#wang ya

Links: Novelupdates | Confectioner (Foxaholic)

Tags: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, School life, Supernatural, Yaoi

Chapters: 139

Read on: 05/23/2026 to 05/25/2026

I read this one a while ago and remember liking it? Another novel from Wang Ya, who also wrote Working Records in a Weird World and Thriller Trainee~

Zong Yan has a secret: he can pull cards from the void. When he crushes these cards, he gains the superpower inscribed on the card. Low ranking cards let him summon a cup of water or learn a new language fluently- but the high ranking cards change him completely, a Daily Disposable Persona.

Eventually he gets caught by the government- they assume he's a rare Awakener: a subset of the human race that awakens to find themselves able to control certain elements. The more elements you control, the stronger you are.

Fake Awakener Zong Yan who has the cards to control over ten elements: ... Haha.

So this shining new prospect is enrolled in Miskatonic University and exposed to the hidden world of aliens and gods, and personally comes in contact with many of them. This itself was fine, but... Could someone tell him why the Lord of the Gate was pretending to be his senior brother??

Yay! I remembered correctly- I do really like this novel. Its a step away from the last one; Unlike most novels which borrow settings from the Lovecraftian myths, this one gives humans a bit of a chance to fight back. It changes how the novel feels and emphasises a bit less on the body horror/gore/despair unless facing one of the gods directly. That isn't to say there's none- there's still plenty blood and despair- but it feels more like an action-adventure novel than horror. And thats fine! The author explicitly states that they have a lot of personal settings mixed in and this effect is completely intentional.

The plot is pretty good- it centers on Zong Yan himself and how he slowly figures out who he is and reacts to the world around him. Every new threat is something he has to figure out, while every move he makes is under the slightly curious eyes of Yog-Sothoth.

Zong Yan is a cute, lonely teenager who tries to keep to himself but secretly wishes for friends and warmth. He's weak to people who are nice to him and thus finds himself with a few friends as he moves forward. His relationship with Yog-Sothoth is pretty cold until Yog really starts trying to win him over, but he does have partiality towards him beforehand (as opposed to his blatant dislike of Nyarlathotep and Shub-Niggurath, who hang around too because of things). I like how their relationship develops and the mystery behind who Zong Yan is and why he is the only one with the power he has. I really like the mobius strip Wang Ya weaves- the reasons why all the Evil Gods feel partial to Zong Yan is deserved. Just wait for the plot~

Yog-Sothoth is an evil god, and thus cannot truly love someone. But he does figure out that Zong Yan, who he was only slightly interested in before because He can't see his timeline- is important enough to him that he must watch him always. I think Wang Ya really sold the thoughts and actions of all the evil gods, its emphasised how they aren't human and never will be. Yog-Sothoth havung to simulate human emotions to try to figure out just what the heck his little human is thinking is always really funny to me. Somehow this cosmic horror entity ends up being the funniest character here 🙂‍↕️ Though I think if you had to choose from those three, Yog-Sothoth is the better choice. If I had a nickel for every time someone fell in love with him in a danmei....

Side characters are there but mainly supplement the plot. While Wang KeMing and Edward are given a bit of spotlight and plot, its far less than the evil gods surrounding Zong Yan. I don't think this was a detriment really, but Zong Yan needs some time with humans too lol. They are enough to help dispell some of his gloominess and keep his attention on the MU crew. I just think that the Dragon group should have had more screen time- every time he turns around He Yuan is on another trip and can't help out. I was expecting a little more from the guy appointed to be his mentor.

This novel also deals with a lot of non-chinese countries and some of the depictions are a little... Shallow. I wouldn't say its egregious, just a bit misinformed. I've seen worse honestly, and Confectioner is really good at pointing some of the author's misconceptions out. Its easily overlooked.

Overall this novel is a lighter read with funny interactions and an interesting mystery to unfold. I personally like "group pet" (where everyone loves the MC) novels that are done well and have definitive reasons as to why everyone loves the main character and this novel certainly delivers. I think Zong Yan is charming, and I really love Yog-Sothoth. Converting now-

How was the translation? Perfect! I think there was only a single typo in the whole text. Confectioner is really thorough on tl notes about the different phrases and transliterations they make.

Would I recommend this novel? Yes!

Would I reread this novel? Absolutely~

Trigger Warnings: Gore, Suicide, Cults, Human sacrifice, Self harm, Racism, Rape*, Slavery

*From a brief look into Yog-Sothoth's thoughts if Zong Yan ended up rejecting him. He's an evil god, you can't really say no to him. I shrug. Zong Yan obviously doesn't go down this route.

