Purgatory Artist - Chapter 43: Upstart

As the owner of an ordinary bookstore, Ling PingAn’s biggest wish was to muddle through life and do absolutely nothing.

He had four disobedient disciples, who now achieved success, won recognition and established their own sects.

The embarrassing thing is that it was him who drove those four out of his sect to make them independent.

But one day he had an incident and lost his cultivation. His life was hanging by a thread. Wandering around, he walked into his third disciple’s territory.

What should I do?

Mountains and seas can be tamed, days and nights can disappear.

Only you, the exceptional you, refuse to give up.

——

A man blessed with fortune, the best in his generation, had an accident and started anew; broken in body but firm in spirit, he now uses his wisdom to guide his evil disciples back to the right path.

Notes :
The title 参商 (Shēnshāng) has two meanings:
1) Constellations Shen (ch. “Three Stars mansion”, eu. Orion) and Shang (ch. “Heart mansion”, eu. Antares), which never appear at the same time.
2) Two friends/relatives who are separated/estranged and irreconcilable.

- Description from Novelupdates

Reborn as Javier De Armand, the youngest son of a lower rank noble household, former salaryman Nakamura Junichi faces a world of privilege, chaos, and responsibility.From his earliest days as a baby to his rise as a formidable adult, Javier’s life is anything but simple., Javier must navigate the expectations of noble society while pursuing his own freedom and dreams.As he grows, he learns that nobility comes with its burdens—managing territories, forging alliances, defending against enemies, and earning the respect of both his peers and the commoners he vows to protect. But life as a noble is no fairy tale. Rival families scheme for power, enemy threaten the borders, and kingdoms teeter on the brink of war.Being the youngest son places Javier in a unique position. Neither the heir nor the spare, he must carve out his own role within his family and society. With his sharp mind, decisive personality, and memories of his past life, Javier takes on challenges that many would shy away from.Recruit allies and build his own influence, carefully balancing his desire for independence with the duties expected of him as a noble. Along the way, he must navigate family dynamics, political challenges, and his ambition to leave a lasting mark on this fantastical world.In a realm where strength, wit, and cunning reign supreme, Javier's journey blends humor, slice-of-life moments, and lighthearted chaos as he crafts his own destiny while keeping those closest to him by his side.

He was once the most feared villain in the empire, a master of manipulation who wove chaos from the shadows. Ruthless, untouchable—until the day he was betrayed and executed by the very man he sought to control.But death is not the end.He awakens in the body of Lady Elara Valcrest, a fragile noble girl doomed to be a pawn in political games. Stripped of her former power, she is forced into an arranged marriage with none other than Cairon Everhart—the man who once killed her. He does not recognize her, but she knows him. And she will never forget.To survive, Elara must play a new game. One where deception is her only weapon, and trust is a dangerous illusion. She must outmaneuver her enemies, uncover the truth behind her execution, and reclaim the power she lost. But as she navigates the treacherous world of court intrigue, one question lingers—Was Cairon truly her greatest enemy? Or had she been blind to an even greater threat?Time is running out. The villain has been given one last chance. And this time, she refuses to lose.