New Novel: Seeking Immortality in a World Overrun by Demons

Sorry, the pursuit has collapsed and I didn’t advance to the third round.

I’m a professional writer, and I rely on writing to make a living. If I keep going without results, I’ll starve.

One hundred thirty thousand words!

The passion of the New Year has been buried; these past few days, my spirits have been low and I’ve felt awful.

Life must go on.

I’ll pull myself together and fight once more.

I feel the setup of this book was decent, but the plot was poorly handled—jumping back and forth, digging holes too deep, and ultimately too capricious, losing its stickiness. My writing just wasn’t strong enough to control it.

To those readers who have always supported me, I can only say I’m sorry.

Bow!

Once again, apologies!

And may you all have a wonderful New Year, may everything go your way, and your families stay healthy!

I’ve started a new book—something of an alternative simulation. Here is the first chapter; if you’re interested, please have a look.

Title: Surviving for Immortality in a World of Demons

Synopsis:

Jiang Ping’an has transmigrated, and is currently pinned to the ground by a wolf demon. The beast’s bloody maw is gaping, its eyes hungry, strands of fresh meat still caught between its fangs, and fetid saliva trickling from its mouth.

He’s thinking: should I feign unconsciousness and gamble for my life, or bite it one last time before I die?

Just then, Jiang Ping’an activates the Fate System.

He can consume lifespan to simulate the future.

But one year of life only reveals the next day.

Jiang Ping’an...

[Remember: When you toy with fate, its threads are already wrapped around you.]

Main Text:

Chapter One: Fate Begins

When you toy with fate, its threads are already wrapped around you.

...

“What’s going on here?”

Jiang Ping’an rubbed his eyes and looked again. Still, a wolf stood before him.

Yes, a wolf.

A huge one, at least a meter tall, looming above him.

Its bloody jaws opened, exhaling a foul stench, viscous saliva dripping from the corners, streaked with blood.

Strands of crimson meat were caught between its teeth.

A strange aura lingered in his heart, making him shudder in fear.

Jiang Ping’an remembered—it was nearly the end of the year, time to meet old classmates, brag at the dinner table about how much money he’d made, how many women he’d slept with, how many sacks he’d carried, and then—drunk, dizzy...

And now, in the blink of an eye, he was here.

“You actually pissed yourself. Dirtying my food,”

The giant wolf suddenly spoke, disdainful.

It raised a paw, claws sharp as daggers, scraping between its teeth to flick out the meat strands.

“You, you, you...”

Jiang Ping’an stared, wide-eyed.

It spoke?

A wolf demon?

Transmigrated?

About to become food?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and suddenly, memories that weren’t his own surged in, like a hammer pounding his brain, making him clutch his head and cry out in pain.

“Lost your mind? These little brats are getting worse and worse.”

The giant wolf turned away, sauntering toward a small grove nearby, where it had built a house.

A long while later, Jiang Ping’an calmed.

The confusion faded from his eyes.

I am Jiang Ping’an, from a broken little planet called Blue Star.

I am also Jiang Ping’an—my parents died young, now eighteen. Here, demons eat humans, government lords are aloof, corrupt officials run rampant, gangs dominate, and the people struggle to survive.

“I am Jiang Ping’an!”

He steadied himself.

He had the wisdom of his past life, and the memories of this one.

Was it awakening latent knowledge, or the fusion after transmigration? Hard to say.

But right now...

Jiang Ping’an quickly scrambled up, glanced down—his dirty pants were wet, reeking of urine.

He looked displeased.

He saw a large wooden bucket nearby, picked it up, and ran.

According to his memories, he went to the kitchen, put the bucket down.

“Ping’an, wet yourself?” Aunt Zhang teased when she saw him.

Jiang Ping’an forced a grim smile.

“Good to be back alive. Go change your clothes and get some sleep!” Aunt Zhang said.

“Mm,” Jiang Ping’an replied.

Aunt Zhang was the kitchen helper.

The bucket of meat for the wolf demon was chopped by her.

Just as he stepped out, a young man was waiting outside, glanced at his lower half, smiled, and waved, “Ping’an, the captain wants to see you.”

“Okay, Brother Ma!” Jiang Ping’an hurried after him.

He now understood his situation.

This was Shanyang County, backed by three thousand kilometers of misty mountains, where beasts and demon attacks were frequent.

The city was in chaos.

From memory, the officials only cared for power and pleasure, taking money and enjoying themselves, ignoring everything else.

There were four gangs.

An orphan, his “previous self” lived a hard life, often hungry, sometimes full. His neighbor Jiang Dachuan had joined the Blue Wolf Gang, rising to squad captain.

Unable to survive, Jiang Ping’an followed Jiang Dachuan in.

It was decent.

But in a recent clash with the Giant Dragon Gang, his patron was killed in the street, his family wiped out, and he lost support. The new captain often made trouble for him.

Like sending him to feed the wolf demon—ordinarily not his turn, but now he was sent.

