A second life, An Eternal journey to Immortality

After a few moments, Liu Ying stood in the middle of the blood-soaked ground, her clothes and face covered in the crimson stains of her enemies. The cold, ruthless expression on her face began to fade as she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Her body trembled slightly, and the sharp pain that surged through her limbs reminded her that the power she had just unleashed was not her own.

As the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, she spat out another mouthful, her breathing ragged. Her fierce eyes softened, returning to their usual state. A bitter smile crept onto her lips as she murmured to herself, "It seems everything has its price after all."

Yes, that power—it had not belonged to her. It was the lingering aura of that ancient book, the one from which she had obtained her cultivation technique. The trace of its original master still resided within it—the Sovereign of the Void. In that brief moment of desperation, the remnants of his will had surged forth to protect her, granting her a glimpse of power far beyond her current realm. But now, her body was paying the price.

Cracks began to spread across her skin, faint but unmistakable. Pain lanced through her meridians like molten steel. She felt her foundation shaking, as though the very essence of her cultivation was at risk of crumbling. Another surge of blood erupted from her lips.

But amidst the agony, a gentle aura enveloped her—a soft, ethereal warmth that began to mend her fractured body. It was subtle, yet profound, like a whisper from the void itself. The power that had nearly shattered her was now holding her together, preventing her from collapsing completely.

Yet Liu Ying's thoughts were no longer on herself. Her heart was filled with worry—worry for him.

She staggered forward, her steps slow and unsteady. Each movement sent fresh waves of pain through her body, but she gritted her teeth and endured. Her blood-red eyes scanned the area desperately as she approached the place where Jiang Cheng had fallen.

"Please… don't be dead," she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and hope.

The battlefield was silent now, save for the faint rustling of the wind. The stench of death lingered heavily in the air. But Liu Ying pressed on, driven by a single thought.

She had to see him. She had to know.

Was Jiang Cheng still alive?

...

After a few breaths, she finally arrived before him. Fortunately, he was still in the same position she had left him. But now, he looked like a lifeless corpse—his face pale, his body stiff, and his breathing weak, barely clinging to life. Poison had ravaged him, and death seemed but a step away.

Her heart tightened, but when she felt the faint trace of his breath, her tense expression softened. A smile slowly bloomed on her bloodstained face, followed by a light, breathless laugh.

"Haha, You bastard... You really know how to scare this young lady to death... as always."

Her voice was trembling, but her eyes shone with relief. In that moment, her smile was radiant—so beautiful that it could steal one's breath away, even amidst the blood-soaked battlefield.

Without wasting another second, she knelt beside him, leaning in close. Her delicate hand gently pried open his mouth. From her storage bag, she took out the Nine-Yang Detoxification Pill—a rare, life-saving treasure. Carefully, she placed it on his tongue and guided it down his throat with her last remaining spiritual energy.

Watching the pill slide past his lips, her vision blurred, and her body finally gave in. Exhaustion, injuries, and the recoil from that forbidden power overwhelmed her. With a soft sigh, she collapsed beside him—her breathing faint, her consciousness fading into the dark.

But even as she drifted into unconsciousness, her hand instinctively rested near his, as if reaching out... unwilling to let go.

A day passed silently like this.

The next morning, Jiang Cheng's eyelids fluttered before slowly opening. His vision was blurry at first, the dim morning light filtering through the cracks above casting a hazy glow over the cave. His mind felt sluggish, as though submerged in water. For a moment, he didn't even know where he was.

Then, the pain struck.

A deep, gnawing ache spread through every inch of his body. His limbs were stiff, as though they were no longer his own. His chest felt heavy, and breathing was difficult—every breath brought a sharp, burning sensation to his lungs.

His throat was dry and rough, as if sand had been poured down it. There was a bitter, metallic taste in his mouth, remnants of blood mixing with the aftertaste of some potent medicinal pill.

He tried to move his fingers, but they responded slowly, trembling slightly. His arms felt like lead, his legs numb and cold. When he shifted slightly, a tearing pain shot through his side, making him grit his teeth.

His head throbbed. Memories of the battle flickered back—the Angry Spider, the venom coursing through his veins, the desperate struggle... and then darkness.

