[Akarin's Note: Apologies for the interruption. I am placing this warning here just in case new readers missed the auxiliary tags and jumped straight into the story. If you have already read this warning elsewhere, feel free to skip ahead to Chapter 1. If not, please take a moment to read this so you know exactly what to expect from this novel and why I am translating it.]
[1] THE PREMISE: HUNTER OR PREY?
For those new to the genre, here is the setup: This is an Urban System story.
The Protagonist does not transmigrate as the hero. Instead, he wakes up as the Rich Second-Generation Villain!
He finds himself in a world filled with walking clichés—The Clairvoyant Student, The Miracle Doctor, The Soldier King, The Reincarnator—all destined to step on his face to rise to power.
To survive, he must use his Destiny Plundering System to counter-attack, steal their luck, dismantle their opportunities, and capture their heroines.
[2] WHY THIS TRANSLATION?
To be honest, I picked this project up simply because I wanted to read it myself.
I tried reading existing versions on other sites, but I couldn't stand the confusing MTL (Machine Translation) or the painfully slow updates (1 chapter every 3 days? No thanks!).
So, I decided to polish the novel myself.
What's different in this version?
· No MTL Headaches: I have rewritten the sentences to make the English flow naturally.
· Descriptive Expansion: I've added missing sensory details to make the scenes more immersive.
· "High-Intensity" Romance: I have refined the previously vague intimate scenes for greater clarity and emotional impact. The implications are much clearer, steamier, and more detailed than the original text.
· Removed Toxic Nationalism & Racism: I know this genre is infamous for "China #1" propaganda and offensive stereotypes. I have actively removed or neutralized these elements. The story now focuses strictly on the Villain vs. Protagonists, ensuring a cringe-free experience for international readers.
[3] IS THIS NOVEL FOR YOU?
If you enjoyed novels like 'I am a Gao Fushuai Villain' or 'I Became the Rich Second-Generation Villain', you will feel right at home.
In my opinion, this is one of the best executions of this classic genre. It fits the "Guilty Pleasure" taste perfectly.
You will like this if:
· You want an MC with a strong background (Rich & Powerful).
· You enjoy seeing the MC get OP quickly via the System.
· You love a Massive Harem (Gotta catch 'em all!).
· You enjoy seeing arrogant "Protagonists" get mentally tortured without the MC struggling too hard.
[4] A FAIR WARNING (The Drawbacks)
I believe in being honest with my readers.
· Repetitiveness: Around Chapter 600-800+, the story can start to feel repetitive. This is a classic flaw of the Face-Slapping genre.
· Harem Dilution: Because the harem gets so big, the screen time for the earlier heroines (like the School Flower or the Fiancee) naturally decreases later on.
· Depth: Do not expect the story depth to be on the same level as 'I Am The Fated Villain'. The MC is smart and ruthless, but he is not on Gu Changge's level of philosophical manipulation. This is a refreshing, fast-paced read, not a heavy drama.
[5] FINAL WORDS
There are still interesting plot twists later on—like hidden Yanderes that make the MC sweat and some intense Shura Fields (Harem Conflicts).
I don't know if many people will read this since it's quite niche, but I'm translating it primarily because I need a good version to read for myself!
If you are ready for a wild ride, enjoy!
Chapter 1: The Villain's Awakening!
The morning sun filtered through the sheer, high-thread-count curtains of the presidential suite, casting a soft, golden glow across the room. The air was heavy with the scent of luxury—a mix of expensive agarwood incense and the lingering, musky aroma of pheromones that hung thick after a night of indulgence.
Shen Anyu sat up in the massive king-sized bed, the silk sheets sliding down his chest, cool and smooth against his skin like flowing water. He leaned back against the padded headboard, his gaze fixed intently on a single, vivid crimson stain blossoming on the pristine white bedsheet.
It was like a red plum blossom in winter—striking, delicate, and proof of a conquest.
His lips curled into a faint, inexplicable smile.
In his previous life, Shen Anyu had been a nobody. He was a corporate drone, a cog in the machine, grinding away his youth for a meager salary. He had graduated from a mediocre university and spent his days worrying about down payments for a pigeon-coop apartment and the exorbitant bride prices demanded by society. His only escape from the crushing weight of reality had been reading web novels, scrolling through mind-numbing short videos, and occasionally forcing himself to study calculus before passing out from exhaustion after overtime.
It was a pathetic existence.
