Lie Zhanfeng leaned back in his creaking chair, the dim glow of the table lamp casting wavering shadows on his handsome face. In his hands was a book he'd picked up from a thrift store, its edges worn and pages yellowed. The texture was rough, the cover faded, and the pages smelled faintly of mildew. Yet, to him, it wasn't just any book-it was a window into another world, an escape from his grueling routines.
As a businessman, Lie Zhanfeng lived in a world of numbers and negotiations. He thrived in seizing opportunities––whether it was managing properties, flipping antiques, or investing in small ventures with potential for profit. Everything in his life had a purpose, each action tied to calculated risks and rewards.
Yet, even a man as driven as him needed the occasional diversion. That was how he'd stumbled into the old thrift store. It had been one of those aimless days when the world felt gray and uninteresting, and he'd wandered into a narrow alley, curious about a store sign hanging precariously over a warped doorframe.
The interior was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of old paper and wooden furniture. Shelves lined with secondhand books and trinkets created a maze, and he'd almost left, unimpressed, when a single title caught his eye—Conqueror of Hearts and Realms.
The words were bold, almost arrogant, stamped onto a weathered spine. Something about it had piqued his interest. Perhaps it was the dramatic title, promising tales of power and ambition, or perhaps it was simply the modest price tag. Either way, he'd bought it, carrying it home with no expectations.
Now, flipping through its pages, Lie Zhanfeng found himself unexpectedly absorbed. It was a stallion novel, like many he'd come across––filled with over-the-top drama, revenge arcs, and a harem of beautiful companions flocking to the protagonist.
The story followed Zhao Tianyun, a charismatic and powerful cultivator who rose from obscurity to dominate the world. His path was lined with treasures, allies, and enemies, all of whom fell to his might. The protagonist claimed everything-victories, resources, and hearts alike.
At first, Lie Zhanfeng found himself mildly entertained. The story was ridiculous, yet addictive, the kind of thing you read knowing it was trashy but couldn't put down. But the more he read, the more he noticed the other characters––especially the so-called villains.
Among them, Xie Dongyi stood out.
The tragic villain, always overshadowed by the protagonist's brilliance, always set up to lose. His moments of rebellion were painted as arrogance, his struggles dismissed as greed. Yet, Lie Zhanfeng couldn't help but see something deeper––A boy abandoned by fate, fighting against impossible odds.
"The boy, once a discarded pawn of fate, grasped the forbidden power with trembling hands. His heart, long darkened by rejection and betrayal, now burned with a fury that could not be quenched. The inheritance was his, but it would cost him more than he could imagine..."
Lie Zhanfeng read the passage aloud, his voice low and charming. If there's a second person in his room, they'd probably notice a trace of pride in his tone.
"I've seen enough, I'm done..." Lie Zhanfeng curled his lips in satisfaction but his eyes are contemplating.
Savoring the paragraph, Lie Zhanfeng decided to close the book, fearing that the content of the next page would ruin his mood.
In that moment, he felt a pang of frustration. Why did Xie Dongyi have to fall? Why did villains like him always end up crushed beneath the hero's rise?
He sighed, setting the book down. Outside, thunder rumbled, a storm gathering on the horizon. The lamp flickered, its warm light dimming for a brief moment before steadying again.
"It's just a story," he muttered, leaning back. Yet, the words rang hollow, unable to quell the unease gnawing at him.
---
That night a strong storm hit the city.
Lie Zhanfeng was oblivious to what was happening outside. His paranoia got the best of him, and he couldn't shake his curiosity about what might happen to Xie Dongyi.
Lie Zhanfeng, already lying in bed, tossed and turned restlessly until he couldn't stand it any longer. He finally got up and walked over to the desk where he had left the book.
Just as he was about to turn the page, a deafening roar of thunder split the air, and before Lie Zhanfeng could react, a blinding flash of lightning lit up the room. The lamp shattered, plunging everything into darkness. A searing bolt of energy struck him, pain erupting in every nerve. He barely had time to scream before his world dissolved into nothingness.
---
When Lie Zhanfeng opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the scent.
Gone was the familiar mustiness of his room. In its place was the sharp tang of earth, damp and rich, mingling with the faint metallic tang of blood. The air was heavy, thick with humidity and the cries of unseen creatures.
He blinked, his vision clearing to reveal a forest-dense, untamed, and eerily quiet.
