29. Reborn Again

In another world line:

The skies were tumultuous, black clouds, high winds, lashing rain. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled ominously. In the center of the violent qi were two powerful cultivators, one dressed in gold and the other dressed in black.

The genius cultivator of the Golden Sun Sect, Lin Yijun, drew his sword against the demonic cultivator Zhou Sheng. Zhou Sheng’s eyes flashed red as he used his own blood to fight back. Lin Yijun sneered at such a demonic technique. His flashing sword created sharp winds that flicked the blood back.

The lightning came nearer and nearer.

Zhou Sheng’s own weapon, a long polearm with a wickedly sharp blade cut through the winds. Lin Yijun parried with a CLANG! The shockwave exploded out, pushing both of them backwards.

Lin Yijun gritted his teeth, sucking in the surrounding qi as fast as he could, forcing the energy through his limbs as he fought against his ex-friend, Zhou Sheng.

“How could you, Zhou Sheng?”

“Don’t act so righteous! Even you people slay others!”

Lin Yijun sneered. “And you didn’t think I’ll see the bloody mess you left behind? Demonic Cultivator Zhou!” With a growl, he lunged forward, blade razor-sharp. He felt that he was at the cusp of advancing to the next level—if he pushed and levelled up, he would surely defeat Zhou Sheng.

Zhou Sheng flung up his hand, coalescing blood qi. The blade of his weapon started to glow red.

Lightning struck, and a chance gust nudged Lin Yijun just slightly off course.

Instead of successfully passing the Heavenly Tribulation and advancing, Lin Yijun’s body burned to death.

Over six months ago:

“...Ah! Thank the Heavens, he’s finally awake!”

Lin Yijun groaned. He remembered that he had just been fighting a high-level demon when a group of them unexpectedly appeared. He had defeated them, but his qi dropped so low that he fainted.

—NO. Wait. He had just died.

When that lightning struck, Lin Yijun knew the instant before death that he would not survive that lightning tribulation.

Yet he was now clearly alive.

Lin Yijun immediately checked his internal cultivation. Realisation came quickly: he had returned to the past. Instead of being a dead ghost on the battlefield, he was currently lying down in his room in the Golden Sun Sect. A number of familiar senior cultivators and a senior healing cultivator surrounded him.

The healing cultivator stepped forward. “Senior Lin, how are you feeling?”

Arranging his expression properly, Lin Yijun pushed himself upright on the bed. He nodded seriously. “I am fine. I simply need some rest. You are all busy, there is no need to watch me.”

The healing cultivator agreed. After giving Lin Yijun another healing pill, the cultivator ushered everyone out and closed the door behind them.

More information had filtered into his mind. Indeed, the other senior cultivators were in fact busy—the Intra-Sect competition was happening right at this moment, and they will soon need to initiate the new inner-sect disciples.

Now alone in his room, Lin Yijun fell deep into thought.

Lin Yijun grew up in the Golden Sun Sect. His mother and father were both prominent senior cultivators. When he was young, he saved the youth Zhou Sheng while out on a mission. Seeing that Zhou Sheng had potential, he bought Zhou Sheng back to the Golden Sun Sect.

Somehow, he and Zhou Sheng became friends, which was unusual given that Zhou Sheng was simply a beginner outer sect cultivator. Zhou Sheng was hardworking, friendly, and cheerful in a manner that wasn’t annoying—with these reasons, Lin Yijun justified his good feelings towards Zhou Sheng.

But then Zhou Sheng’s cultivation stalled.

“The Golden Sun Sect is not right for me.”

“You just need to work harder,” Lin Yijun had replied. “If this particular sword cultivation technique is not suitable, then I have many more.”

Zhou Sheng had bowed his head. Acknowledging that Zhou Sheng was likely frustrated with the monotonous training, Lin Yijun generously allowed Zhou Sheng to accompany him on some sect missions.

But Zhou Sheng started to criticise Lin Yijun.

“Those people, you should have killed them.”

“Those people, why did you kill them? It wasn’t their fault!”

“Lin Yijun, do you ever think that you don’t know everything?! Do you really think I can’t see that you don’t believe me?”

They fought, and Zhou Sheng left. Lin Yijun eventually tracked him down, only to see him murder a group of mortals, only to find that Zhou Sheng had joined a demonic blood cultivation sect. Their relationship was irreconcilably broken, eventually leading them to meet on the battlefield when the righteous and demonic sects clashed.

That was in the past life.

But right now, Lin Yijun had been reborn during the time after he fought with Zhou Sheng, but before Zhou Sheng murdered that group of mortals.

Why was he given a second chance like this? What did the Heavens want? Did they want him to kill Zhou Sheng early, stop Zhou Sheng from killing those mortals, or did they want him to save Zhou Sheng?

Enter, stage right, Lin Yijun, who is the protagonist of his own story (well, everyone is the protagonist of their own story). We first met him back in Chapter 12~ He would have been a traditional xianxia protagonist...if it weren’t for the fact that this author is writing the story hehehehe.

We’ll get to see our actual main character(s) next chapter!