He remembered the end vividly. He had been reading a fast-paced urban cultivation novel titled Master Descends the Mountain, My Beautiful Sister-in-Law. The author was a man of culture, deeply understanding the legacy of Cao Cao—the warlord famous for coveting the wives of others. Just as Shen Anyu reached a particularly blood-pumping, heart-racing scene, his hand had slipped. A glass of water toppled onto a frayed power strip.
Zap. Darkness.
When he opened his eyes again, the cramped, rented apartment was gone. The smell of instant noodles and mold was replaced by the fragrance of wealth.
It had been two and a half days since he had comprehended the "Mystery of the Womb" and fully awakened his past life's memories. He realized with a jolt of dark amusement that he had been reborn into the very world of the novel that killed him.
But this time, fate had dealt him a royal flush.
He was no longer the cannon fodder struggling to survive. In this life, Shen Anyu stood at a peak that tens of billions of people could not reach even if they worked for ten lifetimes.
His surname, Shen, belonged to the Yanxia Shen Family.
His mother's surname, An, belonged to the Yanxia An Family.
In the vast nation of Yanxia, ordinary wealthy families were content to rule a city. The Xiao Family of Magic City or the Xiao Family of the Imperial Capital might seem impressive to the common man, but in the grand chessboard of power, they were merely pawns.
Only truly top-tier aristocratic families dared to link their names with the country itself.
The Yanxia Shen Family. A colossus that had stood for a thousand years, enduring through dynastic changes and wars, its roots embedded deep into the marrow of the nation.
His paternal grandfather was a founding elder of the nation, a titan who resided in the heavily guarded compounds of Beihai.
His paternal grandmother was the Dean of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, her disciples spanning the globe, controlling the cutting edge of technology.
His father sat in the high halls of the Imperial Capital, holding the reins of the central government.
His mother presided over the Shen Corporation, a business empire with assets in the trillions, controlling the economic lifelines of multiple industries.
And his mother's side, the An Family, was equally terrifying.
His maternal grandfather was the soul of the military, a pillar of the nation whose cough could make generals tremble.
His maternal grandmother was a descendant of a reclusive ancient martial arts sect, her strength unfathomable.
His maternal aunt, An Zhiyue, was a legend in the military—the "Phoenix War God," appointed as a General at a young age and serving as the General Instructor of the elite Fire Phoenix Special Forces.
His uncles and cousins were financial giants, world-renowned musicians, and national superstars.
Shen Anyu was the convergence of these two titanic bloodlines. He was the only male heir of the third generation. He was born with not just a silver spoon, but a diamond key to the world in his mouth.
In the capital's circle of princelings, even the most arrogant scions lowered their heads when they saw him, respectfully addressing him as "Brother Shen." To offend him was to offend the heavens.
He should have lived a life of unbridled hedonism, lying on the clouds and looking down at the mortal world.
"Unfortunately..." Shen Anyu whispered to the empty room, his eyes narrowing.
In the original script of Master Descends the Mountain, this glamorous identity was nothing more than a stepping stone for the protagonist. Shen Anyu was destined to be the stepping stone, the face to be slapped, the villain whose family would be ruined and whose bones would pave the road for the hero's rise.
The hero: Ye Yan.
"Hehe... Thank goodness I awakened my memories," Shen Anyu murmured, a cold, sharp glint flashing in his eyes like a blade drawn from its sheath. "Otherwise, I would have been ridiculed for losing with a full hand of dragons? I would have become the laughingstock of the multiverse."
He replayed the plot in his mind. The Ye Family of Magic City was once a first-rate family, rising quickly. Five years ago, Ye Yan's father, arrogant and overestimating his own capabilities, tried to compete with the Shen Corporation for a massive new district project worth tens of billions.
Naturally, he was crushed by Shen Anyu's mother.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Ye Yan's father resorted to underhanded tactics, orchestrating a car accident to assassinate Shen Anyu's mother. He failed to realize that she came from a martial arts lineage and possessed profound strength. The assassination failed.
The wrath of the Shen and An Families was swift and apocalyptic. Overnight, the flourishing Ye Family collapsed. Their stocks plummeted, their allies abandoned them, and their assets were seized. In a final act of despair, Ye Yan's father set fire to the old Ye Family mansion, burning almost the entire family to ash.
Ye Yan, the protagonist, narrowly escaped. He was rescued by a mysterious old master who took him up a mountain, teaching him peerless martial arts and medical skills.
Five years later—which was fast approaching—Ye Yan would descend the mountain. Armed with the identity of the Lord of the Netherworld Palace, he would return to Magic City, slap faces, gather a harem, and systematically dismantle the Shen and An Families until nothing remained.
