Shadow Contract - Chapter 1: The Night the Bullet Never Finished Its Path

Lu Mingshu had never believed in fate.

She hadn’t believed in it when her father had remarried and caused her family to break into pieces, nor had she believed in it when she’d been thrown into a valley to perish.

She hadn’t believed in it when she didn’t have any resources to cultivate with, nor had she believed in it when she’d been condemned by everyone.

She climbed up little by little from dust, while her reign soared into the sky, which caused the world to look on in fear!

If justice doesn’t come, I’ll personally obtain it.

If fate disregards me, I‘ll open up a way to survive.

No matter what fate throws at me, I will surely become a phoenix!

“What a ruthless woman. I’m willing to risk my life and limbs for you, willing to be calculative for you – I’m even willing to be an enemy of the entire world for you. Aren’t you moved even a little?”

“That’s right, since I‘m such a ruthless woman, what exactly is it that you like about me?”

- Description from Novelupdates

He fell, but he did not die.At least, not in the way he expected.The world he hated spat him out into another, a place where the sky bleeds, where gods are fractured, and where names weigh heavier than lives.Here, he is someone else.Someone cursed.Someone forgotten.Yet in the ruins of memory and the echo of laughter that was never his, a strange truth coils:that death is not an ending,but a beginning far crueler.A book without pages.A family without love.A body that doesn’t belong to him,and a voice in the dark that whispers of eternity.

On my deathbed, I finished a novel titled The Order of Love. But when I opened my eyes again—“What the fuck?”I had been transmigrated into my own story. Not as the hero, not even as the villain… but as Vivian D. Zenithara—the heir doomed to die at twenty three, whose death sparks the rise of the feared villainess.I barely escaped death once, and now I’m fated to face it again. Only this time, I have a system. And her.The villainess. My fiancée. In my novel she was cold, ruthless, feared by all… but in reality, she’s gentle and kind—at least toward me.With my life ticking away, can I defy the story I once wrote, protect myself, and uncover who she truly is? Or will fate claim me again before I can change a single page?

Bochang finds himself transported to another world, and upon opening his eyes, he encounters two Stellaron Hunters - Silver Wolf and Kafka.[Dating Options Activated.][Option 1: In this moment... there's no more time for hesitation. Shout at Kafka, “Mom!” - Completion Reward: Randomly obtain the power of one out of twelve talismans.][Option 2: Shouting is unrefined and may startle others. Instead, try gently saying, “Kafka?” - Completion Reward: Get beat up by Kafka.][Option 3: As someone who suddenly appeared, perhaps you should act normal by expressing confusion: “Who... are you?” - Completion Reward: Unlock the Abundance Fate Path and gain a random Imaginary ability.]Feeling powerless, Bochang internally protested, What kind of dating options are these? Seriously, there's not even a hint of romance involved!However, it wasn't until some time later that the black-haired youth realized the tragic reality, that these supposed “Dating Options” were actually “Troublesome Dating Options.”Watching as girls like Stelle, March 7th, and Himeko circled around him, Bochang thought, “I want to fall in love.”Dating Options replied, “No, you don't.”