A second life, An Eternal journey to Immortality

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Jiang Cheng's gaze sharpened as he looked at Liu Ying, his earlier detachment replaced by a calculating focus. He had been lost in thought, weighing the risks and rewards of keeping her alive, but now he was fully present, his eyes piercing as they locked onto hers. The girl, still trembling and clutching her torn dress, seemed to shrink under his scrutiny.

"Little girl," he began, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority, "what should I do with you now? The flower thief is dead, and the monks who followed him are also gone. You have two options."

He raised a single finger, his expression softening slightly, though the warmth in his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Option one," Jiang Cheng's voice was low, almost too smooth, "You follow me, for a time. When this is over, I'll send you back to your parents. Everything will go back to normal. You'll be safe."

Liu Ying hesitated. His words sounded kind, but something in his tone—a calm, unsettling certainty—made her wonder just how much he controlled her fate. What would he want in return? She couldn't afford to ask. Her gaze flicked to his eyes, cold and unyielding. Was she really safe? Was anyone ever safe in a world like this?

For a moment, he seemed almost kind, like someone who could offer protection and stability. But there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes, a reminder that this man was not to be trusted entirely.

Then, in a fluid motion, he raised a second finger, and his demeanor shifted. The warmth in his smile vanished, replaced by an icy coldness that sent a shiver down Liu Ying's spine.

"Option two," he continued, his voice dropping to a low, deliberate tone, "I'll send you to the west, where the flower thief and those monks from the Qinglin Sect have gone. And that... will be the end .

The night air around them seemed to still as the weight of his words settled over Liu Ying. Her chest tightened, and her throat felt dry, as if she couldn't breathe.

She had no idea who this man truly was or what he wanted from her, but his presence felt suffocating—ominous. The faint crackling of leaves underfoot and the distant rustling of unseen creatures in the underbrush seemed like distant echoes in her mind, a reminder that she was not safe.

Liu Ying stood frozen, her heart racing in her chest. Fear and confusion warred within her, but something else began to emerge as well—a strange, reluctant trust in the man before her.

He had killed the flower thief, spared her life. Was this protection, or something darker? She had seen enough cruelty to know that kindness could often be a mask.

Still, her only choice was to go with him. The thought of being alone in this world again terrified her more than the idea of following this enigmatic figure.

The mention of her parents made her heart ache, but the coldness in Jiang Cheng's eyes when he spoke of the second option sent a chill down her spine. It felt like an abyss was opening before her.

She tried to steady her breathing, the chill of the night air biting at her skin, as though the very world around her was waiting for her to decide.

After a long pause, she swallowed hard, her voice trembling but determined, "I... I'll go with you."

Jiang Cheng smile. " Good"

.....

Liu Ying stumbled behind Jiang Cheng, her bare feet bruised and bleeding from the rough terrain. Every step was a fresh wave of agony, the jagged rocks and thorny underbrush tearing at her skin. But she didn't dare stop.

She couldn't afford to—he was her only chance at survival. Her small frame trembled with exhaustion, but she pressed on, her eyes fixed on his back, even as the sharp, biting cold of the night air numbed her limbs.

Jiang Cheng, however, couldn't ignore the faint sound of her labored breathing or the occasional wince she tried to suppress. He glanced back briefly, his sharp eyes catching the sight of her bloodied feet and the way she struggled to keep up.

For a moment, a flicker of guilt stirred unexpectedly. It was the kind of feeling he usually shut down without a second thought—empathy was a weakness, a luxury he could not afford. But as Liu Ying winced with every step, his mind flashed to his younger years, when he had once been a helpless child, suffering alone in the streets, when he was on earth.

for a moment he was anoyed.

He stopped abruptly, causing Liu Ying to nearly stumble into him. She froze, her heart racing as she braced herself for his anger. But instead of scolding her, Jiang Cheng turned around, his expression unreadable.

Too slow," he said slowly, his voice low but not unkind. "Come closer to me."

Liu Ying blinked, startled by his sudden command. She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she had heard him correctly, but when he didn't move, she cautiously stepped closer.

Before she could react, Jiang Cheng reached out and scooped her up with one arm, lifting her off the ground as if she weighed nothing.

