The Life of an Unlucky E-Rank Forced to Be Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic

This novel was originally titled Chiseling Light. Here's the blurb:

Fu Xian Zhi, the lofty and revered human race's foremost mage, is dead.

He died on a freezing sheet of ice, his body covered in ice crystals.

Years later, all his "old flames" gathered together and fussed over his substitute right in front of the real deal.

The real deal: ?

Not angry, but wants to hit someone.

A minor illness every other day, a major one every three. Beaten today, kicked tomorrow. The enemy brings every ache and pain to bear, blowing horns and beating drums in triumph. Our side is in shambles, falling back at every turn, coughing up blood and fainting.

Miserable!

A father and mother all at once, building a home to raise a child. Never knowing where the next meal will come from, picking up a child and taking to the fields. Patch here, mend there, and a drink of cold water has to fill your stomach.

Wretched!

Who could be living such a pitiful life? The most handsome man under heaven, the revered Fu Zun!

What? Fu Zun isn't human? Then he deserves to be condemned by everyone, hunted down, and killed!

Such is the world.

With a body ravaged by illness and a heart torn apart, he dragged his broken, mudlike body through the Hell of Returning Gorge, his form drifting like duckweed while his heart turned toward the light.

Just as years ago, when he was still a boy, his eyes blazing as he declared: "If such a place truly exists in this world, where my bones can be broken down to nourish all living things, then I would gladly go there."

Just as in his previous life, when that boy said to him with innocent sincerity: "In my next life, I'll protect the people as a general."

The countryside eases the hardship of my travels; I will repay this good life with blood from my heart.

A free-spirited, easygoing loyal dog devoted to one person, Ji Ling x the beautiful, tragic Fu He, frail to the point of illness but still able to fight and flirt

[Content Warnings]

1. An imaginary setting. Don't expect historical accuracy.

2. The shou is in very poor health but can still fight.

3. The gong has a limited amount of page time (read with caution if this bothers you).

4. There are many flashbacks (read with caution if this bothers you).

5. There is a secondary couple.

[Reader's Guide]

1. Fu Xian Zhi: Xian is the same as in Xian Mu, meaning to bathe.

2. Regarding the template-based character art: the cover character art is a licensed online asset purchased by the designer for commercial use. It is not exclusive, but the cover's copyright is secure and the design is unique.

Theme: Take responsibility for the world, and find redemption through love.