Picking Up a Villain as My Disciple

[Unfazed master top x devoted, clingy disciple bottom]

Shen Gui transmigrates into a xianxia novel.

In the original story, the protagonist Gu Changning discovers that his master's bloodline is impure. He then puts righteousness before family and personally kills his master.

Afterward, he sheds just one light tear. "If Master becomes a demon, all living beings will suffer."

Then he carries on as the leader of the immortal sects.

Shen Gui transmigrates into the unfortunate master.

System: "Your mission is to save Gu Changning, the orphan of the righteous sect, and raise him to become a pillar of the immortal sects. Please proceed to the mass grave..."

The System glitches and goes offline halfway through.

Shen Gui: "Oh."

He goes to the mass grave as instructed and brings back a child covered in wounds, chewing tree bark to stave off hunger.

He names the child Zhong Buli.

Later, Zhong Buli grows up to become the youngest sword cultivator, gentle and refined, praised by everyone.

But Shen Gui notices that his disciple is acting increasingly strange.

Specifically, his ears turn red and his eyes dart around when he's near Shen Gui. When Shen Gui isn't looking, he wears a gloomy expression, as though burdened by his thoughts.

Shen Gui: "This is an illness. It needs to be treated."

One night, he corners Zhong Buli in his room and interrogates him.

Zhong Buli's eyes redden and his voice turns hoarse. "Master, I know... I took someone else's place, someone you were supposed to save. It was despicable of me."

Shen Gui looks at him and smiles. "Who said I was going to save him? From the very beginning, I went to save you."

Years later, the System comes back online, furious to discover that Shen Gui has raised an abandoned demon child.

And the orphan of the righteous sect is off somewhere, scavenging trash in some remote corner.

"Host, you'll regret this!"

Shen Gui replies, puzzled, "Regret it? My disciple is handsome and skilled, knows how to cuddle and cook, and even keeps me warm in bed. He's perfect. What could I possibly regret?"

Reading guide: Both are devoted to each other, age gap; the top is older.

Thesis: Sow good causes, reap good results