
The Eternal Mercenary
Prabin Ghimire · Ongoing · 66.9k Words
Introduction
Chapter 1
When the sky was dimly lit, Jun Shang was jogging along the mountain path of Qilin Park.
He had recently moved to this area, residing in a city village with a dense population near a building junction.
The surroundings were pleasant along the route, but there weren't many people engaged in morning exercises. The urban hustle and bustle had conditioned the younger generation to late nights, making it challenging to wake up early for morning workouts on workdays. Most of the people he encountered were seniors taking leisurely strolls towards the mountaintop.
Jun Shang maintained a brisk pace during his mountain run, quickly leaving others behind. However, after a while, he noticed that he hadn't seen anyone for a long time. It then dawned on him that he might have taken a wrong turn.
Arriving at a fork in the road, he realized he had veered off towards the mountainside, leading to a semi-mountain villa area. No wonder he hadn't encountered anyone else.
This deviation didn't bother him much; he didn't necessarily have to reach the summit of Qilin Mountain. He could run to the end of the path ahead and then turn back. While turning a corner, he spotted a graceful figure – a slender girl who was also jogging.
The sudden appearance of such a picturesque scene brightened Jun Shang's eyes. However, he didn't slow down to admire the "scenery" and continued at his own pace.
The girl's speed was slower than his, but perhaps fueled by a sense of competition upon noticing him behind, she accelerated.
From his rear perspective, Jun Shang could clearly see the girl's graceful figure. She wore a baseball cap with a ponytail swaying behind. Adorned in a light beige sportswear, the short sleeves revealed her delicate arms. The tight shorts accentuated her well-proportioned, slender legs, highlighting the curves of her petite buttocks as she ran.
Jun Shang couldn't help but silently praise her exceptional physique.
As the footsteps approached, the girl, seemingly driven by a competitive spirit, accelerated even more.
Amused by her competitiveness, Jun Shang decided to surpass her to dispel any notions of a competition.
Just then, the girl let out a surprised cry, stumbled, and seemed about to fall!
Jun Shang's initial reaction was amusement – running was just a form of exercise, was it necessary to be so intense? However, as a man, he couldn't just watch her fall.
Though he was still behind her, trying to grab her hand or support her was out of the question. What he could do was quickly catch up, extend his hands, and grab her waist to prevent her from falling.
Startled, the girl, with a slightly pale face, reflexively extended her hands to brace for impact. If she fell, she might scrape her face or injure her hands severely, possibly even spraining her wrist or dislocating it.
Just as her hands were about to hit the ground, she felt a weight on her waist, and her body abruptly stopped descending. A pair of large hands had embraced her from behind, bringing her a sense of security. She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
"Are you okay?" Jun Shang, while still hugging her, helped her stand up and asked with concern.
The girl, almost falling to the ground, was now standing securely in Jun Shang's arms. The situation looked somewhat awkward, as from an outsider's perspective, it might seem like they were engaged in some illicit activity.
"I... ah!"
The girl, catching her breath, suddenly realized she was being held by a young man around her waist from behind. She couldn't help but blush and immediately struggled, reaching to free herself from Jun Shang's grasp.
Jun Shang, without any ulterior motives, released his hands as soon as she stood upright. However, unexpectedly, as soon as he let go, she let out another exclamation and seemed about to fall again!
Reacting quickly, Jun Shang reached out again to assist her. This time, he supported her around the waist and shoulder, stabilizing her body.
"My foot..." The girl, in pain and with a slightly teary tone, conveyed the situation. However, despite the pain, her voice had a soft and melodic quality.
Jun Shang, not wanting to see her get hurt, didn't have any malicious intentions. He quickly reached out to help, supporting her around the waist and shoulder to ensure her stability.
"Are you okay?" Jun Shang inquired once more.
The girl, now standing more securely with Jun Shang's support, let out a sigh and said, "I think I twisted my ankle. Thank you for helping me."
Jun Shang noticed that she was favoring one foot and couldn't put full weight on it. It seemed she had indeed twisted her ankle.
He offered his support and suggested, "Let me help you to a place where you can sit down and check your ankle."
