Smoke filled the noisy casino. Chips clattered as wealth exchanged hands. Louder yet was the sound of human conversation.
Lights burned bright inside. In his Tang Dynasty robes, the boss leaned back in his chair, a long cigarette sandwiched between his fingers as his narrow eyes surveyed the bustling establishment.
This was his casino, his territory.
As long as he sat here, it was the more impenetrable of fortresses.
Low-rank ability users were a dime a dozen in this world in contrast to mid-rank ability users. The total number of high-rank ability users could be counted on both hands.
Any ability user able to reach mid-rank would be able to act as they wished, becoming gods among men.
And the owner of this establishment was one said mid-rank ability user, the strongest powerhouse in the area.
Yet, for some reason, he stiffened a second later.
BOOM!
The casino’s wooden door was kicked open with a thump. Plumes of dust and smoke rose into the air as the bustling atmosphere went cold in an instant. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Customers and employees alike turned subconsciously to the source of the sound. A black shadow appeared in the smoke, strolling forward casually like one would through their own backyard.
Someone gasped in shock.
Everyone here was a regular customer. Sure, they’ve seen individuals who dared to throw their weight around here. Outsiders who didn’t know better often intruded on the boss’ casino. However, it was the safest, most trustworthy establishment around for a reason. Only a swift death delivered by the man’s ability awaited anyone foolish enough to cause offense.
Not much was known about the boss’ ability, but it had been confirmed to be a domain-type. He was king in his domain, able to take any life he so pleased within its boundaries.
At least, that was what was supposed to happen.
Yet the newcomer was still standing! Having a leisurely stroll even!
The door laying on the floor basically represented the boss’ reputation. It creaked harshly, threatening to break under the boots crushing it with every step.
“Heard Hua Yizhi was around here?” The newcomer’s voice was astonishingly young.
His appearance gradually became visible in the smoke.
The young man’s black hair hung casually on the shoulders of his practical-looking black trenchcoat. Its long, thin belt dangled freely in the air. Messy bangs and oversized sunglasses obscured most of the young man’s face, revealing only his slightly raised lips.
A black choker two finger-widths wide concealed his Adam’s apple.
Despite asking where this person was, the young man proceeded to casually turn his head, his gaze piercing straight through his sunglasses and into the boss.
His purpose in coming here was clear.
The boss, aka Hua Yizhi, slowly rose. The lighter twirled once around his slender fingertips before being set down. A brilliant smile lit up his features.
“It seems our esteemed guest here has quite the temper.” He gestured politely for the young man to follow him to the next room.
The young man strolled right in without any hesitation.
Perhaps he had no reason to be wary. After all, the fact that he was still alive in the boss’ domain meant he was an even stronger ability user than the boss!
No one would dare to provoke these great powers, not when the price would be their life.
In this world, ability users could kill without consequence.
The door shut, bringing this mysterious interlude to a close. It was business as usual at the casino after a beat of silence.
Only two employees came to remove the broken door and install a new one.
Soon, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
…
A lone kerosene lamp was the only source of light in the dim room. After turning and taking a seat behind the desk, the boss invited his guest to sit across from him.
This was the casino’s secret, the place of operation for the boss’ second profession.
Not only was he the owner of a casino, he was also a part-time information broker on the side.
The codeword related to his second profession? That name, Hua Yizhi.
“Please have a seat, esteemed guest.”
The young man rejected the tea offered with a wave of his hand.
The dark-haired young man glanced at the air before stating, “I want the location of ‘Tang’.”
There was a countdown only he could see in midair.
[Item [Immunity Ability (3 min)] countdown: 01:12]
The young man…no, ‘he’ was not the powerhouse others believed him to be, just like she was not a man at all.
In contrast to her feigned casual arrogance, all the hairs on Li Li’s body were standing on end.
The boss in front of her was smiling faintly, without showing any emotion. Was he fooled by her act or not?
He was an established mid-rank ability user in the manhua ‘Beyond Black and White’, a troublesome domain-type. The entire casino fell within his control.
Unfortunately for Li Li, she had just been dumped in this world without an ability, basically making her a sitting duck.
Li Li had been in the ordinary, scientific real world just an hour earlier.
She died of overwork after cramming on her thesis for three nights straight.
Thankfully, the system found her and let her experience the unique sensation of her body cooling down.
[Hello. This system will be able to grant you a second chance at life.]
“What’s the catch?” Li Li knew well enough to ask.
She didn’t believe in free lunches. If you wanted something, you had to be prepared to pay the price.
The system didn’t beat around the bush either.
[This system is dedicated solely to the manhua ‘Beyond Black and White’. There will be an equivalent exchange to this transaction.]
[You may need to transmigrate into the world of ‘Beyond Black and White’ once a day, and use the popularity you accumulate inside the manhua to exchange for survival points.]
[The system will provide assistance for the initial week, after which you must rely on your own efforts.]
[High popularity can be exchanged for survival points, which can be used to extend the duration of your resurrection.]
Li Li has read the manhua mentioned by the system before. Her roommate was a loyal fan who often roped her into writing fanfics.
The manhua was set in an imperialistic setting. There were powerful forces who sheltered the royal family, aristocrats who could pass down abilities from generation to generation, the Ability User Association that only protected low-rank ability users in name while secretly answering to the aristocrats, and rogue powerhouses unbeholden to anyone. These factions made up the upper echelon of this world.
In the manhua, the strong exploited the weak and power was concentrated in the hands of the upper class. Might made right was the only truth in this lawless world. Stronger ability users exploited their weaker counterparts, leading to their lives being even worse than unpowered civilians.
