The Useless Master

In his previous life, Shen Yinqing was a useless master.

His eldest disciple was a cannon-fodder character.

His second disciple was a one-note villain.

His third disciple was the protagonist's doomed first love.

Before Shen Yinqing went into seclusion, his three disciples were all getting along happily under his care.

When he emerged, his youngest disciple had been murdered. His second disciple, convinced the protagonist was the culprit, had repeatedly targeted and framed him, and had already been killed by the protagonist, reduced to ashes. Meanwhile, his eldest disciple, a paragon of virtue and talent, was now lying on the ground, coughing up blood after being beaten by the protagonist.

Having finally endured enough abuse and successfully turned his life around, the protagonist was on the verge of destroying Qianren Sect, with all the side characters he'd brought to heel behind him.

Shen Yinqing fought with everything he had, but he was no match for the protagonist, chosen by destiny. The protagonist crippled his cultivation and imprisoned him at his side.

Perhaps because Shen Yinqing bore a resemblance to his young nephew-disciple, the protagonist cinched the chains restraining him and ordered him to please him.

All that humiliation felt like a nightmare. Shen Yinqing woke from it to find himself back on the eve of his planned retreat into seclusion.

All three of his disciples were still alive and well, spirited and carefree, too young to know sorrow.

Shen Yinqing breathed a sigh of relief.

Go into seclusion? Why would he do that? This time, he would protect his three disciples properly, and then... kill that beast of a protagonist.

Shen Yinqing went to find the protagonist, who was still being tormented in the outer sect. Instead, he saw a skinny little boy of about ten, unable to sleep even in the middle of the night, carrying buckets heavier than he was and stumbling along a muddy mountain path.

Shen Yinqing had already formed the hand seal for a spell, but suddenly found he couldn't bring himself to kill the boy to silence him.

People are born good.

Forget it...

Shen Yinqing picked up the little protagonist, who had fallen to the ground and was covered in scrapes and bruises. He thought, I can always take on one more disciple.

He refused to believe the protagonist would ever bring himself to kill his future senior brothers!

Jiang Liyue had been an unwanted child ever since he was little.

His mother abandoned him, the sect despised him, and his so-called fellow disciples took pleasure in tormenting him.

But then, one day, someone wanted the unwanted Jiang Liyue.

Perhaps he really was a greedy, base creature. From the moment he first saw that person, he wanted to make him his and his alone.

Jiang Liyue carefully hid his feelings. His master had no idea how captivating he was, even with the slightest frown or smile.

Now grown up and aware of the nature of his possessiveness, Jiang Liyue thought, If this keeps up, I'm going to lose my mind.

Then one day, Jiang Liyue suddenly remembered his past life. Only then did he realize that he'd already gone mad in his previous life.

The title is tentative. I haven't thought of one yet.

The love interest had something wrong with his head in his previous life. He's a little better this time around.

The protagonist is not a replacement. The love interest has only ever gone crazy over him, in either life.

If you like it, please add it to your collection~

Theme: I hope everyone finds someone to love