From afar, seeing Li Ji'an, Ning Sujin's gloomy face turned even darker.
"No difference!" She spat out the words coldly without even looking at him.
Li Ji'an sighed softly inwardly.
Does it really matter?
It's been a month, and she's still not over it?
Women in this world... they're all the same.
I don't know if it's because Ning Yutan followed the Immortal Master to the Cultivation Realm, leaving her without a competitor, thus losing interest in Li Ji'an, or because she mistakenly thought she had no rival, hence doesn't cherish it anymore?
Or perhaps it's because of the embarrassing incident in the attic that she no longer treats him as an outsider.
In the past two years, Ning Sujin has become quite casual with Li Ji'an, many of the details she used to hold back on are now displayed openly.
A month ago, Duke Dingguo Ning Haichan invited Li Ji'an to the Duke's Mansion. Ning Sujin clearly instructed him to firmly refuse should the Duke try to match them again, she was determined to go to the Immortal Realm in this lifetime.
Li Ji'an nodded in agreement.
During the event, Ning Yutan's birth mother expressed intentions to match him with Ning Sujin, and Li Ji'an resolutely refused in public as instructed.
However, due to this matter, Ning Sujin has not shown him a good face for a month.
When asked, she said how could she be angry about such a thing? She always thought that way; mainly, he wasn't decisive enough when he refused.
Li Ji'an's mind was preoccupied with his senior brother at this moment, not interested in arguing.
"Thanks, Sister Jin, but I'm planning to return to Purple Cloud Temple, still won't change good or bad fortune?"
"You're headed to Qing Province? You're so cautious, usually unwilling to step out of the Immortal Palace..." Upon hearing this, Ning Sujin's previously angry expression suddenly shifted, showing some concern.
Two years ago, after the Immortal Master's reprimand, the Emperor, aiming not to disappoint the Immortal Master regarding the next session of Immortal Seedlings, went nearly insane, exhausting all means.
While doubling the supply of resources from official Martial Arts Academies, he increased conveniences for Martial Arts Families, naturally resulting in the oppression of common folk.
This has led to widespread public anger and complaints.
Rebellious armies have appeared in many places.
Moreover, tensions between the Emperor and King Yun have been escalating, making the world increasingly unstable.
However, after staring at Li Ji'an for a moment, Ning Sujin let out a slight breath: "No worries this trip!"
"Thank you!" Li Ji'an cupped his hands without any explanation and didn't mind the teasing, then turned to leave.
"..." Watching Li Ji'an's uncharacteristic relaxed demeanor as he departed, Ning Sujin subtly furrowed her brows.
"What's the matter?"
Even though she sensed no threat, she subconsciously grew worried.
"Wait! I meant it would be safe with me along; otherwise..." Despite her greatest determination being the success of Refining the Internal Organs in the Immortal Scripture eight years later, with no time wasted in the past two years, she decided to accompany Li Ji'an.
Li Ji'an halted, glanced back at her with a slight smile, and nodded gently.
That noon, Li Ji'an and Ning Sujin reported to the Immortal Palace, mounted their steeds, and headed towards Shangyi County.
Duke Dingguo personally bestowed the black luminous steed with Treasure Beast bloodline, capable of covering eight hundred li by day and night. Previously, a caravan took two months from Chong'an Prefecture to the Imperial City, now reached in just five days.
"Sister Jin, let's rest here tonight." Observing the foaming mouth of their steeds, Li Ji'an decided to pause at Chong'an Prefecture.
Ning Sujin, having stepped into Bone Marrow Forging, with robust qi and blood, coupled with early mastery of External Skills, didn't fear the elements, yet back at her old home, she agreed to a brief stay.
"The Dog Emperor panders to the Immortal Master, disregarding the people for his favor; a disgrace to humanity!" No longer needing to rush, Ning Sujin vented the indignation accumulated from their journey.
Throughout the journey, they witnessed widespread hardship and calamity, the scenes etched deeply in their minds.
Even at the gate of Chong'an Prefecture City stood crowds of destitute people begging for alms.
Li Ji'an sighed lightly: "Can't entirely blame him, given such a centralized power, anyone in that position would act the same. Without change, people can only hope eternally for a benevolent ruler."
Such a perspective beyond the current era momentarily stunned Ning Sujin.
Immortal Dynasty's history is brief, once filled with regional lords; further back, tribal conflicts; even further, survival in the wilderness.
Initially, survival in the wilderness required banding together against nature's forces and beasts.
Forming groups led to needing strong individuals to protect others, thus born leaders through mating and resource distribution rights.
As groups grew, they became tribes.
Tribal conflicts escalated, tribal leaders became more protectors, with people willingly supporting a leader willing to risk for everyone.
But upon tribal unification, regional lords emerged, leaders mastering collective power no longer needed to protect tribes, realizing they could use this power to suppress them, maintaining own status and privileges.
Until full unification, lacking external crisis, the initial leaders basked in power and privilege, ensuring it continues within smaller circles.
They focused solely on preserving and extending such power.
Without external crises or opportunities, such power dynamics would last millennia, only comprising rebellion and counter-rebellion!
Yet, with the Immortal Master arriving, Zhao Royal Family found new opportunities and crises, using all resources to curry favor with the Immortal Master.
From Li Ji'an's perspective, it's perhaps fortunate.
Otherwise, when the Emperor fails to pander the Immortal Master, and the Immortal Master prepares to act, that would be the time of greatest suffering for the people.
He would then incite the populace against the Immortal Master, leading to rivers of blood and mountains of corpses.
Having lived through four lives, witnessing much, Li Ji'an made peace with himself, adopting a mindset of accepting but not endorsing, adapting and striving to transcend.
"Anyone as Emperor would act the same?"
Li Ji'an chuckled: "Why not give it a try?"
"Are you crazy?" Ning Sujin widened her eyes once more, increasingly unable to fathom Li Ji'an.
Li Ji'an refrained from responding, rode through the long queue of people entering the city.
Immortal Dynasty, truly people suffered greatly.
Opportunities for becoming or nurturing Immortal Seedlings indeed granted privileges.
"Snap~ Damn peasants aren't interested in living? Not giving way to Immortal Seedlings?"
"Please, Young Master..."
High on horseback, flashing his reserve Immortal Seedling Identity Token, the gate guards quickly fawned over him.
Among the envious gazes of common struggling people, Li Ji'an and Ning Sujin rode through the city gate.
"You... you're from Chang'an?" Just passing through the gate, a guard tentatively approached.
"Uncle Ma." Recognizing the man below as Xiao Wu's former aide, Li Ji'an smiled in response.
"Ah, truly you, hurry, go save your Uncle Xiao, he's almost dead!" Uncle Ma jubilantly exclaimed, quickly urging.
Li Ji'an frowned: "What's wrong with Uncle Xiao?"
Uncle Ma glanced around, raised on tiptoe and whispered: "They claim he's colluding with rebels, facing public execution!"
"Actually?"
"Actually... actually... alas, femme fatale!" Uncle Ma dared not say more.
"Auntie..." Li Ji'an exhaled, roughly guessing the reason.
Weak and precocious, poor but beautiful wife, powerless yet wealthy... the three unsolvable original sins of feudal society!