He blinked a few more times, his vision clearing. Beside him, Liu Ying was lying there, her face pale, blood dried on her cheeks. Her silver hair was disheveled, and her robes stained with blood. Even so, her beauty was striking—fragile yet fierce, like a war goddess who had collapsed after her final battle.

Jiang Cheng's eyes scanned the bloody scene. His heart went cold.

"What the hell?! Did I die and reincarnate into the middle of a revenge arc?! Is this the massacre scene?!"

His mind spun into overdrive, piecing together the chaotic image in front of him—the blood everywhere, her exhausted, collapsed body, and that faint murderous aura still lingering in the air.

Cold sweat formed on his forehead.

"Don't tell me she killed some young master from the Heavenly Sword Sect... or the Blood Demon Palace... or worse, the Young Pavilion Lord of the Immortal Jade Clan!"

Sweat drenched his back.

"I'm done for... The heavens above, please... Senior Immortal Kings, if you find this cave, I'm just a passerby. Please spare this humble Taoist Priest "

He even considered writing his last will:

"I, Jiang Cheng, swear I did not offend anyone. If you must kill someone, please just take her—she's the protagonist anyway, she'll revive later!"

The familiar dread from reading countless cultivation Novels crept up his spine.

He peeked around the cave nervously, half-expecting to see a group of furious cultivators in luxurious robes shouting, "Who dares offend Young Master So-and-so?!"

Jiang Cheng groaned as he sat up, his eyes landing on Liu Ying's bloody figure.

"I knew it… How could someone with protagonist-level luck not stir up a calamity?"

He sighed deeply.

"I just wanted to cultivate quietly… But no, fate had other plans. I'm destined to be the side character who gets slapped, poisoned, and buried for the protagonist's growth arc."

He glanced up at the ceiling, muttering:

"Dear seniors seeking revenge… I am innocent. If you must kill someone, please let it be quick. I can't afford soul-destroying torture."

He gritted his teeth.

"I'm willing to hand her over if necessary… No, wait, she saved me... Ugh, damn my conscience!"

He slumped back down.

"Why can't I be a heartless villain instead? Life would be easier…"

Jiang Cheng sat still for a few moments, processing the scene. Then, he whispered to himself:

"This… this is how it starts. First, she saves me. Then, she kills a young master. By tomorrow, we'll be running from an entire sect. Next week, we'll be fleeing across provinces. By next month, I'll be kneeling before an old ancestor, begging for my dog life."

He buried his face in his hands.

"I just wanted to make some talismans…"

....

He let out another long sigh, his heart filled with helplessness.

After a few minutes, Liu Ying's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was still a bit blurry, but when she saw Jiang Cheng sitting there awake, she froze for a moment. Then, tears welled up in her red eyes, and without any hesitation, she lunged forward and hugged him tightly.

"Brother Jiang... wuwu... I thought I would never see you again!"

Her voice was choked with sobs, her face buried in his chest. Her embrace was fierce, like she was afraid he would disappear if she let go.

But Jiang Cheng, who was still immersed in his mental script about being a tragic extra, was caught off guard. Before he could react, an intense pain shot through his body from the force of her hug. His internal injuries flared up, and the remnants of the poison that had yet to be fully expelled were stirred violently.

"Agh...!" Jiang Cheng's eyes bulged as he groaned in pain. His face turned pale, and before he could say anything—

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of black blood spurted from his mouth, splattering onto the ground. Fortunately, it was also mixed with the remaining poison being discharged from his system.

Liu Ying was stunned, her face filled with guilt and panic. "Ah! Brother Jiang! I... I didn't mean to… Are you okay?"

Jiang Cheng wiped the corner of his mouth with a bitter smile. "It's fine... It's just... Can you please hug a little gentler next time? You nearly hugged me straight back to the underworld..."

Liu Ying's cheeks turned slightly red, but she still refused to let go, only easing her grip a little.

Jiang Cheng sighed internally. "Women with protagonist auras are all like this... You survive a calamity, and their joy will send you straight into another one!"

He glanced at the cave ceiling once again and whispered, "Seniors... it's just a misunderstanding. I'm still innocent..."