After Transmigrating Into The Body Of The Chief Disciple, The Villain Was Reborn. - Chapter 16

Lu Shi’an led Ning Yuzhao and Xiao Heng toward the location described in the book. He recalled the details meticulously, stopping occasionally to observe the environment. They navigated a winding mountain path through a dense forest, where sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting patches of light across the ground.

Ning Yuzhao followed closely, scanning his surroundings and marveling in silence at the beauty and serenity of the mountain forest. The cool breeze on his face and the birdsong made him feel as if he had stepped into a secluded fairyland.

Suddenly, Lu Shi’an stopped. His gaze locked onto a quiet valley ahead, shrouded in a faint mist that lent it an air of mystery. He turned and signaled for the others to follow. They stepped cautiously into the valley; the grass beneath their feet was soft and damp.

Lu Shi’an’s heart raced; he felt his destiny was within reach. Sensing his tension, Ning Yuzhao gripped his hand tightly.

Deep within the valley, they discovered an ancient cave covered by vines and weeds—nearly impossible to spot without careful observation. After exchanging glances, the three entered the cave. The interior was filled with a musty, aged scent, and the walls emitted a strange, flickering light.

As they proceeded deeper, a biting chill rushed to meet them, contrasting sharply with the birds and flowers of the valley, as if they had stepped onto a thousand-year-old snow-capped mountain. Ning Yuzhao, with his Ice Spiritual Root, and Xiao Heng, with his Fire Spiritual Root, were unaffected by the cold. Only Lu Shi’an lacked a natural defense against it. Noticing this, Ning Yuzhao looked at him with worry, but Lu Shi’an squeezed his hand reassuringly. “I am fine. My cultivation is high; this is nothing to me.”

Inside the cave, they found an ice coffin resting in the center. Lu Shi’an stared at it in confusion. According to the book, Lin Tian had been chased by demonic beasts and ran into the valley in a panic. Upon entering the cave, he should have found the second-ranked sword on the Divine Sword Ranking, the Crimson Feather, stuck in the center of the room. It was this divine weapon that allowed the protagonist to defeat the original host, despite having lower cultivation. Why, in his case, was there no weapon, but an ice coffin instead?

Since they were here, they had to investigate. They stepped forward, but before they could get close, a crimson sword darted toward them as if intent on clearing the intruders from its territory. Lu Shi’an was about to raise his own sword to resist, but the crimson blade suddenly stopped, as if it had discovered something. It flew before Ning Yuzhao, nuzzling him affectionately and circling him. It then glanced at Lu Shi’an, nudged him briefly, as if to fulfill an obligation, and returned to nuzzle Ning Yuzhao again.

Xiao Heng, seeing the sword ignore him, felt a pang of jealousy and leaned toward it. “Am I not handsome enough? Why do you only nuzzle them and not me?” The sword circled Xiao Heng once, then returned to Ning Yuzhao. Xiao Heng inexplicably felt that the wordless sword was looking at him with disdain.

Lu Shi’an laughed aloud. “Hahaha, Brother Xiao, perhaps this sword just does not like your type.”

Ning Yuzhao touched the blade tenderly, thinking that this sword was truly clever to identify the two best-looking people at a single glance. Seeing that the sword would not acknowledge him, Xiao Heng stopped making a fool of himself and asked, “Yuzhao, check what the name of this sword is. I want to see what kind of blade dares to look down on me!”

Ning Yuzhao peered at the hilt and saw two crooked characters that looked like a child’s handwriting: “Crimson Feather.” The moment he saw the name, a fleeting memory flashed through his mind, but it passed too quickly to grasp.

Seeing that it was indeed the Crimson Feather, Lu Shi’an grew even more confused. In the book, the sword the protagonist obtained was black, yet this one was red. Which Crimson Feather was the true one? He began to doubt if everything written in the book was actually true. If it was not, how could the events he had witnessed so far align with the text? The only variable was himself.

With this thought, his curiosity about the man inside the ice coffin deepened. He walked slowly toward it. The man inside lay in quiet repose, radiating a beauty that was suffocating. Any words of praise seemed pale and inadequate.

His skin was as white as snow, crystal clear like jade, a complexion so delicate it stirred a sense of protective tenderness. A cascade of raven-black hair fell over his back, brushing against the icy surface like smooth silk. His fingers were long and slender, clearly jointed, and carved like fine white jade.

Suddenly, a vision flooded Lu Shi’an’s mind. He saw this man standing on a high platform, his eyes filled with despair and determination, tears welling in them. “Master! Is it only by dying that I can make you love me?” the man’s voice trembled with unbearable agony and helplessness.

“Senior Brother!”

Ning Yuzhao’s voice pulled Lu Shi’an back to reality. He realized, to his shock, that his face was wet with tears.

Crying? He wiped his face. He had never cried in this life or his previous one. Many had said that while he was gentle to everyone, there was never any emotion in his eyes. It was true; in his past life, he had not lacked the desire for love, but he found it impossible to truly fall for anyone. He had eventually given up and chosen a life of solitude.

Lu Shi’an shook his head and explained, “I am fine. I do not know what happened, but I feel a sense of familiarity when I look at this man, as if we have known each other for a long time.”

He kept the pity he felt for the man to himself. Not only was it unnecessary to voice, but he himself found it absurd; how could someone feel such deep sympathy for a total stranger? Yet, the emotion was undeniably real and left him deeply bewildered.

Ning Yuzhao and Xiao Heng were equally curious about the figure in the coffin. They did not lack the courage to approach, but an invisible force stopped them. They looked at Lu Shi’an, hoping for more information, but he said nothing, his thoughts swirling as his gaze remained fixed on the coffin. Any attempt by the others to approach was repelled by a barrier, but Lu Shi’an alone remained unaffected. Even the sword that had been nuzzling Lu Shi’an earlier now flew into the coffin to rest in the man’s arms, as if standing guard over his slumber.