The Sword and The Shadow - Chapter 6 – Becoming a Mercenary

After dying in a car accident, Lin Chu Xia awakens to find herself returned to the age of twenty, the year she was supposed to be married, along with her elder sister Lin Jia Yi who has also been reborn. The first thing her sister does is snatch away the man she was once married to, who in her previous life was extremely wealthy. Not only that, Lin Jia Yi insists on giving Lin Chu Xia her own apathetic and workaholic husband from the past life who rarely returned home.Lin Chu Xia laughs, as this arrangement suits her just fine, hoping her kind sister does not regret her decision. She's curious to see if her indifferent ex-husband can rise to be the highly pursued President Li without her. As for herself, armed with full skills and a space ability, she doesn’t mind the lack of parental love, because her in-laws are there to dote on her. She starts businesses and factories, living a life that becomes more prosperous by the day.As for that workaholic husband who barely comes home twice a year? It doesn’t matter to her, as long as it doesn't interfere with her money-making, she’s content to be his invisible woman in the background....Qin Yang, compelled by his mother’s heartfelt words, returns home to marry a young bride. A man who prioritizes work over family, he thinks providing money is fulfilling his duty as a husband. However, he discovers that his wife has more money, a larger presence, broader connections, and is adored by everyone she meets—leaving him in a daze.Between clenched teeth, Qin Yang decides: If money won’t work, he’ll leave her with kids!

In a world torn apart by rifts that release dangerous monsters, Espers—humans imbued with powerful abilities—serve as humanity's last line of defense. But the power of an Esper comes with a price. Overuse of their abilities leads to dangerous corruption, a force that can destroy them from the inside out. This is where Guides come in: individuals with the unique ability to calm the corruption within Espers and restore their balance.Rowan Mercer, an S-class Guide, is one of the best in his field, capable of stabilizing even the most dangerous Espers. He has worked quietly behind the scenes, helping those in need, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he is called to work with Lucian Vaughn, an S-class Esper whose immense power and unstable corruption levels make him a dangerous threat to himself and others.Lucian, a tall, stoic, and enigmatic figure, has long fought against the growing corruption within him. At first, his relationship with Rowan is purely professional—Rowan as his Guide, helping him to stay in control. However, as their interactions grow more frequent, their bond deepens in ways neither expected. What started as a simple duty soon turns into a complex relationship where power, trust, and vulnerability collide.As the world around them faces escalating threats from rifts, Rowan and Lucian must navigate not only their personal challenges but also the dangerous world of Espers and Guides. Their bond will be tested as they fight together against the corrupting forces that threaten them both.In Corrupted Bonds, survival isn’t just about battling monsters from the rifts—it's about fighting the darkness within themselves and finding a way to stay connected in a world that’s constantly pulling them apart.

He was very happy to be reborn, but why was he sixteen again, he can’t bear to look back at that time.

Why does he return to being sixteen years old, yet still meet Doomsday?

It’s alright to encounter the end of the world, so why did he have to fall in love with someone?

Even if he falls in love with another person, why did it have to be a man?

Falling in love with a man is also alright, so why did it need to be a secret one-sided love?

Even a secret and unrequited love is alright, so why is that man his….

- Description from Novelupdates

Without noticing it, a man called Bill passed away, but then he realized that his life wouldn’t end that way and soon he was reborn as Billy in another world. Billy was already satisfied enough that he retained his memories, but the surprises didn’t end there. He was born with a weird power that granted him the chance to convert mana into experience points and transmit it to all sorts of things.

Things were looking pretty good until he noticed that he was born in an impoverished and rustic village that was facing their imminent extinction in the hands of creatures that he had never heard of before and other tribes that had all sorts of abilities. Before he could learn how even to crawl, Billy had to find a way to help his tribe. Otherwise, they will be annihilated before he can even become strong enough to stand.

Billy’s journey will be much different than he had imagined. Much farther away from Earth than he had originally thought, Billy will have to adapt to a new environment where his tribe is at the bottom of the food chain. Will he be able to grow up safely and try to change things for the better for his new family and friends?