The Strangers - Across the Silent Heartbeat - Chapter 19: Pongal Festival

Synopsis: Apocalypse King: The Return of LucianLucian died in the apocalypse—betrayed, powerless, and consumed by the undead. But fate gave him a second chance. Reborn one month before the end, he awakens with future knowledge, an overpowered system, and a ruthless new personality.This time, he will not be weak. This time, he will rule.With Infinite Storage, he stockpiles weapons, food, and everything necessary to survive the apocalypse. Winning the $3 billion lottery, he builds an impenetrable super shelter, reinforced with military technology, luxury, and high-tech defenses. Using his Beauty Evaluation System, he gathers only the most stunning women—90+ points or higher—into his harem, ensuring their unwavering loyalty.As zombies evolve, superpowers awaken, and the world crumbles into madness, Lucian will steal, conquer, and dominate.No gods. No heroes. Only the Apocalypse King.A brutal, R18+ tale of survival, power, and harem in a world where the strong take everything.

Zhao Yelan was born as a criminal s*ave and was rescued by the Third Prince. After years of painstaking efforts to put him on the throne, Zhao Yelan became a sycophantic minister whom everyone detested, but he was actually given a marriage by that person to general Yan Mingting, the lone star of Tiansha.

The general caused the death of his father, his mother, his wife, and his dog. Everyone hoped that the general would kill Zhao Yelan as soon as possible.

On the wedding night, Zhao Yelan, who was dressed in red, took out a dagger, his eyes sharp: “What do you want?”

Yan Mingting held his hand tightly, and borrowed his dagger to carve a large character on the head of the bed – – Early.

“You’re weak and frail, get up early every day and practice horse stance with me!”

“?”

The common people thought this marriage was truly wonderful!

They heard that this big minister was beaten every day. He had to repair the roof tiles when the house leaked and also work in the kitchen. He served his husband and was very obedient, and from then on, he didn’t dare condemn people.

Hey, the general was truly mighty!

Zhao Yelan sat lazily by the bed, playing with the dagger, and raised the ends of his eyes slightly: “Where did these rumors come from?”

“From my dog’s mouth.” Yan Mingting, who was in horse stance, patted his thigh. “Madam, please take the seat of honor. You don’t have to get up early tomorrow.”

- Description from Novelupdates

Humiliated by her ex-boyfriend's mother, Song Qiao was forced to end her first love. Facing the cold sarcasm from her half-sister, on the street in a fit of anger, she randomly grabbed a man, “Sir, do you have a girlfriend? If not, let's get married!”The man squinted at her and nodded, “Sure!”Marrying Lu Jingchen, Song Qiao received the utmost pampering, but just when she was falling for it, she discovered the reason behind everything...Five years later, Song Qiao made a strong return. Just as she stepped into An City's international airport, she was directly apprehended, and she was greeted with the squinting smile of a man, “Mrs. Lu, after traveling for five years, have you missed me and our son?”However, Song Qiao remained unfazed, her red lips slightly parted, “Sorry, Mr. Lu, we are already divorced. Please call me ex-wife!”The man was indifferent, pulling her into his arms, “I haven't signed the divorce agreement, and I haven't gone through the divorce procedures. How could there be an ex-wife to talk about?”

What if being the protagonist was actually the WORST possible choice?Li Hanfeng thought he'd gotten the short end of the reincarnation stick—transmigrated into a cultivation world with “only” Upper Grade spiritual roots. Sure, he joined the prestigious Shushan Sect, but compared to those Heavenly Grade chosen ones? He was clearly destined to be a background character.Then his golden finger awakened.The Karma Detection System.Suddenly, Li Hanfeng could see the true cost of every “opportunity” before him. That mysterious cave everyone's excited about?[Great Karma: Ancient Tomb][Death Rate: 97%].The beautiful junior sister asking him on a “simple” mission?[Path of Destiny][Triggers: Sect Destruction, Heavenly Tribulation, Outer Domain Demons].Wait... being the protagonist means a 90% chance of horrible death?!NOPE.While other disciples fight over “destiny” and “fortune,” Li Hanfeng discovers something incredible: his system doesn't just detect karma—it “rewards him for avoiding it”. Refuse a death flag mission? Get premium cultivation pills! Skip the mysterious inheritance? Unlock rare techniques! Dodge the protagonist route entirely?His cultivation speed actually INCREASES.“Junior Sister, I'm busy that day.”“Senior Brother, that treasure isn't for me.”“Sorry everyone, I'll pass on saving the world.”[Karma Severed Successfully! Reward: Immortal-Grade Technique]But there's a problem: the more protagonist flags he dodges, the stronger he becomes. And the stronger he becomes, the more the world tries to drag him into main character scenarios.Ancient masters want him as a disciple. Mysterious beauties keep appearing. Evil sects mark him as a threat. Even his own karma system seems shocked by how overpowered his “background character” route is becoming.Li Hanfeng just wanted to cultivate peacefully and avoid death flags.Instead, he accidentally became the most terrifying existence in the cultivation world.The kind of person who's so strong that destiny itself has given up trying to make him the protagonist.