The hospital room was very quiet. Only the beep of the heart monitor could be heard. White walls surrounded the small bed near the window. Sunlight came through the window and fell on the boy's face.
Vanzen lay on the bed. His body was thin and weak. His skin looked pale, almost like paper. Tubes were connected to his arm. His parents left him to die but fortunately he was accepted by an orphanage . He met new people, made friends and learned how to live life with a smile.
But his eyes were not empty.
They were bright and full of life as he read a novel. His fingers slowly turned each page. Sometimes he smiled. Sometimes his eyes became serious, as if he was inside the story.
The door opened quietly.
A man in a white coat walked inside. His name was Dr. Kai. He was tall and neat. His face looked calm but his eyes filled with sadness. He and Vanzen grew up in the same orphanage. They spend time together, like brothers.
Dr. Kai closed the door and walked to the bed.
"Hey, Vanzen," he said gently.
"How do you feel now?"
Vanzen lifted his head slowly. His lips curved into a weak smile.
"A bit tired, bro," Vanzen said softly.
"But I'm okay."
Dr. Kai sat on the edge of the bed beside him. He looked at Vanzen's thin face and weak body. His heart felt heavy. He placed his hand on Vanzen's shoulder. His fingers trembled slightly.
"Bother, I'm sorry" Dr. Kai said in a low voice.
"I can't save you."
The room became silent.
Vanzen did not look scared. Instead, he smiled even more. His eyes were calm and warm. He lifted the novel in his hand.
"Don't worry, bro," Vanzen said.
"Just bring me the next volume of this book. I want to finish the story."
Dr. Kai stared at him for a moment. Then he laughed softly but his eyes filled with tears. He quickly wiped them away and nodded.
"Got it buddy," he said.
"Always a dreamer."
They stayed there quietly.
One boy on a hospital bed.
One doctor was sitting beside him.
Two brothers from the same orphanage, sharing their last peaceful moment together.
The sunlight slowly moved across the floor. The machine kept beeping. And the pages of the book softly rustled in Vanzen's hands.
The machine beside Vanzen's bed suddenly made a long, sharp sound.
Beep————
His fingers became relax, gripe on novel loose then novel slipped from his hand and fell onto the bed with a soft thud.
His eyes stayed open for a moment, still peaceful, like he was just lost in the story.
Then the light inside them faded. Vanzen was gone.
Dr. Kai was frozen when he saw the machine and Vanzen's heartbeat stopped.
Kai's heart beating fast, the room felt empty and quiet.
Memories rushed inside his mind of the past how they used to be—two orphan boys sharing stolen bread under the stars, laughing at silly dreams. Vanzen is always the one with big stories and eyes full of fire. Now that fire was out.
His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms. Anger burned hot—why him? Why do you leave me alone? But it melted into a heavy ache, like stones piling on his chest. He couldn't breathe right. His lips trembled, he tried to say something but words were stuck in his throat. Tears coming out from his eyes.
After a long silent moment in the room Dr. Kai walked towards him. He leaned down beside him, his fingers shaking as he gently closed Vanzen's eyes. The skin was still warm, but life was gone. Forever.
"Rest In Peace, brother…" he whispered, voice cracking like dry leaves. One tear fell on Vanzen's hand. Dr. Kai sat there, holding it, the beep still echoing.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Vanzen felt like he was falling into a deep space and endless void. There was no pain. No sound. Nobody. Just silence, thick and cold, wrapping around his thoughts until they faded too.
Suddenly—
Light exploded in front of him; it's bright as the sun.
His eyes snapped open.
He started taking a deep breath in and out, and started coughing hard. His chest felt strong and warm. His arms moved freely, muscles firm and alive—no more weak hospital limbs.
"I… I'm alive?" he whispered.
He sat up quickly.
He was no longer in a hospital room and his body feels better now it's no longer the body of a patient.
He was sitting on a large wooden bed inside a beautiful luxury room. Red silk curtains hung from the ceiling and swayed gently.
The smell was filled with fresh flowers and sweet incense in the air.
Painting gold patterns on stone floors. This wasn't Earth. This was... somewhere else. A new world?
Vanzen looked at his hands.
They weren't thin and weak anymore. No bony fingers or pale skin. These were strong, healthy, young—like a warrior's grip, veins pulsing with fresh power.
His heart started beating fast, thumping wild against his ribs.
"What… where am I?" he muttered, voice echoing off the stone walls.
