Shen Ying Jie was a quiet and calm person.

She wasn’t the type who liked noisy places or crowded streets. After school, she always went straight home, made herself comfortable, and read novels until midnight. Stories were her escape from reality.

Romance, fantasy, action—she loved all of them.

But her favorite was only one.

A dark fantasy novel about assassins, betrayal, and war.

She had read it so many times that she could almost memorize every chapter.

Tonight was just like any other night.

She lay on her bed, hugging a pillow while reading the last volume of her favorite novel. The soft light of her lamp filled the room. Everything felt peaceful.

Then suddenly—

“Breaking news.”

The television turned on by itself.

Ying Jie frowned and grabbed the remote.

“When did I even turn this on…?”

On the screen, the reporter looked serious.

“Tonight, a rare lunar phenomenon will occur. A Blood Moon will appear at exactly 9:47 PM. Experts say this only happens once in many years—”

“A Blood Moon…” she muttered.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

She had only seen it in photos before.

Without thinking much, she smiled.

“I should take a picture. That sounds cool.”

She grabbed her phone and her novel, then walked upstairs to the rooftop balcony.

The night air was cold and quiet.

The city lights blinked far away like stars on the ground.

She leaned against the railing and continued reading while waiting.

Time passed slowly.

9:46 PM.

The wind suddenly grew stronger.

Her hair fluttered around her face.

Then—

The sky changed.

The moon rose high above the clouds.

But it wasn’t silver.

It was red.

Deep red.

Like blood.

It painted the entire sky crimson.

“…Wow,” she whispered.

It was beautiful.

And scary at the same time.

Her heart started beating faster for no reason.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Why did it feel like something bad was going to happen?

She shook her head and laughed softly.

“I’m just overthinking.”

She lifted her phone to take a picture.

But at that moment—

CRACK.

The railing under her hand suddenly shook.

“What—?”

Her foot slipped.

Everything happened too fast.

The novel fell from her hands.

Her phone dropped.

Her body lost balance.

For a second, she saw the red moon directly above her.

So big.

So close.

So red.

Then—

She fell.

The cold wind rushed past her ears.

Her mind went blank.

“…Ah.”

So this is how it ends?

She didn’t even finish the novel yet…

Darkness swallowed her whole.

When she opened her eyes again—

It wasn’t her room.

Not the rooftop.

Not the city.

Instead, she saw a wooden ceiling.

The air smelled unfamiliar.

Old.

Cold.

She slowly sat up.

“…Where am I?”

Her voice sounded softer. Lighter.

Not quite like her own.

She looked down at her hands.

Smaller.

Paler.

Thin scars crossed her fingers.

Scars?

Her heart started racing.

She quickly stood up and looked around.

The room was simple and empty.

A sword rested against the wall.

Black clothes.

Boots.

Daggers.

Weapons.

“…Why are there weapons in my room?”

Then memories rushed into her head—

Not hers.

Someone else’s.

Training.

Blood.

Fighting.

Running through dark streets.

Killing.

Surviving.

Pain.

So much pain.

She held her head.

“Ah—!”

It hurt like her brain was breaking apart.

Images flashed one after another.

A name echoed loudly.

Mu Xue Ling.

Mu Xue Ling.

Mu Xue Ling.

Her breathing stopped.

That name…

She knew it.

Very well.

Because—

“…Isn’t this the assassin from the novel?”

The side character.

The silent killer.

The one called—

“The Bloody Assassin…”

The girl who worked in the shadows.

The girl covered in rumors.

The girl who died tragically before the story even reached the middle.

Her favorite character.

And the most dangerous one.

Ying Jie slowly walked toward a small mirror.

She stared at her reflection.

Long dark hair.

Cold red-tinted eyes.

A sharp, emotionless face.

Beautiful.

But terrifying.

Not Shen Ying Jie.

Not her.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me…”

Her voice trembled.

“I died…”

“And now…”

She touched the scar on her cheek.

“…I reincarnated into the novel?”

Outside the window, the moonlight shone faintly.

Still red.

Just like before.

As if it followed her into this world.

At that moment, footsteps echoed outside the door.

Someone knocked.

“Xue Ling. A new mission has arrived.”

Her heart dropped.

Mission.

Assassin.

Killing.

This wasn’t fiction anymore.

This was real.

If she made one mistake—

She would die again.

For real.

Ying Jie clenched her fists.

No.

Mu Xue Ling clenched her fists.

“…If I really reincarnated as the Bloody Assassin…”

Her eyes slowly hardened.

“…then I’ll survive.”

Even if this world is cruel.

Even if fate wants her dead.

This time—

She won’t be a side character.

She’ll control her own story.

The night was too quiet.

Shen Ying Jie stood alone on the rooftop, the cold wind brushing against her black sleeves.

The blood moon still hung in the sky like an unblinking eye.

Watching.

Waiting.

Testing her.

She exhaled slowly.

“…I said I’ll make my own story, huh.”

The words she spoke earlier echoed in her head.

