Chapter 68: Sword Immortal Sister, You Came to Get Beaten Again - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It
### Chapter 68: Sword Immortal Sister, You Came to Get Beaten Again The Next Day Chen An bid farewell to everyone at the welfare home, big and small, and embarked on a journey to the capital with Lin Jingqiu by his side. In truth, traveling around was quite pleasant. After all, there were many places on Blue Star he had yet to explore. Such travels brought him refreshing experiences. It was like starting to cultivate anew, allowing Chen An to gain insights completely different from his first time cultivating. But when he thought of Chen Xi, Chen An felt a bit troubled. Chen Xi, being an ordinary person without the aptitude for cultivation, naturally couldn't accompany him to Mount Longhu. Yet leaving Chen Xi alone at the welfare home made him uneasy. What if another person like Zhang A Si came along? How would he handle that? After pondering for a minute, Chen An decided to leave a safeguard. He spent several days setting up a total of eighty-one layers of formations around the welfare home. Seizing the chance while Chen Xi was asleep, he stealthily entered her room and planted seven layers of marks within her. Each of these seven marks corresponded to a sword aura, with each layer stronger and more enduring than the last. Though the power was limited by Chen An's current cultivation stage, dealing with cultivators below the Foundation Establishment level would be remarkably easy. As long as someone of Luo Congan's level didn't show up, there wouldn't be any unforeseen events. This way, everything would be foolproof. The most crucial safeguard was the eighty-one formations encompassing the entire welfare home. Personally set by Chen An, who was once a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, the intricacy was unparalleled, working in harmony. Even an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would be intimidated by the sight. Although still not fully satisfied, Chen An lamented the lack of materials to further enhance the formations to a thousand layers or more. The priority was absolute security. After all, if anyone held the highest place in Chen An's heart now, it would undoubtedly be the girl who had accompanied him since childhood. ... In an unknown part of the mist. Su Chichi's tale continued. But compared to those imposing memories, it was the immersive feeling that pained her more. Because all of this was precisely what she had experienced. Yet what puzzled her was the seemingly inexplicable disappearance of the voice that perpetually echoed in her mind recently. Su Chichi felt no relief, but an indescribable tension. She had an inexplicable hunch. Knowing how much the voice valued Chen An, it couldn't possibly watch him perish with indifference. There had to be information she wasn't aware of... ... In the heartland. After leaving Luoyang, Chen An and Su Chichi continued southward. They toured many cities, from bustling metropolises to secluded towns. Meanwhile, the incident of a demon wreaking havoc in Luoyang was rapidly spreading in the Qin Kingdom. Even when Chen An enjoyed tea in roadside teahouses, he often overheard people discussing it. Stories varied, some detailing how the demon's malevolence extended to its foster father Ji Ping. Others claimed that the demon retained some conscience, sparing one person’s life. Speculations were based on the tales told by those who escaped the residence at that time. Regardless of the version, when discussing the former second Miss of the Ji family, the fox demon, people's expressions always turned fearful. Because even the Qinging School's prodigy, Chu Qingli—Qingli Immortal—had met defeat against this fox demon. To know she was a true prodigy, capable of battling a Golden Core cultivator with her Foundation Establishment prowess, seasoned with rich combat experience. She wasn't some naive rookie untouched by the harshness of the world. Since descending the mountain, she had slain countless demons, never imagining her first defeat would occur in Luoyang. Outside observers merely attributed it to the fox demon’s profound cultivation and extraordinary strength. Only those privy to the inside story, like Chen An, would chuckle softly. Though his amusement soon disappeared. Because a woman dressed in a sky-blue gown, wearing a veiled hat, took a seat at his table. Su Chichi's eyes lit up at her arrival, exclaiming excitedly, "Sword Immortal Sister, you came to get beaten again!" Chu Qingli's lips twitched slightly under her white veil upon hearing this. Her chest heaved with emotion, yet she only stared at Chen An, uttering two cold words. "Once more." Chen An felt quite helpless. Ever since the incident at the Ji residence, she had pursued him relentlessly, seeking battle wherever he went. Though each time, she ended up battered and bruised. Chen An understood she wasn't after anything else—she was seeking closure. It was about the unfinished business, not anger. Chen An tried reasoning with her, "Look, the killer was the fox demon, not me. Besides, after I subdued you, I only tied you up with a rope and didn't cross any lines." "If you want to redeem yourself, shouldn't the issue be directed elsewhere rather than at me?" But the woman merely raised her sword, her eyes flashing with embarrassment and anger. "How dare you mention that!" "If you had struck me down with one blow, so be it, but instead you used that wretched rope…” Chu Qingli couldn't finish her sentence, a shiver running through her at the memory of the fox demon’s deeds at the villa. Chen An raised an eyebrow, "Oh, what's wrong with the rope?" He received no verbal answer, only the gleam of a shining sword light. ... Three years after finding Su Chichi. Chen An took her on journeys through mountains and rivers, finally reaching their predetermined destination. A secluded valley. Nestled between water and mountains, with a serene and verdant environment. It was an ideal place for quiet cultivation. Chen An chopped wood, fetched water, built shelters, and carved out a cave dwelling on the adjacent mountain, deciding to settle there permanently. Su Chichi had once curiously asked why they had traveled such a long distance to get there. Chen An paused in thought before responding, "It's destiny." What is destiny? The young Su Chichi didn't understand; she merely tilted her head, wondering if her master had been struck silly by his fights with the Sword Immortal Sister. Otherwise, why was he becoming increasingly cryptic, like those street fortune tellers, talking about fate and destiny? In the following month, they settled there, and Chen An began formally instructing Su Chichi in cultivation. Although they had drifted for three years, even the vivacious Su Chichi occasionally felt weary. Thus, when life calmed, she didn’t resist. Instead, she gradually came to appreciate the tranquility of cultivating in the valley. Removed from the noise and bustle of society, seeing only the people she wished to see, and doing as she pleased—her master never forced her to cultivate; everything was led by her preferences. Yet Su Chichi's extraordinary talent saw her progress rapidly compared to ordinary people. Chen An was not surprised. A villain chosen by the heavens was destined to stir storms in the future; how could they fade into obscurity? (End of Chapter)