Hero of Darkness - Chapter 38: Setting High Goals

Easily cowed and bullied, she was the useless, ugly woman with no talent in medical skills. Supported by millions, he was Tianning’s most respected duke with the power to move all under Heaven. On their wedding day the bridal sedan was carried to the front doors, but the Duke of Qin’s gates were shut tight.

They told her, ‘Come back tomorrow.’

All alone, she walked step-by-step full of pride through the duke’s doors. Little could they imagine, this unattractive good-for-nothing was a beautiful, genius doctor of poisons!

—

After transmigrating to the past, poisons expert Han Yunxi finds herself on the verge of being married off to the country’s second most powerful man, the Duke of Qin. Her future life seems set–except her husband is an unfeeling ice block, her in-laws think she’s a eyesore, the empress dowager wants to use her for her own goals, and poison-related plots abound.

Alone, the intelligent (and sensible) Yunxi must carve her own space from the intricate web of court intrigue and the jianghu, relying on her words, wits, and wisdom to survive. Adapt when necessary, use force when required; to survive and thrive is the name of the game to a prosperous life.

No matter what, she’ll prove her right to live!

- Description from novelupdates

I found myself inside the bleak BL novel Silence, where both the protagonist and the antagonist perish. And I became the oppressed omega, Seo Heemin, who tries to escape, ends up breaking his ankle, and even suffers a miscarriage. As expected, as soon as I come to my senses, I am sold to Cha Yiheon, who harbors a deep grudge against the original protagonist. “Why don’t you hit me?” “…Do you want to be hit?” Fortunately, he is a revenge-driven character who loves Seo Heemin dearly. To return to reality, I have to gently seduce him and achieve a happy ending. *** “Hyung, it’s Heemin.” —…Where are you now? Are you crazy enough to want to die? The raw emotion of his anger was palpable. His rage was at its peak, more intense than ever. But, as I had expected this reaction, I calmly responded to him. “I’ll be done with my appointment in an hour, so come pick me up. Let’s go on a date at our lake park.”

Mizuno Eiji, a siscon high school student, receives the worst news from his older sister: “I have a boyfriend now.”In order to identify the man who stole his sister, he follows her on a date and… sees a suspicious figure watching the two of them as well.That person is Hasegawa Aoi, his classmate who is famous for hating men despite being a beautiful girl!“I can’t believe you are actually a brocon.”“I never thought you are a siscon.”In order to make their beloved sister and brother to break up, the two of them formed a mutual relationship and went on a date as fake lovers while following the brother-sister couple… Aoi kissed Eiji on the cheek.“You’re the only one who is… special.”Brocon x Siscon, two people who shouldn’t be able to get along is actually a perfect match…!?

Elias “Grim” Kingsley, a nine-year-old orphan with a hardened heart and sharp tongue, dies alone from pneumonia in an overcrowded orphanage. Known for his perpetual scowl and biting remarks, he's labeled a “problem child” by caretakers and “damaged goods” by potential adopters. Years of rejection have built thick armor around his young heart.In death, he encounters the God of Balance who offers him a second chance at life in a different world—this time as Grim Van Ambrose, son of a noble house. Balance explains that every soul deserves to know love and connection, something Elias was cruelly denied in his first life.Promised the family and belonging he never experienced, Grim begins his new life only to suffer an immediate tragedy: his mother dies moments after his birth. This cruel twist of fate reinforces his belief that loss is inevitable, leaving him with a distant father and the mysterious voice of a “Guidance Assistant” in his head.As Grim grows into his new identity, he struggles with his dual nature—the emotional scars of his past life bleeding into his present one. His difficult personality and sharp tongue remain, now paired with noble privilege and expectations. Despite his outward brashness, he carries the deep wounds of his first life and the fresh loss that welcomed him into his second.What begins as one orphan's second chance evolves into an epic journey through a world of ancient beasts, elemental magic, and deadly political intrigue. As Grim uncovers the truth about the Ambrose Clan's fall from grace and the conspiracy that framed them for treason, he faces increasingly dangerous adversaries—both human and monstrous. His quest for revenge against those who destroyed his family's legacy will challenge him to master forbidden techniques, forge unexpected alliances, and ultimately decide whether to rebuild the Ambrose Clan as it was, or transform it into something entirely new.In a realm where power determines survival and ancient secrets lurk beneath noble facades, Grim must learn that sometimes the greatest battles aren't fought with swords, but with the choices that define who we truly are.