The girl, grateful for his assistance, nodded in agreement. Jun Shang gently supported her and walked toward a nearby bench. The situation, initially comical, turned into a moment of unexpected connection between two strangers brought together by an untimely mishap.
She tripped earlier because she sprained her foot during the accelerated sprint. Now, unable to put weight on her foot, she instinctively leaned on Jun Shang for support.
Jun Shang was speechless. From her physical condition and tone, he could sense that she was in considerable pain. Without seeking her opinion, he opted for a princess carry, lifting her and walking to the side of the road.
"What... what are you doing?" The pain-stricken girl felt nervous when lifted, but before she could finish speaking, she found herself being placed on the ground.
"Young people nowadays are so competitive. What's the point of comparing speed with me? Did you suffer a loss?" Jun Shang shook his head and muttered to himself. He became even more speechless when he noticed that she was wearing sunglasses!
Wearing sunglasses outdoors in summer to protect against sunlight and UV rays was normal, but it was still early in the morning!
"Oh my! Should I say you're acting coquettish, or should I say you're showing off?"
Though he was making comments, Jun Shang squatted down to check her injuries.
While the girl was about to reprimand him for carrying her without consent, the words "young people," "competitive spirit," and "speed comparison" made her both angry and amused. Before she could say much, she heard something even more infuriating.
"You're the one being coquettish, you're the one showing off... ugh!"
She grumbled, feeling indignant. However, when she was about to turn away and ignore Jun Shang, she became nervous again.
"Hey! What are you... Why are you taking off my shoes?"
Just as she finished speaking, she realized her socks were also being pulled off! She immediately clenched her fists in protest.
"Who wants to smell your stinky feet? Your foot is injured, I'm checking how severe it is."
Jun Shang, without even looking at her, continued examining the injury on her ankle. She had hurriedly disrupted her rhythm earlier, resulting in a minor sprain, but nothing too serious.
"You have stinky feet!" The girl couldn't help but protest.
Through her sunglasses, she saw the man earnestly massaging the injured area, not playing with her feet or sneaking glances at her legs.
She breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but discreetly pull her pants leg down. However, as she was wearing snug sport shorts, there wasn't much she could do, and she regretted not wearing long pants.
Without even asking about her condition, she felt the pain in her ankle easing considerably under the man's skillful and varied massaging, becoming somewhat numb.
"Are you... a doctor?" The immediate relief made her curious.
"No."
"Then how do you... know all this? I feel much better."
"It's alright. Even if a dog's leg is broken, I can fix it."
The girl exclaimed, "Oh," about to ask if he was a veterinarian, then said with a bit of annoyance, "You're the little dog!"
Jun Shang couldn't be bothered to respond and continued to massage her foot with care. Although he didn't have any medicinal oil, timely care could alleviate a lot. Then, he helped her put on socks and running shoes.
"Alright, be careful not to get injured again. Rest for two days, and you'll be fine. But how are you going to get down the mountain like this?"
Observing her, with the hat and sunglasses, he couldn't see her face clearly from this angle. What caught his eye were her fair and slender legs, with a built-in beauty effect for photos. However, wearing only a thin sports top, it was evident she didn't have a phone or anything.
After saying that, he furrowed his brows, realizing he still had things to attend to. Though he had only been delayed for a moment, it wouldn't affect him much. However, if he were to assist her down the mountain, it would take longer. It would be better to carry her down since she wouldn't let him carry her or help her down in any other way.
Last Chapters
#56 Chapter 56
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#55 Chapter 55
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#54 Chapter 54
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#53 Chapter 53
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#52 Chapter 52
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#51 Chapter 51
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#50 Chapter 50
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#49 Chapter 49
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#48 Chapter 48
Last Updated: 1/15/2026#47 Chapter 47
Last Updated: 1/15/2026
You Might Like 😍
To protect what’s mine
The Spy Who Left
"I still can't believe she actually did it. Aria Hart, filing for divorce. Who saw that coming?"
"How long do we think it'll take before she comes crawling back?" Another voice joins the conversation.
"Three days," Victoria declares. "Five at most. She has no money, no skills, no family. Where's she going to go?"
When Aria Chen divorced billionaire Leon Hart, New York's elite sneered, betting she'd crawl back within days. She never did.
