The Villain Left the Sect at the Beginning, Now They Regret It

Tang Mo transmigrated into an exhilarating cultivation novel. Upon learning the plot, he refused to continue being a cannon fodder lapdog and tool for others. Resolutely, he left the sect, determined to establish his own path and live a good life. However, on his way down the mountain, compassion stirred in his heart, and he picked up a pitiful, dying girl. Unexpectedly, this act of kindness brought him back none other than the villainous boss—the Demon Empress—who, in the years to come, would love him to the depths of her soul! The Demon Empress: “Everyone deceived and harmed me, but you alone treated me sincerely. Since you were the one who barged into my desolate fate, healed my body, soothed my heart, and redeemed me, you will never have the chance to leave again…” As time passed, his life only grew better. He transformed into a legendary master of alchemy and medicine, astonishing the three realms. With pills in one hand and medical skills in the other, his spiritual eyes could pierce through destiny itself. Immortal sects vied to win his favor, and great cultivators flocked to him without end. The Grandmaster of Alchemy praised him, saying: “One pill can unlock the Dao of the Three Realms, and one medicine can reverse the gates of life and death.” Meanwhile, his former junior and senior sisters, now wracked with regret, wept until their hearts nearly shattered, begging for forgiveness. Tang Mo merely cast them a cold glance and said indifferently: “Sincerity is as worthless as dirt. A broken mirror cannot be made whole again.” But in his heart, he scoffed: Weren’t you all supposed to follow the original plot and cling desperately to the protagonist? And now, you’re here wallowing in regret over me? Ridiculous.

Original Publisher

qimao

Original Language

chinese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on *The Villain Left the Sect at the Beginning, Now They Regret It* Alright, I've spent some time diving into *The Villain Left the Sect at the Beginning, Now They Regret It*, and I have some thoughts. It's a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest, with some intriguing elements overshadowed by some definite drawbacks. It's not a complete disaster, but it definitely needs some refining. ### First Impressions The title itself is a bit misleading. I went in expecting a ruthless villain protagonist, but what I found was more of a cannon fodder character who's actually quite decent. The setup is interesting: a sect haunted by past betrayals, a master struggling with trauma, and a protagonist caught in the middle. The initial premise had me hooked. ### What Works Well One of the most refreshing aspects of this novel, for me, is the "regret" element. In a genre often filled with antagonists who are simply trampled upon, the genuine contrition displayed by some of the characters is a welcome change. It's a more nuanced approach that I appreciate. The author seems to have pulled this off well, creating characters who are not just cardboard cutouts but have some depth to their remorse. This is a rare and appreciated touch in cultivation novels. ### Areas of Concern Unfortunately, the characterization is where the novel stumbles. The original protagonist devolves into a rather pathetic villain, lacking any real threat or complexity. This makes the world feel less engaging and the stakes feel lower. The reliance on the yandere trope also feels tired and uninspired. What was once shocking has now become cliché, and its inclusion here doesn't add anything meaningful to the story. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Okay, here's where I have to delve into some potential spoilers. Apparently, the MC's sect suffered a devastating attack years prior, leaving the master with psychological scars that manifest as a distrustful and violent alter ego. This leads to a series of misunderstandings that ultimately result in the original MC being stripped of his cultivation and life. It's a grim setup, and while the revelation of the original MC's true filial nature is interesting, the path to get there is a bit convoluted. ### Final Verdict Overall, *The Villain Left the Sect at the Beginning, Now They Regret It* has some interesting ideas and a refreshing take on the "regret" trope. However, the weak characterization and reliance on overused tropes hold it back. It's not terrible, but it's not great either. I'd say it's worth a try if you're looking for something a little different in the xianxia genre, but be prepared for some frustrations along the way.