A boy is tortured and killed every sundown for a Blessing he never wanted. A Militia Enforcer is searching for the truth behind his brother’s curse. Both of them are bound by the atrocities committed by a man known as Shen… and now, their fates are tethered as they are forced into a mind-bending game of wits alongside underground gangs and Triads, government spies, and an otherworldly Beast who transcends all Laws of Cultivation. Will they survive— Or will they ultimately succumb to the tethers that bind them? Daily uploads until Sept, 20 UST. After, 2 chapters per week (Tuesdays and Fridays UST). What to expect: - Historical, Psychological, Drama, Tragedy - Found family. Mentors and father figures. Complex family relationships. Misunderstandings. NO romance + harem. - An expansive world based on 1930s/40s Republican Era Asia (from China/Shanghai, Japan, and SEA). Cultivation-based system. Loosely xianxia. - Cunning, clever & morally-grey Male MC. (Not perfect, will continue to progress) Is OP in the beginning but will learn to control his powers throughout the story. - Mind-bending games, secret identities, plot twists, and philosophical mystery + drama (like Death Note, Moriarty the Patriot, and Catch Me if You Can) with two rivals trying to outsmart each other later on in the story. - A very, very long story. Slow burn. Characters will go through numerous character arcs and will not be entirely good or evil. POVs will occasionally switch (max 2 in a chapter). - "Dark" action (Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Ghoul) that can sometimes be unconventional (JJBA).