Suddenly, a sharp pain hit his head—like a hammer cracking his skull. Memories rushed in like a flood, wild and unstoppable.Names. Faces. Places. Cultivation. Sect rules. Qi flows. Meridian paths. Battles in misty mountains.
A life cut short by betrayal—a poison dagger in the dark.He grabbed his head and groaned, knees buckling as he dropped to the floor.
The room spun, incense turning sour in his nose. It hurt like fire, burning through his brain.After a few seconds, the pain slowly faded, leaving him panting.
His eyes widened in shock.
"This body… this identity…"
He knew this person. Every detail. The face in the mirror across the room—sharp jaw, dark hair, arrogant smirk. Not his old self.
This wasn't Earth. This was the novel he was reading before he died. Heavenly Path of Eternal Cultivation. Chapters 247, right where he left off.
He had been reborn as the side villain character.
A character who died miserably in the story. Chopped up, forgotten trash.
His name in this world was Yan Zhen.
Yan Zhen was the personal disciple of the sect leader—a beautiful widow known as Madam Xue. She was cold as winter frost, noble like a queen, admired by countless men in the sect. Long black hair, eyes like sharp jade, robes hugging her graceful figure. Untouchable.
She also had a daughter.
Her daughter was the future heroine of the novel—Xue Lian, kind-hearted, insanely talented, loved by fate itself. Gentle smiles, sky-high potential, destined for the peak.
And Yan Zhen…
He was engaged to her. Forced betrothal, a power play.
In the original story, Yan Zhen was arrogant, jealous, and plain stupid. Bullied the weak, tried to cage Xue Lian like a pet, offended the main hero—a trash-turned-genius named Lin Feng. Ended up killed like a dog, meridians shattered, begging in the dirt.
"No way," Yan Zhen muttered to himself, fists clenching. "Not this time. I know the plot. I read it all." He paced the room, red curtains whispering. Heart raced—fear mixed with fire. "Villain? Screw that. I'm rewriting this shit."
A knock echoed at the door. Voices outside. Time to play the part... or break it.
Outside the room, soft footsteps approached—light, like silk on stone.
A gentle female voice spoke from beyond the door, warm yet elegant.
"Zhen'er, are you awake?"
Yan Zhen's heart skipped a beat—bam, hard against his chest.
That voice…
It belonged to his beautiful master, Madam Xue. The sect leader. Cold beauty from the novel, but right now, her tone held real worry. He could picture her: jade hairpin holding up raven hair, crimson robes flowing like blood, eyes that pierced souls.
Sweat beaded on his forehead. Shit. The story's kicking off. In the book, this was scene 248—her checking on "sick" Yan Zhen after his "breakthrough coma." One wrong word, and he'd tip her off. Or worse, trigger the plot.
He cleared his throat, forcing the old Yan Zhen's cocky drawl. "Master... yes. Come in."
The door creaked open. There she stood, the fragrance of lotus and frost hitting him first. Her gaze locked on—sharp, searching. "You slept three days. How do you feel?"
Yan Zhen lifted his eyes and truly looked at his master.
Madam Xue stood near the door, sunlight falling on her calm face. Her long black hair flowed behind her shoulders. Her robes moved softly with the air. She looked gentle, yet powerful — like a quiet mountain hiding deep strength.
In the novel, she was known as the cold widow of the sect. Distant. Untouchable. No man dared to approach her.
But standing this close, Yan Zhen could clearly feel her presence. Her beauty was not soft and childish like her daughter's. It was mature, steady, and dignified. Every small movement carried grace.
His heartbeat slowly quickened.
If I ever get the chance… he thought quietly, eyes narrowing with interest.
I would marry her. Not her daughter.
The heroine, Xue Lian, was kind and pure — the type loved by fate. But Madam Xue was different. Strong. Calm. Experienced. A woman who had seen the world and still stood proudly.
Why follow the story's engagement? Yan Zhen smirked inside. If I'm changing fate anyway, why not aim higher?
He quickly controlled his expression.
Calm down. One wrong move and you'll die like the original fool.
Madam Xue noticed his silence. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him.
"Zhen'er," she said calmly. "Your presence feels different today. Are you feeling unwell?"
Yan Zhen straightened his back and gave a respectful smile.
"I feel very good, Master," he replied smoothly.
"My mind is clear. I want to cultivate harder and serve the sect better."
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, sharp and thoughtful.
"Good," she said. "Then prepare yourself. Training begins at dawn."
She turned and walked away, her robes flowing like soft waves.
Yan Zhen watched her leave, a confident smile slowly forming on his lips.
This life… will be interesting.