35

The incense in the secret room still wafted gently, the osmanthus scent that Zhao Ningyi loved most.

Holding a freshly peeled orange segment in her hand, she immediately offered it to Qingchen's lips upon hearing his words, her tone unwavering:

"Is it for the cultivation techniques or elixirs in the treasury? My lord, there's no need to sigh. If you want them, I'll go to my father's treasury and fetch them for you."

"My father's treasury will be yours sooner or later."

Qingchen didn't take the orange segment, but simply shook his head:

"Li Muyun told me about immortals before. After hearing it, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep at night, wanting only to personally investigate just how profound that cultivation of immortality truly is."

"It's that Li Muyun again!" Zhao Ningyi's hands clenched tightly.

As she gritted her teeth, the soft flesh on her cheeks tensed. "I should have killed him back then!"

This wasn't just said in anger.

Two and a half months ago, she realized Li Muyun's coldness towards her was all an act, and immediately turned around and tearfully begged her father to punish him.

The city lord, who doted on this daughter, promptly found a charge of "embezzling tax revenue" and dismissed Li Muyun from his post.

Zhao Ningyi, remembering their past relationship, spared his life and sent him to work as a minor official in a nearby town.

However, she was unaware that two months earlier, Qingchen had his men stage a bandit ambush and kill Li Muyun, turning him into a eunuch and a mentally challenged person, and then crippling his martial arts skills.

Then he informed the families of the victimized pharmacists that he had been torn to pieces by the villagers.

Hearing Zhao Ningyi cursing Li Muyun, Qingchen patted her hand, took the crushed orange from her hand, and placed it on a porcelain plate beside her:

"Don't be angry, he can't be in our way anymore."

Zhao Ningyi calmed down a bit, peeled another segment of orange, and handed it to him: "Immortal? Are you looking for immortal cultivation techniques, sir? My father's treasury definitely doesn't have any.

I sneaked in when I was a child, and the highest level of those books was first-rate martial arts; they didn't even mention the word 'immortal.' Besides, in the entire Jing Kingdom, I've never heard of anyone having the ability to cultivate immortality. Even if they did, you can't practice it without the aptitude."

"Li Muyun once told me that cultivating immortality seems to require a token. So I want to go and see if there's any opportunity." Qingchen bit into the orange segment, but didn't taste much of it.

"A token?"

Zhao Ningyi frowned. "But even with a token, you still need spiritual roots. My lord, the aptitude for cultivation is one in a thousand.

My father had the Jing Kingdom's national teacher assess my brother and me; we both had mortal roots, not even the lowest level of 'mixed spiritual roots.' Actually, not having spiritual roots is fine. Staying with our family's wealth and being with you every day is much more comfortable than cultivating."

"But I... I won't give up."

Qingchen interrupted her. "Now that I know about cultivation, I want to see it for myself. I won't give up until I try."

Looking at his stubborn expression, Zhao Ningyi's heart softened. She suddenly leaned closer, resting her forehead on his shoulder:

"Then I'll get you the token, but you have to promise me one thing."

"Don't say one, even a hundred or a thousand, I'll grant your request." Qingchen's voice softened, his hand gently resting on her back.

"I'll fetch you the token. When the celestial ship arrives, if you lack the aptitude for cultivation, the token will be taken back by the immortals. Then you'll have to stay with me for life and marry me," Zhao Ningyi said, looking up at him with expectant eyes.

She knew in her heart that only one in a thousand people possessed spiritual roots, and Qingchen most likely didn't either.

Then she could keep him by her side, no longer afraid he'd run away.

They could live happily together, enjoying wealth and luxury.

Qingchen suddenly froze, not answering immediately.

He looked into Zhao Ningyi's eyes, which now shone like stars.

He suddenly remembered three months ago, when she stood before the dressing table in a pomegranate-red dress;

he remembered last month, when she disguised herself as a servant and hid on a street corner of the West City mansion, only leaving when she saw him return;

he remembered just now, how carefully she peeled the orange, afraid of splashing juice on him.

For some reason, Qingchen suddenly felt a slight flutter in his heart.

"My lord, are you unwilling?" Zhao Ningyi's voice held a hint of panic when she saw his silence.

Qingchen snapped back to reality, suppressing his inner turmoil.

He took a deep breath, his voice carrying a strange undertone: "No...it's not that I'm unwilling. If I don't have the aptitude for cultivation, then we'll spend our lives together."

"Very well!" Zhao Ningyi smiled immediately, her eyes curving into crescents. "The guide from Ningxuan Sect will arrive in a month, stopping at Haicheng in Jing Kingdom.

The nobles and royalty of the seven kingdoms will all go to Haicheng to wait. I'll set off with my father in the next few days, and give you the token in Haicheng a month later."

"Mm." Qingchen nodded, momentarily speechless.

......

Half a month later, in the ancient city of Hanchuan, within the borders of Shu Kingdom.

The sky was just beginning to lighten; dew still clung to the bluestone slabs at the city gate, and the air carried a chill.

"Brother, do you really have to leave? Are you determined to embark on that path of cultivation?" Qingjie was sixteen years old.

His eyes were already red, his gaze filled with reluctance as he stared at his elder brother, Qingchen.

Qingchen didn't answer directly, but simply said, "Second brother, remember to be cautious this time you enter Shu. You've already made some progress in the *Jade Forging Technique*, and your self-defense capabilities are beginning to take shape.

I've also written down my insights on the *Shadow Clone Technique* and the *Disguise and Bone Shrinking Technique* in a small booklet. Remember, cultivation must not be rushed; read more Daoist texts.

Several months ago, I quietly settled some of my old subordinates and trusted confidants from the Twin Eagles Society who were willing to come here with me. Stay and maintain contact with them frequently."

"Is it really necessary to leave? Can't we discuss it further?" Second Mother said, her voice choked with emotion.

Having weathered many storms together, Qingchen was no different from her own flesh and blood in her heart.

Qingchen laughed heartily, his spirit soaring: "Hey, I've never been afraid of anything in my life. Now that I have the chance to challenge fate, how can I easily give it up?

Besides, the scriptures say there's reincarnation. Perhaps I did exist in a past life. I often glimpse that blurry figure in my dreams. In my past life, I always seemed to be bullied, forced to drink and fawn over others, my life was unbearably miserable."

"Since I am fortunate enough to have such an opportunity in this life, I, Qingchen, wish to explore the unknown world step by step, to see if I can truly reach that supreme realm, climb to the pinnacle of the nine heavens, and triumph over fate!"

"Haha, once I have achieved mastery in my cultivation, I will surely return. Why be so sorrowful? Even if I cultivate immortality, no one can bully me; I am the one who bullies others, haha!"

The children of my second mother, my third brother Qing'an and my youngest sister Qingyun, are still too young and simply watch silently.

Having said this, Qingchen smiled slightly, channeled his inner strength to spur the horse's belly, and then pulled on the reins.

The horse seemed to sense its master's determination, neighed,

turned around and galloped forward, like an arrow released from a bow, piercing the sky.

Qingchen never looked back.

The path of immortality is vast, the path of humanity is insignificant.

The way of heaven is boundless, the path of the world is uncertain.