127: On the journey again

After finishing the tea in her cup, Li Miaozhen bid farewell to the two of them.

At this moment, Ning Sui could no longer suppress the guess in her heart.

"Master, were all the opportunities I encountered along the way arranged by you?"

Xu Qi'an said indifferently, "If you think so, then it is. If you don't think so, then it isn't."

"Master!"

However, Xu Qi'an did not give a definitive answer.

In his opinion, some things are better left unsaid.

He immediately changed the subject: "What are your plans now that you've returned?"

Ning Sui said firmly, "Naturally, it is to fulfill the promise from back then, to always stay by Master's side."

"Wherever Master goes, I will go."

"Then I will continue to Cultivate. I hope that one day I can reach the same height as Master."

Xu Qi'an shook his head: "I don't value promises like that."

"I have many enemies, and even a slight carelessness can lead to being hunted down by many Cultivators simultaneously."

"Even so, do you still want to?"

Ning Sui was slightly taken aback; she hadn't expected Xu Qi'an to say that.

But she immediately said firmly, "Ning Sui no longer has any family. If Master hadn't saved me back then, I would have long since turned into a pile of dry bones."

"My avenging my enemy this time was also due to Master's hidden assistance."

"How could Ning Sui abandon Master and leave? Moreover, Ning Sui does not fear death, only the inability to keep a promise!"

Xu Qi'an looked deeply at Ning Sui, and then said, "If you want to stay, then stay."

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy appeared on Ning Sui's face.

"Then, Master, do you want to eat fried chicken legs today?"

Xu Qi'an was momentarily stunned, then waved his hand and said, "Suit yourself."

......

In the blink of an eye, another month had passed.

With Ning Sui's return, the courtyard gradually became lively again.

Xu Qi'an still lay on the chair, occasionally opening his eyes to look around, and occasionally closing them to think.

"Alas! How can I achieve great success with this Time Domain?"

Xu Qi'an was a bit puzzled.

Although he had some insights, these insights were far from reaching the level of qualitative change.

"Could it be that I need to experience the entire life of a Mortal?"

Xu Qi'an was lost in thought.

He decided not to passively wait any longer.

Now, he inexplicably felt that his previous approach was wrong.

He hadn't fully understood the meaning within 'Red Dust Breaking Through'.

Red Dust, Red Dust, who possesses Red Dust?

Only Mortals, ordinary people!

What he truly needed was to genuinely stand from a Mortal's perspective to comprehend this Red Dust.

He immediately stood up and said to Ning Sui, "Ning Sui, let's go."

Ning Sui was a bit confused: "Master, why are we leaving so suddenly?"

"We've been here for a long time."

"Did something happen?"

Xu Qi'an shook his head: "We are Cultivators; life has no fixed dwelling place."

"It's time for us to leave now."

"Ning Sui, aren't you curious why I came to this Mortal World?"

Only now did Ning Sui realize: "Master, could it be that you've encountered a Bottleneck in your cultivation?"

Xu Qi'an nodded: "I am comprehending something; this thing is called Time."

"Time?" Ning Sui still didn't quite understand what realm Xu Qi'an needed to break through.

But since Xu Qi'an decided to leave, she would accompany him wherever he went.

"Then, Master, let's go!"

Xu Qi'an nodded, then said, "For the next period, I will first help you break through to the Core Formation Stage."

......

In the White Space, ten years passed.

Ning Sui successfully entered the Core Formation Stage.

Ning Sui gazed at the Golden Core within her body, her face still filled with disbelief.

I've actually become a Core Formation Cultivator!

Xu Qi'an then led Ning Sui out of the White Space.

Then, he said to Ning Sui, "For a period of time from now on, we will only be Mortals."

"You must learn to use and comprehend time, comprehend the years, and let your appearance change with age."

"Ning Sui, can you do that?"

Ning Sui didn't quite understand why Xu Qi'an was doing this, but she immediately nodded.

"Master, don't worry, I can definitely do it!"

Xu Qi'an nodded slightly, then took Ning Sui and left the residence where they had lived for several years.

"Master, are we just leaving like this?"

In the carriage, Ning Sui asked curiously.

"Life is like a reverse journey; I, too, am a traveler."

"Take and let go; all things and all people are like fleeting clouds to me."

"You and I are both Mortals, merely possessing cultivation."

"Ning Sui, our journey has begun."

Xu Qi'an opened his eyes and said indifferently.

Ning Sui was thoughtful, then came to the window and lifted the curtain.

She watched the constantly receding streetscape outside the window, feeling a sense of emotion in her heart.

"Life is like a reverse journey; I, too, am a traveler."

......

Qinghe Imperial City, Long Princess's Mansion.

Long Princess Li Miaozhen was concentrating on handling official documents when a report suddenly came in.

"Report, Long Princess, that Senior and Ning Guniang have left Qinghe City. Their current direction seems to be towards Qingshan Country."

The brush in Li Miaozhen's hand, which was handling official documents, paused slightly, then she chuckled.

"They were bound to leave, I just didn't expect them to leave so quickly."

"Senior and Ning Guniang, I wish you a smooth journey!"

Li Miaozhen stood up, looked outside the hall, showing a smile, and then her expression became resolute.

"I hope we can meet again someday!"

......

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Qi'an and Ning Sui arrived at Qingshan Country, but they did not stay there and continued eastward.

Then they passed through several Third-Grade Cultivation Countries and finally arrived at a Fourth-Grade Cultivation Country called Dunwu Country.

The name Dunwu Country is said to have originated from a legend where a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator in this country achieved enlightenment overnight and reached the Divine Transformation Stage.

Thus, the name was adopted later.

Since that Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator achieved enlightenment, many Cultivators have come to this country to see if they could also obtain the Opportunity for enlightenment like that Cultivator.

But just as enlightenment is an Opportunity, it depends on the individual.

Xu Qi'an, however, had a strong feeling that he would gain a lot here.

"Ning Sui, let's stop here for a while!"

Xu Qi'an smiled.

So Xu Qi'an and Ning Sui entered Dunwu City in Dunwu Country.

Xu Qi'an did not buy a residence and stay indoors as he usually did when he arrived somewhere.

He first went to a street that was quite bustling with people.

Then he found a grocery store with a 'Shop for Rent' sign, rented it, and made it his own shop.

Xu Qi'an then hired some carpenters to decorate the shop.

Meanwhile, he and Ning Sui together gave the small shop a name.

It was called: An Sui Small Pavilion.

Xu Qi'an wore a simple white robe, and Ning Sui also wore a white robe.

Their heights were similar.

In the eyes of others, they looked like a husband and wife running a shop together.

This made Ning Sui's face turn completely red, and she explained for a long time that she was just a disciple.

However, the neighbors did not believe her.

They even declared that even if they weren't a couple now, they naturally would be after spending a long time together.

In response, Xu Qi'an coughed twice and paid no mind to the rumors of others.