Liu Ying let out a small gasp, her hands instinctively clutching at his robes for balance. Her breath caught in her throat, her wide eyes staring up at him in confusion, Before she could process what was happening,

Jiang Cheng didn't offer any explanation.

He adjusted his grip and moved without hesitation, his body shifting into fluid motion.

Without warning, Jiang Cheng's feet blurred, his body almost a shadow as he executed the Wind Step Technique. The air vibrated with an invisible pulse, like a surge of energy pushing him forward.

His movements became a streak of motion—too fast for her to follow. The forest around them seemed to blur into a whirl of dark shapes, the ground beneath his feet barely touched. Liu Ying clutched his robes, her breath caught in her throat as the wind howled in her ears, the world spinning with dizzying speed. It was as though they were no longer running, but flying.

As they shot through the trees, Jiang Cheng subtly extended his energy, enveloping Liu Ying with a protective shield. The force of the wind—sharp and biting—seemed to vanish entirely as the invisible barrier of his power cocooned her, keeping the rushing air from harming her fragile form.

The sharp branches, the jagged rocks—none of them touched her. She remained shielded, though the speed at which they moved made her stomach churn.

Jiang Cheng navigated the terrain with an ease that spoke of years of training, his focus razor-sharp as he cut through the underbrush. The forest blurred around them, trees and shadows flashing by in an unrelenting stream, but his movements were controlled and precise, his feet barely touching the ground as he shot forward like a phantom.

The dense canopy above them filtered the moonlight into uneven patches of silver light, but the forest seemed almost endless in its vastness, its haunting silence broken only by the soft crunch of their footsteps on the forest floor.

The trees loomed like silent sentinels, their towering trunks and gnarled branches casting eerie shadows. The night felt alive with creatures lurking just out of sight, their eyes glinting in the dark.

Liu Ying clung to him instinctively, her small body pressed against his chest, her breath coming in short bursts from both the shock and the speed at which they were traveling.

Her legs hung limply as he carried her effortlessly, her trembling hands clutching at his robes for balance. The rush of air and motion sent a vertiginous wave through her, but the protective energy shielded her from any true discomfort.

As they sped through the trees, Liu Ying couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. The roughness of his actions—the way he carried her like a sack of grain—was far from gentle, but it was also the first time since her ordeal began that someone had shown her even the slightest bit of care.

She buried her face against his shoulder, hiding the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. The gravity of everything she had been through—the kidnapping, the fear, the uncertainty of her future—weighed heavily on her heart, but she didn't dare let it show.

Jiang Cheng, for his part, remained silent as he moved. He didn't look at her or offer any words of comfort. His focus was on putting as much distance as possible between them and the scene of the battle.

But deep down, he couldn't shake the faint sense of guilt that had prompted him to carry her in the first place. He told himself it was purely practical—she was slowing him down, and he couldn't afford to waste time. But the truth was, he had seen the pain in her eyes and the way she endured it without complaint, and it had struck a chord he hadn't expected.

As the forest blurred around them, Liu Ying clung to him, her small hands gripping his robes tightly. She didn't know where they were going or what would happen next, but for now, she allowed herself to feel a tiny glimmer of safety in his presence—even if it was fleeting.

Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, pushed aside his thoughts and focused on the path ahead. He had made his choice, and for better or worse, Liu Ying was now his responsibility. Whether she would become an asset or a liability remained to be seen, but for now, he would keep her close and see where this strange turn of events would lead.

After a few hours, Jiang Cheng had put several hundreds of miles between them and their previous location. The first hints of dawn began to lighten the sky, but the journey continued without pause, the moon barely slipping below the horizon.

...

They finally came to a small town called Jade River Town, a bustling trade hub known for its river that flowed with jade-colored water, giving the town its name.

The river attracted merchants and traders from all corners, eager to do business by its shores. Despite the early hour, the town was still awake, though the streets were quieter now, the dark sky hinting at the approaching dawn.

The town was waking up, though slowly. The sounds of the night still lingered—stray dogs barking in the distance, the soft clatter of a blacksmith preparing his forge, and the low murmur of voices from those few who had stayed awake.

The distant mountains, cloaked in shadow, towered above, their jagged peaks standing in stark contrast to the gentle flow of the jade river below. Their looming presence gave the town an air of quiet isolation, a reminder that beyond the hustle of trade, nature's vastness and danger were never far away.

