Cao Wenjie entered with narrowed eyes. After Fang Zhiyi whispered a few words to him, Cao's expression turned peculiar, but he nodded and jogged away, while Fang Zhiyi lounged leisurely in a rocking chair, humming a tune.
That afternoon, Fang Yaozu swaggered back home. Seeing his freshly awakened father, he asked with indifference, "Dad, why'd you call me? I'm busy." He had just found a fighting rooster the day before and was preparing to gamble with his usual gang of followers.
"Why'd I call you?" Fang Zhiyi jerked his chin toward the door behind Fang Yaozu, and immediately, guards shut it.
Zhao Dezhu, who had just returned from the military camp, was bewildered. Then Fang Zhiyi picked up a leather belt—pure cowhide.
As howls of pain erupted, the entire Marshal's residence was startled.
"Who is the Marshal punishing?"
"That voice sounds familiar."
"Too brutal. The Marshal really..."
"Shh... don’t talk carelessly. Someone might hear."
Zhao Dezhu was stunned. Having served Fang Zhiyi for so long, this was the first time he’d seen him beat his own son—and with such ferocity. The belt lashed with precision and speed, making Zhao’s own skin crawl.
"Bullying people, huh?"
"No one can control you, is that it?"
"Think you’re untouchable because you’re the Marshal’s son?"
The beating lasted a full hour before Zhao Dezhu finally stepped in to stop Fang Zhiyi. Though he believed Fang Yaozu deserved it, seeing the boy unconscious, he had to intervene.
"Douse him awake!" Fang Zhiyi roared. Guards nervously brought a basin of cold water and splashed it over Fang Yaozu’s face. By now, there wasn’t an unbruised spot left on his body.
"Dad..." Fang Yaozu slurred.
Fang Zhiyi pointed at him. "This beating is for everything you’ve done over the past decade. Remember this well: I’m the Marshal—you’re not. Keep your head down and behave!"
Consider this the interest on your debts.
At this time, Fang Yaozu had just turned sixteen. Though he hadn’t yet taken a life, he’d already committed plenty of oppressive deeds.
Fang Zhiyi glanced at his two aides: one cowering in fear, the other standing tall but wincing at the sight of the half-dead Fang Yaozu.
With a slam on the table, Fang Zhiyi barked, "Damn it! Lately, I’ve been dreaming of your mother scolding me for failing to raise you right. I thought about it all day, then asked around—turns out she was right. You’ve been running wild, haven’t you? Cao Wenjie!"
Cao Wenjie snapped to attention. "Yes, sir!"
"Round up all the trash following this brat and parade them in the streets. Military punishment!"
Cao hesitated. "Marshal, but... that includes Old Master Li’s youngest son..."
Fang Zhiyi’s eyes narrowed. So, that’s how it was. The original host had even promoted someone from the Li Family?
"What? Is Old Man Li the Marshal, or am I?" Fang Zhiyi’s murderous glare sent chills down Cao’s spine. He quickly saluted and rushed out.
After issuing a few more orders, Fang Zhiyi watched as Zhao Dezhu and the guards carried away the dazed Fang Yaozu, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation.
This brat deserved death ten times over, but he was still his son. Killing his own flesh and blood was out of the question—for now, he’d have to wait and see.
Cao Wenjie worked with terrifying efficiency. By nightfall, a row of men knelt in the streets, surrounded by armed soldiers. As ordered, each had a wooden placard on their back listing their crimes.
They knelt all night. Fang Yaozu lay nearby, only stirring at dawn with a sneeze before the searing pain of his beating hit him. Had his father really whipped him yesterday?
Why? Because he’d stolen that painting from the pawnshop owner? Or beaten the pancake vendor? Had they complained to his father?
Damn them—he’d make them pay! Fang Yaozu seethed, then jerked his head up and froze.
A crowd of onlookers stood before them. News of the public humiliation had spread overnight, drawing curious townsfolk at daybreak. Fang Yaozu turned and spotted familiar faces.
"Liu! Li Shun!"
Li Shun, his face swollen, whimpered at the sight of Fang Yaozu. "Young Master Fang, you’re finally awake! Save us—my knees are numb!"
Fang Yaozu glared at the spectators and snarled, "The hell are you all staring at?"
A cold voice cut in from behind. "Young Master, I’d advise you to watch your words right now." Cao Wenjie, ever the schemer, knew Fang Zhiyi’s temper better than anyone. Yesterday’s rage had been real, and he wasn’t foolish enough to side with the losing party.
Fang Yaozu bristled, but the pain reminded him of the beating. Never in his life had he suffered such violence—fear crept in.
"Uncle Cao, what’s going on?"
Cao gestured. "It’s written on their backs."
Fang Yaozu read each placard:
"Oppressing the people, tyrannizing the town."
"Extorting merchants, shaking down vendors."
"Assaulting women, aiding a tyrant."
Fang Yaozu glanced at himself. Aiding a tyrant? Was he the tyrant?
"Fellow townspeople!" Fang Zhiyi’s voice rang out as he approached, flanked by guards. His gaze swept over the kneeling men, lingering not even a second on Fang Yaozu.
"I, Fang Zhiyi, owe you all an apology!" He clasped his fists and bowed deeply, stunning the crowd. To them, Fang Zhiyi was a mercurial warlord—this humility was unheard of.
Cao Wenjie’s eyes narrowed. If the Marshal was playing humble, these men were doomed.
"My worthless son lost his mother young. Fearing he’d suffer, I spoiled him. When he grew older, I assigned men to watch over him. But who knew—" Fang Zhiyi’s voice sharpened, "these scum led him astray! If not for those who spoke up, I’d still be in the dark!"
"Today, I’ll set things straight before you all!"
Pointing at Li Shun, ignoring the man’s terrified eyes, Fang Zhiyi demanded, "Do you recognize him?"
The crowd murmured but stayed silent.
"You fear him? Fine, I’ll speak." Fang Zhiyi locked onto Li Shun. "Li Shun, youngest son of the Li Family’s cloth business. I won’t lie—their family once funded me, so I gave him an officer’s post!"
"But who’d have thought he’d use my name to commit atrocities!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
