After the Mad Villain Is Reborn - Chapter 5

When Jiang Youbai woke up again, he heard the gentle gurgling of a flowing stream outside. Above him was a ceiling made of emerald bamboo. The air was filled with the faint, natural fragrance of fresh bamboo, and he was lying on a soft, plush bed.

If it were not for the slight changes in the room’s decor, he would have almost believed that his rebirth was merely a dream, that he was still in the Shangqing Sect, waking up in his own room, ready to force a smile to face those fellow disciples once more.

Most of the pain in his body had faded, but as he sat up, he noticed he was wrapped head-to-toe in bandages. Even though he was not wearing any clothes, not an inch of his skin was exposed.

However, superficial flesh wounds were trivial to him. It was the residual demonic energy in his meridians, clashing with his own demonic power, that caused him agony.

It was no wonder Xie Qingli was so certain that he would eventually come looking for him. If this demonic energy could not be drawn out of his body, he feared he would be tormented by this pain every single day.

Jiang Youbai’s gaze darkened. Hearing activity in the courtyard, he gathered his thoughts, his face showing no sign of the immense pain he was enduring.

Jiang Youbai stepped onto the floor barefoot. The cold sensation traveled from the soles of his feet through his body, which actually helped distract him from some of the pain. He pushed the door open and leaned against the frame. As the sunlight spilled down, he saw a person in the courtyard wearing disciple robes, holding a broom, and sweeping diligently. Just looking at that back profile, even if he were holding a simple cleaning tool, he exuded an imposing air.

The person heard the movement and turned around. Upon seeing Jiang Youbai, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes, followed by a look of joy: “Junior Brother, you are awake?”

When Jiang Youbai saw him, his eyes instantly turned cold.

The person before him was his senior brother from his previous life, Tang Ci.

As the man approached, the pain in Jiang Youbai’s lower abdomen intensified. The man’s tall frame completely blocked the sunlight, leaving Jiang Youbai shrouded in shadow. His back was already soaked with sweat from the phantom pain, and his entire body trembled slightly.

The pain of being forcibly dissected of his golden core was far more terrifying than the injuries he suffered now.

Therefore, when Tang Ci reached out toward him, Jiang Youbai’s eyes grew icy, and a crimson hue slowly began to creep into them. In the brief moment the other man was distracted, Jiang Youbai struck out with a palm toward his heart, simultaneously trying to guide the demonic energy in his meridians out.

Unfortunately, it failed. Just as when he had tried to return spiritual power to Shen Changchuan, he had also attempted to channel Xie Qingli’s demonic energy into someone else, but he could not guide it away. It appeared it could only be returned to Xie Qingli himself.

By the time Tang Ci regained his composure, he had already been knocked back five steps. He pressed a hand to his chest, momentarily stunned by Jiang Youbai’s sudden attack, but then he relaxed and said with a smile, “Junior Brother, you are truly impressive! No wonder Master brought you back; your speed is simply too fast.”

Hearing this, Jiang Youbai was slightly dazed. After processing what the man said, he looked at him as if he were a complete stranger.

Had Tang Ci been possessed? He just hit him, yet he is complimenting him?

However, Tang Ci acted as if he did not see the suspicious and bewildered look in Jiang Youbai’s eyes. He walked a few steps closer, rubbed his chest to heal himself, and asked, “Junior Brother, what is your name? What stage is your cultivation at? I cannot seem to tell. Surely you must be much higher than me, right?”

Jiang Youbai took a step back, putting distance between himself and Tang Ci. The pain in his body eased slightly, but seeing the man move with such ease caused a flash of strange emotion in his eyes.

He looked at his own palm, pursing his lips into a thin line as anger surged within him.

His demonic power had been sealed.

Good for you, Shen Changchuan!

His entire demeanor turned cold, and his expression frosted over. “I have no spiritual power.”

He had not yet begun his cultivation in the Shangqing Sect, and all his own demonic power was sealed. Where would he get spiritual power from?

Just as he finished speaking, he seemed to remember something and looked behind him, only to realize that the peacock feathers he usually manifested were gone.

Yesterday, when he first regained his human form, he could not control the feathers and was unable to retract them. But waking up today, they were missing. It was self-evident who had hidden them for him.

In his previous life, the first thing Shen Changchuan did after bringing him to the Shangqing Sect was to instruct him to hide his feathers carefully, warning him never to reveal even a trace of his demonic aura in front of others. Back then, he took those words as the golden rule, cautiously hiding his aura. Even when others attacked him, he would rather be injured than expose his true form.

In his previous life, he only wanted to stay in the Shangqing Sect. He wanted humans and demonic beasts to coexist in peace, but in the end, he became a traitor to both sides.

What a failure.

Tang Ci looked at Jiang Youbai with some confusion. He saw the other’s fair features and clear, bright amber eyes like a pool of spring water. His face and lips were devoid of color, likely from his injuries, yet he did not look disheveled or haggard; instead, it added a certain quality that made others want to protect him.

He said, “No spiritual power? But your reflexes are good, so your talent must be extremely high. Junior Brother, you still have not told me your name. Oh, my name is Tang Ci; I am your senior brother.”

Jiang Youbai retracted his hand and leaned against the door frame, his posture lazy. “I am not your junior brother.”

Seeing his lax demeanor, Tang Ci laughed with doting indulgence. “Master said he is going to take you as his disciple, so that makes you my junior brother.”

Jiang Youbai found the smile on the man’s lips particularly jarring. He averted his gaze, walked past Tang Ci, and headed outside. “I never said I would take him as my master. I have changed my mind; I am leaving.”

