Chapter 80: Three Years, Women - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

### Chapter 80: Three Years, Women After Su Chichi departed from the mountain, the valley became eerily quiet, a rare occurrence. Chen An occasionally felt a sense of disorientation while standing in the valley. Time had flown by so quickly. The little girl who once frequently ended up covered in mud, fearing her master's reprimand, had gradually grown into adulthood. ... In the third year following Su Chichi's departure, the valley welcomed new women. And not just one, but two arrived. Gazing at the woman before him, barely clinging to life and covered in small wounds, Chen An frowned slightly. Her sky-blue dress was in tatters. As for the owner of the dress, her condition was unbearably tragic. Chu Qingli's hair was disheveled, her face marred by terrifying blood streaks. In her arms, she tightly held a white fox. The white fox's fur, once snow-white and beautiful, was now matted with hardened blood. It lay motionless, its only sign of life the occasional heartbeat proving it was still alive. It was hard to fathom what Chu Qingli had been through to make the perilous journey here with the fox. Upon sensing the man crouch down, Chu Qingli tried her best to open her eyes. Her gaze flickered with unbearable pain, yet she forced a smile and said, "I brought it back." Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. As soon as she finished speaking, perhaps exhausted from the long journey, she fell into a deep slumber, her expression finally at peace. Chen An was taken aback, thinking to himself, *I haven't even agreed to save you two, yet here you are acting like it's a done deal.* He helplessly extended his hand, examining Chu Qingli's chest closely. Indeed, beyond the visible external wounds, what was more alarming was the chaotic state of her internal spirit. Her body was riddled with sword energies and remnants of spells, a clear sign of surviving numerous fierce battles without a chance to meditate and heal. Chen An glanced at the barely alive white fox. *Goodness, its demon core destroyed, a hundred years of cultivation gone in an instant. Both of you are quite the unfortunate pair, each more pitiable than the other.* Fortunately, demonic creatures tend to have more resilience than humans. Even after sustaining such fatal injuries, its heart continued to beat steadily. The white fox was none other than Ji Qingge, whom Chen An had encountered in Luoyang. He couldn't quite comprehend why these two, who had once been fierce enemies, would now risk their lives to save each other. Human emotions are indeed complex and contradictory to the extreme. Suddenly, a memory from his previous life surfaced in Chen An's mind. If your senior sister from the heavens and your childhood sweetheart witch both collapsed from poisoning before you, and you only have one antidote, whom would you save? But neither Chu Qingli nor the fox demon were a heavenly senior sister or a childhood sweetheart witch. Chen An chuckled, convinced that he'd never face such a dilemma. Because the ones he wanted to save weren't so easily taken away by mere poison. ... ... An hour later. In a warm and plush bed, Chu Qingli slowly awakened. Though traces of fatigue still lingered in her expression, the numerous small wounds on her face had all healed. Upon waking, her first reaction was one of slight bewilderment. *How fragrant, how expansive, how soft this bed is.* Those were her initial feelings. Then, as if realizing something, Chu Qingli began to pat herself down. Finally, upon finding that familiar texture in her arms, she sighed in relief. *Thankfully, this foolish fox is still here, warm and not cold.* As she silently mused, a familiar male voice reached her ears. There was only one man she considered “familiar,” so guessing his identity wasn’t difficult. Especially since she had come specifically to plead for his help. "You're awake? The surgery was successful." "Surgery, what surgery?" Chu Qingli appeared somewhat dazed, blinking her eyes. Naturally, she didn't understand Chen An's little joke. Chen An didn’t bother explaining further, simply nodding and turning to leave. "Hey, wait." Chu Qingli called out, unable to resist asking, "Aren't you curious at all?" Chen An paused his step, not turning back, "Curious about what?" "Curious about what happened during the time I was gone!" Chu Qingli seemed a bit exasperated, her unsatisfied urge to share her stories making her skin crawl. Of course, it was the desire to recount her experiences. Chen An glanced at her, left her with a remark, and exited the room. "If you want to talk, maybe start by putting on some complete clothing." His tone was light, devoid of any teasing or jest, merely a kind and well-intentioned suggestion. This left the woman inside to instinctively look down. It truly was quite a revealing sight. ... ... Throughout the vast lands of the Divine State, it has witnessed countless eras. Numerous prodigies emerged, reigning supreme under the skies. Some rose from humble beginnings, while others hailed from prominent sects, famed in their youth. Throughout history, many have made their mark. Yet in the world of cultivation, the debate about these epoch-defining prodigies never ceases. Who truly was the greatest? Whose talent genuinely stood above all? Each name etched into historical significance garners its own legion of devoted followers. Everyone has their take. The most vocal was that mystic from a millennia past, once of the Heavenly Transformation Sect, who willingly descended into demonic paths. Her turbulent upheaval in the realm of cultivation sent shivers down the spine of many, striking fear into their hearts. Though few today can truly recall that era of turmoil, her notorious moniker has been passed down through time. Ungrateful, bloodthirsty. Those became her synonyms. Under her influence, the demonic path boldly stepped into the forefront of the cultivation world. No longer hiding in shadows, like despised rats skulking in sewers. They held their heads high, finally claiming equal footing with prestigious sects, standing toe-to-toe with respected ranks. This flourishing of demonic paths waned only after the mystic's mysterious disappearance. Lacking a formidable leader was like losing one's backbone, leaving them as vulnerable as paper tigers, bound to crumble at the slightest touch. Listening to the conversation around her, Su Chichi furrowed her brow. Their current location was once a stronghold of the demonic path. Now abandoned, only a few dilapidated caves and altars remain to testify to their past grandeur. Beside her stood a clean-cut, handsome young man. His name was Xiao Fan, the leader among the younger generation of the Kunlun sect. He had personally gathered this team to vanquish demons, hoping to earn a name for himself as a righteous and noble figure. This, naturally, would lay the foundation for his future ambitions within the sect. Recently, their team welcomed a new member. Her striking appearance and graceful demeanor captivated Xiao Fan, stirring feelings within him he struggled to contain.