In the quiet of the night, their eyes met.
Ten years of acquaintance, especially the past five years in the Immortal Palace, asking about fortune daily.
Every tiny accumulation, time deposited its weight.
Sufficient for Li Ji'an to see through Ning Sujin's character and heart nature.
Time had already provided the answer.
It's not an exaggeration to say that from initially just wanting to utilize her "seeking fortune and avoiding evil" ability, to now, Ning Sujin has become the closest and most trustworthy person to him in this life so far.
Her unique favor in confiding only in Li Ji'an made him stand out among the same cohort's reserve Immortal Seedlings.
Not to mention her looks or her figure, both far surpass Li Ji'an's aesthetic appreciation from four lifetimes.
Considering everything, even someone like Li Ji'an, who has lived four lifetimes and accumulated a mental age of over a hundred, admired her quite a lot.
If it weren't for the ability of "rejuvenation," if it weren't for the goal of becoming the Immortal of Ten Thousand Worlds, Ning Sujin would undoubtedly be his first choice.
But at this moment, Li Ji'an understood that Ning Sujin was uncertain about her impending fate, even desperate.
And thus, it awakened her purest and most simple emotions from deep within.
All she sought was to cherish the memory, leaving no regrets.
To this, Li Ji'an acknowledged, understood, and was willing to fulfill her wishes.
In matters that didn't affect his long-term goal of immortality, he was quite easy-going.
As long as he remained steady and cautious, he was destined to live for a very long time, encountering many people and many things, and in such prolonged years, if one couldn't be easy-going, it would surely be exhausting; such immortality wouldn't be a blessing but a torment.
Once a thought is let go, freedom follows.
"Let's go!" Li Ji'an took Ning Sujin's delicate jade hand and pushed the door open.
Ning Sujin didn't ask where they were going, just a barely hidden smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
Moments later, looking at the towering pavilion touching the clouds before them, Ning Sujin's smile deepened.
This was the Fengxian Tower—the pinnacle of the Immortal Palace, which she had once mentioned wanting to ascend to with Li Ji'an.
"How's the fortune?"
"Hmph! Can't you be fearless for once?" Ning Sujin's rising sentiment was slightly diminished.
Actually, without Li Ji'an asking, she was always aware of the divine sensing and wouldn't really let Li Ji'an fall into danger.
Li Ji'an smiled casually, slightly moving his foot, channeling his entire energy and blood.
Instantly, under Ning Sujin's astonished gaze, Li Ji'an clasped his arm around Ning Sujin's waist and soared into the air.
He reached a height of ten meters before leveraging strength again.
Using the same method, in less than ten attempts, Ning Sujin stood atop Fengxian Tower as she wished!
"You actually..." At this moment, she was utterly shocked.
The nearly hundred-meter-high Fengxian Tower, with her family's Floating Willow Step, made ascending impossible, as it was a body technique for small-range movements, not qinggong.
And with Li Ji'an's initial entry into Bone Marrow Forging's robust energy, typical qinggong wouldn't make it easy to ascend so effortlessly.
"At least first-rate qinggong martial arts, and you've already achieved great success, right?"
Li Ji'an humbly smiled, "Pardon me."
"When did you start practicing qinggong?"
"Three years ago," Li Ji'an replied frankly.
"Did you give up then?"
Li Ji'an smiled ambiguously.
"Hmph, even hiding from me, no wonder your inner strength progress has been so slow these years! You deserve a beating." As she spoke, Ning Sujin's figure flickered.
She had often practiced Floating Willow Step with Ning Yutan as a child.
Five years ago, after Ning Yutan ascended to the Immortal Realm with the Immortal Master, she had no one to practice with. Now she was in the mood and also wanted to test Li Ji'an's depths.
Li Ji'an smiled carefreely, his form also flickering, "Then you'll have to try harder."
In an instant, atop the Immortal Palace, their figures interwove.
"You actually practiced Floating Willow Step, and you surpassed your teacher!" Once engaged, Ning Sujin was further astonished.
The usually masterful body technique, which played Ning Yutan like a violin, gained no advantage against Li Ji'an. Everywhere she was outmaneuvered.
Especially since Li Ji'an's body technique was not only exquisite, but he frequently used fists and palms, clearly practicing more than just body technique.
She, on the other hand, only practiced body techniques during her youth, striving to become an Immortal Seedling in recent years, and hadn't practiced her target for five years, leaving it neglected.
In just a few rounds, Ning Sujin was covered in sweat, looking at Li Ji'an with even more fervor.
...
"This little rascal has a lot of tricks, battling atop the Immortal Palace..." On the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion, Old Shi watched the two on the tower top and cursed with a laugh.
Especially seeing them go from fighting to standing side by side, then sitting to admire the moon, and finally snuggling together, he yelled how eye-burning it was.
The same sentiments echoed in other parts of the Immortal Palace.
Yet no one went up to stop them.
After all, one was a princess, and there was no explicit order prohibiting this.
The only regret among them was that the expected show didn't occur.
-------------
In the days that followed, Li Ji'an accompanied Ning Sujin.
They attended the lantern festival, sampled fine wines, tasted gourmet food... aiming to leave no regrets.
Until the tenth day, when the rosy light spilled through the lattice window, casting its glow across the bed.
The chaotic floor of azure gauze skirts, a green bellyband, white socks... was dusted with a layer of golden powder.
Still flushed, Ning Sujin propped her nearly falling apart body to slowly sit up, glanced at the still-sleeping man, and was once again reminded of last night's wild memories, blushing deeply.
She carefully dressed herself again, couldn't resist leaning down for a deep and affectionate kiss.
"Li Lang, no matter the fortune today... being with you leaves no regrets, I... mmm..."
Halfway through her words, a large hand had somehow encircled her waist again, pulling her still aching body back onto the bed.
Already awake, meditating with closed eyes, Li Ji'an turned over onto her,
the battle set to flare once more.
For Li Ji'an, who was experiencing this for the first time in this lifetime, he marveled at the joys of youth while reveling in the taste, utter bliss.
The nature of desire and color! Things that bring joy to the body and mind should be embraced naturally, not defied.
In his destined long life, without some diversion, it would certainly be too dull, diminishing motivation.
Having pursuits and desires can fill one's boundless life with hope and drive.
Otherwise, what would be the point of such a long life?
-------------
"Is today the day of change?" As the clouds and rain paused, Li Ji'an gently stroked the white body nestled in his arms.
"Today indeed!"
"Still can't sense the fortune?"
Ning Sujin turned, lay chest-down on Li Ji'an, and smiled widely, "It must be an auspicious day!"
"A decree has arrived! Princess Wenjin, quickly follow me to face His Majesty, do not delay." At this moment, a duck voice shattered their post-coital harmony.
"The Emperor?" Li Ji'an frowned slightly.
"No, it's the Immortal Master!"
"Could the Immortal Master really be coming for me?"
With the matter pressing, Ning Sujin no longer hesitated. A definite result was far better than the unknown and impotence.
As Ning Sujin's group just departed, Li Ji'an followed closely behind.