Lanterns on the Steps

Blurb:

Reading Guide:

Gentle, obedient yandere disciple gong x aloof, straight-laced saintly master shou.

An old-school master-disciple romance, with one-sided redemption.

His master is the disciple's obsession across two lifetimes, and the disciple is the only person his master has ever fallen for.

The romance develops slowly. At first, the master only wants to be a "good master," so winning him over will be difficult.

Told from the gong's perspective only, not written to cater to gong or shou fans.

In his previous life, Fang Wuyuan fell to demonic cultivation and betrayed his master, becoming a wicked disciple hated by everyone.

He thought his master hated him to the bone, but even so, he wanted to see him one more time...

When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to the eve of his fall into demonic cultivation.

His master was still the lofty number-one sword cultivator, aloof and taciturn, like a plum blossom in a snow-covered mountain.

But Fang Wuyuan knew

This man would tuck his blankets around him in the dead of night, awkwardly try to comfort him, and soothe him with an unfamiliar embrace when he had nightmares.

What Fang Wuyuan thought was a chance at redemption after being reborn was actually an opportunity his master had bought for him by cutting out his own heart and bones to turn back time.

It's just that sometimes, his master really doesn't know how to put things tactfully. No wonder he's so aloof and taciturn

When his master teaches him swordplay hand over hand, Fang Wuyuan says, "You smell like plum blossoms."

Yan Jingwu replies, "I've spent so much time in the plum grove that the scent's soaked into me."

When he is moved by his master's hands-on lessons in calligraphy,

Yan Jingwu says, "It's hard to believe my disciple's handwriting is worse than a white crane's before it can take human form."

When Fang Wuyuan openly confesses his love,

Yan Jingwu says, "Once your teacher, your father for life. You lack a father's love, so I really should make up for it."

Fang Wuyuan: "?"

"Master." He tugs at Yan Jingwu's sleeve, two lifetimes of obsession hidden in his eyes. "You said you wouldn't abandon me."

Yan Jingwu lowers his gaze and sighs helplessly. "...Mm."

It's just...

"My world has only ever had one ray of light, you. But your light shines on more than just me."

His master has good teachers and close friends, family and old acquaintances. Even the villains have long been in love with him. Fang Wuyuan can only watch as his master happily chats with his confidants and takes such good care of his juniors. Even cutting out his heart and bones wasn't solely for Fang Wuyuan...

Fang Wuyuan holds back again and again, until he can't take it anymore and is ready to go mad!

But when he catches sight of the panic and blush at the corners of Yan Jingwu's eyes, all his anger vanishes.

He wants to keep him all to himself, and he wants to become him.

Yan Jingwu reflects deeply on his own behavior. What on earth has he done to make his disciple fall for him?

He's antisocial and has plenty of flaws. He's incredibly difficult to get along with. How could his disciple have developed such feelings? It's absurd!

He couldn't figure it out yesterday, and he still can't today...

Forget it. He should focus on sword practice first. Helping his disciple escape the fate of falling to demonic cultivation is what matters most. Even if he dies and his cultivation is destroyed, he will protect his disciple and ensure he has a worry-free life ahead.

As for anything else... He wouldn't mind giving his life for his disciple, but how could he fall in love with him?

Theme: Step out of the darkness and embrace the light.