The Sweetness of the Seventies - Chapter 40 - Punching into Cotton_1

“What does it feel like to be a shadow?”People say it's bondage — the absence of light, of freedom. But what is freedom, really?The ability to choose whatever you want?Or... just a beautiful illusion masking the void?Strange question, I know.But you'll understand soon enough.Because my lives?They've always been a little... enlightening.— Kaiser

Adeline Smith's life took a sudden and dangerous turn when her grandmother’s will named her as the sole heir to her massive fortune, leaving her uncle with nothing. But the rules that came with the inheritance only made her a target, as her uncles would stop at nothing to claim what they believed should have been theirs.When one of her uncle’s murderous schemes left her gravely wounded and on the edge of death, she was found by Enzo Laureati, an annoying, yet breathtakingly handsome man. What she did not know was that Enzo was no ordinary man—he was a vampire prince who had abandoned his world and royal duties to live among humans just for fun.The moment he saw Adeline, he knew she was his mate, as his heart that had remained dormant for hundreds of years suddenly began beating. But despite knowing what she meant to him, he felt no love or attachment toward her.Out of curiosity, Enzo saved Adeline’s life and proposed an unusual deal: he would become her fake fiancé, help her expose her uncles for trying to murder her, and secure her inheritance. But he didn't propose this deal because he wanted to help her, but because he was simply bored. Adeline agreed, unaware of the chaos that was about to come her way.At first, their partnership was nothing more than a random deal. Living with Enzo wasn’t easy, as he was infuriatingly confident, annoyingly flirty, and had a knack for driving her crazy with his nonchalant attitude.When Adeline finally discovers who Enzo truly is, will she see him as a monster or the man who had always protected her from her uncles? And will Enzo be able to embrace their mate bond, or will secrets tear them apart?(PS: I'm not sure if one would consider this novel slow burn, but the REAL romance between my MC and ML begins at chapter 74.) Thank you so much for supporting my book!

[Host, host, I am the System, I can help you conquer the world and the witches with various personalities.]Xi Mu: Hmm... Isn't this an action game? When do we start slashing?[Right... This is an action game, but I suggest that the host also try to seduce the witches along the way, there are generous rewards.]Xi Mu: What rewards?[Of course, the perfect romantic experience!]Xi Mu: No need, I've already played through the romance plotlines. Now I just want to go on a rampage and speedrun the game.][...]

A litrpg kingdom builder set in a cultivation world.After meeting Truck-kun, Benton, a grandfather and an overall nice man, is transmigrated into the body of Chao Su in a brutal, might-makes-right cultivation world.Things could be worse. He is given choices that come with neat advantages, and his career in middle management gives him ample experience leading people. Those skills should translate to running a sect.Unfortunately, things aren't that simple. Benton quickly realizes that his plan to let his recruits fight for him won't work. He'll need to get up to speed on life in a cultivation world fast because danger is on the way. A beast tide threatens his new territory. Rival sects don't like the balance of power being upset. Worse, the demonic cultivators that destroyed Chao Su's prior sect are still out there.What to Expect:- This is not a cultivation story. The MC cannot cultivate and advances through cultivation realms by earning points from the System.- No artificial emphasis.- The MC makes decisions based on empathy and emotions, treating his sect members like he's their doting grandfather. He's not a typical Xianxia protagonist.- No sexual content or a harem.- M-W-F-Sa-Su with occasional bonus chapters- Average Chapter Length = Approximately 2,000 Words- MC goes from weak to strong to OP.- Though the story is not a comedy, the tone is mostly light, and it contains humorous elements.- There is some romance between side characters. There are no current plans for the MC to have a love interest. Just to be clear (and I'm only mentioning this because it's the internet and ... people), there is absolutely no possibility that the sixty-year-old isekai'd protagonist will develop a romantic relationship with any of his teenage disciples. He views them as his grandkids.- Minor swearing occasionally.