Yang Ning was also aware of this point.
Currently, her injuries had not healed, and the battles she excelled in were of no use; Wu Deity Mountain did not lack for fighters like her.
To be honest, Shen Shuibei, as a research talent, was much more valuable than her.
But now, to have Shen Shuibei continue her research and provide value to pay off debts would be burning away her life.
She was no longer an immortal.
However, at this moment, Yang Ning suddenly remembered something. She immediately said, "By the way, didn't you escort a young master from Wu Deity Mountain back? If handled well, perhaps you could obtain a temporary remedy for your injuries from him!"
Shen Shuibei, without even waiting to hear her out, decisively shook her head in refusal: "No!"
This was the first time since their conversation began that Shen Shuibei had spoken in such a loud voice.
Even when asking questions earlier, her tone had been calm.
"Why?" Yang Ning asked, puzzled.
When it came to explaining why, Shen Shuibei faltered.
Why indeed?
Now was a critical moment for Luo Fu Mountain's survival, and seeking help through personal connections was only natural. No one could criticize that.
But...her first reaction was still a firm 'no'.
No, she couldn't, she didn't want to seek out Li Qi, even though she knew he would definitely help her.
The more so, the less she wanted to.
"Li Qi is merely at the eighth rank; there's no use in finding him," Shen Shuibei said, shaking her head stiffly.
"I'm not a child, I can make my own decisions. There's no need to discuss this further. Go heal yourself, then help me notify Granny Mei. I'll go organize our methods and sect lineages. We each do our part until Nangong wakes up."
Without waiting for Yang Ning to respond, she stood up and prepared to leave.
Yang Ning coldly said, "Until Lady wakes up? Wake up to what? To see your true spirit wane and be on the brink of death? Can you live until Nangong wakes up?!"
Shen Shuibei didn't speak but simply left.
She had nothing to say.
These burdens were many now.
But she neither wanted Nangong to bear them nor Li Qi.
Yet someone had to shoulder these burdens. If she didn't want others to, then she would have to take them upon herself.
Even stripping away all cultivation, what else was there to fear?
Yang Ning watched her retreating figure, feeling both angry and helpless.
Shen Shuibei wasn't a child; she had her reasons.
What was Yang Ning? Did she have the right to make decisions for her?
No one could make decisions for another.
The path of cultivation must be walked alone; this was known by all cultivators from the beginning.
One must walk the path chosen alone.
Having companions is already fortunate.
---
Meanwhile.
Time passed quickly.
It took Li Qi two full days to get used to his new power.
Next, he needed to learn new spells and abilities to fill himself up.
Once those were done, he could try to touch the threshold of the seventh rank.
But Li Qi planned to slowly learn these things on his way to Tang Kingdom.
Old Horse was still asleep, but the teacher said it wasn't a problem; it was his opportunity, let him sleep.
Absorbing the qi of a seventh-rank viper dragon wasn't easy; it might take over a month.
So Li Qi spent two days solidifying his skyrocketing cultivation level, while also contacting Tang Kingdom's Honglu Temple to confirm study abroad arrangements.
Then, he couldn't wait to do something important.
What was important?
Of course, it was to find Shen Shuibei.
Li Qi stood outside his master's cave residence.
He didn't know where the teacher got it, but he had obtained a very luxurious set of clothes for him.
Li Qi usually wore simple attire, mostly monochrome outfits, but today he dressed well.
White gauze inside, dark blue silk with gold edges, a hat adorned with black fox fur.
The fabric was made from silkworms eating tung oil leaves, embroidered with hidden dragons, and behind, a jade bi with Han dynasty tiles, shining like a jade mountain reflecting light.
Wearing Xuanqiong phoenix-patterned boots paired with golden hooks.
A jade pendant hung below, tied with green silk, embedded in a blue-gold band, swaying beside him.
At first glance, handsome and understanding, courteous demeanor, except for his slightly dark skin, he looked completely like a nobleman.
If someone knowledgeable saw this, they could tell the value of these items.
The clothes were top-grade eighth-rank magic treasures, the jade pendant a seventh-rank protective treasure, and the Xuanqiong phoenix-patterned boots eighth-rank travel magic treasures.
