Chapter 145: Did You Two Train Together? - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

### Chapter 145: Did You Two Train Together? The next morning, at dawn. In the Courtyard Yi Si. Shao Ren and his two companions gradually awoke. They sat up in bed, following their usual routine of heading to the cafeteria for breakfast before attending classes. To be honest, this Cultivation Alliance University, at least for now, seemed quite similar to an ordinary university apart from the different subjects being taught. Shao Ren rubbed his eyes groggily. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed an empty bed and suddenly remembered something, his face displaying a mix of confusion. “Are we missing a roommate?” His tone carried a hint of uncertain skepticism. Sun Zhen Jiang and Xie Wen Qing both paused at Shao Ren's question. “It seems… perhaps… maybe… we are?” Sun Zhen Jiang responded in a similarly unsure voice. Xie Wen Qing, however, was unconcerned. Waving his hand impatiently, he said, “Who knows where he ran off to? I noticed his absence when I came back last night but didn’t bother mentioning it.” “With his attitude of not wanting to interact with us, why should you two care so much?” Xie Wen Qing's remark left the two exchanging glances without further comment. They simply exited the courtyard together. Shao Ren muttered under his breath, “This really is strange…” “If we don’t see him by the time we get back this afternoon, let’s report it to the teacher.” ... Chen An woke up very early that day. Or rather, his routine was consistently like that. Luo Cong An’s courtyard was far more refined than the Yi Si courtyard he previously resided in, and it occupied a significantly larger area. Especially in certain small details, it was evident. For instance, the ground paved with perfectly fitted blue bricks. The corners of the houses, eaves, and roofs were made of top-quality materials, with intricate carvings. The only anomaly was the inexplicable blackened crater in the middle of the courtyard. Standing on the steps, Chen An gazed at this crater that had suddenly appeared overnight, falling into contemplation. He closed his eyes and reopened them. The crater remained. It wasn’t a hallucination or a result of being half-asleep. His gaze drifted forward—the courtyard’s half-standing wall had collapsed. The mountain close to the wall bore a deep gorge, as if it had been cleaved by a celestial sword, removing a substantial section. Even from this distance, Chen An could still feel the cold sword intent emanating from there. The young man frowned and turned to the other side. That was the only intact wall of the courtyard left, because it was near the room Chen An had slept in. A few steps from the wall was a familiar set of stone tables and stools. Luo Cong An sat there. Today, she wore an unusually plain white robe, and her hair, unbeknownst to her, had turned black again. The contrast of black and white enhanced her purity. Yet for some reason—perhaps the lasting impression left was too profound—Chen An instinctively found the snow-white hair more pleasing to the eye. Seated next to Luo Cong An was Eileen. This surprised Chen An. Since when did they become so close? Eileen donned her customary elegant black dress, its hem resting on the ground without gathering a speck of dust. Yet oddly, there seemed to be a small tear in the hem, glimpsing a bit of her fair skin. Both noticed the young man watching them and simultaneously smiled. Their smiles, however, looked somewhat strained. Chen An frowned slightly, feeling something was off with the two of them. “What happened here?” He gestured toward the ruins not far off and casually asked. Luo Cong An, like a student suddenly called upon in class, stiffened immediately. She stammered, “Last… last night, I was training and accidentally…” Chen An nodded and looked at Eileen. Eileen coughed lightly. “I was training too.” Chen An was taken aback. “You two trained together?” Their heads nodded swiftly in sync, appearing incredibly obedient. Chen An sighed, choosing not to pursue the matter further. “…Alright.” ... The sky began to drizzle. Without an umbrella, Chen An walked alone along the path. Countless fine silver threads of rain fell but avoided his body, leaving him untouched. During class time, coupled with the rain, the roads were deserted, not a single person in sight. He walked alone. Eileen initially wanted to follow, but he declined. He didn’t plan to stay out long; he was merely looking for someone and would return soon. Chen An planned to visit the Array Arts Department classroom. He intended to find Lin Jing Qiu. Though it seemed a long passage of time had occurred in his second lifetime memories, in reality, only a moment in the grand scope of time had passed. Eileen’s sudden appearance disrupted Chen An’s pace slightly, but his initial intentions remained unaltered. Regardless of what transpired, he would first address his sister Chen Xi’s concerns before anything else. Considering the Mending Meridian Pill he planned to craft, Chen An had a faint idea. As for seeking Lin Jing Qiu, it was because he suddenly thought about the soon-to-be-opened Lingxu Secret Realm, which she might find worthwhile. While the realm held limited benefits for him now, it could greatly benefit someone like Lin Jing Qiu, who had just begun her cultivation journey. Originally, by the initial regulations, Lin Jing Qiu wouldn’t meet the eligibility to enter this realm. Moreover, even if she entered, without self-protection abilities, facing opportunities alongside risks, it might be better to not go at all. This was also the reason Luo Cong An hadn’t told her before. But with the anomaly that was Chen An, things differed. He had a fondness for Lin Jing Qiu, this vibrant young lady. With the added connection of being Luo Cong An’s disciple, it brought them even closer—almost like kin. Roughly considered, she was like his disciple’s granddaughter. Offering perks to his “disciple’s granddaughter” was perfectly reasonable. Since he’d asked Luo Cong An for directions beforehand, Chen An didn’t need to look through each room this time. He promptly reached the entrance of the Array Arts classroom. Though it rained outside, the young man walked in, pristine and dry. Inside was not silent; voices discussing the previous class were audible. It wasn’t random chatter but discussions about the recent lecture. These attendees were carefully selected and well aware of the importance of this opportunity. It might be their only chance in life to soar, change their destinies, and even that of their families. To transcend social strata. Thus, when Chen An entered, it didn’t cause a stir. A couple of girls glanced up, surprised by the unfamiliar handsome boy in their midst. Since when did the Array Arts classroom harbor such a good-looking fellow? How come they had no recollection of him? Far back in the row, Shao Ren happened to look up. Seeing Chen An, a trace of surprise flickered across his face. Instinctively he spoke, “Why is he here?” (End of this chapter)