Chapter 14: Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune

Already harboring doubts about the so-called Immortal Seed, Li Ji'an couldn't help but ponder further upon hearing talk of fortune and misfortune. Moreover, after five years together, he had come to understand Ning Sujin, that aloof and withdrawn woman.

Proud and cold, beneath her indifferent exterior lay an equally indifferent heart. If someone wasn't important to her, she wouldn't waste a single word. Within the Academy of Seeking Immortals, apart from Xiaobian and himself, she ignored everyone else.

If she warned Xiaobian, it was never without reason. Perhaps her status allowed her access to secrets beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Ning Yutan pursed her lips and snorted, "Hmph, she's just jealous of me. She doesn't want me to become an Immortal Seed, otherwise she'd never be able to surpass me."

Li Ji'an admitted he must have lost his mind to try extracting information about Ning Sujin from Ning Yutan. Shaking his head, he followed her to the Marquis' residence.

"Big Brother Li, do you need something? Why do you want to see her? I'll have you know, now that we're here, my word carries the most weight in this entire household!"

After paying respects to the Duke of the Realm, Li Ji'an sought to meet Ning Sujin. Unexpectedly, the Duke agreed without hesitation, and rather than sending for Ning Sujin, he had someone escort Li Ji'an directly to the rear courtyard.

This made Li Ji'an sense the Duke's intentions.

Meanwhile, Ning Yutan was far from pleased and insisted on tagging along.

"Yutan, you are now honored as an Immortal Seed, while she and I are only backups. I wish to discuss what comes next at the Imperial City’s Immortal Palace." To send her away, Li Ji'an knew not to provoke her competitive streak. For the first time, he candidly acknowledged that Ning Yutan had bested Ning Sujin.

Ning Yutan's lips curled involuntarily, then she hurried to comfort him, "Big Brother Li, you shouldn't compare yourself to her. She's much older than you, her potential can't match yours. Next time, you'll surely become an Immortal Seed, and we'll meet again in the Immortal Realm."

Her eyes sparkled as she continued, "Or, after I ascend in the Immortal Realm, I'll come back often to see you, teach you immortal arts, and help you skip the Immortal Seed step altogether."

"How dare you step into my courtyard—itching for trouble again?" At that moment, an icy voice made Ning Yutan instinctively shiver.

"I..." Ning Yutan snapped back to herself, quickly looking down.

"Hmph, which eye of yours saw me stepping into your courtyard? My foot hasn't even touched the ground!" With one foot suspended in midair, Ning Yutan found her courage.

Dressed in a green martial outfit, Ning Sujin approached with a cold expression.

Ning Yutan promptly withdrew her foot and retreated two steps.

Only when Ning Sujin stopped at the gate did Ning Yutan suddenly realize—

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"Hmph! Now I'm an Immortal Seed, a hero of the Marquis' household. It's thanks to me that my father was promoted to Duke, that our entire family can enter the Imperial City... Do you still dare to hit me?"

A familiar slap sounded the next instant.

"Good advice can't save the damned. Fool, get out!"

"Ah! You dare to hit me again, I... Hmph, fine, I'll leave." Facing Ning Sujin's icy gaze, Ning Yutan ultimately uttered a defiant remark and ran off.

Li Ji'an stood quietly to the side, eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, completely ignoring the sisters' quarrel.

"What do you want with me?" Once Ning Yutan's figure vanished, Ning Sujin's tone softened considerably.

"Tomorrow we leave for the Imperial City. I know nothing about it, and wish to talk with you to ease my unease," Li Ji'an replied with a smile.

"You, uneasy? That's rare," Ning Sujin allowed a faint smile to touch her lips.

In truth, over the past five years, Li Ji'an's every reaction and demeanor had been so composed and calm, showing a maturity beyond his years.

She nodded, waved for him to enter the courtyard.

Under the pavilion, there were no maids to serve tea; instead, Ning Sujin herself fetched the brass kettle from the stove and poured Li Ji'an a cup.

"I don't know much about the Imperial City either, only visited once when I was ten."

"Will immortals personally appear in the Imperial City?"

"They will," Ning Sujin affirmed.

"Have you seen an immortal?" Li Ji'an couldn't conceal his excitement.

"I've glimpsed the ethereal traces from afar, not like mortals at all." Unlike the enthusiasm Li Ji'an imagined mortals would have upon seeing immortals, Ning Sujin simply frowned.

Li Ji'an gazed straight into her eyes, no longer doubting the existence of immortals in this world.

After all, Ning Sujin was not the type to speak lightly about things she was uncertain of, and her prestigious family background—raised in the Su family until age ten, then at the Marquis' residence—meant her experiences were far from ordinary.

After a moment’s contemplation, Li Ji'an decided to be open with Ning Sujin, no longer hiding behind vague words.

"Will we be in danger on our journey to the Imperial City?"

Ning Sujin glanced at him, "That fool told you?"

Li Ji'an nodded.

"You came to me just because of her words? You trust me?"

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"You are not one to treat things lightly. I believe your words always have purpose."

"Heh." Ning Sujin let out a soft laugh, almost unconsciously.

All her life, no one had trusted her—not even the Su family where she was born and raised, not her doting grandparents, uncles or cousins. The incident with her cousin Su Fan ten years ago finally pushed them beyond endurance, and she was sent back to the Marquis' residence.

Since then, she had rarely spoken.

This time, her warning to Ning Yutan had been hard to suppress, driven by a surge of blood ties, yet once again misunderstood.

"We are all safe!" Ning Sujin took a deep breath, fixed her gaze on Li Ji'an, and spoke with absolute certainty.

"Only the Third Miss is in danger?" Li Ji'an frowned.

"Great misfortune!"

"This... Is it simply because she's an Immortal Seed?" Li Ji'an paused.

Ning Sujin shook her head. "I don't know the reason, nor do I have any evidence."

"I just have a feeling."

"A feeling?" Li Ji'an raised his brows. He had expected her to know some secret or connection, but it turned out to be intuition.

If it were anyone else, or if he didn't know Ning Sujin well, he might have dismissed her like others.

Of course, the fact that he himself was a transmigrator with a golden finger made him more receptive to such mysterious things.

"When I was three, I first sensed my mother would suffer calamity. Days later, she died tragically on the road to the Marquis' residence.

At five, I felt my grandmother was in danger. Half a month later, she failed in her attempt to break through to the second stage of blood and qi, her energy reversed, and she died in a dark room.

At eight, my uncle died in a duel with another blood and qi master. Each time, I wailed in grief, but no one believed me.

Finally, at ten, my brother—my only companion—was chosen as an Immortal Seed. I felt great misfortune looming, and clung to him, begging him not to go. Not only did I fail to stop him, I was utterly despised by the Su family, forbidden ever to 'crow' again..."

Listening to Ning Sujin calmly recount her past, Li Ji'an was left breathless.

"You can avoid calamity and seek fortune?"

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