Chapter 1: Wife? Fiancee?
"Resident Evil, don't ask questions. I'm your daughter. Follow me to save your wife!"
Eighteen-year-old Xia Feng was pulled onto a motorcycle by a tall woman who claimed to be his daughter. Behind them, two passersby began to swell, transforming into newly born zombies that let out guttural roars.
Ten minutes later, Xia Feng stared up at the large sign reading "Pingshan Hospital" and couldn't help but wonder, "This is a hospital. Is my wife a doctor?"
His daughter blinked and replied, "Your wife is about to be born."
"What?"
Xia Feng jolted awake, his eyes snapping open. The blinding light of the operating room made him squint instinctively, and the sound of nurses giggling reached his ears.
"Little boy, I'm already 36 years old. I can't be your wife," the female doctor said with a chuckle as she removed her medical gloves and turned off the surgical light. "You're fine. You just have a concussion from the car accident. Rest for a while, and you'll be good as new."
Still dazed, Xia Feng was wheeled out of the operating room and into a ward. As he lay there staring at the white ceiling, his mind lingered on the strange dream he had just experienced.
Zombies? An adult daughter? An unborn wife? What on earth was that about?
Though it was just a dream, as someone who had transmigrated, Xia Feng was highly sensitive to such anomalies. He had experienced vivid dreams before, but this one felt different. He could still vividly recall the face of the mysterious daughter who had appeared in his dream—a face he was certain he had never seen before.
Well, she was stunningly beautiful. If he had seen her before, he would definitely remember. His thoughts drifted to the strange occurrences in both of his lives.
In his previous life, back in 2026, an anime titled The Coming of the Nightmare had been released. Friends had told him it was an incredibly thrilling series, especially because of the character known as the "Witch of Destruction." Her appearance and demeanor had captivated countless fans.
Curious, Xia Feng had decided to watch the first episode with a critical eye, only to realize he had been misled. The anime was anything but sleazy—it was a serious, action-packed story. The first episode served as a prologue, introducing the world-destroying villain known as the "Bronze Monarch," whose actions brought immense suffering to all living beings.
Disappointed, Xia Feng had harshly criticized the Witch of Destruction. Shortly after, he found himself transported into the world of the anime by a truck driver—a classic trope for transmigrators.
The good news was that he had the standard "golden finger" (cheat ability) that most transmigraters received. The bad news? When he woke up, he discovered his heart had been hollowed out. Without a heart, he could only rely on his golden finger to survive.
This golden finger was a "Demon Heart," a magical organ that allowed him to live until the age of 18. To extend his life, he needed to fully activate the Demon Heart by completing a contract. The catch? He had to gather the necessary materials himself, which proved to be a challenging task.
At first, Xia Feng had considered asking his childhood sweetheart for help. She had become a candidate saint of the Holy Church and had access to resources that could help him acquire the activation materials. However, every time he tried to visit her, she was in seclusion, refusing to see anyone. After a few attempts, Xia Feng realized she was deliberately distancing herself from him.
He accepted it, understanding that everyone had their own path to follow.
Just hours before the car accident that landed him in the hospital, Xia Feng had finally gathered all the materials needed to activate the Demon Heart. He was ready to unlock this mysterious golden finger when his childhood sweetheart, Cha Naxue, suddenly appeared and handed him a marriage certificate.
Thinking back to that moment, Xia Feng's mind grew hazy, and his thoughts drifted to eight hours earlier.
"This marriage certificate is for you to marry into the Mu family. It was arranged by the prince under my strong recommendation. Although the Mu family of Taicang has declined, they are still a noble family. Xia Feng, as long as you listen to the eldest lady of the Mu family, they will treat you well."
"As for those childish promises we made when we were younger—about getting married when we grew up—just forget about them."
"I know you've always had feelings for me, but some things are just impossible. Xia Feng, you're a good person."
"You won't blame me for arranging this marriage for you, will you?"
Cha Naxue's gentle yet indifferent voice still echoed in his mind. Xia Feng couldn't help but laugh bitterly. Of course, he didn't mind—what was the point? Once the prince had agreed to the arrangement, his opinion no longer mattered. It was happening whether he liked it or not. Cha Naxue certainly knew how to push his buttons.
However, as he was processing her audacious actions and self-centered reasoning, the photo on the marriage certificate caught his attention. It was a picture of Miss Mu, an elegant woman in a black dress. Though her face was partially obscured as she sat sideways on a windowsill, Xia Feng immediately recognized the iconic dress.
It was the same dress worn by the Witch of Destruction in his memories. He glanced at the name: Mu Qingtong.
It matched the title of the Witch of Destruction—the Bronze Monarch.
Xia Feng was terrified. The image of Mu Qingtong's future rampage, destroying the world, was seared into his mind. Becoming her fiancé? It was like a mouse trying to lick a cat's tail—suicidal.
Cha Naxue, you really know how to cause trouble for me!
[99%—100%—Activation successful.]
[Heart of the Evil Spirit (Incomplete)]
[Magic Power: Heart of the Strong—You can permanently contract with a high-level intelligent life form within a bone age difference of ±1. When your overall strength is lower than the other party's, your abilities (including physical fitness, nerve reaction, combat foresight, combat knowledge, combat skills, and extraordinary abilities) will immediately synchronize with theirs. Exceptions include learning ability, comprehension, and the unlocking of psychic power.]
"What?"
The information about the golden finger flooded Xia Feng's mind, and he nearly burst with joy. The horrific image of Mu Qingtong destroying the world flashed before his eyes again.
Sorry, Naxue, I misunderstood you. You're actually a good person!
In simple terms, as long as he found a talented individual close to his age who was destined for greatness, he could bind his strength to theirs. Whenever they grew stronger, so would he. The idea of effortlessly leveling up was incredibly appealing.
As for who to bind with, the choice was obvious.
Mu Qingtong, now only 19 years old, would grow to possess world-destroying power by the time she reached her thirties. Her talent was undeniable.
Of course, binding with the protagonist of the anime might have been a better choice. However, Xia Feng had no idea who the protagonist was—he hadn't even finished the first episode of the anime's prologue. Besides, time was running out.
[Warning: The heart is critically low on energy. Activity is nearing its lowest point.]
[Remaining activity: 9 hours]
[Function 2: You can increase the heart's activity by absorbing 'Evil Force.' When activity reaches a certain level, new magic powers and abilities can be unlocked.]
[Please select an intelligent creature within your sight to link with its soul. After synchronizing strength, activity time can be extended by 2–3 days depending on the target's spiritual pressure.]
Understanding the golden finger's function, Xia Feng didn't hesitate. He quickly bid farewell to Cha Naxue and rushed to find Mu Qingtong.
Then—he got into a car accident and ended up in the hospital. Eight hours later, he woke up from surgery.
"Wait, did I forget something?"
His heart sank as he checked the status of his Demon Heart. "I'm doomed!"
[Remaining activity: 63 minutes]
"It's over, it's over!"
He tumbled out of bed and bolted out of the ward. There was no time to think about the "unborn wife" from his dream. The most urgent task was to find the Witch of Destruction!
(End of Chapter)