"What the..." His voice faltered, hoarse and unfamiliar. He sat up, his hands sinking into the damp soil beneath him. His body ached in ways he couldn't explain. When he looked down at himself, his breath hitched.
"Did I die?" Lie Zhanfeng was beyond confused.
One moment, he was reading a novel, and the next moment his 26 years of life ended just like that. Lie Zhanfeng didn't even have time to react, in fact, he don't know how he should react.
The soft, well-fed body he'd known was gone. In its place was something leaner, rougher—a body hardened by struggle. His clothes were tattered, streaked with dirt and blood, and his hands bore the calluses of a life lived on the edge of survival.
His heart pounded as memories surged through his mind–memories that weren't his.
Lingwu Continent. A land where power reigned supreme, where survival was dictated by strength alone. The names of cultivation realms––Body Tempering, Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment––flashed through his mind, accompanied by vivid images of battles, treasures, and factions vying for dominance.
And then, the realization hit him like a blow to the chest.
This wasn't just any forest. This was located in Lingwu Continent, the setting of "Conqueror of Hearts and Realms."
And now, Lie Zhanfeng is currently in Zhao village, a small place considered insignificant in the vast land of Lingwu Continent.
Lie Zhanfeng staggered to his feet, his breaths coming in short gasps. He knew this place. He knew the four great families that ruled this world-the Xie clan of unparalleled swordsmen, the Lei clan of thunderous warriors, the Han clan of alchemists, and the Feng clan of fire-wielders. He knew their power struggles, their alliances and betrayals.
And he knew the body he now inhabited.
The memories came in waves, painting a bleak and unforgiving life. This body's original owner was also called Lie Zhanfeng. He had been a child of the Han family's collateral line, discarded like trash.
At five years old, all Han family children were tested for talent. Those with potential were groomed for greatness-trained as alchemists or poison masters. Even those with low aptitude had a place, working in the spiritual plantations and receiving modest support. But the body's original owner awakened no talent. To the family, he was a failure, not worth even the smallest investment.
He was cast out, sent to Zhao Village to survive on his own. At five, he had nothing––no food, no shelter, no one to rely on. Desperation taught him how to beg, to scavenge scraps from the village outskirts, and to sleep under trees or abandoned sheds. Some pitied him and offered leftovers, but most turned him away.
Despite the harsh conditions, his strong frame began to develop as he grew older. By the time he was ten, he could fend for himself, using brute strength to earn scraps of work or intimidate others into sharing their spoils. Slowly, he carved out a life at the edges of society, becoming a thug who lived day to day with no ambitions beyond survival.
For the original Lie Zhanfeng, it had been enough. But for the current Lie Zhanfeng, who've almost finished the entire novel, these memories only solidified one truth: this life was a dead end. The body's original owner had been nothing more than a cannon fodder, destined to die at the hands of the story's protagonist.
And now, he had only seven months before that fate caught up to him.
The thought made him pause, cold determination filling his heart. He had to change this.
He clenched his fists, the rough texture of his new hands grounding him. His mind raced, trying to piece together what had happened. The last thing he remembered was Xie Dongyi's moment of rebellion—the villain seizing his inheritance, defying his fate.
The thought of his impending death did not bother Lie Zhanfeng anymore,because his mind is now occupied by the thought of someone else.
A bitter laugh escaped his lips. His fierce expression softened, replaced by distress.
"I read about you, didn't I?" he muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "You're supposed to fall. No matter how hard you fight, you're destined to lose."
It's not that Lie Zhanfeng is being pessimistic and don't believe in Xie Dongyi, it's just a normal logical thinking of a reader––A generic plot where the heroes win no matter what, and the villain lose- The moment when the story started, the end has been decided. It's a stage specifically made for the protagonist and it's not a place for villains like Xie Dongyi.
But then, something in him shifted.
Lie Zhanfeng straightened, his gaze hardening as he stared into the shadowy depths of the forest. He wasn't just here to survive. If this was the story he thought it was, he knew what would come next––The rise of the hero, the fall of the villain, and the endless cycle of triumph and tragedy.
No.
Not this time.
He would change it.
Xie Dongyi, the boy who had defied the heavens, deserved better. And Lie Zhanfeng would make sure he got it, no matter what it took.
As he took his first step forward, the forest seemed to hold its breath, the air heavy with unspoken promises and unseen dangers. The story had already begun to change.
There was no turning back.