After Transmigrating Into The Body Of The Chief Disciple, The Villain Was Reborn. - Chapter 20

Half a month later, Lu Shi’an and his companions were being pursued by a herd of Level 7 demonic beasts. They fled desperately, all of them disheveled and in a sorry state. Lu Shi’an swallowed a recovery pill while launching attacks at the beasts, his face pale and his forehead beaded with sweat. His robes were torn, and his body was covered in wounds that stained his clothes with blood. Ning Yuzhao and Xiao Heng were in similar condition, their faces pale, their lips turning purple, and their bodies trembling as if they could collapse at any moment.

The herd drew closer, their roars and thunderous footsteps deafening. Lu Shi’an’s heart hammered against his ribs as he felt his strength ebbing away. He knew that if they did not find a secure shelter immediately, they would be engulfed by the beasts. Suddenly, he spotted a cave ahead with an entrance barely large enough for one person to squeeze through. He signaled to the others, and they rushed toward it without hesitation. As they dove inside, the herd reached the entrance, but thanks to the beasts’ massive size, they were blocked by the narrow opening.

Lu Shi’an and Ning Yuzhao exhaled in relief as they realized the beasts could not enter. The three sat on the ground, panting and utterly exhausted. Xiao Heng looked at Lu Shi’an with anxiety. “What should we do now?”

Lu Shi’an gestured for Xiao Heng to rest and recover his strength. They each consumed a medicinal pill and began to meditate to regulate their breathing. After some time, the complexions of Lu Shi’an and Xiao Heng improved, but Ning Yuzhao remained weak. Because his cultivation was the lowest, he had sustained the most severe injuries despite their protection.

Outside, the herd began to ram against the cave, causing debris to rain down from the ceiling. “We must find a way to deal with them, or we will die here,” Lu Shi’an said, struggling to his feet with a determined gaze. “I will go out and draw them away. You two take the chance to escape.”

“No, that is too dangerous! You will be torn to shreds the moment you step outside!” Xiao Heng protested vehemently, shaking his head.

“No, Senior Brother! I will go!” Ning Yuzhao cried out, weeping. His senior brother was the kindest person in the world to him; he could not let him risk his life. He could not bear the thought of losing him.

“I am going!” Lu Shi’an was resolute. “My cultivation is the highest, so I have the best chance of survival. Plus, I am fast enough to stall them for a while.” He prepared to charge out, but Ning Yuzhao and Xiao Heng quickly intercepted him, clinging tightly to him to ensure he could not leave.

“Let go of me!” Lu Shi’an roared. “Do you want us all to die together?”

“No, we will not let you throw your life away!” Ning Yuzhao sobbed, tears streaming down his cheeks.

In the midst of their fierce argument, a faint sound echoed through the cave. The ground beneath them suddenly shifted, and they plummeted into a pitch-black abyss. The space was utterly void of light; they could only sense each other’s breathing and heartbeats.

“Senior Brother? Senior Brother, where are you? I am scared! Sob.” Ning Yuzhao could not see his senior brother and began to cry in terror.

“Yuzhao, I am here!” Lu Shi’an immediately reached out toward the sound of Yuzhao’s voice. He had discovered Yuzhao’s fear of the dark six years ago. Initially, he had been unaware of it, but one night, concerned about Yuzhao’s adjustment to the cultivation world, he had gone to check on him. He had found the boy huddled under his covers, sobbing quietly. Lu Shi’an had been heartbroken; after lighting a candle and uncovering Yuzhao, he found the boy’s face tear-streaked and his eyes swollen.

Under gentle questioning, he learned that as a prince, Yuzhao had been burdened by the high expectations of the Queen and her clan. Whenever his studies fell short, the Queen would lock him in a dark room as punishment. This trauma was the main reason Yuzhao had been so quick to forget his mortal past after arriving in the cultivation world. Ever since then, Lu Shi’an had always made sure a light was lit when Yuzhao slept.

As soon as Lu Shi’an made contact, he felt Yuzhao’s entire body trembling. He pulled the boy into his arms and stroked his back, soothing him in a low, gentle voice. “Yuzhao, do not be afraid. Yuzhao, do not be afraid. I am here.”

Suddenly, a ball of light appeared. Xiao Heng had produced a Night-Shining Pearl. “Brother Lu, is Yuzhao alright?” Xiao Heng looked at Lu Shi’an with concern, having also heard the terror in the boy’s voice.

Lu Shi’an shook his head. “Yuzhao is fine, he is just afraid of the dark. He is better now.” Xiao Heng nodded, handed the pearl to Lu Shi’an, then pulled two more from his robes. He gave one to Ning Yuzhao and kept the last to explore the surroundings.

Comforted by Lu Shi’an’s presence and the light of the pearl, Ning Yuzhao gradually calmed down. When he realized that his fear had caused him to cling to Lu Shi’an so tightly that he had stained his senior brother’s robes with tears, he felt embarrassed and offered an awkward smile. “Senior Brother, I am fine now. I am sorry, I have dirtied your clothes.”

Seeing Yuzhao return to normal, Lu Shi’an felt a heavy weight lift from his heart and smiled gently. “As long as you are fine, it is alright. The clothes were already dirty; we can just change them later.”

After a while, once Yuzhao had fully recovered, Lu Shi’an took his hand, and they began to explore their surroundings together. They walked cautiously, the Night-Shining Pearl illuminating the path ahead. Despite the dim light, it was enough to see their immediate path. They had not gone far when Xiao Heng called out, “Brother Lu, come quickly! There are carvings here.”

Lu Shi’an walked over and saw a stone tablet inscribed with ancient characters. Unfortunately, none of the three could read the ancient script, so they continued searching for other clues. Lu Shi’an held the pearl up, carefully observing the area, when he suddenly noticed a row of candle holders ahead. “Brother Xiao, there are candle holders here. Try to see if you can light them.”

“Very well,” Xiao Heng replied. He walked toward Lu Shi’an and released a surge of fire-based spiritual energy. The moment the first candle holder was lit, the others around the chamber ignited in succession, as if a mechanism had been triggered. As the room brightened, their environment became clear. They were standing in an underground secret chamber, right by the stone door, and judging by their previous fall, the area where they had landed was the main hall.