A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands - Chapter 8Book 2: : A Chance Encounter

A broken prince, a shadowy scheme, all that amidst a bloody fight for a throne wrongly succeeded. Join a group of youngsters as they take their first steps into the martial world, towards the grandest adventure of their lives. It all begins in a certain inn, set against verdant mountains and facing a scenic lake.

“Bring us your finest wine and best meat!” Yelled a hulking man who seemed to be the leader of the dozen strong group.

“How much?” The waiter anxiously nodded his head.

“As much as you have!” The hulking man yelled back.

“That’s…”

“HUH?” The hulking man shot the waiter a furious glare.

“Dear guests, our inn operates on the principle of ‘pay first, dishes later’. As such, it will be better if you tell us exactly how much meat and wine you need.” Xiao Se returned their furious stares with a thin smile.

“Who are you supposed to be?” The hulking man eyed him with bulging eyes.

“This humble one is known as Xiao Se, the owner of this inn, the Fallen Snow Villa.” Xiao Se replied with the same smile and with a level of courtesy worth a solid 12/10.

“Well, we have no money.” The hulking man stabbed his blade into one of the nearby tables.

“Oh?”

“But I’m sure you have some!” The man pointed his finger at Xiao Se.

At that, Xiao Se furiously shook his head. “I’m sorry to break it to you but our little inn hasn’t made a single sale in almost a month. I’m about to owe them salaries myself…”

“Like hell if I care!” The hulking man smashed his palm down on the table. “Even if you have no money, that fur coat of yours should at least be worth a hundred odd silvers.”

“NONSENSE!” Yelled Xiao Se, eyes wide open and gaze as sharp as daggers.

The hulking man was stunned, his body even shivering involuntarily for that split second.

“I, Xiao Se, ride only the finest horse and wear only the richest threads! This fur coat of mine was specially sewn by some of the finest seamstresses in the imperial capital in the August Threads. Just sewing it took three whole months, shipping it, another one. Hmph, a hundred silvers? That’s not even enough to buy the sleeves of my coat!”

What if you could unlock the deepest secrets of the human mind? What if every word, every gesture, every thought could be shaped and bent to your will?Jason Cross was once an ordinary man, trapped in a life he didn’t deserve. His family’s fortune stolen, his dreams shattered, he was left with nothing but bitterness and regret. Forced to work a dead-end job, Jason’s life seemed doomed to mediocrity—until a tragic accident changed everything.Now, Jason has been given a gift. A mysterious system has awakened within him, revealing the hidden language that can influence the mind—Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) at a level beyond human comprehension. With every task completed, Jason unlocks new abilities, gaining the power to manipulate emotions, thoughts, and desires.But power comes with a price.Jason's rise to influence is swift. He becomes a master of persuasion, able to seduce anyone, outwit rivals, and build an empire from the ruins of his former life. His enemies fall one by one, their minds broken before they even know what hit them. But as Jason climbs higher, so do the stakes. Rivals from the shadows, powerful enemies, and his own unchecked ambition threaten to consume him.How far will Jason go to reclaim what is rightfully his? And when the world bends to your will, can you ever trust anyone again?

When Arran decides to become a mage, he quickly discovers that magic can be more dangerous than he had ever imagined. Soon, he finds himself hunted for powers he never knew he had.

Good news! The game is up and running!Bad news, while other players play the game, I get played by the game.Bai E had reserved “Galaxy Online” only to find himself turned into cannon fodder artificial human within the game world.High-dimensional demons, endless swarms of insects, the crisis of intelligent machinery...Universal pests running rampant, and Bai E even has to face a fourth catastrophe—players.Confronted with these things, even the soul won't find peace after death. Finding a place to bury oneself first seems like the most prudent way to die.Wait, what's this?【Lucky Strike: Tenfold critical hit, maxed drop rate, a single strike for 999! Current charge: 100/100 (Note: Equipment depends entirely on drops, free trade for all.)】Bai E: “Initially, I refused to struggle for survival in this crisis-filled Galaxy World, but then I gave it a try, wow! The drop rate is really high!”(PS: Players who have been cut by the leek can also have a process they are passionate about.Come play a game, protagonists, players, us...)