Fake Father - Zhang Ming

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The soul of an ordinary man is reborn in the body of a poor drunk living in another world, a world of ancient martial arts. Now he must survive in a dangerous alien world where human life is worth less than a handful of rice.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: Vundagor

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 2,094
Views: 732,884

Chapters(137 total)

What readers say about Fake Father - Zhang Ming

“This is a really promising new story. What makes it stand out is the world itself: it's dark, gritty, and unforgiving. The author mentions stuff like border wars, barbarian raids, deserters, runaway slaves, and bandits everywhere — just subtle hints that bu…”
AgataRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“It’s a good-quality story with no linguistic issues or inconsistencies. I’m so used to people transferring into xianxia/cultivation universes with an understanding of the mystical aspects that this story takes; featuring a grown man with no clue what's goin…”
MarzB4rzRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

AgataRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a really promising new story. What makes it stand out is the world itself: it's dark, gritty, and unforgiving. The author mentions stuff like border wars, barbarian raids, deserters, runaway slaves, and bandits everywhere — just subtle hints that build this huge, living world, like there's a war raging on one border, nomad barbarians invading from the other side... it's awesome how it all ties together.
If you pay attention, the world feels alive and massive. Everything connects logically; even the plot shifts because of what's happening "off-screen" in the background. The world just... exists and breathes on its own.
The characters are brilliantly written, not just strong but nuanced. Even side characters have distinct voices. At first, we're just getting used to them and following the plot, but then the real depth kicks in. Those subtle psychological layers are rare in webnovels, especially in xianxia.
Not many people notice this, but the attention to detail is insane, like how the older sister politely calls an old man "sir," while the younger one says "grandpa." The whole story is packed with little touches like that. Sometimes it genuinely gives me chills.
Everyone feels deep and multi-dimensional. The MC isn't perfect (which is great plenty of room to grow), and he's not pointlessly "good" for no reason. The interactions between the main characters are a highlight on their own.
The writing quality is top-tier. It flows super smoothly from the start, and the fight scenes are professional-level: vivid, realistic, and easy to visualize. Seriously impressed! Can't wait for more chapters.
MarzB4rzRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
It’s a good-quality story with no linguistic issues or inconsistencies. I’m so used to people transferring into xianxia/cultivation universes with an understanding of the mystical aspects that this story takes; featuring a grown man with no clue what's going on is refreshing. Definitely recommend trying it out and reading it.
Mershan27Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This my first time for an advanced review. So I'll make it simple.
A Father that is needed. Responsibility is quite heavy on this one.
Style:
The Style is direct and doesn't make the scene confusing. The story was made in consideratiom of the situation the characters are put into. World building expansion depends entirely on the characters exploration, so far from what I read.
Story:
A man transmigrated in a cultivation world where might makes right. He was stuck as a father with two kids, the daughters of the former father. The Two's relationship ain't good, it's quite worse. Thankfully, a good change happen by the work of our protagonist.
Thankfully, the people here are in a mindset of survival, not the usual arrogance of cultivation. Although, it existed in subtle ways that doesn't shove it in front of your face. Just natural human struggle of life. Albeit, a bit dangerous.
Grammar:
Grammar is quite fine. I haven't saw a lot of mistakes and errors. I am certain it got edited by the author and with the helped of readers. The reading experience is good.
Character.
In the beginning, the characters may look simple. But as you read more chapters, the MC and his environment experiences a good amount of development. Quite so that you'll enjoy the journey.
Tanner_1000Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A refreshing story overall. I’ll admit I was getting a little bored during the first few chapters, but then it really started to pick up and become genuinely enjoyable to read. It’s definitely a unique take — the main character is reborn into the body of a drunkard who abused his two young daughters. The premise alone stands out, and the author manages to slowly build an emotional connection between the MC and the children as the story progresses. I especially like how their relationship development feels gradual and realistic, showing real effort and patience over time.That said, there are some areas that could use improvement. The author glosses over the MC’s alcohol withdrawals, which are portrayed too lightly given how serious and debilitating they can be in reality. The daughters’ trauma and feral-like behavior are depicted well, but the MC’s lack of initiative early on almost feels like a continuation of their neglect. As he begins to clean up his life, working as a mercenary and trying to provide for them, I hope the story delves deeper into his responsibility as a father. Overall, it’s an interesting isekai-style cultivation story with a refreshing family twist worth giving a try.