The protagonist was faced with countless challenges as he grew up in the cruel world, searching for any trace of his adoptive father. The sun might shine in the places his journey took him to, yet white bones still piled up in the shadows.
A shiver suddenly ran down Li Li’s spine. If the system could contact her, it could contact other people. Just how many people from the real world were running about in this manhua?
They weren’t talking about a slice-of-life comedy here, but a manhua where people die when they are killed.
Have people already died in that world before her?
“Are there others besides me there?” Li Li asked.
[Please feel free to search for the answer yourself.]
Li Li instinctively tried to tap her index finger before she remembered she was already dead.
Honestly, this feeling was the worst.
Li Li knew she had no other choice. If she refused, her roommate would find her body in bed tomorrow morning. Then a story like ‘Another Student Dead at xx University’ would circulate around the school forums or the tabloids. Maybe someone would use her death to critique modern university students. Maybe she wouldn’t even make it onto the tabloids and would forever be referred to as ‘Dead Student A’.
No one would ever understand her thoughts, her goals or who she could have become.
Despite knowing that she wouldn’t be around to care by then, Li Li didn’t want to just die like this.
Knowing full well this was tantamount to entrapment, she said, “I’ll do it.”
She didn’t know what was in store for her, but it couldn’t possibly be worse than dying now.
She had to take the gamble no matter what.
The system’s cold, synthesized voice announced the conclusion of the transaction.
[Transaction complete. Preparing for initial transmigration.]
[Channel established. May you become a popular character who breathes new life into the manhua.]
…
Back to the present, where Li Li was coldly staring down the boss. She appeared extremely arrogant with one leg crossed over the other as she leaned back in her chair.
Yet at the same time, her heart threatened to beat out of her chest as adrenaline surged through her veins.
She had never told bold faced lies like this in all her 19 years of life. Not to mention the subject of her deception was a mid-rank ability user from a manhua who had taken countless lives.
She knew she couldn’t appear tense or her cover would be blown.
She couldn’t show any weakness.
“‘Tang’?” The boss chuckled after a moment of thought, “It seems our esteemed guest is well-informed.”
The boss had a habit of drawling his words like people did in the old days.
Yet this vocal tic was quickly becoming the final nail in Li Li’s coffin. The slower he spoke, the less time she had left.
The item she was using was her sole means of leverage.
The system’s so-called ‘assistance’ amounted to nothing more than a mall. Yes, there was indeed a wide selection of items inside, but the only accepted currency was survival points.
This item cost her all of her initial funds. In other words, she couldn’t afford a second item.
If she lost this gamble, she would die. There would be no second chances.
No matter how calm she was, this was Li Li’s first time taking part in underground dealings.
After all, she was just an ordinary student before any of this happened.
“You don’t know?” Li Li’s tone rose slightly.
She knew the boss knew, because the manhua’s protagonist heard it from this guy.
Yet the boss just drawled, “Integrity is the backbone of my line of work. I’ve already sold the intel to another individual.”
“Where is this individual then?” Li Li pursued.
The gears in her head turned madly thanks to all the adrenaline. The sunglasses obscuring half of her face hammered home the genuine nature of her frozen smile.
Yet…
“You seem to be in quite the hurry, esteemed guest.” The boss suddenly commented.
Li Li startled.
She knew the consequences of being exposed from the manhua. She would fall and shatter like glass, becoming a temporary scarlet stain on the casino’s dark flooring.
As a mid-rank ability user and the information broker of the area, the boss was no good samaritan.
He would kill anyone who dared to offend him.
There were only 43 seconds left. Leaving the casino without arousing suspicions would take 30, meaning Li Li only had 13 seconds left.
12 seconds now.
She straightened, setting down her crossed leg with a weighted thump.
“Are you interested in my motives?” Her words were laced with mocking, “Or do you just not want to spill the beans?”
Li Li felt like she was outputting all of the acting skills she had in life in this moment.
Was she scared? Of course, but she had no other choice.
The seconds ticked by. The boss’ faint smile remained in place like a mask.
She couldn’t decipher what, if anything, lay beneath. Her heart beat out a staccato rhythm in her chest.
The voice giving the item countdown rang in her ears.
Eight seconds left.
Seven.
Six.
…
One.
It was too late.
The only way to potentially survive was to kill the boss in the remaining 30 seconds and make a run for it!
A trace of madness surfaced in Li Li’s pitch black eyes.
At the same time, the boss spoke.
“Please don’t be angry, esteemed guest.”
The suffocating atmosphere seemed to dissipate at once.
The boss stood up in his Tang Dynasty robes, a devilish smile playing on his lips. He retrieved a piece of paper and leaned over to write down an address.
“Take this as my apology.” He continued after handing over the paper, “And a word of advice: there are many old monsters lurking in this city. You are still young, sir. It may do you good to somewhat restrain your killing intent.”
Li Li put the paper away and walked right out like she wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
She had 20 seconds to leave this casino for safety.
She pushed the door open with 15 seconds remaining.
The boss kept speaking behind her, “Too many people have found their resting place here.”
Five seconds to go. She turned and headed for the repaired main entrance.
“And…” The boss’ voice travelled over from behind.
With one second to spare, she crossed the threshold.
“Welcome…to ‘Desolate Dragon’.”
A system prompt popped up just as Li Li left the casino.
[Item [Immunity Ability (3 min)] countdown: 00:00]
Li Li left this place posthaste, melding into the darkness.
…
[Establishing channel… Welcome back to the real world.]
