Gu Qingfeng was absolutely furious at this moment. Just when he was basking in the spotlight, enjoying himself, someone had to interrupt him forcefully. Who could tolerate that?
"Dugu Wei, let go of me right the hell now! Otherwise, once I get my hands on the Emperor Demon Sword, you’ll regret it!"
Dugu Wei looked at Gu Qingfeng’s savage, twisted expression and let out a long sigh. "Ah, Junior Brother Gu, just listen to yourself. Isn’t this proof enough that you’ve fallen into demonic corruption?"
"Demon corruption my ss!"
Gu Qingfeng was livid. "Take a damn good look at me—where do I seem corrupted? I’m perfectly clear-headed right now. I’m about to gain control of the Emperor Demon Sword! Let me go already! Don’t you want to save the Sword Sect?"
Dugu Wei observed Gu Qingfeng’s enraged, distorted face, which resembled a malevolent ghost, and thought to himself: If this isn’t demonic corruption, then nothing in this world is.
"Junior Brother Gu, those who fall into demonic corruption are often just like you—completely unaware. They all believe they’re on the verge of mastering the Emperor Demon Sword, not realizing they’ve already become its slaves. That’s why they crave it so desperately. Here, take this Calming Pill. It’ll help."
"Why won’t you listen to reason?! I’m not corrupted! I’m perfectly lucid!"
"Alright, alright, you’re not corrupted. Just take the pill first."
Damn it!
"If I’m not corrupted, why should I take it?!"
Gu Qingfeng eyed the pitch-black pill with extreme reluctance, the scene eerily resembling a mental patient being force-fed medication by a doctor.
The patient insists they’re fine, but the doctor doesn’t believe them—because no mentally ill person ever thinks they’re sick.
So, how exactly does a sane person prove they’re sane?
Gu Qingfeng realized he couldn’t keep this up. The Emperor Demon Sword was within reach, and his heart burned with impatience, as if ten thousand ants were crawling under his skin.
Suppressing his rage, he forced himself to appear calm.
"Senior Brother, trust me. I’m really not corrupted," Gu Qingfeng said with clear, sincere eyes.
"Fine, I believe you. But take the pill first," Dugu Wei replied, as if coaxing a child.
Motherf—!
Stay calm. Just endure it. Once I get the Emperor Demon Sword, you’re dead meat!
"Alright, Senior Brother, I’ll take it."
With that, he swallowed the Calming Pill.
Gu Qingfeng’s spirits lifted instantly, his face glowing. "Senior Brother, I’m cured! I feel incredibly clear-headed now. Let me go."
Dugu Wei’s lips twitched. "Junior Brother, you just took the pill. It hasn’t even been a second. How are you suddenly cured?"
"I really am! Those corrupted by demonic influence lose all rationality, but I remember everything clearly, and my thoughts are perfectly coherent.
"I’m the fourteenth-generation disciple of the Sword Sect. I joined on the seventh day of the third month, brought in by Old Meng. During the Hall of Enlightenment trial, I stepped in with my left foot first...
"Senior Brother Han from Windblade Peak loves playing chess but is terrible at it, so he bullies juniors into matches and uses his status to force them to lose.
"Senior Sister Lin from Frostpeak Peak acts cold and aloof, but she’s actually vain—her inner demon tribulation was triggered by the Sword Formation rankings. Typical woman!
"And then there’s Senior Brother Tang from Earthburial Peak, always dressing like a scholar and pretending to be refined, but all he talks about is chopping people down..."
Gu Qingfeng laid everything out with perfect logic, and Dugu Wei’s expression gradually softened, seeming to believe him a little.
Seeing this, Gu Qingfeng rejoiced inwardly and pressed on: "And finally, there’s you, Senior Brother. In my eyes, you’re powerful, carefree, and devoted to the Sword Sect—except for your habit of loitering around Frostpeak Peak to peep at the female disciples..."
Cough, cough, cough!
Dugu Wei choked violently. "Junior Brother, your corruption has worsened—you’re spouting nonsense now! Come with me to the Hall of Serenity. I’ll purge the demonic influence from you."
Without waiting for a response, Dugu Wei grabbed Gu Qingfeng and vanished from the Sword Tomb realm in a flash, sealing his mouth shut along the way.
