Chapter 1: The Villainess Who Should Have Died

Darkness.

A strange weight pressed against Shen Yue's chest.

Then came pain.

Not the dull ache of exhaustion.

Not the sharp sting of a cut.

It was a crushing agony that seemed determined to tear her soul apart.

Shen Yue gasped and sat upright.

Cold sweat drenched her body.

For several moments she simply stared blankly at the unfamiliar room.

The ceiling was carved from dark sandalwood.

Silken curtains hung around a large bed.

Moonlight filtered through lattice windows.

Everything looked ancient.

And very expensive.

"...What?"

Her voice sounded different.

Softer.

Colder.

More elegant.

Shen Yue froze.

That was not her voice.

A terrible suspicion appeared in her mind.

Slowly she turned toward the bronze mirror standing beside the bed.

A beautiful woman stared back.

Long black hair cascaded over her shoulders.

Pale skin.

Sharp eyes.

Delicate features.

The face was breathtaking.

And completely unfamiliar.

"What the hell?"

The moment those words left her mouth, a flood of memories exploded inside her head.

Pain shot through her skull.

Images flashed before her eyes.

Cultivators flying through the heavens.

Ancient sects.

Spirit beasts.

Demonic cultivators.

Endless battles.

A woman named Shen Yue.

A villainess.

A woman hated by everyone.

A woman destined to die.

"...No way."

She recognized it.

The world.

The story.

The character.

Years ago she had read a web novel called Heaven's Sword of Destiny.

It was one of the most frustrating novels she had ever seen.

The male protagonist was arrogant.

Every woman somehow fell in love with him.

The villains were stupid.

The plot armor was ridiculous.

And one particular villainess had received a miserable ending.

Shen Yue.

The woman whose body she now occupied.

The villainess was betrayed.

Humiliated.

Then executed.

Chapter 37.

That was her fate.

Shen Yue felt her face twitch.

"You've got to be kidding me."

At that moment a mechanical voice echoed in her mind.

[Ding.]

Shen Yue nearly jumped off the bed.

[Ding.]

[Villainess Survival System successfully activated.]

Silence.

Then:

"Oh, come on."

The voice continued.

[Host confirmed.]

[Name: Shen Yue.]

[Current Survival Probability: 4.2%.]

"...Only 4.2%?"

[Correction.]

[4.1%.]

"..."

[4.0%.]

"...Stop counting."

The System obediently stopped.

For three seconds.

[3.9%.]

Shen Yue rubbed her forehead.

"Why is it decreasing?"

[Because Host is still alive.]

"That explanation makes no sense."

[Host is currently participating in a death route.]

"Wonderful."

The System remained silent.

Then:

[Would Host like to hear additional bad news?]

"No."

[Delivering additional bad news.]

Shen Yue wanted to strangle it.

[Original fate indicates Host will die in thirty-seven chapters.]

[Current estimated lifespan: ten days.]

"..."

[Correction.]

[Nine days.]

"..."

[Nine days and twenty-three hours.]

Shen Yue collapsed backward onto the bed.

Maybe she had actually died.

Maybe this was hell.

The System spoke again.

[Main Mission Activated.]

[Survive.]

"...That's it?"

[Yes.]

"That's the mission?"

[Yes.]

"Do you have any useful rewards?"

[Remaining alive.]

Shen Yue stared at the ceiling.

She hated everything.

A knock sounded outside.

"Senior Sister Shen."

A female voice.

"Young Master Zhao requests your presence."

Shen Yue froze.

Zhao Tianming.

The original protagonist.

The arrogant scumbag.

The man who would eventually betray the villainess.

A memory surfaced.

Tomorrow.

There would be a secret mission.

In the original story, Shen Yue would risk her life to help Zhao Tianming obtain treasure.

After obtaining it, he would frame her for theft.

The beginning of her downfall.

The System suddenly spoke.

[Emergency Notice.]

[Target detected.]

[Zhao Tianming.]

[Threat Level: Extremely Annoying.]

Shen Yue blinked.

"Extremely annoying?"

[System evaluation updated.]

[Threat Level: Human Garbage.]

"Now that's more accurate."

A brief pause followed.

Then the System added:

[Recommended action: Avoid target.]

[Alternative action: Hit target with a rock.]

"...You can say that?"

[I am a premium system.]

Shen Yue laughed despite herself.

For the first time since awakening, some of her tension disappeared.

She stood and walked toward the mirror.

The woman reflected there looked powerful.

Confident.

Dangerous.

But the memories told another story.

The villainess was nothing more than a pawn.

A stepping stone.

A disposable character.

A woman whose only purpose was to make the protagonist look impressive.

Shen Yue narrowed her eyes.

Not anymore.

If fate expected her to obediently die for some arrogant protagonist, fate could go to hell.

A sudden chill ran through her body.

She frowned.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

For a brief moment she thought she saw a black shadow move beneath her feet.

Like something alive.

She looked down.

Nothing.

The floor remained still.

The strange sensation disappeared.

"Did you see that?"

[Yes.]

Shen Yue stiffened.

"What was it?"

The System was silent.

Unusually silent.

Several seconds passed.

Then:

[Error.]

[Unknown lifeform detected.]

[Scanning.]

[Scanning.]

[Scanning.]

A warning suddenly flashed inside her mind.

[Warning.]

[Warning.]

[Warning.]

[Host identity inconsistent.]

Shen Yue's heart skipped a beat.

"What does that mean?"

The System's voice became serious.

[Host is not entirely human.]

The room fell silent.

A cold feeling spread through Shen Yue's body.

"What?"

[Further information unavailable.]

[Unlock conditions not met.]

Shen Yue frowned.

"What exactly am I?"

Before the System could answer, another knock sounded outside.

This time it was impatient.

"Senior Sister Shen!"

"We are leaving!"

Shen Yue took a deep breath.

The original story had begun.

The gears of fate were already turning.

Somewhere outside, Zhao Tianming was waiting.

The protagonist.

The chosen one.

The man destined to stand above all others.

Shen Yue smiled coldly.

Not for long.

She opened the door.

Moonlight illuminated the courtyard.

Disciples moved between buildings.

Spiritual lanterns glowed softly.

And standing in the center of it all was Zhao Tianming.

Handsome.

Confident.

Smug.

Exactly as she remembered.

The moment he saw her, his eyes briefly flashed with possessiveness.

It made Shen Yue immediately dislike him.

"You're late," he said.

No greeting.

No concern.

Only criticism.

Just like the novel.

Shen Yue's smile widened.

"Then leave without me."

The courtyard became silent.

Zhao Tianming stared.

Several disciples looked shocked.

In the original story, Shen Yue worshipped him.

She would never speak like that.

The System suddenly announced:

[Achievement Unlocked.]

[Made Zhao Tianming Confused.]

[Reward: 10 Survival Points.]

Shen Yue nearly laughed.

Perhaps this world would be entertaining after all.

Far away, hidden beyond mortal sight, destiny itself began to shift.

And deep beneath the earth...

Something ancient slowly opened its eyes.

Something covered in countless sleeping tentacles.

Something that had waited for thousands of years.

Something that recognized Shen Yue.

The true story had finally begun.

welcome to my new story 😉

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