Ninety Thousand Miles

[Originally titled Nine Thousand Li]

Liu Shiqing, the youngest Immortal Venerable of the Xuan Sect, is dead.

When he opens his eyes again, the System tells him that he's been lying dead for two hundred years, and the disciple he left to fend for himself has become the Demon Lord.

The Black Bird falls, the gods perish, corpses litter the land, snow lies a thousand miles deep, and all things return to darkness... It sounds like a thoroughly evil mess.

And the System expects him to clean it up.

After hearing all that, Liu Shiqing wants to die all over again. "No, I can't do it."

The System gently coaxes him. "I'll help you transmigrate back to the time when you first took him in. Teach him well, comfort him, instill the right values in him, and let him experience the warmth of life..."

Liu Shiqing reluctantly signs a contract with the System.

So the System confidently sends him back. This is the Immortal Venerable of Changqing Mountain, famous from a young age, the strongest fighter around, and peerless even in appearance. Surely stopping his disciple from turning evil will be a piece of cake.

Under the System's supervision, Liu Shiqing successfully takes in a disciple and stops going into seclusion. Every day, he diligently and conscientiously plays the model master, and his relationship with his one and only disciple, Luo Xuan, grows closer.

His disciple is handsome, cultured, and sweet-tongued, and soon becomes the darling of Changqing Mountain. There's not a hint of darkness about him.

The System is happy. The System is reassured.

Until it hears that Liu Shiqing's disciple has fallen for a man.

System: "..."

This is bad. It has a vague, ominous feeling.

The System rushes to this world and sees that, just like in his previous life, Luo Xuan has chosen to destroy his cultivation and become a demon.

Worse still, right at this critical moment, Liu Shiqing has been made to fall for a man.

The immaculate Immortal Venerable lies unconscious on a disheveled bed, looking broken and wanton, so beautiful it's almost breathtaking.

The culprit leans down and softly calls him "Master," his voice tender and full of affection, as though he isn't the one about to turn evil.

The System is about to lose its mind. Eyes squeezed shut, it shakes its Host by the shoulders as hard as it can, trying to rouse his conscience. "Our contract! The contract!!!"

Liu Shiqing sincerely assures the System that he won't let love cloud his judgment and allow his disciple to run wild and commit evil.

The System believes him again.

Until it discovers that its Host is the one who became the Demon Lord.

The System blacks out.

Um... former Demon Lord, could you make a sacrifice this time and save the world?

Also known as:

#Oh No, I've Fallen for a Hopeless Romantic#

#Was I Just Part of Your Master-Disciple Roleplay?#

#Do I Really Have to Become the Demon Lord?!#

#I Turned Evil First to Stop the Villain from Turning Evil#

Please note:

Younger seme, 1v1 with mutual feelings, slow-burn relationship that develops over time. The romance isn't angsty, but no guarantees about the plot. Happy ending.

A devoted younger seme who looks dark but is actually kind × a hopelessly lovestruck uke who looks like the very picture of righteousness but is actually extremely doting.

Please note:

Younger seme, 1v1 with mutual feelings, slow-burn relationship that develops over time. The romance isn't angsty, but no guarantees about the plot. Happy ending.

The seme is the delicate and beautiful type, someone whose face alone makes it impossible to stay angry. Both of them are a little crazy, especially the uke, who has a rather obsessive streak.

They'll wager everything for each other and triumph against all odds.

The uke is very doting, the seme is very well-behaved, and they're deeply in love.

Theme: Having witnessed the suffering of all living beings, one should pity their suffering. The gentleman sits and debates; the youth rises and acts.