Three years later, the world is rocked when Dr. Aria Vale, CEO of a revolutionary cybersecurity empire, steps into the spotlight. The mysterious genius who built a billion-dollar company from nothing is none other than Leon's discarded wife, the woman everyone thought was just a pretty ornament.
Now, every powerful man wants the queen Leon threw away a renowned scientist seeking partnership, a financial titan proposing an empire, and an actor offering devotion. Each sees the brilliance Leon ignored.
Then Leon discovers the truth: Aria's sacrifices, her secret double life, and the daughter she's been raising without him. For the first time, the man who once took her for granted must fight for her love. But can he compete with men who valued her from the beginning?
A story of love, betrayal, and power where the king must kneel before the queen who never needed saving.
From Substitute To Queen
Heartbroken, Sable discovered Darrell having sex with his ex in their bed, while secretly transferring hundreds of thousands to support that woman.
Even worse was overhearing Darrell laugh to his friends: "She's useful—obedient, doesn't cause trouble, handles housework, and I can fuck her whenever I need relief. She's basically a live-in maid with benefits." He made crude thrusting gestures, sending his friends into laughter.
In despair, Sable left, reclaimed her true identity, and married her childhood neighbor—Lycan King Caelan, nine years her senior and her fated mate. Now Darrell desperately tries to win her back. How will her revenge unfold?
From substitute to queen—her revenge has just begun!
Let Them Kneel
Cast out by her pack. Forgotten by the Lycans.
She lived among humans—quiet, invisible, tucked away in a town no one looked at twice.
But when her first heat comes without warning, everything changes.
Her body ignites. Her instincts scream. And something primal stirs beneath her skin—
summoning a big, bad Alpha who knows exactly how to quench her fire.
When he claims her, it’s ecstasy and ruin.
For the first time, she believes she’s been accepted.
Seen.
Chosen.
Until he leaves her the next morning—
like a secret never to be spoken.
But Kaelani is not what they thought.
Not wolfless. Not weak.
There is something ancient inside her. Something powerful. And it’s waking.
And when it does—
they’ll all remember the girl they tried to erase.
Especially him.
She’ll be the dream he keeps chasing… the one thing that ever made him feel alive.
Because secrets never stay buried.
And neither do dreams.
The Contract Wife: Marriage Of Malice
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
I didn't tell him to stop.
Instead, my fingers curled into his shirt, clutching the fabric as though it was my only anchor. Something in him snapped—something he had been holding back for too long. His mouth found mine in a kiss that wasn't tender, but hungry, desperate.
I gasped into him, his hand sliding up to cup my jaw, holding me as if afraid I might vanish.
"You drive me insane," he breathed against my mouth, his lips trailing to my throat. "I can't lose you, Ella. Not you."
My head fell back, a soft sound escaping me as his fingers memorized my waist. My anger melted beneath his desperation.
"James..." I whispered, more plea than protest.
His hand caught mine, fingers threading together tightly. "I'll bring him back. I swear it. Just... don't turn away from me. Please."
The word please—low, ragged, almost broken—undid me more than anything else could have.
Ella never imagined she would marry the man she had secretly loved for years in such a way.
When her brother Theo faced twenty-five years in prison for massive embezzlement, the ruthless business tycoon James Lancaster offered her a deal: marry him in exchange for her brother's freedom.
This wasn't a fairy tale proposal, but a carefully orchestrated revenge. Because in James's heart, Ella was the culprit who had killed his sister Cecilia. He wanted her to pay the price—to atone with a lifetime of suffering.
They'll Regret This
My fiancé didn't just dump me—he proposed to her that same night. My so-called family handed me bus fare and a one-way ticket to the countryside.
Perfect. Let them think they won.
They don't know who I really am. The anonymous genius surgeon who saves lives when elite hospitals give up. The legendary artist whose paintings sell for millions at auction. The undefeated shadow queen of the underground fighting circuit. And the true heiress to a fortune that makes theirs look like pocket change.
Now my ex-fiancé begs on his knees. My fake sister's jealousy is eating her alive. And that cold, arrogant CEO who once threw our engagement contract in my face? He's hunting me down like a man possessed, desperate for one more chance.
They threw me away like trash to upgrade their lives.
