NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 28:
Chapter 28: That Faint Aura… Appears Again!
Meng Yu was unfamiliar with the engravings on the iron spike, but she instinctively sensed that something was off. Now that Chi Lingxiao refused to let the matter drop, Meng Yu wasn’t sure how to handle the situation.
Qi Ze lowered his head slightly, the corners of his lips subtly curling up. After a moment, he regained his usual composed expression.
“Senior Sister, we can’t simply declare Lu Chen a traitor based on a single Heart-Piercing Spike. That would be too reckless,” Qi Ze said with a seemingly reasonable tone.
“Right now, all the disciples are preparing for the Demonic Abyss expedition. Stirring up unnecessary trouble will only create panic.”
Chi Lingxiao pondered for a moment before nodding slowly.
“Junior Brother, you’re right. You always think about the bigger picture. I’ll hold on to this for now, and we’ll discuss it later.”
Right in front of Meng Yu, Chi Lingxiao took the spike for herself and then shot her a smug glance.
At that moment, Meng Yu’s heart was filled with guilt.
Senior Brother, I failed to protect what you left behind… I’m sorry.
As she looked at the ruins before her, an overwhelming sense of regret surged in her chest.
Rumors had already spread throughout the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect, claiming that Lu Chen’s role in guarding the Demonic Abyss had been nothing but a facade. Now, with the Heart-Piercing Spike appearing near his former home, things had become even more complicated.
Even though Chi Lingxiao had said she wouldn’t pursue the matter for now, given her personality, it wouldn’t stay a secret for long.
Once the entire sect found out, Lu Chen would have no way to clear his name.
Before Qi Ze or Chi Lingxiao could say another word, Meng Yu abruptly turned and left in frustration.
Chi Lingxiao sneered, glancing at Qi Ze. “That girl is so stubborn. Junior Brother, let’s just ignore her.”
“Of course, I’ll listen to Senior Sister. By the way, are you alright from earlier?”
“With you protecting me, what could possibly happen?”
Their voices drifted through the air, followed by Chi Lingxiao’s delighted laughter.
…
Lu Chen opened his eyes—it was already nearing noon.
His cultivation had significantly improved, and his entire body felt energized.
Since no one had disturbed him during this time, he stepped outside. The corpses from the previous night still lay exactly as they were, untouched.
After glancing at the scene indifferently, Lu Chen turned and left without hesitation.
Half an hour later, he had already ventured deep into the mountain forest.
Towering trees surrounded him, their lush green canopies blocking out every sliver of sunlight.
Lu Chen came to a halt, scanning his surroundings.
Aside from the distant roars of wild beasts, there was nothing unusual.
However, something was different—a faint aura lingered nearby, weak but persistent, as if following him.
Lu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, slowing his pace on purpose.
Yet, the presence remained the same, following at a steady pace without drawing closer.
Focusing his spiritual senses, Lu Chen swept his surroundings.
Finally, he locked onto a nearby cave entrance.
This will do.
Since he wouldn’t be able to leave the forest anytime soon, finding a secure resting spot was the next best option.
And besides—Lu Chen was certain that the moment he stepped into that cave, the presence would follow.
Now that he had decided, he moved swiftly.
The aura behind him kept its distance, never making a move.
This puzzled Lu Chen even more.
If it were an assassin sent by another sect, they were being incredibly incompetent.
They had let multiple opportunities to strike slip away.
Yet, Lu Chen was certain—it wasn’t an ally either.
Being stalked was an unpleasant feeling, but Lu Chen wasn’t in the mood for a cat-and-mouse game.
A short while later, he arrived at the cave.
The entrance was narrow, but the inside was spacious.
Lu Chen’s lips curled into a slight smirk as he stepped inside.
The aura followed closely, its fluctuations slightly erratic.
But just as Lu Chen expected to see a figure emerge at the cave entrance, the presence suddenly vanished.
“Strange,” Lu Chen murmured. “After all that following, why stop now? Or did something happen?”
The second possibility was unlikely—Lu Chen had detected no threats along the way.
Which meant the presence had left on its own.
Had they realized they’d been exposed?
Lu Chen waited a moment longer, but the aura did not return.
He decided to let it go. As long as it wasn’t a direct threat, it wasn’t worth worrying about.
The cave was incredibly silent. He could hear his own breathing and the occasional drip of water deeper inside.
“This place isn’t bad. Little one, come out and take a look.”
It had been a while since he let Xuan Mo out. The little creature deserved some fresh air.
Though his spatial storage had its own internal space, it lacked the vitality of the outside world.
The small beast lazily stretched, barely reacting to Lu Chen holding it in his palm.
“You’re hungry, aren’t you?” Lu Chen smirked. “I’ll roast some meat for you later.”
Upon hearing this, Xuan Mo’s eyes finally showed a spark of interest.
“Let’s go hunting first. We need to find the tenderest meat.”
The forest was full of wild beasts, but not all meat was worth eating.
After years in the Demonic Abyss, Lu Chen had become quite picky.
The best choice? Heart-protecting meat.
It was exquisite but hard to find.
Filling both his and Xuan Mo’s stomachs wouldn’t be easy—a single beast wouldn’t be enough.
Just as he stepped toward the cave entrance, Lu Chen’s expression turned sharp.
That faint aura… appeared again!
This time, it wasn’t hidden at all—it was fully exposed.
Lu Chen had yet to determine what was happening when—
A figure suddenly ran toward him.
A woman!
She stumbled as she ran, her footsteps unsteady, as if she had experienced something terrifying.
“Help! There’s a ghost! Help me!”
A ghost?
Lu Chen frowned.
It had been years since he had heard someone scream about ghosts.
“What exactly did you see?” he asked.
“I was trapped in an endless loop! There’s a ghost! No matter which way I turned, I couldn’t escape!”
The woman gasped for breath, pointing frantically behind her before turning a horrified gaze onto Lu Chen.
Lu Chen followed her gaze toward the direction she pointed.
His expression remained unchanged.
A moment later, he withdrew his gaze and spoke indifferently.
“There’s no ghost. You’re just scaring yourself.”
“Impossible! I really saw one! Please, I beg you, help me get out of this forest! I’ll pay you!”
Her voice was sincere, her expression desperate.
But Lu Chen shook his head.
“I don’t need money.”
“Then what do you want? You—”
Before she could finish, she suddenly backed away, her eyes filled with suspicion and wariness as she looked at Lu Chen.
Lu Chen’s expression darkened.
What kind of look was that?
Was she actually worried he might harm her?
To dispel any further misunderstandings, Lu Chen deliberately examined her from head to toe with a look of disdain.
Dust-covered. Makeup completely ruined.
Her figure? Average.
She didn’t even seem fully developed yet.
And this woman… actually thought he might be interested in her?