Chapter 51: The Seven-Year Term Has Reached Its End - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

Chapter 51: The Seven-Year Term Has Reached Its End Autumn after autumn passed. Seven years—a time neither long nor short. Yet, it was more than enough to mend the shattered heart of a girl. This year, Luo Cong An turned fifteen. She blossomed with beauty, her figure graceful, and her snow-white hair had grown so long that it fell past her waist. She considered cutting it shorter, thinking it would spare her many of the hassles that came with such length. But the excuse of being too difficult to manage alone was too convenient, keeping her from making the decision to chop it. It was just another ordinary afternoon. Luo Cong An ventured into town to purchase some daily necessities and returned to her little courtyard. Now, she occasionally went out alone. The neighbors were aware of a white-haired girl living in the courtyard. No matter what they thought privately, at least on the surface, they were cordial, largely out of respect for Mr. Chen. With a spring in her step, the girl hopped into the courtyard. Under the tall, ancient locust tree, she saw the figure she had longed to see, as well as the bamboo chair forever bound to him. Time had left few marks on Mr. Chen's face, adding rather a nonchalant and ethereal charm. No matter how many times she saw him, Luo Cong An still found herself amazed. She approached, cheekily inching her head closer. There he was, lying on the bamboo chair in a position so relaxed it comforted anyone looking at him. He held a piece of wood in one hand and a small carving knife in the other. With a flourish of his wrist, a lifelike wood carving appeared in his hand. The carving was of Luo Cong An, yet deliberately exaggerated with a disproportionately large head, humorously short limbs, and barely a neck to speak of. Luo Cong An had protested this depiction many times, but he never relented, often saying with a grin, "You don't get it. This is a chibi version of Luo Cong An. Small, but still cute..." Terms like "chibi" were lost on her. But she understood the compliment that followed, and that was enough to appease her. So, Luo Cong An didn’t bother arguing over it. Chen An had few hobbies. Aside from the occasional chess game at the city lord's mansion, he mostly napped in the courtyard. The carving was a hobby he’d picked up just a year ago. Taking the carving, Luo Cong An admired it for a long time and couldn’t help but praise, "Sir, you’re a genius, good at everything." Chen An glanced over, casually resting his hands behind his head as he leaned back on the bamboo chair, saying, "There's no such thing as a genius, just practice makes perfect." He wasn't being falsely modest. He invested most of his time this past year into carving. To store the failed attempts and half-finished pieces, he even cleared out a storage room to pile them up. Luo Cong An recalled the first time he tried to carve—how the figures were so ugly, with stiff lines and no discernible features. The key was how he insisted it resembled her, making her hair stand on end with frustration at the time. Could she really be that ugly? "Doesn't matter. If I say sir is great, then he is great." Spurred by youthful bravado, she lifted her chin and huffed lightly. Suddenly, a cool autumn breeze swept through. It didn’t feel refreshing to her; it made her heart tighten, prompting her to quickly check on the man in the bamboo chair. Sure enough, the next moment he covered his mouth and began coughing softly. The cough wasn’t severe, but it still worried her deeply. She dashed into the room, returning with a thin blanket to drape over him, carefully smoothing out each corner. With a hint of criticism, she said, "Sir, knowing you’re not well, why are you out here in the wind?" Chen An merely chuckled, "The doctor said it's just a minor issue, no need for medicine. It’ll pass in a few days." "Still, you shouldn’t be careless!" With furrowed brows and her hands on her hips, she contradicted him firmly. Chen An murmured an acknowledgment, choosing not to argue. He almost never quarreled, maintaining this easygoing demeanor over the years. The girl leaned in again. She wanted so much to snuggle into his embrace, but now, older and more aware of proprieties, she restrained herself from such childish indulgence. She gently bumped her head against his, her eyes betraying a mix of emotions. In a soft voice, she asked, "Sir, do you think we’ll always stay like this?" Chen An continued carving a piece of basswood from the stone table beside him. Without looking up, he replied, "What, getting bored?" "Previously, I told you to go out and make more friends, but you refused, always with that frosty demeanor, like a big block of ice." Hearing that, she increased the force of her head-bumping slightly, retorting, "I don’t need friends. They are so ugly; who would want to befriend them?" Startled, Chen An gave her a bewildered look. Wow, it hadn’t struck him she valued appearances so much. Undeterred, she declared, "Besides, how could I ever find being with you boring?" Her words brimmed with hope for the future. "If I could always stay with you like this, even if the days are plain, I’d still be willing." Her softly spoken words echoed like a clear spring at his ear. He paused his carving, gazing at the endless blue sky, suddenly feeling a bit wistful. "Yet you’re so young. You shouldn’t waste your time here, in this lifeless little courtyard with me." Such words did not sit well with her. "I don’t understand why you make yourself out to be so old, sir. You’re not that much older than me..." "Well, I think there is quite a difference." "Your thoughts don’t count!" Her responses, childish to any listener, were just part of her daily banter with Chen An. She allowed herself a small grin, ready to speak further, but suddenly found herself caught in his gaze. These were eyes of clear black and white, intensely captivating, quietly watching her. Chen An looked for a long time before finally looking away. "Sir, what’s wrong...?" Her voice waned, an inexplicable unease creeping over her. Chen An simply shook his head, offering no explanation. The next day. A celestial teacher arrived in Guan Ping Town. It was Chen An’s first encounter with an immortal. Not a charlatan or a trickster, but a genuine celestial being. A figure who could fly in the sky. Such an event stirred the entire town! Even the city lord was alarmed, trembling as he dragged his hefty body into a kneel. Unheeding of them, the celestial teacher’s goal was clear—they flew straight towards the small courtyard where Chen An resided. Chen An remained reclined on the bamboo chair, unmoving. It was Luo Cong An who greeted the celestial teacher, her demeanor slightly nervous, casting anxious glances towards Chen An. The celestial teacher followed her gaze to the unmoving Chen An, a slight frown crossing her features, a hint of displeasure flickering in her eyes. But without further comment, she focused her attention on Luo Cong An. "Would you desire to follow me in pursuit of immortality, to achieve the Great Way?" This was the celestial teacher’s first question. (Chapter End)