Transmigrated as the Male Lead's Villainous Master - Chapter 1

I had transmigrated into the male lead’s villainous master.

This was a cultivation novel, and its hero, Wen Jiangqiu, was the sort of power-fantasy protagonist blessed with one cheat after another from beginning to end. He was peerlessly handsome, stumbled over opportunities wherever he went, gathered loyal followers by the dozen, and built himself an enormous harem.

As for me? I was the great villain who had abused and tormented him as a child. I took him as my disciple only because I coveted his opportunities and envied his talent. I even intended to turn him into a human cauldron and drain his cultivation for my own use.

In the end… the male lead ran me through with a single stroke of his sword.

Me: “…”

I was so dead.

The thought nearly gave me a heart attack—especially when I saw the pitiful little male lead standing before me with a basin of foot-washing water.

At the moment, Wen Jiangqiu looked no more than thirteen or fourteen. He was fair-skinned and beautiful, with eyes full of stars, a straight nose, and finely shaped lips. But his hair was soaking wet, and in the dead of winter, so was the entire upper half of his body.

I hurriedly searched my memory of the novel.

Oh.

The male lead had only just been taken in by his master, who planned to raise him as a future human cauldron. During these early years, he was forced to do every dirty chore and suffered endless bullying from his fellow disciples.

My impending heart attack got worse.

“Master…” Little Wen Jiangqiu spoke timidly. “I’ve brought the water for your feet…”

I sighed and rubbed my throbbing head. “How did you get soaked?”

He had not expected the question. Looking aggrieved, he said, “I tripped and spilled the first basin over myself.”

That was obviously a lie.

I had read the novel. In this scene, my arrogant eldest disciple had disliked the new junior disciple on sight and shoved him straight into an icy pool.

And his master—”me”—had tacitly allowed it. After all, Xiao Mengli, mistress of New Moon Palace, was the demoness every righteous cultivator wanted dead: ruthless, vicious, and perfectly happy to watch her disciples tear one another apart.

My heart ached for the boy. I pressed two fingers lightly to Wen Jiangqiu’s brow and said softly, “You must be freezing. You’ve had a hard time.”

Azure light flashed from my fingertips and wrapped around him. The minor spell dried every drop of water from his body in an instant.

He really was beautiful. No wonder he would someday attract so many women of every description.

Wen Jiangqiu’s lashes trembled like butterfly wings. His eyes seemed to shine with moisture. After a long silence, he pressed his lips together and said, “Thank you, Master.”

There was no way I dared let the future ruler of the Three Realms wash my feet.

I quickly dismissed him. “Go back and rest early.”

He hesitated instead of leaving. Thinking the child might have something to say, I pointed beside the wooden couch. “Sit. Is there something you wish to tell me?”

He opened his mouth, then stopped. At last he shook his head in silence. “No. This disciple will take his leave.”

Wen Jiangqiu bowed and turned to go.

As his sleeve shifted, I caught sight of dark bruises covering his arm.

I immediately remembered where the little fellow lived. He shared quarters with Xiao Mengli’s vicious eldest disciple, who often beat him and treated him like a servant.

My face darkened. “Wait.”

Wen Jiangqiu stopped.

I strode over, pulled up his sleeve, and demanded, “Who gave you these bruises?”

“Eld—” He started to tell on him, but swallowed the word. “I scraped myself while fetching the water.”

My heart clenched.

From the look of things, Xiao Mengli’s previous indifference had done its damage. Wen Jiangqiu did not even dare tell the truth.

I fetched the medicine chest and treated his wounds. When I was done, I patted the couch. “You’re sleeping here tonight.”