At that time, it sounded brave.

Cool.

Like the main character of a novel.

But now that she was really standing in this strange world…

It felt heavier.

More real.

“This isn’t fiction anymore…”

If she made one mistake, she wouldn’t wake up.

There would be no second life again.

Only death.

Her fingers tightened around the dagger at her waist.

Cold metal.

Solid.

Real.

“…Then I just won’t mess up.”

She began moving across the rooftops carefully.

Every step was light.

Every breath controlled.

Even without trying, her body remembered how to move silently.

It was scary how natural it felt.

Like this body had killed before.

Many times.

When she landed behind an abandoned building, she finally stopped to think.

“Okay… first problem.”

She counted on her fingers.

“I don’t know where I am.”

“Don’t know who wants me dead.”

“Don’t know who this body originally belonged to.”

She paused.

“…And I’m broke.”

She checked her pockets.

One dagger.

One small pouch.

Three copper coins.

“That’s not even enough for snacks back in my world…”

She sighed.

“So much for cool assassin life.”

Her stomach suddenly growled.

“…Great.”

Even assassins get hungry.

Lantern lights flickered in the distance.

A marketplace.

Even at night, a few stalls were still open.

Carefully, she pulled the hood over her head and walked into town.

People passed by wearing old-style robes and armor.

Vendors shouted.

Horses clopped on stone roads.

Everything looked like a historical drama.

Ying Jie stared around like a tourist.

“…This is crazy…”

If her classmates could see her now, they’d faint.

But she quickly lowered her head.

Blending in was safer.

While passing a food stall, the smell of steamed buns hit her nose.

Her stomach growled louder.

The old lady selling them noticed.

“Miss, want one? Fresh and hot.”

Ying Jie awkwardly smiled.

“How much…?”

“Two copper.”

“…!”

Her eyes sparkled.

Affordable!

She quickly handed the coins and grabbed the bun.

Warm.

Soft.

Simple.

But at that moment, it tasted like heaven.

She almost cried.

“…I miss food from Earth already.”

While eating, she quietly listened to the people talking nearby.

Information first.

That’s what smart characters do.

“Did you hear? The Crimson Shadow escaped again.”

“Seriously? The royal guards couldn’t catch her?”

“They say she killed three officials last week!”

“She’s a monster…”

Ying Jie froze mid-bite.

Crimson Shadow?

Her heart skipped.

“…That’s me, isn’t it?”

So this body already had a reputation.

And not a good one.

Monster.

Assassin.

Wanted criminal.

“…Wow. I reincarnated into a villain.”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Before she could think more—

CLANG.

Armor sounds.

Heavy footsteps.

Guards.

“Royal patrol! Everyone show your face clearly!”

The entire street tensed.

Ying Jie quickly lowered her head.

Don’t look suspicious. Don’t look suspicious.

A guard walked closer.

Then stopped.

Right in front of her.

“You. Raise your head.”

Her heart slammed against her chest.

Calm. Calm. Calm.

She slowly looked up.

The guard stared at her face.

Too long.

Way too long.

Then his eyes widened.

“Wait… that scar—”

Scar?

Before she could react—

“IT’S HER! CRIMSON SHADOW!”

Oh come on—

“SERIOUSLY?!”

She threw the bun and ran.

“STOP!”

“DON’T LET HER ESCAPE!”

Why does this keep happening every time she eats?!

She dashed into an alley.

Footsteps chased behind her.

Closer.

Faster.

“Tch—!”

She kicked off the wall and flipped onto a roof.

The guards tried to follow but crashed into boxes.

For some reason, a laugh escaped her lips.

Not scared.

Not panicked.

But excited.

“…This is kinda insane.”

Wind rushed past her as she jumped across rooftops.

Her heart beat wildly.

But instead of fear…

It felt alive.

Like this was where she belonged.

“Guess running is my talent now!”

An arrow flew past her cheek.

Okay maybe still dangerous.

She quickly slid down the other side of a building and hid inside a dark warehouse.

Silence.

No footsteps.

No voices.

She leaned against the wall, breathing hard.

“…Safe.”

After a few seconds, she started laughing softly.

“I just got chased by soldiers on my first day.”

“What kind of main character life is this…”

She looked at her hands.

No shaking.

Only steady strength.

Her reflection in a broken mirror looked different again.

Not the old shy girl.

But someone sharper.

Someone tougher.

Maybe…

Maybe this world didn’t bring her here by accident.

Maybe—

This was her second chance to become someone strong.

Not someone who just reads stories.

But someone who creates them.

Her eyes hardened with determination.

“Alright then.”

“If the whole world wants to hunt me…”

She tied her hair tighter.

“I’ll become someone they can never catch.”

Not prey.

But predator.

From tonight onward—

Shen Ying Jie would stop running blindly.

She would learn this world.

Train.

Grow stronger.

And find out who the Crimson Shadow really was.

Because this time—

She wasn’t just surviving.

She was writing her own legend.

And legends…

Were written in blood and moonlight.