**I'll also mention that Harry Potter is mentioned a few times as a comparison in the text, but this novel is older so 😗

Arc names and detailed triggers under the cut:

Links: Novelupdates | EllaBells, luckykoi, SilverNeko (Chrysanthemum Garden)

Tags: Infinite Flow, Transmigration, Action, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Supernatural, Yaoi

Chapters: 260

Read on: 04/04/2036 to 04/15/2026

I'm back to reread this one! This is also the author of Working Records in a Weird World, which I reviewed last year and loved. I do have fond memories of this novel, and it was one of the first novels I MTL'd most of my way through~ I feel! A little rusty writing this review so bear with me.

Zong Jiu wakes up and realizes that he's transmigrated into Thriller Trainee, a novel about a show contained within an Infinite Loop setting. The side character with his name died miserably on the first night of the instance, and Zong Jiu had decided he didn't need to read any further... He should have read a few more chapters...

Unlike many transmigrators who would have lamented their luck, Zong Jiu is secretly thrilled. Here he may be able to cure his disabled hands and climb the heights of the stage again. Each brush with death brings a chill that delights him. The curtains rise on the renewed performance of the Magician!

But who can tell him where this perverted "destined rival" of his came from?

This novel has a unique setting for Infinite Flows, incorporating a "show" within an already established Infinite Flow setting like some kind of matryoshka doll. The audience for Thriller Trainee are survivors already contained within the brutal Infinite Loop, and most of the participants have signed up to Thriller Trainee in anticipation of some benefits if they survive. To facilitate the first few rounds, the system brought in a bunch of newcomers including Zong Jiu.

The plot really is an exploration of Zong Jiu and the Devil's personalities, how they tick and how they oppose yet attract each other. With the final goal of the Thriller Trainee competition being getting a "Universal Wish Ticket", making sure the right person gets the ticket (and doesn't go to the Devil's hands) is the focus of most of the political maneuvering. While simple, I think the amount of information given to the readers at a time makes everything quite engaging.

Zong Jiu is an interesting creature. He's aloof, cold to others and has little emotion. He has his pride, and while he hides a destructive nature inside him he has restraints to hold him back. These restraints make him particularly interesting, because while he may do things that seem benevolent or good to others in most cases its either him getting back at something, or responding to obligations. I like characters like these, and I really like that true emotions bleed through only when relating to the Devil.

The Devil is! A pervert and doesn't have restraints for the malice that he holds towards the world. He wants enjoyable things, though everything was a little dull until a certain Magician caught his eye. His power being puppet strings makes a lot of the exchanges between him and Zong Jiu interesting, with the added thought always of wondering just who around him is controlled.

The side characters in this novel are great, even if a lot of them don't get names. Xu Su is probably my favourite of the bunch (and he gets the most character development), but I love the entire Class 09 and their dynamic with Zong Jiu makes the First High School arc my favourite out of all of them. My least favourite arc would be Crazy Circus.....

The gore in this novel is! A lot! Its pretty vividly described especially in the first few arcs. The later arcs don't deal with slow deaths as much and ends up being lighter on the horror than the first half. I am actually kind of sad the Punishment Instance arc doesn't live up to the hype, but it was specific for Zong Jiu so I guess I can reluctantly leave it. I find it funny that the nsfw gore of the first 3/4ths of the novel gives way to the nsfw enemies with benefits -> lovers of the last part. Nods sagely. I am not mad about this 🙂‍↕️

Anyways I do love this novel and I'll definitely reread it again in the far off future, it was worth coming back to. Enemies with a deadly attraction to each other is always super good 🥰🥰 Another banger by Wang Ya. I need to read more from them.

How was the translation? Good. There were some odd word choices between translators, some translator's notes are broken/show up in the main text, only a few typos. Xu Su is written as Xu Shu once. Inconsistent terms: S+ and super S rank, instructor and mentor. In one chapter cola is the direct translation "happy fat water". The memes from Ashen early on are great! Overall not bad at all.

Would I recommend this novel? Yes. Especially if you like another novel I've reviewed, This Damned Thirst for Survival. Very similar dynamic between the two main characters~

Would I reread this novel? Yes~ Of course I would.

Trigger Warnings: Vehicle accident, Gore, Drugs, Psychiatric abuse, Lobotomy, Medical malpractice, Electroshock therapy, Sexual harrassment, Human trafficking, Mysoginy, Domestic violence, Cannibalism, Rape, Torture, Self harm, Suicide, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Humans as livestock*, Breeding of humans*, Human modification*, Infant death*, Eaten alive*, Cults, Human sacrifice, Aphrodisiac curse**

*Crazy Circus has a setting where humans and animals are reversed, so humans are the main livestock...

