The Man with Hypnotic Powers Doesn't Hold Back the Second Time Around - Chapter 218

For as long as he could remember, life had always been cruel.A young man in his early twenties—his name now lost to the past—was dealt a life filled with misfortunes.A cold, empty apartment, a soul-crushing job, and, finally, a terminal diagnosis.With nothing left to live for, his only comfort had been escaping into the fictional world of Path of the Elemental Sage, a story of heroes, magic, and survival.But fate had other plans.When death finally came for him, he didn’t fade into nothingness.Instead, he awoke in the world he had only read about—a world of chaos and danger where death lurked around every corner.The air smelled of magic, the sky was filled with possibilities.{«[Status Window]»}[Name: Lyrium Blackwood][Age: 16][Rank: D-][Skills: None][Elements: None}At first, confusion filled his mind.Who was Lyrium Blackwood?Why was he here?And why did this body feel so different?But as his memories returned, so did the realization: this wasn’t some blessing or second chance.He wasn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.No destined savior.No cheat abilities.No grand fate.He was just another mob, a face in the crowd meant to exist and die without leaving a mark.But this young man—the one who had left his old name and life behind—wasn’t the kind of person to roll over and accept his fate.“This world is dangerous. The protagonist isn’t the only one fighting for survival here,”he muttered, his red eyes deep and sharp.Unlike the naïve characters in the story, he knew the stakes.He’d read the web novel.He’d seen the carnage, the betrayals, the disasters that wiped out entire cities.And if there was one thing he refused to be, it was a pawn in someone else’s game.“I don’t care about glory. I don’t care about saving the world. All I care about is surviving—no matter what it takes.”Lyrium Blackwood wasn’t planning to live quietly or avoid danger.The only way to survive in this brutal world was to rise to the top.To be strong enough to stand above both heroes and villains.Using his knowledge of the story’s events and his iron will, Lyrium sets out on a relentless path to surpass the protagonist.Whether through clever manipulation, brutal training, or sheer desperation, he’ll climb higher and higher, leaving nothing to chance.But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes that this isn’t just the story he once read.As fate pushes him closer to the heart of the narrative, Lyrium begins to suspect that his reincarnation wasn’t an accident—and the world itself might be watching him.“I don’t care who or what stands in my way. If the story wants to kill me, I’ll rewrite the ending myself.”----------------------------------I apologize for any mistakes in this story, as it’s my first attempt at writing a novel.

The mighty heavens exist, ruling over all things. Those favored by its will are granted power and fortune, while those who dared to oppose it perished, leaving none behind. This is the tale of a man who once defied the heavens, underwent multiple reincarnations, and returned once more to the cultivation world. But here’s the twist. This young man remembers nothing of his past lives and is simply a teenager from Earth. How will he who has no knowledge of cultivation and experience in fighting, survive this grim world while being an inner disciple of a lower realm force—or so Xiao chen, the teenager thought till he heard a systematic sound in his mind. [Ding! Host has awakened the heaven’s destined villain system!]

Melanie Collins was the perfect wife—caring, strong, and dependable. For the last few years, she had managed her husband’s messy family, and business alone while waiting for her husband to return from studying abroad. But when he finally came back, Melanie’s world fell apart—he wasn’t alone. Along with him was his 'best' friend.Broken and confused about the change in her husband, Melanie didn’t know where to turn. And then she stumbled into another cold reality. Everything she had believed was a lie.Seething with anger and humiliation, as she tried to come to terms with the betrayal, an unexpected person steps into the picture, intent on seducing her and conquering her.The only problem? The man was her ex brother in law...And against her better judgment, she is attracted to this bad boy...But as Melanie tried to make sense of the changes, she discovered there was more going on than she ever imagined. Had both brothers loved really fallen in love with her? Or was she just a pawn in a bigger game?excerptSince he had already been leaning against the table, he simply slid onto it, and with one swift motion, he hooked his boot around the leg of her chair and pulled it—pulled her—closer.The sudden movement made her jolt slightly, and when she looked up or rather when she looked ahead, she found herself staring directly at the zipper of his jeans... She looked up then and met his gaze.He caught her chin,“ Would you like to check if I am only pretending, sweet melon?”Melanie stiffened. And then pushed back her chair suddenly, so that Adam almost lost his balance, as she stood up.Before he could balance himself, she placed her hand on his shoulder, her fingers brushing against his neck. Adam stiffened, his eyes glittering as he waited to see what she would do next. And she, of course surprised him as her other hand, slowly settled on the inside of his thigh. And then, the hand on his shoulder started to move. Her fingers tracing the side of his neck before lifting as she shot a glance to the corner of his mouth. The little piece of metal glinting there. She flicked at it lightly, barely a touch, but Adam could feel the heat all over his body, as she leaned in close, her lips barely a few centimetres away...so that they could both feel each other's breaths…She smiled slowly then. “Careful, Adam,” she murmured, her voice playful, but carrying the unmistakable edge of a challenge. “Keep pushing, and I just might call your bluff.”

As a real young master of a wealthy family who was taken away by mistake, Chen Mo has never understood why it was him who was lost outside for seventeen years, and everyone still liked the fake young master Yang Shule, so he fought hard to fight, to grab, and to rob. In the end, his parents hated him, he was abandoned by his relatives and friends, and he died unexpectedly. So after rebirth, Chen Mo thought it over. Laughing makes you ten years younger, and going to bed early can help you live till old age. Not long after returning home, his biological parents asked him: “Chen Mo, do you think your brother… Can he still live with us now?” Chen Mo said sincerely: “As long as you are happy.” Aunts and uncles praised the fake young master during festivals. Chen Mo drank the wolfberry and red dates mixed soup and nodded repeatedly: “Yes, you have good taste.” The people around him openly and secretly compared the two of them, mocking him for not being worthy of the identity of a real young master of a wealthy family. Chen Mo slept soundly while soaking his feet in medicinal water: “Isn’t this a fact? Just keep talking about it, you can even go out on the streets with a loudspeaker.” Others: “…” Later, people found out that this real young master picked up by a wealthy family is best at three things. Eating, sleeping, and being gay. Not only is he gay, he also dumped the excellent student in his grade, who was the childhood sweetheart of the fake young master. Chen Mo felt extremely wronged. Xi Siyan, the cold-faced devil, didn’t like him in his previous life. How did these people came to think that he dumped him. “How about I explain it for you?” Chen Mo tried one day. The person leaning against the wall looked down at him and raised his eyebrows: “What do you want to explain?” “You, Xi Siyan, will have nothing to do with me, Chen Mo, in this life, the next life, and another next life.” The person in front of him kissed him with his hands in his pockets, and said coldly: “Now I do.” Chen Mo was shocked; Xi Siyan! You dog forced me !