Joke's on them.
I was always the upgrade.
The CEO's Unspoken Love
Before I could answer, he moved closer, suddenly looming over me, his face inches from mine. I felt my breath caught, my lips parting in surprise.
"Then this is the price for speaking ill of me to others," he murmured, nipping my lower lip before claiming my mouth in a real kiss. It began as punishment but quickly transformed into something else entirely as I responded, my initial rigidity melting into compliance, then active participation.
My breathing accelerated, small sounds escaping my throat as he explored my body. His touches were both punishment and pleasure, drawing shudders from me that I thought he felt reverberating through his own body.
My nightgown had ridden up, his hands discovering more of mine with each caress. We were both lost in sensation, rational thought receding with each passing second...
Three years ago, to fulfill the wish of his grandmother, I was forced to marry Derek Wells, the second son of the family that had adopted me for ten years. He didn't love me, but I had secretly loved him all along.
Now, the three-year contractual marriage is about to end, but I feel that some kind of sentiment has developed between Derek and me that neither of us is willing to admit. I'm not sure if my feelings are right, but I know that we can't resist each other physically...
What the Heart Wants (Book 1 of the Alpha Faros Series)
Not loving him will cost more.
Derek has one goal: survive high school without drawing too much attention or pissing off his pack’s alpha.
As the youngest son of the alpha, his life is governed by lycan hierarchy, tradition, and politics. With no signs of awakening a lycan spirit, his only value is what he can do for the pack’s image. He knows he’s only ever one misstep away from exile… or worse.
Then, he finds a boy trapped in a locker on orientation day, and everything changes.
Derek shouldn’t want Nikolias. He’s off-limits. A risk Derek can’t afford.
So why does it feel like he’s the only thing worth fighting for?
Nikolias has just lost everything: his parents, his home, and any sense of peace. Sent back to the town his family left years ago to live with his prejudiced and controlling uncle, who wants nothing to do with anything—or anyone—not human, he’s trying to do everything in his power to get out quickly.
But then he meets Derek again, and all of his plans vanish in the soft, yearning flecks of gold in Derek’s green-hazel eyes. He’s drawn to Derek in a way that’s impossible to deny, and he thinks Derek feels the same way, despite the danger their relationship holds for him.
As Moonshadow's politics turn deadly, Derek and Nikolai are caught in the crossfire of a war that had started long before they were born, and their bond becomes a threat and a lifeline that neither can afford to sever.
Because the heart wants what it wants….
And it never asks permission.
TW: Graphic Violence, Suicide Ideation, Suicide Attempt, Child Abuse, Cult-Like Behavior
Mated to Her Alpha Instructor
Weeks later, our new Alpha combat instructor walks in. Regis. The guy from the woods. His eyes lock on mine, and I know he recognizes me. Then the secret I've been hiding hits me like a punch: I'm pregnant.
He has an offer that binds us tighter than ever. Protection… or a cage? Whispers turn ugly, darkness closes in. Why am I the one without a wolf? Is he my salvation… or will he drag me to ruin?
Bound by Fate, Freed by Choice
Her escape leads her to Alpha Rowan, the commanding leader of the Blackwood Pack, who offers shelter, protection, and an unexpected chance at a new life. But Rowan’s fierce and jealous fiancée sees Lyla as a threat, and the pack’s charming Beta is drawn to her quiet strength.
As a dangerous attraction simmers between Lyla and Rowan, they begin to unravel a dark web of secrets that implicates Kaiden and threatens both their worlds.
With her hidden power awakening, Lyla must navigate treacherous loyalties, face the alpha who shattered her, and decide: Will she follow the destiny fate forced upon her, or claim the love and strength she has chosen for herself?
The mafia princess return
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother
"What is wrong with me?
Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?
It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.
He’s my boyfirend’s brother.
This is Tyler’s family.
I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.
**
As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.
Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.
When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.
I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.
**
I hate girls like her.
Entitled.
Delicate.
And still—
Still.
The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.
Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.
I shouldn’t care.
I don’t care.
It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.
It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.
I’m not here to rescue anyone.
Especially not her.
Especially not someone like her.
She’s not my problem.
And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.
But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.












