Standing Next To You - Chapter 3: The Big House in River Village

Damien reveals an ugly truth.His sister and only family, Ahara, leaves the house every midnight whilst he's asleep—a time that he soon discovers is when man-eating beasts named Rouges start hunting for prey.Unable to question her directly, he decides to investigate her and quickly figures that Ahara isn't human but rather, a vampire hero who saves them from beings like herself coming from a world she calls Gibbous—a place where entities like vampires, wizards, and beast shifters alike reside. What’s more, he also learns that the real reason behind his parents' death was the leader of the Rogues, who's rumored to have escaped after Damien’s father almost killed him.A series of fateful events lead to Damien’s long-lost power reawakening in him, and he finds himself with no choice but to return to Gibbous, a strange world where power means survival, and weakness leads to death. As such, Damien enrolls in an academy to train his newfound abilities with one thing in mind...Becoming more powerful.However, he soon discovers that the path to power is one filled with troubles and pain, and he isn’t alone in this lust for more at the academy. It’s a bloody competition against time and formidable opponents, and only those willing to sacrifice their comfort are the ones who can attain it.With a deadly foe lurking in the shadows somewhere and a strong desire to protect his sister, Damein has no choice but to fight.The only way is up, and he is going to be standing at the top of them all, ready to counter any enemy.

Qin Hao crossed into a parallel world and unexpectedly inherited the position of the current Celestial Master of the Qingyun Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion.Draped in purple robes, holding the authority of the Xuanmen sect.Bound to the Super Celestial Master System, he could earn different rewards every day by completing designated tasks.Organizing Taoist scriptures, he received the reward [Taiping Qi Technique]!Cleaning the main hall, he received the reward [Innate Golden Light Curse]!Sweeping the mountain gate, he received the reward [Soaring Immortal Step]!Pruning flowers and plants, he received the reward [Innate Yimu Qi Capture Technique]!Wiping the statues of the Three Pure Ones, he received the reward [Righteous Thunder Law]!...He thought he could live peacefully without trouble, but unexpectedly, a photo that went viral online pushed him into the spotlight.A self-proclaimed fighting champion and male live streamer entered Qingyun Mountain, claiming to seek a man in purple robes for a challenge.A match of martial arts.The live stream was filled with over a million enthusiastic viewers.They supported the male live streamer in exposing a fraud, wondering whether the rumored Celestial Master in purple was truly as powerful as said.Under the watchful eyes of the public, Qin Hao reluctantly accepted the challenge.Qin Hao asked, 'Fellow practitioner, what shall we compare?'The male live streamer smiled confidently: 'I've heard the Celestial Master in purple is unmatched in martial arts; I have practiced free combat since I was young and have specifically come to learn something from you!'Qin Hao shook his head: 'Martial arts, I do not know.''What do you know then?' the male live streamer asked.Qin Hao unleashed a palm strike into the air, condensing the five thunders within his palm, and with a mighty slash.Golden thunder transformed into a blade of qi, slicing directly at the challenger. The thunder left in its wake split the 'Challenge the Celestial Master' plaque that the male live streamer had brought, right in front of the mountain gate, into two halves.Qin Hao said with a smile: 'I know thunder spell!!'

“Doc, it’s like the game I made is becoming a reality.”“Isn’t that nice? People are under so much pressure at work these days, but you can get away from it all, play the game, and live the life of your dreams.”“But I’m a famous ghost story game designer, I’ve conceived one hundred and twenty-six mu*der cases, portrayed dozens of mu*derers with different personalities, and to find material I’ve watched ninety-five thriller movies, more than four hundred horror comics, and collected more than two thousand urban weird tales. Now they all seem to be true!”“So …… do I look familiar to you?”

His lips hovered near her ear, his voice a dark whisper against her skin. “You may fear me, little bride, but I will teach your body to crave me… to need me, until I am all you ever want.”---Belle was never meant to be the bride. But when her parents cried to her about how her beautiful sister could not be married to such a man, she was forced to take her sister’s place. To prevent war between the two worlds of humans and vampires, the kings decided to sign a peace treaty with a marriage, but the only man they could offer for this marriage was a vampire said to be mad and completely heartless. When they said heartless, they meant really heartless, but Belle, being a naive girl her whole life, had no idea what she was stepping into by agreeing to this marriage.At first, he appeared innocent, a man completely opposite to all the rumors around him, until she slowly began to realize every single thing said about the mad vampire was true, or perhaps even worse! He was a man who walked in the path of darkness. He knew no light and showed no mercy, even to those who were not his enemies. He had no heart to love, no emotions but dark ones to feel for anything or anyone. But all of a sudden, when he set his eyes on her, he decided he wanted to keep her, and Belle's naive world began to take a different turn because the mad vampire was hellbent on tainting her innocent soul.Expect“Now, can we forget this happened and enjoy the night?” He arched an amused brow at her, making Belle's heart drop to her stomach as she recalled the so-called wedding night.She hurriedly pulled away from him, her face flaming with embarrassment. From everything she had heard about this night, she was not ready to experience it with this man. The women whispering about it in Mr. Marchant's shop had said one would hate their husband's presence after it and be disgusted by the act. It was not an act meant for pleasure for any woman but torture.Now that she realized her husband would do the same with her, she swallowed hard and nervously clutched her dress. “I...I am not feeling well, My Lord, I—”“Rohan,” he cut her off with a tone of amusement. “Use my name when you address me, sweetheart. You looked quite energetic when you tried to go after the ring for someone who isn't feeling well, but,” he sighed softly, “I've always been a generous man. I won't let you stress yourself tonight.”Belle began to sigh in relief and smile in her mind that he wouldn't push her for the wedding night ceremony. She was even about to part her lips and agree that he was indeed generous and even offer him a thank you when he continued to speak, causing the momentary relief to be replaced by dread.“I will pamper you tonight, and you won’t have to lift a hand. I will give you all the pleasure since you are feeling unwell. Take it as the first lesson in my plan to make you forget love and welcome lust.”“...!”“Lie on the bed for me, Isa.”Belle felt her throat go dry at that strict command.“I...I...” She began but could not find any words to say to make him spare her tonight. What had she got herself into? Belle thought as a pit seemed to form in her stomach, a deep, gnawing dread.“Do you need me to carry you to the bed, or would you rather walk there yourself?” Rohan questioned with dark mirth in his voice and eyes as he watched her like a hawk. He could tell she was nervous, but what to do? She had brought herself into his world.Belle began to walk slowly to the bed at a snail’s pace, as if delaying it would help prevent the dreadful act from happening tonight. She could feel him following closely behind her. When she reached the bed, she used her shaky hands to move the drapes aside and carefully sat at the edge of it, her hands folded nervously on her lap. She felt his piercing gaze on her, but she dared not look up at him.“Lie down,” he ordered softly.MATURE CONTENT, NO RAPE!!