Wo7fRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I have been very excited to read this watching it progress from it’s first chapters now blossoming into a fledgling series of novels.
A very well crafted super slow burn Wuxia novel, the author obviously well researched on this genre, has carefully crafted characters that will slowly become more than words with a very deliberate approach to world building this novel is my new favourite.
Join a host of characters growing in a world where might makes right and the bad guys aren’t necessarily the the worst in the world.
YiYuanTiRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story is good. We have a transmigrator who is held back by his morals, which gives him unexpected oportunities. The conflict with dealing with children - which he actually never wanted himself, even in his first life - make him a "Fake Father" - who is getting more and more responsible over time. All in all a good story that does not only focus on power and cultivation.I will keep following it.
GogmatRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I am writing at the end of the first book.
Overall it is a good Xanxia story. A man reincarnate, is at a bad start and try to improve it. Along the way, hé will dévelop feelings, meet opportunities and defeat foes. The protagonist doesn't easily grow into power and isn't a combat genius, though hé takes adavantage of his former world's techniques.
The style is pretty easy to get into, with good descriptions and battle banter. The multiple PoV was losing me a bit, but the choice is understandable, and in fact quite logical. Hold through, it is worth it.
The characters are lovable , even if they are often quite stereotypicals.
I do not remember any mémorable grammatical or ortographical error.
The cultivation aspect is typical, but well showed. You will find herbs, pills, rituals, body cultivation and immortal realm (though the last is more spoken of than truly present as of now...).
The story is not focused on fighting. There IS fighting, but more as a mean than a focus. The main characters will not solve everything with violence, though they will not hesitate to show an iron fist. The world they live in is not an easy one, and cunning will be as important (cunning as in bootlicking, scheming...).
As of now I like this story, and Hope it will keep up on its way.
Keep up Vundagor, I'm rooting for you! (And don't forget to take care of yourself.)
NeslonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Feels like one of the more realistic dropped into a cultivation world stories. The author does a good job of painting the picture. It's a little jarring how the main character oscillates between caring and not caring about the children at random intervals but the core idea holds and the writing noticeably improves from chapter one to chapter 12. Worth a read.
randomreviewRoyal Road
★★★★ 3.5
The author creates a world immersive and distinct from the glut of other stories in this genre. I loved it. I also deeply appreciated the way the side characters are revealed and fleshed out over time.
On the the could be improved side, I felt the logic of the story fails to be consistent with itself with some frequency: economics, character behaviors, etc. This story would easily a five with a system in place to catch those at the draft stage.
CocolopolisRoyal Road
★★★★ 3.5
This is a difficult to review story. I hope this review is useful.
What is the genre of this series? It's two stories. An adventure, cultivation story. The other half is a horror tragedy survival tale of two little girls in a world that wants to destroy them.
Setting? Grimdark cultivation world. Very explicit in how abusive the world is to survive for children. I can feel EVIL (caps) at every level of the world’s social structure.
Suspension of disbelief within the world logic? Honestly, nothing. The story is quite low power. It is all well within the world setting.
Characterization? The protagonist is a PoS from the start, which is thematically excellent. His flaws are beautiful for buildup. He slowly awakens to the idea of taking care of the two orphans that think of him as their father. Imagine a horrible, monster of a father, whose only quality is that he does not sexually assault children... and that was the deceased father. The new one just sees the kids as ‘someone else’s problem’ that he TOLERATES because he wants to pretend, he is better than the amoral rapists, thieves, and sex traffickers all around the girls. Having typed that, the protagonist is such an unlikable scumbag (if judged by our society) that it’s difficult to connect. The girls are adorable... and terrified. Chapter upon chapter of fear and terror, with few moments of joy. Who the heck wants to read about their horrible life when the 'hero' protagonist barely feeds them and abandons them in squallor for weeks/months on end?
Does the work keep its pacing? Yes and no. Reading about the kids is a mixture of horror and tragedy. They are so young, so vulnerable, and no adult really wants to take care of them. Many want to abuse them, one way or another. The kids survive by their wits, even with the protagonist being less of a monster than the rest. This creates TWO huge problems. First, the protagonist is having an adventure story, months away from the children.... because he keeps abandoning th