Having already harbored doubts about the so-called Immortal Seedling, upon hearing words of fortune and misfortune, Li Ji'an couldn't help but think deeply.
Moreover, after five years of interaction, he had gained some understanding of Ning Sujin, that aloof and reserved woman.
Underneath her proud and indifferent exterior was also an indifferent heart.
Unless it was someone she cared about, she wouldn't utter a single unnecessary word.
At the Seeking Immortal Institute, apart from the young girl and him, she never engaged with anyone.
Her ability to warn the young girl would never be without reason.
Her status might allow her access to secrets that ordinary people couldn't know.
Ning Yutan scoffed toward the sky, "Hmph, she's just jealous of me, she doesn't want me to become an Immortal Seedling; otherwise, she could never defeat me."
Li Ji'an admitted he lost his mind, actually wanting to ask Ning Yutan about Ning Sujin.
Shaking his head, he stopped speaking and followed Ning Yutan to the Marquis Mansion.
"Brother Li, what do you want? Why do you want to meet her? Let me tell you, in this Marquis Mansion, my word counts the most now."
After paying respects to Duke Dingguo, Li Ji'an attempted to meet Ning Sujin. Unexpectedly, the Duke agreed without hesitation, and instead of having someone summon Ning Sujin, he had someone lead Li Ji'an directly to the rear courtyard of the Marquis Mansion.
This allowed Li Ji'an to discern some of Duke Dingguo's intentions.
However, Ning Yutan was displeased and insisted on following.
"Yutan, you are now noble as an Immortal Seedling, whereas she and I are merely backups. I want to discuss with her about matters after arriving at the Imperial City Immortal Palace." To get rid of Ning Yutan, Li Ji'an couldn't provoke her competitive spirit at this moment, so for the first time, while stating facts, he expressed the point of view that Ning Yutan had defeated Ning Sujin.
Ning Yutan's mouth curled up involuntarily, then she quickly comforted, "Brother Li, don't compare yourself with her. She's much older than you, and her potential is not as great as yours. You'll surely become an Immortal Seedling next time, and we will definitely meet in the Immortal Realm."
She then joyfully imagined, "Or, when I ascend to immortality in the Immortal Realm, I'll frequently return to see you. At that time, I'll pass on the Immortal Technique to you, allowing you to skip the Immortal Seedling phase."
"Dare to step into my courtyard, are you itching for trouble?" At this moment, a cold voice rang out, causing Ning Yutan to shiver instinctively.
"I..." Ning Yutan snapped back to reality and quickly looked down.
"Hmph, which of your eyes saw me step into your courtyard? My foot hasn't even touched the ground yet!" With one foot suspended in mid-air, Ning Yutan found her confidence.
Ning Sujin, in a blue tight outfit, walked closer with a cold face.
Ning Yutan promptly withdrew her suspended foot and retreated two steps willingly.
Only when Ning Sujin halted at the courtyard gate did Ning Yutan suddenly realize.
"Hmph! I'm an Immortal Seedling now, a contributor to the Marquis Mansion. It's me who helped my father become Duke, allowing our entire household to reside in the Imperial City... Do you still dare to hit me?"
"Slap~" The familiar sound of a slap echoed in the next instant.
"Kind words can't persuade the damned; fool, scram!"
"Ah! You actually dare to hit me, I... hmph, fine, I'll go." Faced with Ning Sujin's icy gaze, Ning Yutan finally had the dignity to leave after uttering a harsh remark and running away.
Li Ji'an stood quietly to the side, watching his nose, his nose watching his heart, completely ignoring the sisters' squabble.
"Why are you looking for me?" Once Ning Yutan's silhouette disappeared from view, Ning Sujin's tone eased significantly.
"We're leaving for the Imperial City tomorrow. Knowing nothing about it, I wanted to talk with you to ease my anxiety," Li Ji'an replied with a smile.
"You actually have times when you're anxious?" Ning Sujin rarely showed a hint of a smile.
Over the past five years, Li Ji'an's instinctive reactions and demeanor were always so calm and composed, displaying a maturity and stability beyond his years.
She nodded slightly and gestured for Li Ji'an to enter the courtyard.
In the courtyard under the pavilion, there were no maidservants to serve tea. Instead, Ning Sujin personally brewed a cup of tea for Li Ji'an using a copper pot on the stove within the pavilion.
"I don't know much about the Imperial City either; I only visited once at the age of ten."
"Will immortals personally visit the Imperial City?"
"Yes!" Ning Sujin confirmed.
"Have you seen an immortal?" Li Ji'an asked, unable to suppress his excitement.
"I've seen the fleeting traces from afar, not as a mere mortal." Ning Sujin furrowed her brows instead, lacking the excitement of an ordinary person witnessing an immortal.
Li Ji'an stared directly into her eyes, almost without doubt that there were immortals in this world.
It's no surprise, as a woman like Ning Sujin wouldn't easily speak about things she wasn't certain of. Moreover, given her family background from the Su Family they were Grandmasters, and growing up at the Su Family until the age of ten, later at the Marquis Mansion, her knowledge and perspective were not those of an ordinary person.
After a moment's contemplation, Li Ji'an decided not to be secretive with someone like Ning Sujin and to be open and forthright.
"Are we safe on our trip to the Imperial City?"
Ning Sujin glanced at Li Ji'an, "Did that fool tell you?"
Li Ji'an nodded.
"And you come to me because of something that fool said? You trust me?"
"You're not someone who trifles, I believe what you say is not aimless."
"Ha~" Ning Sujin involuntarily chuckled.
From childhood, no one believed her, even though she was born and lived in the Su Family, cherished by her grandparents, uncles, and brothers. Yet, due to an incident involving her cousin Su Fan ten years ago, they eventually ran out of patience and sent her back to the Marquis Mansion.
Since then, she hardly spoke.
This time, concerning Ning Yutan, she couldn't suppress the agitation of her bloodline and spoke up again, only to be misunderstood.
"We are all safe!" Ning Sujin took a deep breath, staring into Li Ji'an's eyes, and said confidently.
"Only the Third Miss is in danger?" Li Ji'an frowned.
"Dire misfortune!"
"What... just because she's an Immortal Seedling?" Li Ji'an paused internally.
Ning Sujin shook her head, "I don't know the reason, nor do I have any evidence."
"I just rely on intuition."
"Intuition?" Li Ji'an raised an eyebrow. He thought she knew some secret or connection, only to find out it was mysticism.
If it were someone else, or if he didn't understand Ning Sujin, he might have reacted just like others.
Of course, it was also because he himself was a transmigrator with a golden finger, allowing him to be more accepting of such mysterious phenomena.
"When I was three, I felt my mother would face calamity, and a few days later, she died tragically on the way to the Marquis Mansion.
At five, I sensed that my grandmother would face danger, and half a month later she tried to break through the Second Realm of Qi Blood, her Qi blood reversed, dying in the hidden chamber.
At eight, my uncle died fighting another Qi Blood Master's family... Each time, I would wail intensely, but no one believed me.
Ultimately, at ten, the brother who depended on me ascended as an Immortal Seedling, and I foresaw dire calamity. I clung to him, pleading for him not to go. In the end, it not only failed to stop him but led the Su Family to utterly despise me, forbidding my crow's mouth..."
"…," Listening to Ning Sujin calmly recounting her past, Li Ji'an instantly held his breath.
"Can you seek fortune and avoid evil?"