Where Immortals Once Walked - Chapter 8: The Guiding Art

Ananya never expected death to bring her into another life.One moment, she was running her parents’ restaurant in the modern world.The next, she opened her eyes in silk robes, surrounded by hostile stares — the Queen Consort of the empire.But this body was cursed in everyone’s eyes.The Emperor loathed her.The mistress laughed at her.And the court whispered behind her back.Only she wasn’t truly alone.> “Finally, someone can see us!”“What kind of Queen Consort are you, so calm even with ghosts in your chamber?”“Shut up, Wei Rong, let her breathe. She looks like she’s about to faint.”Three ghosts — a stoic scholar, a brash general, and a mischievous noble girl — lingered at her side. They were invisible to all but her. And with them, she learned to survive the poisonous palace.When rumors spread that she was cursed, Ananya stood before the empire’s court.Instead of tears, she offered proof. Instead of fear, she offered dignity.> “If Heaven believes I am cursed, let the fire and smoke betray me. I will not hide.”And Heaven sided with her.Outside the palace, crises struck — starving soldiers, missing supplies, merchants growing fat from stolen grain. Inside, Lady Zhen, the Emperor’s favored mistress, grew bolder by the day, flaunting her beauty and mocking Ananya’s quiet grace.> “Sister, do you still dream of winning His Majesty’s heart? Look at you — plain, dull, unworthy.”“If simplicity is a crime, then let it be mine,” Ananya answered, unshaken.The Emperor indulged Lady Zhen openly… but in the silence of night, he tasted Ananya’s food, lingered at her table, and found himself unsettled by her calm.> “This is not palace fare,” he muttered.“It is lighter,” Ananya replied softly. “Easier to sleep after.”Step by step, conspiracy thickened. At a grand banquet, a poisoned cup was placed in Ananya’s hand. But a ghost’s laugh echoed in her ear — and the cup was swapped. A dancer collapsed instead.From that night on, the Emperor’s gaze changed. He began to notice the woman who never begged for favor, never fought for attention, yet always endured.Still, war brewed at the borders. Betrayals reached even the throne. Assassins crept through the palace halls. And the one person who seemed weakest became the calm at the center of the storm.Through whispered secrets, mischievous hauntings, and quiet resilience, Ananya carved her place in the empire.She would not simply survive.She would rise.And the Emperor who once despised her would one day whisper only her name.

“VILLIAN!? Is that what you call me? Do you know what I have been through?

FATE dealt me this hand, and I'll find peace in it. Even if I have to end the world, I'll sit a king on its ruins.

I'm not a good guy. I won't even pretend that I am. But then again, who in this world can truly claim that title?

At least I know my heart. What about yours?”

.....

Chiron lived an unfortunate life, but his problems only got started when he was reincarnated in his dangerous Hit novel.

Behold, a lesson to all authors... MC's have it difficult too.

Becoming the physician of the villainess who brought about the world’s destruction, I tried to escape to survive, but the reactions were strange. ______________________________________________ “The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away” is a Korean web novel authored by 긘가 (Geun-ga). The story follows a protagonist who becomes the personal physician to a villainess responsible for multiple world destructions. After curing her, he attempts to escape, leading to unexpected reactions. The novel was first serialized on October 5, 2023, on the platform Novelpia. It gained recognition by receiving an honorable mention in the 2023 Novelpia Universe's Strongest Web Novel Contest. Readers have praised the novel for its engaging narrative and well-developed characters. A review on Naver Blog highlights the protagonist's repeated attempts to prevent the world's destruction and his complex relationship with the villainess, emphasizing the story's depth and emotional resonance. The novel is available for reading on platforms like Novelpia and has been published as an eBook on Kyobo Book Centre. In summary, “The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away” offers a compelling blend of fantasy and romance, exploring themes of redemption and the complexities of human relationships.

Second Awakening? A System? Having lost the battle of the Dark Catastrophe to the demons—spawns of the Dark Gods— humanity is given a chance at making things right once again. Born as a twin into a family of high ranking talent awakeners, Damien Terrace is met with trouble when it is his turn to perform the ritual. After awakening the E-Rank Summoner talent, Damien loses everything to his twin. Exiled by his father to perish away from them, Damien goes through a second awakening that changes the play field for him. Ding! [The God of Summons is furious and has blessed you with a system!] [You have fused with the Mythics Summoning System—A system that only allows you to summon mythical beasts!] [Obtain nineteen Magic Essence Cores to boost your core to the next level!] [Slay 200 more demons to unlock another summon!] Damien’s only option is to evolve!