Novels by Margin

The golden streak of light that was Zhenkai Longrui slammed into the frost-covered earth of North Peak with the force of a falling star. The shockwave pulverized the mountain’s permafrost, sending a cloud of ice and gravel into the air. Before the dust could even settle, Zhenkai was already walking toward the towering, obsidian-black gates of the Lanyue secret estate.The gates were reinforced with modern carbon-fiber plating and ancient, glowing runes that hummed with a defensive frequency."Stop right there! This is private property! One more step and we open fire!"A dozen men in high-tech tactical gear, their visors glowing with thermal tracking, stepped out from the shadows of the guard towers. They weren't holding standard rifles; these were pulse-rifles powered by low-grade spirit stones."I’m not here for a tour," Zhenkai said, his voice echoing with a metallic resonance. "Open the gate, or I’ll use your heads to do it.""You’ve got a big mouth for a guy who’s about to get tur

The "bigger broom" Zhenkai had mentioned was currently leaning against the peeling wallpaper of a studio apartment in the city’s industrial district. It was a far cry from the Lanyue estate’s marble halls, but it was one of the few places not tied to his name, his face, or his past.Zhenkai hissed as he peeled the shredded silk of his tuxedo away from his shoulder. A piece of crystal from the chandelier had sliced deep into his deltoid, and the golden essence was sluggishly trying to knit the skin back together.[Ding!][System Note: Host’s current vitals are... disappointing. Would you like a list of local funeral directors, or shall we actually try to survive the night?]"Shut up," Zhenkai grunted, reaching for a bottle of cheap antiseptic. "I just took out a squad of Void Executioners and dropped a three-ton light fixture on my head. Give me a break."[System Warning: Pain tolerance detected at ‘Toddler Level.’ You have the blood of a Dragon and the backbone of a jellyfish. It was

The first Executioner moved like a shadow detached from its owner. His blade, humming with that sickening purple light, sliced through the air exactly where Zhenkai’s neck had been a millisecond before."Whoa! Watch it! You almost had my head off!" Zhenkai yelled, his voice cracking with a feigned, high-pitched panic.He didn’t parry. Instead, he seemed to trip over the shredded remains of a velvet curtain. As he fell, his shoulder slammed into the Executioner’s hip. It looked like a clumsy stumble, but the impact carried the weight of a runaway semi-truck."Ugh!" the assassin wheezed, his ribs shattering with a sound like dry kindling. He was sent flying backward, smashing through the railing and plummeting into the darkness of the main hall below."Zhenkai! Behind you!" Xueira screamed, clutching the doorway.Zhenkai spun around, his arms flailing. "I’m trying! Everything is slippery! Why is everything so slippery?"The two remaining Executioners didn't wait. They lunged in unison.

The ethereal dragon shadow slowly dissolved into the dim light of the lounge, leaving only the scent of ozone and the heavy weight of Zhenkai’s presence. He turned toward the French doors leading to a secluded, high-altitude balcony."The conversation is over, Xueira," Zhenkai said, his voice flat.He stepped out into the night air, but the clicking of heels followed him instantly. Before he could reach the railing, Xueira grabbed his arm and swung him around. She didn't let go. Instead, she pushed him back until his waist hit the stone balustrade, effectively trapping him between the city skyline and her desperate gaze."It is not over! You don't get to do... whatever that was, and then just walk away," Xueira snapped, her chest heaving. "Where did you get it, Zhenkai? The money, the power, that... that thing I just saw? You’ve been living under my roof for three years. I know your routine. I know what you eat, I know when you sleep. You were a nobody. You were my nobody!"Zhenkai lo

The taxi pulled up to the glittering gold-leaf entrance of the Grand Hyatt, the tires crunching softly on the pristine driveway. The driver glanced at the rearview mirror, his eyes lingering on Zhenkai’s worn duffel bag."We’re here, man. That’ll be forty-five bucks," the driver said, his tone skeptical.Zhenkai didn't reach for a wallet. He tapped the black dragon card against the payment terminal.Beep."Keep the change," Zhenkai said, stepping out into the cool night air."Wait! This... this is a ten-thousand-dollar tip!" the driver shouted, leaning out the window. "Hey! Are you serious?"Zhenkai didn't look back. He was already staring at the holographic screen floating in his line of sight.[Ding! 'Instant Wealth' sub-routine active.][Current Balance: Unlimited (Restricted to 'Legacy Reclamation' activities).][System Recommendation: Host looks like a peasant. Leveling up aesthetics is mandatory for the 'Midnight Bloom' Auction.]"I know, I know," Zhenkai muttered. "Working on i

The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and expensive fertilizer from the Lanyue estate’s manicured gardens. Zhenkai walked down the long, winding driveway, his shadow stretching out before him under the amber glow of the streetlights. In his hand, he carried a single, tattered duffel bag—the sum total of three years of "service" to a family that had never seen him as more than a piece of furniture.As he reached the ornate iron gates, the silence of the suburbs was broken by the low, predatory growl of engines. Three black SUVs decelerated in unison, their headlights cutting through the darkness to pin Zhenkai like a moth against a board.Zhenkai didn't stop. He didn't even blink."The trash usually gets picked up in the morning, doesn't it?"A tall man with a buzz cut and a jagged scar running through his left eyebrow stepped out of the lead vehicle. He leaned against the hood, lighting a cigarette with a flick of a silver Zippo."You Zhenkai?" the man asked, exhaling a