"Ye Yan, oh Ye Yan," Shen Anyu scoffed, standing up and walking towards the floor-to-ceiling window. He looked out at the sprawling skyline of Magic City, his reflection in the glass looking cold and majestic. "The one who destroyed your family was your own father's fire. Your father initiated the assassination. Yet you hold an undying grudge against my family? Is your brain damaged?"
Logic, however, was useless against a protagonist.
What worried Shen Anyu was the timing. He had only awakened two and a half days ago. The five-year deadline was imminent. Ye Yan, a Child of Destiny possessing the terrifying combat power of the Netherworld Palace, was a tricky opponent.
But Shen Anyu was not one to sit and wait for death.
In the past forty-eight hours, he had moved pieces on the chessboard with lightning speed. He had already informed his grandfather, grandmother, and parents to be on high alert, subtly fortifying the family's defenses. To the Shen and An families, a remnant like Ye Yan was an ant, but Shen Anyu knew that ants favored by destiny could eat elephants.
More importantly, Shen Anyu had decided to strike at the protagonist's heart.
He would seize the opportunities, the resources, and the women destined for Ye Yan.
Starting with Lin Keqing.
Lin Keqing was the first female lead of the novel, the "Beautiful Sister-in-Law" Ye Yan constantly thought about during his five years of training. She was his white moonlight, his motivation, the woman he swore to protect.
"Lin Keqing..." Shen Anyu rolled the name on his tongue, savoring it.
He turned his gaze toward the bathroom door.
Creak.
The frosted glass door pushed open, bringing with it a cloud of warm steam and the scent of jasmine bath salts.
A woman walked out, her steps hesitant, her body trembling slightly.
It was Lin Keqing.
She was stunning. Her damp hair clung to her porcelain neck, and her face, usually vibrant and charming, was now pale and etched with complex emotions—shame, grievance, and a hint of lingering fear. Her peach-blossom eyes, red-rimmed from crying, stared at Shen Anyu.
She wore a simple hotel bathrobe, clutching the collar tightly as if it were her last line of defense. Underneath the robe, her legs were weak, reminding her of the storm she had just endured.
"A gentleman's word is his bond!" Lin Keqing's voice trembled, trying to sound firm but failing. She bit her red lip, looking like a flower battered by heavy rain. "Young Master Shen, I... I have given you what you asked for. You must uphold your agreement and save the Lin Family!"
The Lin Family was a second-rate power in Magic City, with assets of around ten billion. Five years ago, due to their marriage alliance with the Ye Family, they had suffered heavy losses when the Ye Family collapsed. They had been in decline ever since.
But two days ago, a sudden, malicious short-selling attack had pushed the Lin Family Group to the brink of bankruptcy. Banks called in loans, partners broke contracts, and the stock price free-fell.
Desperate, with her parents on the verge of suicide, Lin Keqing had sought help everywhere. Finally, she found the only person capable of reversing the tide: Shen Anyu.
And Shen Anyu had named his price.
He didn't want money. He wanted her.
Shen Anyu looked at the disheveled beauty before him. He walked over slowly, the carpet muffling his footsteps. He reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of wet hair behind her ear.
"Relax," Shen Anyu said, his voice calm and magnetic, carrying an unquestionable authority. He casually picked up his phone from the bedside table and sent a short message. Then, he looked back at Lin Keqing. "Alright. With me here, no one in Magic City can touch the Lin Family. The suppression has stopped."
Lin Keqing's knees gave way, and she slumped slightly, grabbing the edge of the table for support. A wave of relief washed over her, followed by a fresh wave of humiliation. She had sold herself. She, the widow of the Ye Family—in name only—had sold her body to save her natal family.
But she didn't know the truth.
She didn't notice the playful, mocking glint deep in Shen Anyu's eyes.
The person who had ordered the malicious suppression of the Lin Family... was Shen Anyu himself.
If there is no demand for a transaction, create the demand. If the prey isn't desperate, drive them into a corner until they come knocking on your door, begging to be eaten. Why resort to crude threats when you can make them "willingly" sacrifice themselves?
A single command from him had plunged a ten-billion-yuan group into despair. Another command had saved it. This was the terrifying power of a top-tier noble.
Shen Anyu looked at Lin Keqing, whose robe had slipped slightly to reveal a patch of snow-white skin marked with love bites. He thought of Ye Yan, the protagonist still training on the mountain, dreaming of descending to save his pure, chaste sister-in-law.
Ye Yan, oh Ye Yan...
Shen Anyu's smile widened, charming yet cruel.
I wonder what kind of expression you'll have when you descend the mountain and realize your beloved sister-in-law has already bloomed under me?
It would certainly be very interesting...
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]