With Shen Changchuan around, he could not kill anyone in the Shangqing Sect; staying here was just an annoyance.

“That will not do. Master said I must take good care of you. You are not healed yet; you cannot leave,” Tang Ci said, following him.

Jiang Youbai glanced sideways at Tang Ci reaching out to him. A flash of disgust crossed his eyes. He spun around, closed the distance to Tang Ci, lowered his head, and moved to bite the most vulnerable part of a human: the neck.

“Master!” In the blink of an eye, he heard Tang Ci exclaim in surprise.

The scent of pear blossoms suddenly enveloped them, as if they were covered in falling petals. Jiang Youbai’s sharp teeth sank into the webbing of the man’s hand. He heard Tang Ci respectfully call out to someone, and his movements paused slightly.

He lifted his eyes to meet that indifferent gaze, the pupils like clear glass filled with the first snow of winter. Jiang Youbai immediately bit down harder, and fresh blood instantly spread across his teeth and lips.

Shen Changchuan did not move, using his other hand to block Tang Ci. “You go ahead to your lecture.”

Tang Ci glanced at Jiang Youbai, who was biting like a small beast. He was a little worried, but with his Master present, there should be no danger, so he nodded and left: “Yes.”

Only Jiang Youbai and Shen Changchuan were left in the courtyard. Jiang Youbai bit for a long time but could not bite off a piece of Shen Changchuan’s flesh; instead, his own cheeks began to ache, so he let go. He wiped the blood from his lips, staining his pale mouth a vibrant red, and heard Shen Changchuan’s cold, crisp voice: “Have you bitten enough?”

Jiang Youbai revealed a bloodthirsty smile, bewitching and cruel: “Of course, not! If I could, I would only want to bite your throat off and eat you!”

The wound on Shen Changchuan’s hand, broken by Jiang Youbai, quickly healed. He lowered his hand, his wide sleeves hiding his clear-jointed fingers. “Peacocks are not predatory beasts.”

Jiang Youbai was slightly stunned.

Does Shen Changchuan mean that since peacocks do not eat humans, I am just trying to scare him?

Jiang Youbai looked at the person before him. Shen Changchuan, in his snow-white robes trailing on the ground, looked tall and elegant. His long hair was half-tied, held by a high jade crown. His face was cold and stern; he possessed the most aloof, ascetic appearance in the world, and also the most cold-hearted, emotionless nature.

He looked for a moment before averting his eyes, questioning: “Since that is the case, why did the Headmaster seal my demonic power?”

Shen Changchuan glanced at him, his gaze containing emotions Jiang Youbai could not understand. “To let your demonic power and the demonic energy fight each other?”

Jiang Youbai was stunned again, then laughed, though the warmth did not reach his eyes: “Is the Headmaster really so kind? I thought you were afraid that I would slaughter the Shangqing Sect.”

His tone was slow, carrying a kind of arrogant nonchalance, but only he knew how much testing was hidden within.

Shen Changchuan’s gaze fell softly on him. Seeing Jiang Youbai standing barefoot in the courtyard with dust covering his feet, he frowned imperceptibly. “You are not capable of slaughtering the Shangqing Sect.”

Jiang Youbai raised an eyebrow: “Underestimating me?”

Shen Changchuan replied noncommittally: “When you can defeat me, then we can talk about slaughtering the sect.”

Jiang Youbai reached his hand out toward Shen Changchuan. Bandages were wrapped around his body, and even his arms were tightly bound, with only a small portion of his wrist exposed, the color almost matching the bandages. “Then undo my seal, and let us test that.”

Shen Changchuan’s gaze lingered on Jiang Youbai’s wrist for a brief moment. “You already tried yesterday.”

Jiang Youbai: “…”

“That does not count; I was injured.”

Shen Changchuan: “You are injured right now.”

Jiang Youbai glanced at his bandages and pursed his lips, sighing in defeat. “When my injuries heal, will you undo the seal for me?”

Shen Changchuan: “Alternatively, you can take me as your master, and I will teach you how to undo the seal.”

Jiang Youbai’s face instantly cooled: “No thanks, I do not like it here.”

In his previous life, when Shen Changchuan wanted to take him as a disciple, he was full of joy, thinking he could stay in the Shangqing Sect forever. But starting over, he did not want any further connection with the Shangqing Sect. If there had to be one, it would be him slaughtering the sect.

He got up and began walking down the mountain. The person behind him made no sound, as if he did not care whether he left or stayed.

Jiang Youbai found it strange. Shen Changchuan’s character was one of “what he says goes.” Would he really just give up halfway without a backup plan?

However, he was happy to be able to break free from the Shangqing Sect and change the trajectory of his past life. Suddenly, he crashed into a barrier.

Thud.

Jiang Youbai covered his head, nearly knocking himself out; he was an invalid, after all.

No wonder Shen Changchuan was not worried; this courtyard had a barrier placed on it!

Jiang Youbai laughed in anger, his eyes slightly red: “As the leader of the Immortal Alliance, are you planning to imitate the Demon Lord and imprison a human-shaped beast as a furnace?”

Even such shameful, vulgar language could not cause a ripple on Shen Changchuan’s face. However, the gaze he turned toward Jiang Youbai carried an unspeakable, murky depth. “If that is how you wish to think of it, then so be it. Go back inside.”

Jiang Youbai: “???”

What does “so be it if that is how you want to think” mean?

Had Shen Changchuan been possessed too?!