Black Vein - Chapter 1: Ashes and Veins

*Mature content*“You want to stand in the same room,” Cassian drawled slowly, “while I fuck another woman?”Cixi McLore had been born ordinary. Her parents were killed, and the life that followed turned into a slow, unending hell.Lonely, traumatised, and ground down by constant abuse, she could no longer find a reason to keep living. And that single thought became her curse.And that curse took the shape of Cassian Crown — a billionaire mafia king, whose power in the mortal world was only a shadow of what he truly was.He is not gentle.He is not kind.And he is certainly not safe.*'Devil's Favourite Obsession' takes you on a journey through obsession, revenge, redemption, and fate, all wrapped up in a dark mafia romance with a twist of fantasy.Set against a gritty contemporary mafia backdrop, this story is primarily grounded in reality, with just enough 'supernatural elements' to keep things intriguing and exciting.You will find a compelling push-and-pull dynamic between the main characters that's both intense and engaging.I love building a solid foundation, setting the stage for the thrilling moments that are yet to come!*

He is Xi Liang’s legendary emperor: a decisive and ruthless king; a man of supreme wisdom; a cunning strategist.

According to legend, he once conferred the love meant for the three thousand concubines in his harem onto one woman, while the world watched in envy.

According to legend, he once executed a hundred people for her, turning the palace into a purgatory overnight.

According to legend, he ultimately sentenced that same woman to death by execution…

A conspiracy that swept through the country resulted in her tragic end. This lifetime seems to be a repeat of her past life. Can she escape the clutches of fate to attain true love in this life? In both lives, she was the Emperor’s wife, but is that ruthless man really her true love mandated by Heaven?

Did she really die, just like that?

In the end, beyond the veil of lies and mysteries, who exactly was she? Was she a woman that he truly loved, or was she merely a chess piece to be used in his political machinations?

The stories passed onto later generations remain fraught with conflicting opinions.

- Description from Novelupdates

In life, the most important thing is appearance.To compensate for his lack of good looks, he worked hard for years to reach the peak.However, the reality waiting for him at the end was nothing but betrayal and despair.[The system has been activated.][You have obtained the ‘Handsome’ attribute.]On the brink of death, he gets a second chance at life.Now his goal is clear.[Quest Completed]Reward: Talent obtained through the ‘Handsome’ stat.[New Quest]Task: Become more handsome.“I will become handsome.”

Lin Chen is born in a deprived family. To purse his martial artist dream, he has to do some gig work to make ends meet. Luckily, he gets diligence system: as long as he keeps working hard, there will be no bottlenecks in his path.