haytham_

I died as a hardcore gamer, only to open my eyes in a cultivation fantasy I once played. Not as the hero. Not even as a helpful mentor. or a big villian... But as the cannon fodder destined to die before the first act even concludes.
I recognize this world instantly—the sprawling mansions of nobility, the immortal sects hidden in misty mountains, the power hierarchy where cultivators stand above common folk. I've played through this story dozens of times, defeated every hidden boss, unlocked every secret ending. And now I'm trapped inside it, wearing the skin of the game's first villain.
My position? The worthless young master of a prestigious family, universally despised yet secretly possessing a dormant bloodline that nobody in-game ever discovered because this character dies too quickly.
But something is wrong. Characters are behaving differently than they did in the game. Events are unfolding in unexpected ways. The cold beauty who should immediately despise me seems strangely interested in my skills. The vixen villianess who orchestrated my demise now studies me with curiosity.
Is my presence changing the storyline? Or was there always more to this world than what players could see through their screens?
With each deviation from the script I memorized, my meta-knowledge becomes less reliable. Yet it remains my greatest weapon as I navigate political intrigue, forge unlikely alliances, and desperately work to awaken powers that were never meant to be unlocked by a character designed only to die.
I refuse to be expendable. I reject the role assigned to me. In a world where destiny is supposedly predetermined, I will rewrite the algorithm itself—or break the entire system trying.

Reborn As A Villainous Cannon Fodder

In Yino's version of events, it all started with Liuli kidnapping Ruoning.

According to Yino, he and Ruoning were childhood sweethearts with a marriage contract, so they'd stayed together since entering Azure Forest. He'd been present when Liuli kidnapped Ruoning.

He chased Liuli to save Ruoning, following her deep into Azure Forest to the ancient hall beneath the thousand-year tree where the ancient tree demon was sealed. They fought continuously in the hall, but Liuli proved too strong for Yino to gain the upper hand.

Midway through the battle, Xumo showed up uninvited. Claiming he'd also save Ruoning, he joined forces with Yino against Liuli. But just as they were about to overwhelm her, her corruption array activated. The ancient tree demon turned dark and broke free, its terrifying abyssal energy blasting away the righteous cultivators in the hall.

Ch 231 - Social Graces, But Someone Seems to Be Speaking Against Unity?