“Caged beasts get a meal a day, and every three days, they eat a person. This world...”

It’s beyond darkness.

“Sigh, the future is bleak—no, there is no future!”

Jiang Ping’an despaired.

In this environment, the future truly was invisible.

Joining the Blue Wolf Gang, you couldn’t leave unless you became wolf demon dung.

The room had more than ten people; as he entered, all stared coldly.

Two or three flashed conflicted looks.

“Leader Yang, you wanted me?” Jiang Ping’an bowed low to the young man at the head.

“Tomorrow, you’ll deliver the meat again,” Yang Dalin said, expressionless.

“Boss, I just delivered it today,” Jiang Ping’an protested.

“What, you dislike Lord Wolf?” Yang Dalin snorted.

“No, no, Boss, today I was scared out of my wits—if I mess up tomorrow, won’t that cause trouble for you?”

“So you mean Lord Wolf is terrifying?”

“Boss...”

“Enough. Deliver on time tomorrow—you know the consequences if you’re late. Go on, eat, drink, rest well tonight!”

Yang Dalin waved him off.

Jiang Ping’an said no more and retreated.

From start to finish, not one person spoke for him—even those he got on well with.

“They’re trying to kill me!”

Jiang Ping’an understood perfectly.

Those who feed the wolf demon often get eaten themselves.

“I need to find a way to kill him!”

A flash of ruthlessness crossed his face.

He glanced up; the warm slanting sun showed he had little time left.

He decided to return to his lodgings.

This was a large manor, the Blue Wolf Gang’s headquarters; his division, Wind Hall, was on the west side, with many rest areas for members, but most could only stay in communal bunks or go home.

He, of course, had a place in the big dormitory.

Opening the door, the stench of mildew and foot odor hit him, nearly making him retch.

A glance revealed a huge bed, bedding strewn everywhere, shoes scattered across the floor.

“This place...”

Jiang Ping’an wanted to leave, but suddenly—a screen appeared before him, and streams of information flooded his mind.

“System? Fate System!”

He could barely contain his joy.

“When the road ends, a new path appears; just when hope fades, light returns. Heaven finally gives me a way out!”

Jiang Ping’an strode in, closing the door behind him.

No one would return at this hour.

He sat on the edge of the bed, eyes gleaming as personal information appeared again.

Name: Jiang Ping’an

Age: 18/38

Mark: None

As simple as could be.

“I can only live to thirty-eight?”

Jiang Ping’an grimaced; the first number was his current age, the second was his maximum lifespan.

“Is it because I burned myself out before?”

Previously, he’d often gone hungry, fought dogs for food, and since joining the Blue Wolf Gang had been in countless brawls...

Sigh...

Jiang Ping’an sighed.

As for the mark?

He already understood.

The system’s function was simple: to simulate the future, and mark the beings involved.

Consume one year of life to simulate one day of his own future.

Jiang Ping’an felt like cursing.

A year of life for one day’s information, and only about himself?

Anyone who takes that deal is an idiot.

“Simulate a year—no, just a day!”

Jiang Ping’an wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

One year less? He might die tomorrow, so why worry about lifespan?

Idiot it is!

The next moment, Jiang Ping’an’s vision blurred.

He seemed to enter another world, saw another self, and slipped inside—felt everything, but couldn’t control the body.

A passive observer.

Time rushed by.

[On December 26th, Year 818 of the Great Yu Calendar, you learn that Captain Yang Dalin wants you to feed the wolf demon again tomorrow, and realize he intends to kill you. You plan to kill him first.]

[You know Ma Guang next door has hidden a short sword under his bunk. You sneak over and take it, hiding it in your clothes, waiting for nightfall.]

[After dinner, you wander the manor, chatting with acquaintances, subtly probing about Yang Dalin.]

[You discover Yang Dalin left at dusk, not returning home, but visiting his mistress. It’s now exactly dusk.]

[You know the place—Yang Dalin often boasts to you about how gentle and satisfying she is.]

[At nightfall, you arrive.]

[The weather is cold, your clothes thin, shivering in the wind, you know you can’t wait. You climb the wall, rousing Yang Dalin, who instantly sees your intent.]

[‘You little chick, think you can kill me?’ Yang Dalin mocks, then kicks you flying. Your chest bone breaks, piercing your organs.]

[You spit blood, see Yang Dalin’s mistress emerge, gaze at her one last time, thinking ‘she really is satisfying.’ You die.]

Jiang Ping’an’s mind snapped back to his body, dazed.

He had just experienced a death he hadn’t yet lived.

It was very real.

His chest still ached.

Then, a voice sounded in his mind.

[Mark now? Reminder: Once you mark, you stir the rhythm of fate—unless you erase the mark’s destiny, you will suffer fate’s backlash.]

[You may abandon the mark, but gain nothing; or continue to consume life to simulate the future.]

[Reminder: Until a mark event is resolved, you cannot simulate further.]

PS: Please support me, and once again, best wishes for a happy New Year, family joy, and health.

With respect!