Ning Yutan might usually be a bit ostentatious and irrational when it comes to Ning Sujin, but being the only Immortal Seedling in the entire Chong'an Prefecture speaks to her unparalleled talent and foundation, so her intelligence and comprehension are naturally above average.
At this moment, with Ning Sujin passing top-tier Cultivation Technique to her, the significance is self-evident.
"You... you said earlier that I'm facing a great calamity on this journey… Could it be true?"
Ning Sujin turned her head away, no longer looking at her: "Believe it or not, get lost!"
"You… humph!" In an instant, Ning Yutan was muddled with thoughts, coupled with the sudden generosity from her nemesis, her emotions and courage faltered, and she couldn't resist a quick retort.
Watching Ning Yutan leave, Li Ji'an slightly sighed in relief.
Then, considering Ning Sujin's act of imparting techniques, he asked: "Sister Jin, has the fortune changed?"
Ning Sujin shook her head.
"Should it change while on the journey?"
"I don't know."
"And mine?" Li Ji'an asked seemingly offhandedly.
Ning Sujin slightly furrowed her brows but still looked straight into Li Ji'an's eyes, carefully sensing.
Finally, she shook her head: "No significant change."
Li Ji'an nodded satisfactorily.
"Sister Jin, in ten years, which realm do you think I need to reach for steady success?" After their last heart-to-heart talk, having learned Ning Sujin's core trouble—no one willing to believe her—Li Ji'an sought to relieve this deficiency through consistent communication.
His abandonment of the initial "going with the flow" principle was absolutely not due to Ning Sujin's angelic visage and devilish physique, but rather her "Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil" ability made him feel secure.
For a seamless road to immortality, he wished to bind Ning Sujin to himself for all eternity!
Feeling slightly pressured, Ning Sujin said: "Only by Refining the Internal Organs is there hope! To be truly secure, I believe achieving Minor Achievement is necessary.
Among the ten Immortal Seedlings of this generation, aside from that fool, there is a prodigy barely seventeen, who has achieved Blood Exchange Perfection at seventeen, and then there are five talents aged twenty-three and twenty-four who have achieved Bone Marrow Forging the first time during the Immortal Scripture selection. As for the likes of us, who need a second Immortal Scripture selection, there are only three, two of whom are merely twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, yet all without exception have stepped into Refining the Internal Organs."
"Sister Jin, what you say is very true. I think so too. Therefore… the coming ten years will be very tough for us. Let us support each other and journey together! Not seeking guaranteed success, only seeking a clear conscience." Li Ji'an said solemnly, extending a hand in a gesture for Ning Sujin to place hers on top.
"Physical contact" is certainly the fastest catalyst to close the gap between a man and a woman, especially in such a feudal society.
Looking at Li Ji'an's extended hand, Ning Sujin instinctively resisted a bit, but seeing Li Ji'an's serious expression and resolute eyes, she felt she was being somewhat sentimental.
Taking a slight breath, Ning Sujin placed her slender, jade-like hand on the back of Li Ji'an's hand.
"Only seeking a clear…" But before she could finish the slogan, she felt an electric current running through her.
Li Ji'an reversed his hand to hold Ning Sujin's tightly, intertwining their fingers: "Only seeking a clear conscience!"
Yet his expression remained solemn, resolute, without desire or distraction.
"…conscience." Ning Sujin had no reason to resist, forcing herself to say the final word despite the tremor.
Fortunately, after saying the last word, Li Ji'an promptly released Ning Sujin's hand.
...
Following this physical contact, their relationship evidently became closer, Ning Sujin let go of more reservations, reducing the wariness in her heart by a fraction.
On the onward journey, Ning Yutan either was restrained by Duke Dingguo or immersed in the meticulous comprehension of "Floating Willow Step" and didn't disturb Li Ji'an anymore.
Meanwhile, Li Ji'an, upon finishing cultivation, would occasionally seek discussions with Ning Sujin proactively.
"Sister Jin, do you see any change in my fortune?" Half a month later, with only half a month left to reach the Dynasty, after inquiring Ning Sujin about some insights into Qi and Blood Activation, Li Ji'an once again steered the topic towards "Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil," casually asking.
"..." Ning Sujin held her breath for a moment, gazing at Li Ji'an.
Finally, she was struck with realization!
"You're so afraid of death?"
For half a month, nearly every day, Li Ji'an would subtly ask her about "fortune or calamity."
No matter how casual he tried to be, the outcome was obvious, it was every day a query.
"Do you truly trust my intuition? Or say… this ability you call Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil? You don't have the slightest doubt it's merely my hysteria?" She didn't mind Li Ji'an using her; instead, his behavior brought her some joy.
From childhood to adulthood, those family members never believed her, even for many verified incidents, they wouldn't consider it her sensing ability, claiming she was hysterical, calling her a crow's mouth.
Yet Li Ji'an never saw the verification outcome of her abilities, and he treated it like the truth!
This was Li Ji'an practicably executing "trust in her."
Unveiled secret thought, Li Ji'an showed no embarrassment, instead standing from his seat across Ning Sujin, sitting beside her, facing directly towards her: "Sister Jin, who in the world isn't afraid of death?"
"No success, no interests, no aspirations, no thoughts!" Without waiting for Ning Sujin to ponder, Li Ji'an answered his own question.
"But I, we have already decided to pursue immortality hand in hand, bonded together, with minor successes, having you as company, anticipating ascension… how could we not fear death?"
"As for the trust in you, in this world, anyone else I might not trust, but I will never doubt you, for I understand you!"
...
Boom~
Unexpected, calm, straightforward, and honest words sounded like a bolt of lightning in Ning Sujin's mind.
She felt her blood flow accelerate, every inch of her skin trembling as if something were sprouting, her mind went blank, her heart seemed ready to leap out, and her face was burning intolerably.
She wanted to curse him as glib-tongued to ease the embarrassment, yet recalling Li Ji'an's conduct over the five years, he was not at all a frivolous or slick-talking person, in fact, he was well-mannered, courteous, and sincere.
"You… you should go back. I suddenly feel like my Qi and Blood is about to break through…"
Just as Ning Sujin used a lame excuse to ease her visible embarrassment, inside the Duke Dingguo's carriage in the middle of the team, Ning Yutan was almost crying.
"Father, she… she hasn't married yet, how can she be so unrestrained staying in the same carriage with Brother Li? If this gets out, where would your face be? You must stop them!"
During this period, she watched helplessly as Li Ji'an and Ning Sujin grew increasingly intimate, besides Ning Sujin seemingly not lying to her, genuinely putting in effort to comprehensively understand "Floating Willow Step," since the team approached the Dynasty, her father also strictly forbade her from leaving the core carriage on her own.
She had a strong feeling that her possessions were being taken by her nemesis.
At this moment, she couldn't help but cry to Duke Dingguo.
"Hmm?" Duke Dingguo frowned.
"I advise you not to meddle!" He sternly warned.