There's No Place Like Home!

Chu Wushuang stood where she was, watching her junior sister's retreating figure vanish in an instant. She did not give chase.

She merely sneered and folded her arms across her chest. Raising her voice toward the spot where Chu Yao had disappeared, she let her cool voice carry clearly across the entire mountain. "Very well! You little brat! So that's how you want to play it? Pretending your stomach hurts to avoid me? Fine! If you've got the guts, stay in your room and never come out! Otherwise... Heh heh!"

Those two chuckles were full of meaning and menace.

Little brat, you sure ran fast!

Forget it. Since you're about to get lost... I mean, head off on a long journey, I'll let you off this time.

Her words were as harsh as could be, but there was a trace of indulgence in her eyes.

Everyone in the Ten Thousand Swords Sect knew that Senior Sister Chu Wushuang was strictest with this junior sister of hers, but also the most protective of her.

She might scold Chu Yao and grab her by the back of the collar on ordinary days, but if an outsider dared lay a finger on her, Chu Wushuang would be the first to draw her sword and fight them to the death.

She was the very picture of someone with a sharp tongue and a soft heart.

Meanwhile, Chu Yao, who had successfully "escaped back" to her room, patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. There was no sign of a stomachache now.

She bobbed her head smugly and began happily making plans. English? No big deal! Don't I have a system? When the time comes, won't exchanging for the [Universal Language Comprehension] skill be a matter of minutes? For now... the important thing is to check out the Myriad Worlds Trading Group I just bound myself to!

Chu Yao darted back to her little courtyard, moving as if a hundred senior sisters were chasing her.

Her little courtyard stood in a secluded spot against the mountainside and even had a small natural cave abode. It was a form of special treatment from the sect for someone with an Innate Sword Physique.

Safe house! I'm back!

Ah~ Sure enough, no place beats your own humble home!

Yet she did not relax immediately.

With a flip of her wrist, a bronze array disc appeared in her hand. It looked dull and unremarkable, but a closer look revealed intricate, mysterious patterns covering its surface.

Wincing at the cost, she poured spiritual power into it, activated it without hesitation, and tossed it into the center of the courtyard.

"Buzz—!"

A low hum rang out as a transparent barrier, barely visible to the naked eye, spread rapidly from the array disc. Like an overturned bowl, it completely enclosed her little courtyard and cave abode.

Light shimmered across the barrier, with runes faintly circulating over it. It gave off a solid air of "strangers keep out, and acquaintances had better stay away too."

Jumbo all-around, no-blind-spot defense, concealment, and soundproofing array disc, activated!

The spirit stones it cost to activate once could pay for ten meals of Martial Uncle Zhang's red-braised pork!

Chu Yao's heart ached at the expense, but... it was still worth it.

Only after doing all that did Chu Yao truly breathe a sigh of relief. She clapped the nonexistent dust from her hands.

She walked over to a stone stool in the courtyard and sat down, resting her chin in her hands with a complicated look in her eyes.

Truth be told, she knew perfectly well that her master, senior sister, Martial Uncle Zhang, third senior brother... everyone in the Ten Thousand Swords Sect treated her genuinely well. They gave her their whole hearts and treasured her as if she might melt in their mouths or break in their hands.

That sincere care was something she had scarcely ever experienced in the brutal cultivation world of her previous life.

But!

Stay vigilant!

Chu Yao, you have to stay vigilant!

You're an old hand who's lived three lives!

Have you forgotten all those bloody lessons from your last life?

Over a thousand years on the demonic path in her previous life had long since carved the word "caution" deep into her soul.

She had seen far too many people meet their doom because of a moment's trust.

Masters and disciples turning against each other, Dao companions becoming enemies, brothers falling out... it often began with them letting down their guard.

Author's note: Thank you, my dear readers, for the bookmarks, likes, check-ins, comments, flowers, coins, and memberships. Love you all, heart hands ♥