Fuming internally, Gu Qingfeng cursed: Everything I said was the damn truth, and you call me corrupted?!
If I lied, how else would I prove I’m sane?!
......
"Sect Leader, judging by your expression... did Junior Brother Gu fail?"
In the Sword Sect’s grand hall, one of the peak masters spoke up.
Dugu Wei nodded gravely. "Despite possessing the Four Saintly Physiques, Junior Brother Gu couldn’t suppress the Emperor Demon Sword’s demonic nature. The moment he touched it, he was corrupted."
"What?! Is Junior Brother Gu alright?" Lin Miaoke of Frostpeak Peak asked anxiously.
"He’s fine. I intervened the instant he was corrupted and rescued him. He’s now confined in the Hall of Serenity. In a few days, the demonic influence should be cleansed."
Lin Miaoke sighed in relief but then frowned. "Sect Leader, given Junior Brother Gu’s talent, how could he be corrupted so quickly? He even devoured the inner demon during his tribulation!"
"The inner demon from the tribulation is just one among billions in the Demon Realm—how could it compare to the Emperor Demon Sword? If you don’t believe me, see for yourselves."
Dugu Wei waved a hand, conjuring a circular mirror through the Light Reflection Technique. The scene from earlier played out before them.
In the vision, the moment Gu Qingfeng touched the Emperor Demon Sword, his entire aura transformed!
Like an ancient demon god resurrected!
Wreathed in demonic energy, his hair wild and his face twisted into a monstrous visage, he resembled a bloodthirsty Asura clawing its way out of the abyss!
"Keh keh keh..."
A bone-chilling laugh echoed from the vision, making everyone’s expressions darken.
"From this day forth, heaven and earth shall bow before me alo—"
The scene then shifted to Gu Qingfeng’s attempt to prove his sanity.
"Senior Brother Han from Windblade Peak loves playing chess but is terrible at it, so he bullies juniors into matches and uses his status to force them to lose."
Hearing this, the crowd shot odd glances at the Windblade Peak master.
Senior Brother Han’s face darkened instantly. "Junior Brother Gu is clearly corrupted!"
The others stifled laughter—until Gu Qingfeng continued.
"Senior Sister Lin from Frostpeak Peak acts cold and aloof, but she’s actually vain—her inner demon tribulation was triggered by the Sword Formation rankings. Typical woman!
And then there’s Senior Brother Tang from Earthburial Peak, always dressing like a scholar and pretending to be refined, but all he talks about is chopping people down..."
Now, aside from Senior Brother Han, everyone else wore pained expressions, their faces twitching.
They erupted in outrage:
"Junior Brother Gu is deeply corrupted!"
"Indeed, he’s even started spouting delusions!"
Dugu Wei watched them silently, secretly amused, as the vision played on.
"And finally, there’s you, Senior Brother. In my eyes, you’re powerful, carefree, and devoted to the Sword Sect—"
Snap!
The vision abruptly ended as Dugu Wei cut off the Light Reflection Technique.
"Everyone, you’ve seen it now. The Emperor Demon Sword’s demonic nature is overwhelming—even Junior Brother Gu couldn’t resist it."
"It seems this method won't work. We'll have to find another way."
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
ial death, also known as "shè sǐ" in Chinese, generally refers to... well, never mind, it's not important. My name is Ye Cheng, and I'm about to experience social death firsthand. ... 【Host, your mission is to confess your love to the young lady of the Dongfang family, the current student council president, in a way that will be unforgettable for everyone at the freshman ceremony!】 【Host, assist the girl with a sprained ankle in front of you to reach the infirmary, and fulfill the wicked thoughts in your heart!】 【Host, act on your desires and punish the arrogant young lady before you mercilessly!】 【Host, follow your instincts—abandon shameful surrender, begging, or groveling, and ruthlessly criticize the domineering, ill-mannered young lady in front of you!】 【Host...】 Ye Cheng: "Here, here, you take this host role—I quit!" Wait, why is the girl with a sprained ankle the daughter of a mafia boss? And what kind of punishment method is this for the arrogant young lady? Also, who the heck said anything about wicked thoughts in my heart? Come out here, let’s settle this one-on-one!!! ... The haughty student council president, the scheming mafia princess, the fragile yandere young lady, the airheaded maid-in-waiting, the mixed-blood loli/...
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
