I Broke My Back Trying to Save My Villainous Master

He Yunli, head of the Yunxiao Sect, was handsome, talented, kind, and the moonlight in the hearts of all the sect's disciples. His only flaw was having a master whom everyone found obnoxious, and he was a total "master's boy." One day, He Yunli dreamed he was in a novel. He knew neither the plot nor the characters' relationships, but he did remember that he would "take a sword blow and die" for his master, who was a villain. His master had raised him, so of course he could take a sword for him. But was it possible that he didn't have to? To survive, He Yunli began thinking about how to avoid the plot and resolve the grudge between his master and the protagonist. After consulting all kinds of storybooks, he came up with a universal set of "villain redemption techniques": Step one: Appear out of nowhere and save him from danger. Step two: Use pills and treasures to cloud his mind. Step three: Show him warmth and care until he blushes. Step four: Tell him it's all my master's idea. He may be hard to get along with on the surface, but he treats you really well behind your back. He cares about you! Hearing He Yunli's "confession," the protagonist(s) briefly imagined what it would be like to be the target of someone capricious, solitary, tyrannical, and vengeful. A chill ran through them. Thanks, we're going to die right now. Don't contact us again. He Yunli's efforts to "redeem his master" weren't going very smoothly. He couldn't understand why, even though he'd followed the "textbook" at every step, the protagonists still avoided his master like the plague and trembled at the mention of him. In the end, only one "naive and ignorant" little "protagonist" disciple (his master's incarnation) was willing to join him in singing his master's praises. "Let me tell you, your grandmaster is the best alchemist in the entire cultivation world." "Mm-hmm. Tell me more." "His swordsmanship is also peerless." "Absolutely!" "He's the best master in the world." "No, our master is the best!" That master: My disciple seems to be trying something really new. I should get him to try it on me. (A wicked master gong x the disciple who is "the virtue he's missing," shou) Things to know before reading: Ensemble cast at the sect, silly everyday antics. The cultivation setting includes authorial inventions, so please don't nitpick. If you're dropping the novel, no need to say so. Come and go politely. Thanks for reading, and enjoy! [Upcoming novel] The Second Male Lead Is Supposed to Be the Dragon Lord's Husband Shi Zhaorong is an important supporting male character in an ongoing male-oriented cultivation novel. He doesn't get much screen time, but he's already made the readers hate him. He comes from a distinguished family and is handsome and arrogant. He's the leader of all the cannon fodder who trip up the male lead, and every time he appears, he's full of swagger, even more pretentious than the male lead. Then, just like that, he died. The comments exploded as soon as the chapter went live. Reader A: Shi Zhaorong just died like that? Are you kidding me? Reader B: Why kill him off? I wanted to see him humbled, not dead. I wanted to see the male lead win him over and make him work for him, not kill him! Reader C: That's not how this works! In danmei (crossed out) male-oriented novels, the male lead and the second male lead are supposed to fight, get to know each other, make peace, and eventually share life and death. That's not how male-oriented novels work! With Zhaorong gone, who's the "female lead"? His fiancee, who's been missing for three hundred chapters (the novel is currently at chapter 301)? Amid all the protests, the author immediately surrendered: I'll revise it. I'm revising it now. * Shi Zhaorong dreamed that he had died. When he woke up, he found someone beside him claiming to be a System. System: I'm here to help you change the future. I'm calling this operation the "Loyal Dog Second Male Lead Development Plan." Shi Zhaorong (taking notes): He wants to raise the male lead. System: You need to become the male lead's best friend, worst enemy, loyal follower, and selfless life mentor... Shi Zhaorong (taking notes): He wants to be the male lead's dad. System: Do you understand what you have to do? Shi Zhaorong (confidently): I do. * Meng Shu had a complicated past, was cold and suspicious, and was used to going it alone. He never expected a pampered young master to drop from the sky and become his companion as if breaking in to rob him. The Dragon Lord was wary. The Dragon Lord tested him. The Dragon Lord fell completely. Shi Zhaorong came from a distinguished family, but wasn't a bad person. Shi Zhaorong was generous and kind, unable to bear seeing anyone suffer. Shi Zhaorong was fiercely protective of his own. Shi Zhaorong, Shi Zhaorong... Shi Zhaorong was wonderful. His one flaw was that he was just as good to everyone else. He didn't want that. * Reader D: Is it just me, or has this novel gotten more and more weird since the rewrite? Reader E: Delicious! Finally, a normal relationship between a male lead and second male lead in a male-oriented novel. Reader F: Is the male lead pursuing his brother or his wife? What do you mean he can't live without Shi Zhaorong? Author, what are you doing? Come out and explain! Author? Author? Reader G: Damn, the author turned this into danmei out of spite. Run, guys! If we keep reading, we'll see the male lead make out with the second male lead! A refined, pampered young master shou with a bit of a handle on human nature x a Dragon Lord gong who goes from cold-faced heartthrob to cold-faced jealous guy Not a healing story. The Dragon Lord had a tragic childhood, but he's fundamentally strong and doesn't need saving. He just encounters an irresistibly seductive charmer right after leaving the beginner village. Theme: The mortal world may bind us, but the heart is free.