"Attaaack!!!"
With the signal to charge, an army of 30,000 soldiers advanced and met the enemy to begin the battle. Swords, spears, bows, and all sorts of weapons clashed violently, each warrior fighting to kill the one in front of them. Behind the front lines, some soldiers chanted incantations, and moments later, multicolored lights rained down upon the enemy.
High above the battlefield, atop a jagged cliff bathed in the light of dawn, stood a girl with shimmering golden hair and luminous eyes the color of molten gold. Her expression was calm, yet her gaze pierced deep into the heart of the battleground below. In the far distance, looming like a god of nature, stood an enormous tree. Its trunk was so vast it seemed to hold up the sky itself, and its canopy stretched so high that not even the clouds could hide its apex.
"Don't worry too much."
A soft, almost musical voice interrupted her focus. The girl turned slightly to see a young man behind her. His silver-white hair fluttered gently in the wind, framing a face so perfectly balanced between masculine sharpness and feminine delicacy that it became difficult to determine whether he was a handsome man or a beautiful woman.
"I'm not too worried. I just need to keep a close eye on the entire battlefield to make sure nothing unexpected happens. I don't want to go to the next turn." She paused before continuing, "Besides, aren't you here, Lily?"
"Of course! As long as I'm here, I won't let you repeat another cycle! But please, don't call me Lily when I'm in this form, Mary." Lily replied with a troubled expression, which was only met with Mary's joyful laughter.
•••
"Waaahhh!"
A loud scream echoed through a dim bedroom as a girl flailed around on her bed, phone still clutched in her hand. She had short black hair and sharp, intelligent eyes that gleamed with a mixture of maturity and restless energy.
"I knew she took on a male form! But can't they just have a normal relationship?!" shouted Qian Ru in frustration.
"Why are you yelling this late at night?! Don't disturb the neighbors and go to sleep!" her mother yelled from outside the room. Qian Ru replied with a quick "Okay!" before plugging in her phone and getting ready for bed.
She had been reading a novel titled "The Regressor and the Reincarnator," a story she had followed for the past few years. It told the tale of a girl named Mary (the regressor) and Lily (the reincarnator).
"Screw it, I should just sleep," Qian Ru muttered with a sigh and closed her eyes.
•••
Qian Ru opened her eyes, sat up, stretched her arms, and yawned. As her blurred vision cleared, her eyes widened.
She looked left and right, up and down, trying to make sure what she was seeing was real. She rubbed her eyes and pinched her cheek, trying to confirm that this wasn't a dream—because she had woken up in a completely unfamiliar room!
The room she found herself in was nothing short of extravagant—a level of luxury she'd only seen in fantasy novels. The bed beneath her was a grand king-size with intricate floral carvings along its dark mahogany frame. The mattress embraced her like a cloud, and the sheets were of a silk so fine it shimmered faintly under the light. Her pajamas had changed too—no longer the worn cotton ones she bought at the night market, but now a pristine white ensemble threaded with elegant golden lines that hugged her figure gracefully.
To her right, a nightstand carved with coiling dragons held a glass of clear water, her charging phone, and a porcelain flowerpot painted in imperial white and gold. From within the pot bloomed a vibrant yellow chrysanthemum, its petals glowing as they caught the soft morning light streaming through a grand arched window.
To the left of the bed, a door—tall, with brass fittings and subtle engravings—led into a bathroom. Farther along the same wall was another door, slightly ajar, which likely opened into the corridor beyond. On the opposite side of the room stood a set of plush velvet chairs, a small table of crystal and darkwood, and a massive bookshelf built into the wall, packed tightly with ornate volumes. Under the TV was another table and more shelves stacked with books. A television screen, oddly modern amidst the vintage grandeur, was fitted elegantly into the space above a lacquered cabinet.
The walls were adorned with several paintings—some looked like children's doodles, but most were stunning artworks Qian Ru had never seen before.
On the far right side was a door to a balcony and an arched window showcasing a large green yard. At its center was a beautiful flower garden with blooms of every kind and color.
Wait, where am I? Last I remember, I was sleeping in my room. How did I end up here?? Don't tell me… Qian Ru looked around in a daze, and the first thought that crossed her mind was that she had been kidnapped.
Panicked, she jumped out of bed—only to freeze. Wait... is it just me or did my hair get longer? She turned her head to look behind her.
Her shoulder-length hair now flowed all the way down to her waist!
W-wait... Don't tell me… Qian Ru grabbed the phone on the nightstand and used it as a mirror. Then, a mental thunderclap echoed in her head—
The mature, sharp-featured face she once knew was gone. In its place was a porcelain visage—soft, beautiful, and regal. Delicate brows, a small nose, eyes wide like glass marbles—it was a face that belonged on a fairytale princess.
At the same time, foreign memories began flooding her mind. Zhao Lianyun… That was the name of the body's original owner... Qian Ru muttered amidst the overwhelming rush of information—information that oddly felt familiar.
Zhao Lianyun... She was a villainess in "The Regressor and the Reincarnator," appearing in the early to mid-story. She wreaked havoc across Asia and even reached Europe, where the protagonist—Mary—resided. Unlike Mary, who aimed to follow the recorded history by "playing her role," Zhao Lianyun sought to twist history according to her own desires…
Flashes of novel plot points rapidly passed through Qian Ru's mind. Her pupils shrank and her eyes widened as she realized her situation.
I've... transmigrated into The Regressor and the Reincarnator... as the villainess... I've become Zhao Lianyun!
As Qian Ru—now Zhao Lianyun—stood frozen in thought, a playful, cheerful voice echoed in her mind.
'Your memories are so interesting... So I'm actually a novel character? Wow, your taste is in yuri novels, huh?'
Zhao Lianyun immediately looked around, trying to find the source of the voice—but in vain. It was speaking directly in her head.
Are you... the original Zhao Lianyun? she asked mentally.
'There's no "original" Zhao Lianyun. The moment your soul entered my body, our souls merged into one. I'm just the lingering remnants of my consciousness, which will eventually disappear with time…'
Hearing that, Zhao Lianyun couldn't help but ask—Why?
'If two souls exist in one body, they'll eventually descend into madness. That's the "Law of Transmigration." In this case, your acceptance of your new identity gave you a perfect score! As expected of someone who merged with me!' said the lingering will of Zhao Lianyun, making the corners of her lips twitch.
Well, I've read a lot of novels like this... So I guess I need to start gathering info on your illness and a cure too, huh? she thought. Yes—Zhao Lianyun had suffered from a mysterious disease since birth, one that gradually weakened her body. Neither its cause nor cure had ever been mentioned in the novel. It was this illness that ultimately led to her death in the original story.
'Yeah, sorry I dragged you into this mess. Don't forget to find us a good husband too, ehe~'
It's fine. It's not your fault… Besides, I'm not doing this just for you—our lives are bound together now, after all… Zhao Lianyun replied with a twitch of her mouth at the voice's last sentence.
No matter whether I follow the original plot or not, I'll find the cure by becoming stronger... Zhao Lianyun thought as she stood up and walked toward the bathroom with a grace that Qian Ru had never possessed before.