I Am the Shadow Guard of the Redemption Novel's Male Lead [Book Transmigration]

My name is Lu Shiyi. I'm Shadow Guard Eleven, the male lead's shadow guard in the dark-themed power fantasy novel Dark Emperor. In the story, I'm Xiao Yichen's sword, the hand that does his dirty work, and his tool. In the end, I rebel against him and he mercilessly kills me.

I don't want to die, so I plan to run away. But when I see the frail Xiao Yichen coughing up blood every day, my kind heart makes me hesitate.

There's no real difference between leaving early and leaving late. I can retire after the woman destined to save him appears.

*

The plot seems to have gone a little off track. I've gone through the salvation arc and the steamy scenes from the original, and, even more frighteningly, Xiao Yichen's gaze is getting more and more strange...

Then the heroine secretly tells me that plenty of people want Xiao Yichen to hand me over, and that I'm in serious danger. She can help me escape, but I have to fake my death to make it work.

I wholeheartedly agree. The fake-death plan is underway.

*

When I open my eyes again, I see the "heroine" dressed in men's clothes. He excitedly strokes my face, looking as if he wants to devour me.

"Shiyi, I've finally got you. Xiao Yichen kept such a close eye on you that even seeing you once was only a dream for me!"

Wait... Is something not quite right here?

Straight-laced Shadow Guard bottom x dark, brooding Shadow Emperor top

Reading guide: As is customary, this is a 1v1, both leads are sexually inexperienced, with a lovable, universally adored bottom who has a bit of a motherly streak, and a dark, wounded top who is beautiful and strong yet starved for affection. An unconventional redemption story. The main text is in third person.