All top-notch treasures, each far exceeding Li Qi's unrefined eighth-rank Metal Qi, and perfectly suited for him.
As for the golden hook at his waist, it contained unrefined eighth-rank Metal Qi, just stored in the sword scabbard.
The only downside was its darkness, which somewhat detracted from its appearance.
There was nothing he could do; after three years as a coolie, his skin had peeled off dozens of layers under the sun and wind, and this complexion wouldn't change anytime soon.
To recover, it would take at least another three years.
Li Qi didn't plan to forcibly change his skin color with spells; there was no need, better to let it be.
Li Qi was ready.
He took a deep breath.
Bowing respectfully: "Master, I'm ready."
From within the cave residence came Zhu Fengdan's voice: "Ready? Do you know what you're preparing for?"
Zhu Fengdan appeared before Li Qi, speaking calmly rather than shouting as usual.
"Yes." Li Qi nodded.
Of course, he knew what he was preparing for.
"Do you know, higher-ups said we shouldn't interfere with Luo Fu Mountain, lest we seem unreasonable? Going up there would appear like forcing marriage, and people might say you're tyrannical and greedy, trying to forcefully marry beauty." Zhu Fengdan asked Li Qi.
Li Qi nodded again: "I know, but...this is my 'youthful will'."
Hearing Li Qi's response, Zhu Fengdan laughed heartily!
Yes!
Youthful will!
That's what he wanted to hear.
Only such a Li Qi could inherit his path.
Previously, the steady, kind, and somewhat clever obedient child wasn't the Li Qi he initially saw.
When did Zhu Fengdan decide to take Li Qi as a disciple?
He originally went to Baiyue because of a grand sacrifice he performed, using it as a basis for divination, resulting in auspicious signs for Outer Path.
Thus, he went to Baiyue, found Outer Path objects and people.
Originally, he just wanted to see how auspicious it was, so he observed along the way.
But he saw a coolie fighting back fiercely, killing several people, then giving the technique to the gang members, fleeing for his life.
He became interested then.
Continuing to observe, he directly found remnants of Luo Fu Mountain, possibly leading to the hidden Luo Fu Niangniang.
Was this the fulfillment of the auspicious sign?
Looking at the coolie Li Qi,
Round on the outside, square on the inside, smooth externally but principled internally.
Most importantly, maintaining these qualities, he still had a sense of chivalry, daring to kill for the gang's survival, shouldering blood debts for fellow members, leaving alone.
This was what Zhu Fengdan liked.
But along the way, Li Qi's youthful will hadn't shown much, becoming more reserved instead, resembling a Sect member rather than Zhu Fengdan's disciple.
However, since promising to bring Li Qi to find Shen Shuibei, his youthful will seemed awakened.
Good thing.
Zhu Fengdan was delighted.
So he decided to fully support his disciple's bold move.
For a young man, always being so restrained isn't good.
Shouldn't he be more reckless?
Zhu Fengdan felt young even now!
Though he had lived an era, his mentality remained at twenty!
After laughing, Zhu Fengdan waved his sleeve: "Alright, today we'll make a big scene, scare Luo Fu, give them a show of force, make them hand over the person willingly!"
"Today, no one can stop us!"
Li Qi bowed to his master.
"Thank you, Master! Qi remembers deeply."
Of course, he knew Zhu Fengdan's actions were inappropriate, even quite improper.
Li Qi guessed that Wu Deity Mountain certainly wouldn't allow such behavior.
Visiting Luo Fu Mountain now would undoubtedly face significant pressure.
As the teacher said,
There would be various criticisms, making everyone think you're bullying others with power.
If word spread that a senior from Wu Deity Mountain sought beauty by bullying Luo Fu Mountain's orphans and widows, what would happen?
Unknown, but surely not good.
Li Qi could deny it, but if rumors fit facts, they wouldn't be called rumors.
Within Wu Deity Mountain, it was manageable; people knew each other's characters. Though Zhu Fengdan was unreliable, he was reasonable.
But if spread outside?
Moreover, Luo Fu Mountain was now a spiky hedgehog, recently destroyed, holding onto precious treasures, naturally wary.
Out of respect for reputation and Luo Fu Mountain, rules were set within Wu Deity Mountain.
