Chapter 16: Betraying One's Original Intent

Although Ning Yutan was usually a bit superficial and tended to lose her rationality when dealing with Ning Sujin, she was, after all, the only immortal seedling in all of Chong'an Prefecture. Beyond her extraordinary talent and innate gifts, her intelligence and comprehension were naturally outstanding. At this moment, Ning Sujin was imparting to her the supreme cultivation method, a gesture whose significance was self-evident.

"You... you said before that I was destined for calamity on this journey... could it really be true?" Ning Sujin turned her head away, refusing to look at her. "Believe it or not, get out!"

"You... hmph!" For a moment, Ning Yutan was unable to make sense of the situation. Having received such a sudden gift from her nemesis, she could not find words, whether from emotion or from courage, and so held her tongue.

Watching Ning Yutan depart, Li Ji'an let out a quiet sigh of relief. Then, reflecting on Ning Sujin's act of transmitting her cultivation, he asked, "Sister Jin, has her fate changed?"

Ning Sujin shook her head.

"Should it change during this journey?"

"I don't know."

"What about me?" Li Ji'an asked casually, as if it meant nothing.

Ning Sujin frowned slightly, but fixed her gaze upon his eyes, sensing carefully.

Finally, she shook her head. "Nothing has changed."

Li Ji'an nodded with satisfaction.

"Sister Jin, in your view, which cultivation realm should we reach within ten years to ensure success?" After their last heart-to-heart, Li Ji'an had learned that Ning Sujin's deepest wound was that no one ever believed her. Since then, he had tried to remedy that in all their conversations.

He had abandoned his original principle of "letting things take their course," not because of Ning Sujin's angelic face and devilish figure, but because her ability to foresee fortune and calamity gave him unparalleled peace of mind.

For the sake of a smooth path to immortality for all generations, he wished he could bind Ning Sujin to him, forever and ever!

Ning Sujin felt some pressure. "Only if we reach the Organ Refinement stage will there be hope. To be certain, I believe we must reach the Minor Completion of Organ Refinement.

This generation has ten immortal seedlings. Besides that fool, there is an extraordinary genius who, at only seventeen, has already completed Blood Exchange. Then there are five prodigies, aged twenty-three or twenty-four, who reached Bone Marrow Cleansing at their first immortal selection. For those like us, needing a second selection, there are only three, two of whom are just twenty-seven or twenty-eight, yet have already stepped into Organ Refinement."

"Sister Jin, you're absolutely right. I think so too. So... the next ten years will be tough for us. Let us share the same boat, support each other! We don't need to succeed in everything, only to have no regrets in our hearts." Li Ji'an spoke solemnly, extending a hand in a gesture for Ning Sujin to place hers atop his.

Physical contact is always the fastest catalyst for intimacy between man and woman, especially in a society as feudal as theirs.

Watching Li Ji'an's outstretched hand, Ning Sujin instinctively felt some resistance. But seeing his serious expression, his determined eyes, she felt she was being overly sentimental.

She drew a breath and placed her delicate hand atop Li Ji'an's.

"Only to have no regrets in..." Yet before she could finish the pledge, a jolt ran through her entire body.

Li Ji'an turned his hand and clasped hers tightly, fingers interlaced. "Only to have no regrets in our hearts!"

His expression remained just as solemn, just as steadfast, without desire or distraction.

"...hearts." Ning Sujin had no reason to pull away. She forced herself to utter the last word, trembling.

Fortunately, Li Ji'an released her hand quickly after saying the last word.

...

After this moment of contact, their relationship became obviously closer. Ning Sujin set aside more of her reserve, her internal defenses lowering.

As they continued on their way, Ning Yutan, whether constrained by the Duke of Dingguo or absorbed in the study of "Drifting Willow Steps," did not trouble Li Ji'an further.

Li Ji'an, meanwhile, would seek out Ning Sujin for conversation after finishing his cultivation.

"Sister Jin, do you see any change in my fortune?" Half a month later, with only half a month’s journey left to the Imperial Dynasty, Li Ji'an, after consulting Ning Sujin about insights into vital energy activation, casually steered the topic back to fortune and calamity.

"..." Ning Sujin held her breath, staring at Li Ji'an.

At last, she understood!

"You really are that afraid of death?"

For half a month, Li Ji'an had asked her about his fortune every day, as if in passing, but the pattern was obvious: one question each day.

"You trust my intuition this much? Or... my so-called ability to foresee fortune and calamity? You never doubt it’s just hysteria?" She cared little about being used, and was even a bit pleased by Li Ji'an's behavior.

Since childhood, her family never believed her. Even when her predictions were verified, they dismissed it as hysteria, calling her a harbinger of ill omen.

Yet Li Ji'an, without ever seeing her abilities proven, treated them as truth!

This was Li Ji'an practicing "believe in her" with real actions.

Exposed, Li Ji'an felt no embarrassment. Instead, he rose from his seat across from Ning Sujin, sat beside her, shoulder to shoulder, and turned to look at her directly. "Sister Jin, tell me, who in this world is not afraid of death?"

"No achievements, no desires, no hopes, no attachments!" Before Ning Sujin could answer, Li Ji'an replied himself.

"But I—we’ve already decided to pursue immortality hand-in-hand, sharing the same breath and branch. We’ve achieved a little, I have you by my side, and the hope of becoming immortal... how could I not fear death?"

"As for trusting you, in this world, I could doubt anyone, but never you, because I understand you!"

...

Boom~

Those calm, straightforward, sincere words struck Ning Sujin like thunder.

She felt her blood rushing, her skin trembling as if something was sprouting, her mind blank, her heart about to leap out, her face burning unbearably.

She wanted to call him glib to ease the awkwardness, but, recalling Li Ji'an’s conduct over the past five years, realized he was neither frivolous nor slick. His actions were measured, courteous, and sincere.

"You... you should go. I suddenly feel a breakthrough in my vital energy..." Using a clumsy excuse to cover her visible embarrassment, Ning Sujin tried to dismiss him.

Meanwhile, in the Duke of Dingguo's carriage at the center of the convoy, Ning Yutan was nearly in tears.

"Father, she... she’s not even married yet, how can she be so brazen, staying alone with Brother Li in the same carriage? If word got out, where would your reputation be? You must stop them!"

She had watched Li Ji'an and Ning Sujin grow ever closer. Aside from Ning Sujin's earnest study of "Drifting Willow Steps," as their convoy neared the Imperial Dynasty, her father had strictly forbidden her from leaving the core carriage.

She felt as if her nemesis was stealing what belonged to her.

Unable to hold back, she poured out her complaints to the Duke of Dingguo.

"Hmm?" The Duke frowned.

"I advise you not to meddle!" he warned sternly.