**Which ends up being Zong Jiu's excuse to finally hatefuck the Devil 🫡 Consent is there, Zong Jiu's just too prideful to ask for it 🙂‍↕️

Arc names and trigger details under the cut, along with some commentary from me:

Links: Novelupdates | Maroon Cloud

Tags: Infinite flow (nonstandard), Comedy, Horror, Mature, Romance, Yaoi

Chapters: 207

Read on: 12/20/2025 to 12/22/2025

Finally, a review for a novel written by Wang Ya! I read Thriller Trainee way back when it was still only halfway translated (finished it through MTL) and I remember liking that one a lot. I was actually going to reread it, but when looking at the author's listed novels on novelupdates this recently completed one caught my eye. Obviously because of Joshua on the front cover 🥰

Zong Le was released from Taikang Yongle's psychiatric ward over six months ago, but he's seriously considering readmitting himself. According to "common sense", the sclera of a human eyeball is black, the moon is always a deep blood red, the sky is always dark, and people fighting each other to the point of bodily harm is not only normal, but encouraged.

So why does he think that all of this is wrong? Stomping on the head of the psychiatrist who just tried to traffick his organs, Zong Le ponders this question very seriously.

And when he accidentally runs into an outsider with dark eyes ringed in white, calling him an 'NPC' to his companions but also picking up the phone Zong Le dropped and handing it back to him... Zong Le catches a glimpse of... something. Hope?

This novel has a good plot with well done foreshadowing and a decent main cast! It also has my new blorbo, Joshua. I haven't been this enamoured with an ML since I read Full Server First Kill. Not to say I don't like the MLs of other novels I've read, but normally I like the MC more than them. Not the case here! Zong Le is really good, Joshua is perfect.

Zong Le definitely has more than a few things wrong with him and its fun to see to what extent that is as things pan out. He's constantly hiding how unique he is (and doesn't really get why everyone's freaking out when the things he takes care of are so weak). He's naive but follows his principles, and isn't afraid to update his view of the world when evidence is presented (mainly by Joshua). Most of his family of Weirds act as his subordinates out of fear, but as the novel goes on they really start to mellow out and actually become really enthusiastic about everything. I especially liked Zong Le's interactions with Number 2 and 5, and how his original neighbors really rise to help Zong Le complete his dream.

Joshua isssss. Perfect. He's a corrupted saint, he's a failure, a co trolnfreak, he's a horrible person who's never done a bad deed (directly). His personality, masked personality, and innate ability create this image of a perfect, holy statue with a rotting corpse inside. His very presence in the Infinite Space means that one day the survivors will return home, but he's being forced to be their Savior in the first place. Not following orders means a pain more excruciating than death, because he's not allowed to die. And yet, to see the despair on all of humanity's faces, he would take the pain to see his revenge fulfilled.

Until he met Zong Le, and falls in love irreversibally, devastatingly. Joshua's character arc is perfect for me and I! Love him!!

I liked Zong Le's Ankang Community, the Weirds he recruits are all interesting and fiercely loyal, which is what Zong Le needs. Even the few humans in the community help Zong Le and its nice to see. The Survivors, on the other hand, pretty much all suck and its reasonable for Joshua to be so disgusted by them. While there are a few good ones, the author definitely paints the rest in a bad light... But its also understandable? And while I don't like Qin Ye as a person, I did like seeing his involvement in the plot and everything. His ineffective restraint on Joshua and why they were there in the first place, especially.

I liked the overarching plot, and like I said before everything was well foreshadowed. The final reveal and subsequent events were well done and really allowed both Joshua and Zong Le to shine. I will definitely come back and reread this novel!

How was the translation? Great! Just a few typos, and a few grammar issues towards the end.

Would I recommend this novel? Yes! Come meet my new blorbo...

Would I reread this novel? Yes yes yes. Absolutely.

Trigger Warnings: Gore, Electroshock therapy, Domestic violence, Cannibalism, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Suicide, Human sacrifice, Infant death, Homophobia*, Human trafficking, Rape, Medical malpractice, Self harm, Autocannibalism, Human experimentation, Child death, Dubious consent**, Industrial accident, Bullying, Animal experimentation, Body horror, Aphrodisiac**

*A specific side character was traumatized by a gay man and now is instincitvely afraid of and disgusted by gay people, especially Joshua. Which is fair. He doesn't hate Zong Le though.

**Zong Le 100% could have left Joshua alone here and would have earlier in the novel but also Joshua is manipulative and playing up his reaction to the drug. He can't directly manipulate Zong Le into anything. Zong Le also doesn't mind it afterwards besides being embarrassed, and at this point he's also in love with Joshua (but doesn't realize it yet). When they really go for it later everything is 100% consensual.

Arc names and detailed triggers under the cut: