sleeve, falling into bottomless cliff with a smile….he was hurt to the core. After this imperial ancestral temple and jiang hu, sky and sea, are we never to meet?

Coming out of prince’s manor, visiting vast sea, walking on the grassland and dealing with maritime power struggle.

The world is in chaos, love came in troubled times. Palace. Jiang Hu. Power. Mutiny. Naval battle. Four years of silent endurance. She, commanding thousands of pirates, returned, swirling the imperial court and jiang hu.

Only, you have once said you have been waiting for a person — a person who you admire, who you adore, a woman who could stand side by side with you.

Now, have you regretted?

- Description from Novelupdates