The usually aloof Ning Sujin's eyebrows knitted instantly upon hearing the words "beautiful disaster."
"What beautiful disaster? Isn't it just because men are lustful?"
Old Ma stiffened immediately upon hearing this and quickly bowed: "Ah... yes, yes, yes, I'm talking nonsense, talking nonsense."
"Speak! What's going on exactly?"
Ning Sujin had a rather deep impression of Xiao Wu, as during the five years at the Seeking Immortal Institute in Chong'an Prefecture, Xiao Wu was the person closest to Li Ji'an, often helping to deliver Treasure Beast meat to him. Initially, even Ning Yutan tried to get close to Li Ji'an by roping in Xiao Wu.
Ning Sujin also had some understanding of Xiao Wu. He was upright, content with what he had, and could be considered loyal and diligent.
"I..." Old Ma shrank back, afraid to speak carelessly, fearing his words might lead to trouble. After all, he was demoted to gate duty for speaking a fair word for Xiao Wu. He could only look hopefully at Li Ji'an.
Li Ji'an nodded: "It's alright, this is the precious treasure of Duke Zhen'guo, also the esteemed Princess Wenjin, known for being righteous and championing the cause of justice!"
Before the words were finished, Ning Sujin was glaring at Li Ji'an with eyes that seemed capable of devouring people.
She had gotten used to Li Ji'an's flattery over the past two years.
This was forcing her to enter the fray to help save Uncle Xiao for him.
Yet... knowing she was being used, she didn't resist much, and instead enjoyed it. The words from that guy somehow sounded pleasant.
Li Ji'an smiled wryly. Although he couldn't stand by while an old friend was in distress, it was obviously better not to personally get involved if possible.
The main thing was, the other party was able to command the City Guard Department to act, and even dared so openly against Xiao Wu in the Government Office. Their power wasn't small. Relying solely on his current identity as a backup Immortal Seedling might not be enough to handle it.
In fact, the other party might have already known his backup Immortal Seedling identity before making a move on Xiao Wu.
It was no longer an age where he needed to prove himself, and he would rather rely on strength than persist stubbornly.
As for hiding Ning Sujin's identity to serve as a trump card at the last moment, he had no such thought as it would only cause unnecessary trouble.
"Your humble servant greets Her Royal Highness the Princess!" Old Ma's eyes instantly lit up.
There was hope, the boss could be saved.
If it were just Li Ji'an, he wouldn't have much confidence given the strength of the opponent.
"Dispense with formalities! Speak truthfully." Ning Sujin slightly tilted her chin up.
"Yes, yes. Half a month ago, I was on a routine street patrol with the Chief Constable when we caught three vagrants sneaking into the city. After investigation, we confirmed they were not major criminals. The Chief Constable pitied their plight and released them.
The next day, the City Guard Department stormed into the Government Office, capturing the Chief Constable, claiming that rebels had confessed. The Chief was labeled an inside traitor, and the three who confessed were the vagrants released the day before. I vouched with my life that they were definitely not rebels.
Just as the Chief was imprisoned, someone dressed as a steward went to his home to threaten and entice his wife, which caused my demotion..."
Ning Sujin's face showed a hint of contempt and disdain: "Hmph! Such a lecherous ghost, daring to seize another's wife with such impunity, utterly lawless. I will definitely handle this matter. To the Government Office!"
Less than an hour later, Xiao Wu walked out of the cell covered in wounds, reinstated to his position.
At the same time, the old steward who had threatened and enticed Xiao Wu's wife was beaten to death in front of everyone by the main family, and an officer in the City Guard Department was demoted for corruption and malpractice.
The advantage of a lawless society is that as long as one holds power, everything goes as one wishes.
After this incident, neither of them felt like staying in Chong'an Prefecture overnight and rode on swiftly, reaching the Purple Cloud Temple in Shangyi County two days later.
After seven years apart, Purple Cloud Temple remained unchanged in Li Ji'an's eyes.
Setting foot inside the temple, he felt much lighter all over.
Until he saw the sickbed-bound, aged Liu Deshan.
The memory of his once round figure in childhood was now considerably emaciated, his eye sockets deep, his face lined with wrinkles.
"Chang'an... you're back." The murky eyes struggled to open, laboriously raising a hand.
Li Ji'an knelt at the bedside, holding his withered hand, slowly infusing his qi and blood to nourish his heart meridian: "Master, Chang'an has returned."
"Good, good, good..." Liu Deshan replied repeatedly, struggling to take a good look at Li Ji'an.
"I'll go down soon to tell your junior. What he couldn't accomplish, you did, the Immortal Seedling... If your junior knew, he'd be relieved."
Staring at the man who seemed almost a stranger right in front of him, Li Ji'an's mind flashed with memories of previous lives.
Scenes of his senior from childhood to adulthood and then middle age flowed by.
Flowers bloom and wither, clouds gather and disperse... Life rushed past.
That night, Li Ji'an stayed by Liu Deshan's bedside, listening to his laments for half the night.
There was no commission, no request, only encouragement and comfort.
On his deathbed, his senior appeared quite at peace, lacking the desperation for life and fear of death that some people experience before dying.
Li Ji'an was unsure whether it was because he had no regrets or unfulfilled desires, or perhaps he believed life should be so, or maybe he simply didn't know there truly were real cultivators, unaware that lifespan could indeed be extended beyond limits.
Three days later, True Man Houde achieved ascension.
With this, in the past life, the two persons closest to Li Ji'an both departed.
Qingyun matured instantly, taking over Liu Deshan's mantle.
Meanwhile, after seven years of communication solely through letters, the estrangement Qingyun felt towards Li Ji'an was palpable.
Respectful rather than intimate.
Several times he seemed like he wanted to inquire about Ning Sujin when he saw her beautiful figure but couldn't bring himself to ask.
Eventually, it took Li Ji'an teasing him a few times before he barely managed to recapture some of the childhood closeness, though it was far less than before.
After handling his senior's funeral matters, Li Ji'an once again left the safe haven of his past life.
And this time, as he gazed back for a long while, it seemed he was truly leaving.
On the way back to the Immortal Palace in the Imperial City, Li Ji'an once again returned to his usual calm and nonchalant demeanor, occasionally teasing Ning Sujin to relieve the monotony of the journey, while actively discussing Qi and Blood Activation insights with her.
Since seeing the "Immortal" two years ago, having a clear plan for the future, he had been delving into Qi and Blood Activation External Skills during his Inner Strength cultivation breaks.
After all, since that "Immortal" was a cultivator, naturally there were different levels of strength, and mundane Martial Dao could possibly pose a threat to weaker cultivators.
During these two years of research, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that his lifelong accumulation of comprehension had significant effects on Qi and Blood Activation methods for External Skills.
Ning Sujin boasted about mastering the top-tier body technique "Floating Willow Step" in a month, but he had achieved mastery in half that time. Not only did he fully comprehend its core and key to Qi and Blood circulation, but he also made three slight adjustments, further perfecting the cultivation technique.
Inner Strength heavily relies on the innate bones and meridians, especially in the initial small realms, while External Skills are almost unrelated to the physical talents, focusing on how to mobilize and circulate the internal qi and blood for maximum utilization, heavily relying on comprehension.
This ensured Li Ji'an had a plan for the next life.