Unless necessary, avoid contacting them, avoiding trouble.
Li Qi and Zhu Fengdan's actions were indeed quite improper.
Perhaps Li Qi could visit alone, claiming to visit friends, which might be better.
But Li Qi's temper flared too.
Over two years of daily interaction, nearly a tenth of his short life.
What else was there to say?
Still friends?
Young master comes to propose marriage!
Improper, so what?
The more improper, the more it must be done!
Li Qi showed maturity and caution in other matters, always thinking thrice before acting.
But in this matter, his thoughts matched Zhu Fengdan's.
Damn it!
He understood Shen Shuibei's concerns.
And this concern, he couldn't solve, unable to discard his identity from Wu Deity Mountain.
Even if kicked out, in others' eyes, he'd still be a 'discarded disciple of Wu Deity Mountain'.
The name Wu Deity Mountain couldn't be removed from his resume.
So what to do?
Li Qi thought long and hard, the answer being—
Forget it!
Thinking about it endlessly, what's the use?
Follow the teacher, charge ahead, deal with it when facing it!
Seemingly satisfied with Li Qi's spirit, Zhu Fengdan laughed loudly: "Hahaha! That's right, that's what a young man should be like! Let's go, set off!"
With that, a giant Kunpeng emerged from Zhu Fengdan's hand, appearing beneath Li Qi and Zhu Fengdan.
Quickly expanding, wings spanning nine thousand miles!
Carrying a massive palace, covering a thousand miles.
Riding ten-thousand-mile winds, soaring high into the sky!
Ascending swiftly, towering like lightning, wings stretching across the sky.
Capturing primordial energy's grandeur.
Revealing the universe's narrowness.
Roaming the four wildernesses!
Storms clashed, spirits hid!
Kunpeng soared, looking down on floating dust, broadening vision and spirit.
"Pretty impressive, huh? I paid extremely high wages to hire this, for its impressiveness. Preaching once every ten thousand years, exchanging for Kunpeng as my mount, stipulating attendance under a thousand years, overtime paid beyond that, quite cost-effective, right? When you reach fourth rank, I'll introduce one, but wages are on you." Zhu Fengdan hooked Li Qi's shoulder, boasting.
This Kunpeng, a pure-blooded Kunpeng, fourth rank, body nine thousand miles, hired by Zhu Fengdan as a mount for ten thousand years.
Then Kunpeng spoke: "Young master, please hold on, I'm accelerating."
It was female.
Before Li Qi could speak, Kunpeng started accelerating!
One flap covered ninety thousand miles, crossing half of Wu Deity Mountain in an instant.
But Li Qi found himself standing still.
Spatial Dao Resonance gave him special feedback.
"Eh?" The Kunpeng exclaimed, flapping again!
But as she flew, space around her rapidly expanded, flying ninety thousand miles meant space extended equally.
So no matter how she flapped, she stayed in place!
"Boss Zhu!" Kunpeng panicked, calling her employer.
"Master?" Li Qi turned to Zhu Fengdan.
Zhu Fengdan clapped: "Don't worry, even if deities come today, they can't stop me, I say so."
With that, he leaped off Kunpeng's back, preparing to act.
At that moment, a solemn voice echoed from above.
"Zhu Fengdan, taking advantage of deities and order priests not being in Tianxia, you dare to be so audacious? Truly believe there won't be consequences?"
Zhu Fengdan floated mid-air, spat: "None of your business? My disciple marrying requires your approval?"
The voice replied: "Luo Fu Mountain is heavily damaged, deities promised protection, how can there be bullying guests?"
"Delaying a hundred years, what harm? Just a hundred years, waiting until he reaches seventh rank, refining Sun Essence, knowing our goodwill, calming down, going later isn't too late, can't wait this little time?"
"Hey, heard that, disciple, can you wait?" Zhu Fengdan turned to ask Li Qi.
Li Qi bowed to Zhu Fengdan: "Can't wait."
Then, he saluted towards the sky: "Esteemed elder, I'm merely twenty-eight, a hundred years is too long."
Usually, Li Qi might wait.
But he had a premonition, if waited, likely never seen again.
Upon hearing Li Qi's answer, Zhu Fengdan smiled faintly.
Immediately, he charged into the sky!