The Path of Ascension - Chapter 45

Trojas was a land of beauty, rich in warmth and culture. It was also home to some of the finest warriors on the continent. The people of this prosperous nation lived happily, taking great pride in their homeland.Ceremus Marcrinos had just inherited the throne, and despite his grief, he carried out his duties the best he could. Unfortunately, his loneliness overwhelmed him, and the only escape from the pain in his heart came through his vices. Whether it was drinking the night away, sleeping with countless strangers, or getting into unnecessary fights, the king just couldn’t stay out of trouble.The citizens of Trojas initially tolerated his behavior, sympathizing with his loss, but things only grew worse. Ceremus, once revered as a benevolent king, became a tyrant. His abuse of power pushed the people to their breaking point, and in desperation, they prayed to Kaleeso, the goddess and creator of mortals, to ease their suffering. The goddess, moved by their cries, chose to send someone who could finally put the unruly king in his place.A man emerged from the heart of the Aphthonia Forest becoming the protector of its land. He had but one mission—to save the people, but more importantly, save the King of Trojas from himself.The problem was, would the prideful Ceremus be able to accept such a change? Especially when all he had known for the last eight years was solitude? I mean his chosen one was destined to be a man!

So-called Taisu pulse is a form of physiognomy, which can discern nobility and lowliness, foresee auspicious and ominous events, predict misfortune and fortune. Good sir, do you dare to let me feel your pulse? One pulse reading is worth a thousand gold!Look, making money is so easy, isn't it?Ah, phooey!Living two lives, Qin Liuxi's ideal is always to get by without striving for advancement, because in the world, there are always those who are willing to be lazy and not seek progress, and she is fit for such worthless tasks!But when a whole family shows up miserably and pitifully in front of her, Qin Liuxi's days as a slacker are over.Faced with the precarious Qin family in a state of distress, a maid beggar with an empty money box asking for business, Qin Liuxi has no choice but to shoulder the duties of the eldest lady, managing the household, supporting elders, and child-rearing!Qin Liuxi: I clearly got the script as a slacker, who switched it up?A cousin who questions her existence after being scolded by the eldest lady: I feel like the big sister looks at us like we're trouble!Qin Fourth Young Master, who was beaten and taught a lesson by the eldest lady: Be bolder, remove the feeling!Qin Fifth Young Master, who was lectured into a state of introversion by the eldest lady, solemnly counts on his fingers to answer questions about what the big sister is useless at: She can exorcise demons and ghosts, read faces and draw charms, heal and save people. Oh, which one did you ask about?Later, someone asked Qin Liuxi, if life could start over, what would her dream be?Qin Liuxi remained silent for a long time: To not strive for progress and to live for a hundred years!

From quiet grind to legacy brew.Jun had nothing—no café, no followers, not even a bed. Just a secondhand kettle and a broken dream.Then came the Barista System.No shortcuts. No instant success. Just slow, intentional tasks... and a promise:Brew. Grow. Endure.Every pour sharpens his skill. Every cup deepens his path.From street corners to pop-ups, from whispered praise to a space of his own—Jun’s grind is just beginning.This is a story of stillness, patience, and the quiet pursuit of mastery.Because greatness isn’t given.It’s brewed—one cup at a time.

“He knew he should not go easy on her, but his heart is challenging his mind…”(Warning: Novel is r-18 with strong mature content but NO rape and violence!)****Arya Tan, a beautiful, young, wannabe actress, was in a difficult situation that her only option was to agree on a deal offered to her to save her loved ones' lives. The deal was to make the aloof man named Ryu Ken fall in love with her, only to leave him heartbroken and devastated afterward. Would she succeed, and if she did, would she be able to escape Ryu’s wrath?Ryu Ken, a ruthless CEO who never gave a second glance to any woman how-much-ever beautiful she was, gave his heart to one woman. And despite his warnings, the woman broke his heart and left him. So he vowed to find her and punish her as brutally as he could. But could he really punish her when deep in his heart it was still her he longed to be? Could love overcome the hate buried in his heart?======Excerpt:“Leaving already? You seem to be in such a rush to talk to me. Why don't you spill it out now?”Stunned, Arya wondered if she was hallucinating. The voice was very familiar. The man's arm encircled her waist, abruptly pulled her towards him. He then leaned forward and scornfully whispered into her ear, “Aren't you here to negotiate? I was hoping you had a better offer.”She tilted her head to look up at the rude man and was left open-mouthed looking at a familiar face. She was shocked but mumbled, “Ryu?”Ryu smirked and stared at Arya's slightly opened lips and said, “Did you miss me? How about this?”Before Arya could utter another word, Ryu captured her lips abruptly and kissed her roughly.