Mark of the Fool - Chapter 145: Preparing the Specimen

On the wedding night, she was tied to his bed.

In a world teeming with mythical races—dragons, vampires, elves, and more—Pyris Obsidian finds himself reborn as the Champion of Lilith, the Goddess of Lust. Armed with her divine blessings and an ancient Obsidian bloodline, Pyris is thrust into a deadly world where power is the only currency, and ambition can turn men into gods—or their prey. The empires of Argos teeter on the brink of chaos, with Immortals lurking in the shadows, and gods watching from above, waiting for mortals to fall. As Pyris rises, so does his influence over the magical world, manipulating power, desire, and even reality itself. But the gods and their champions won’t stand idle while a new force of lust and dominance rises. With forbidden magic, unparalleled charm, and an insatiable hunger for conquest, Pyris must navigate treacherous alliances, deceitful enemies, and seductive allies, all while keeping the truth of his destiny hidden. For in this world, desire is power, and Pyris will stop at nothing to claim what is his—even if it means defying the gods themselves. Will Pyris bend the world to his will, or will the forces of the divine bring him to his knees? Only time will tell, as he embarks on a journey of lust, magic, and unrivaled ambition.

A Deadly Secret, also translated as Requiem of Ling Sing and Secret of the Linked Cities, is a wuxia novel by Jin Yong (Louis Cha). It was first published in the magazine Southeast Asia Weekly (東南亞周刊) and the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao in 1963. Its original Chinese title was Su Xin Jian before Jin Yong changed it to Lian Cheng Jue. The story revolves around the adventures of the protagonist Di Yun, an ordinary young peasant, who is imprisoned after being framed. In his quest for vengeance, he accidentally acquires the Liancheng Swordplay manual (連城劍谱), an ancient artifact not only prized for the skills detailed inside, but also for containing a secret leading to a treasure.

# WIFE-CHASING

Su Wan had loved Jing Chen for ten years, and she was married to him for two years. Jing Chen had always been the husband, no matter when they were alone or in public. He remembered their anniversary and would prepare gifts for her on every special occasion. She was the apple of his eye, and he treated her like a precious treasure.

He liked her body to the point that it could be said that he was obsessed with it. However, only Su Wan knew that Jing Chen was just acting like a perfect husband because he was a man of his words. She would never forget what he told her when they got married, “I can marry you, but I already have someone I love. Our marriage will last for three years. Three years later, you’ll be the one to propose the divorce to Grandpa.”

So, on their second anniversary, when Jing Chen took the divorce papers out and put it in front of her, Su Wan was not surprised. She secretly put her pregnancy test away. “Although it’s not yet three years as promised, Bai Lian is back. I can make it up to you,” said Jing Chen. Su Wan nodded calmly, “Okay.”

“You will be the one that asks Grandpa for a divorce. Tell him that you already have someone you like. Even if Grandpa doesn’t want to agree, he won’t reject you,” Jing Chen said. Su Wan nodded, “Got it, but… is it a must to divorce? What if I say we have a baby?” Jing Chen replied, “Su Wan, there are no ifs in my world. I had always taken contraceptive measures. Even if there’s really an accident, I’ll make sure that it disappears. I won’t leave this risk behind.”

On his wedding day, Su Wan’s baby was born prematurely. Su Wan was involved in a car accident, and the scene was filled with blood. Laying in a pool of gore, Su Wan hugged her stomach tightly, desperate to protect it. Later, there were rumors that said that Jing Chen abandoned his bride that day. He held his ex-wife’s cold body for a whole week, not allowing it to be buried. Jing Chen was driven over the edge. Until one day, Su Wan brushed past him with two adorable babies…