This is an excellent full chapter! You've successfully transitioned from the dramatic death scene to the rebirth and the awakening of the Villain System, setting up the entire premise perfectly. The internal monologue is strong, and the tension with the servant adds a nice touch.
Let's refine it, deepen the emotional impact, expand on Ryu Jin's thoughts and the system's appearance, and ensure the Murim setting feels consistent.
CHAPTER 1: The Villain's Rebirth
"Why? Why did you do this?!"
A searing agony erupted from my stomach as the blade pierced through. I gasped, the world blurring around the edges, my hand instinctively pressing against the gushing warmth, crimson staining my robes. My breath hitched, a ragged, desperate sound.
"I... I believed in you," I choked out, the words thick with tears and the metallic tang of my own blood. "I did everything to help you achieve what you wanted. I thought, after so long, I had finally found a brother." My voice was a raw whisper, barely audible as my body screamed in protest, collapsing to the cold, unforgiving ground. Every nerve ending shrieked, but the emotional wound cut deeper.
My eyes, hazy with pain and disbelief, found the two figures standing before me. Ryu Shen, the protagonist of this damn novel, the one I had foolishly called my best friend, my sworn brother. And beside him, Xiao Ling, the novel's female lead, a friend I had tried to protect, her face a mask of cold judgment. And then, Lin Ya, my childhood companion, a side character I knew had secretly admired Ryu Shen, now standing against me, her gaze devoid of the warmth I once remembered.
"And you two?" I rasped, my voice weakening with each passing second, a desperate plea for understanding. "Did you know? Were you also with him?"
Ryu Shen's face, usually so open, so righteous, hardened into a mask of chilling disdain. "You think I don't know, Jin? The things you've done? The horrible crimes you've committed?" His voice, usually so comforting, was now laced with a chilling, self-serving righteousness. "You were the one who murdered Xiao Ling's sister out of envy. You were the one who crippled Lin Ya's father, leaving him voiceless and broken. Nobody knows these truths but you. We found the evidence, Jin. We waited for you to show your true nature, and today, when you dared to direct an attack toward Xiao Ling, you sealed your fate. You still believe we would spare you?"
Xiao Ling stepped forward, her beautiful features twisted into an expression of profound disgust, her words like daggers. "Jin, I never imagined you were this kind of person. Your talent was mediocre, yet we kept you close. I taught you so much. But you... you always pretended to be kind and pitiful. If it weren't for Shen, I might never have uncovered your schemes." Her voice dripped with a false pity that made my blood run cold.
"I never did those things!" I screamed, the words tearing from my throat, raw with pain and utter agony, a futile cry against their accusations. "I never intended to harm anyone! Why can't you all believe me? Why?!" My vision swam, the world tilting precariously, a kaleidoscope of pain and betrayal.
Ryu Shen knelt beside me, his face close enough for me to feel the chill of his breath, a stark contrast to the warmth of my fading life. His lips barely moved, the words a low, venomous whisper meant only for my ears, a confession that shattered my world more completely than any blade. "I know you didn't do those things, Jin. But you're the villain of this novel, so act like one. Why were you trying to play the hero? Look now. The female lead, and even your precious childhood friend, they're both mine now, you bastard."
A cold, dead weight settled in my chest, heavier than any wound. This wasn't just betrayal; it was utter annihilation, a cruel mockery of every effort I had made.
"You weren't the only one who transmigrated into this novel, Jin," Ryu Shen continued, his voice a triumphant sneer, devoid of any genuine emotion. "I came too. According to the original story, you're far more powerful. I knew I'd need a lot of people, a lot of time, to kill you properly. But now... I've managed to kill you early. Now I can finally rest." He chuckled, a chilling sound that echoed in my dying ears, before rising to his feet.
Then, his voice boomed, loud enough for Xiao Ling and Lin Ya to hear, filled with feigned righteous anger, a performance for his loyal audience. "You're still denying it, Jin? You still haven't learned your lesson!"
With a final, brutal thrust, he twisted the sword deeper, a merciless act. A gasp, a gurgle, and then darkness consumed me, pulling me into an abyss.
As I fell into the encroaching void, a faint light shimmered at its distant edge. What was it? A final illusion? A trick of the mind? Driven by an instinct I couldn't comprehend, a desperate yearning to escape the darkness, I tried to approach it. A blinding flash erupted, consuming everything.
Then, slowly, a sound began to filter through the haze: "Young Lord... Young Lord..." The voice, gentle and familiar, steadily cleared, pulling me back from the brink. My eyelids fluttered open, my vision adjusting to the dimly lit room.
Huh? This... this seems familiar.
I looked around, my gaze falling upon the intricately carved wooden beams of the ceiling, the familiar scent of aged paper and medicinal herbs. My own room. But not as it was in my recent past. This was my chamber from fifteen years ago, before the novel's plot truly began, before the protagonist's rise, before my fall.
"Young Lord?" The voice came again, closer this time.
I turned my head. Standing beside my bed was Old Master Lee, a loyal servant of the Ryu Family. I remembered him. He was discarded from the family later, accused of stealing from Ryu Shen's room. No, he didn't steal anything. It must have been Shen. Some things didn't go his way, and he needed a scapegoat. A cold, calculating resolve solidified within me. I will not let anything go his way now.
As that thought solidified, a translucent black screen shimmered into existence directly before my eyes, visible only to me.
[Host is the best match for the Villain System. Pairing Host with the System...]
A synthesized voice, cold and devoid of emotion, echoed in my mind, accompanying the text on the black screen.
"What is this?!" I blurted out, my voice raspy.
Old Master Lee, startled by my sudden exclamation, took a step back. "What happened, Young Lord? What black thing? There is nothing!" He looked around, bewildered, then relief washed over his face. "You have finally opened your eyes, Young Lord! Are you well?"
He can't see it. My mind raced, connecting the dots. Villain System... is this a system? Yes, it has to be. The kind the protagonist gets to become powerful, to cheat destiny. But a 'Villain' system... it means I will have to stand against the protagonist. Good. I don't care. As long as I get my revenge. A chilling smile touched my lips, a stark contrast to the despair of moments ago.
Old Master Lee, still observing me with concern, asked, "Young Lord, is something wrong? Should I call the Medicine King?"
I looked at him, the loyal servant who had suffered because of Ryu Shen's machinations. "No need for this, Old Master Lee," I said, my voice regaining a hint of its former authority, though still weak. "Just... move outside for a bit. I want to be alone for some time."
The old servant, accustomed to my commands, quickly bowed and moved out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Alone once more, I clenched my fists, the phantom pain of the sword wound a constant reminder. I have been given an extra chance now. I will not waste it. I will use this chance to get revenge from that bastard Shen. And I will continue what I couldn't do in my past life. There are still many things left for me to accomplish, much power to seize. Just wait, Shen. I will make sure you will never be happy in this life. I will make you suffer a fate far worse than death.