Update 10/2022 - Reading the low reviews here is honestly mind-boggling. I'm updating my original review to emphasize some key points, because it seems like a lot of people didn't actually read the story.
- Take the "unreliable narrator" tag seriously. Feizhen, in his POV, treats the reader exactly as he treats everyone around him - that is, he constantly obfuscates who he is, what he thinks, and what he can do. As part of this obfuscation, he really plays up the s*upid lecher role. It's a deliberately constructed persona, which becomes clearer as the story progresses.
- Like Feizhen himself, the story presents itself as simple in the beginning and you don't really start to unravel the plot until around volume 6 - and it's still slow going from there. If you want a straightforward story, this is not for you.
- This story greatly benefits from rereading because of how the plot is set up. You'll find new things and make connections you won't get on the initial read.
I could go on, but I'll sum up my two-years-later edit by saying that TMKRL is one of the most well-executed and cleverly written stories I've ever read. I still wish I could somehow become instantly fluent so that I could get all of its jokes and read ahead further than I have. 19 volumes... I'm so excited to see what's in store. 5/5 stars, I wish I could buy physical copies.
Old review:After lurking NU for more than a year, I actually made an account to review this story. Partly because I like it, partly because of the reviews saying things that either aren't accurate or rating low because the story isn't a generic wuxia power fantasy. Nothing against those, because I love them too - but this is not that.
This is more comedy and politics and sometimes casefic with an MC that
happens to be OP. His OPness gets brought up throughout and effects the story in various different ways, but usually not with him smashing through everything while everyone looks on in awe. If you love OP characters running around hiding their abilities and true identities in a completely pointless attempt to live a normal life (you're trying, MFZ. you're trying.) and causing all sorts of chaos and misunderstandings in the process, you will love this. There aren't many out there that scratch that exact itch and are actually good.
This one is great. It's hilarious. The wordplay that manages to get across even through the translation makes this the one novel I've encountered that makes me regret not knowing Chinese. That's not to say the translation is bad - it's excellent - but because of the differences in language structure some of the jokes can't make it over. I really love that the translator explains them at the end of the chapters, though - I love getting that insight into Chinese lit. Really great translation and really great translator's notes.