Jiang Cheng moved with purpose, his steps soundless on the stone-paved streets, his cloak a shadow that merged seamlessly with the darkness. He wrapped Liu Ying in the shadow robe, the fabric swallowing any stray light that dared to touch them.

As they passed through the town, Liu Ying could barely hear the world around her. Every step felt like a step into the unknown, her mind heavy with the weight of the night's events, the pounding of her heart the only thing keeping her anchored.

They reached the inn—a humble, unassuming structure tucked away from the main thoroughfare. It was simple but practical, a small sign swaying gently in the wind, creaking with each gust.

The air around it smelled faintly of wood and fresh paint, mingling with the scent of roasted meat from a nearby stall. The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior. The warmth inside was a stark contrast to the chill of the night air.

The innkeeper, a tired-looking woman with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, nodded at Jiang Cheng, her gaze flicking curiously over Liu Ying's still form.

Jiang Cheng rented a room for a few days, his voice low and steady as he spoke to the innkeeper. After receiving the key, he moved swiftly through the narrow hall, his eyes scanning the space for any potential threats.

He was always alert, always ready for danger—even in a place as seemingly peaceful as Jade River Town.

The room was simple, with a small bed covered in a plain quilt, a small wooden table, and a single window that let in a faint sliver of moonlight. The moon's glow was pale, casting soft shadows against the walls.

The room felt quiet—almost too quiet, as though the world outside had fallen into a deep sleep. Yet, Liu Ying could sense the quiet hum of activity from the town beyond the walls—merchants preparing their wares, the faint clink of coins changing hands, the subtle promise of the bustling day that was to come.

He set her down gently on the bed, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible while still being mindful of her injuries.

He pressed the healing pill into her hand, watching as she swallowed it. Almost instantly, Liu Ying felt a warm current flood through her veins.

It was as if a fire had been lit within her, starting at her core and spreading outward. The pain in her limbs began to ebb away, but the exhaustion remained, weighing her down like a heavy fog. Her mind felt thick, the events of the night a blur of fear, action, and escape.

Liu Ying's eyelids fluttered, her thoughts slipping away as her body succumbed to the deep, overwhelming need for rest.

Her lips parted slightly, a quiet "thank you" escaping her before sleep claimed her entirely.

Jiang Cheng watched her for a moment, a soft chuckle escaping him as he shook his head. He carefully covered her with a blanket, ensuring she was warm and secure.

Then, his attention turned to the rewards he had gained from his journey. A sense of excitement bubbled within him as he began to assess his spoils, though he remained mindful of the quiet figure resting nearby.

Jiang Cheng sat down with a deep breath, focusing on the spoils from the bags of the two casual cultivators and the Qinglin Sect disciple. He opened the bags with a practiced hand, his eyes scanning each item carefully.

From the two casual cultivators, he found a decent cache of spirit stones—eight thousand in total. Enough to sustain him for a while. There were also four bottles of Qi Condensation Pills, which would help him advance his cultivation.

Fire Talismans, Escape Talismans, and Evil Suppressing Talismans filled his hands, each one a small tool in his ever-expanding arsenal..

Next, Jiang Cheng turned his attention to the bag of the Qinglin Sect disciple. As he sifted through the contents, his expression darkened slightly.

Disappointment crept in as he found only a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills and two thousand spirit stones—much less than he had hoped. He'd expected something more substantial from a disciple of a well-known sect, but this was all that remained.

There was also a robe with the insignia of the Qinglin Sect, which Jiang Cheng tossed aside, uninterested.

A jade token caught his attention, but upon closer inspection, he crushed it with a flick of his wrist, not wanting any chance of being traced back to this location. It seemed to be a communication device—useful, but dangerous to keep.

The final item in the bag was a technique scroll—Longevity Fire, a Qi Refining stage technique with a focus on the fire attribute. Jiang Cheng unfurled it, reading the contents carefully.

It seemed like a decent technique for someone focused on fire, but not something he would use. Still, the knowledge could be useful for his future endeavors, so he tucked it away for now.

Jiang Cheng felt a spark of excitement as he turned his attention to the Spirit bag of the flower thief. If his suspicions about Liu Ying were correct, then this could be the moment where everything changed for her.

He could feel the weight of the opportunity in his hands, and he opened the bag with a sense of anticipation.