Li Zhibai frowned.
Did she do something wrong?
Shi Qingjun didnât notice Li Zhibaiâs discomfort and was thinking about her student.
Tong Jun?
Although Zhu Pingniangâs "Ping" signifies peace at all times, itâs still somewhat lacking.
Momentarily stunned.
Shi Qingjun suddenly recalled Wen Li.
How could she almost forget this girl?
Indeed, what Wen Li seeks is Changâan, and she is quite young. Moreover, she unknowingly repaired the defects on her Divine Soul, hinting at limitless potential for the future.
Most importantly, they, the âold girls,â have already paved their own paths and donât need to worry.
Unlike Wen Li, who is still young.
She needs careful cultivation.
Shi Qingjun thought that finding an opportunity to personally mentor Wen Li might be a good deed.
"Sect Leader, do you have any instructions?" Li Zhibai asked quietly.
"Nothing much." Shi Qingjun smiled, picking up the small wine cup beside her, casually saying, "Just a bit too contemplative upon re-entering the world."
"Re-entering the world..." Li Zhibai understood.
Actually, she was not unlike the Sect Leader; she wasnât always high above. They werenât born to such high status, so why would they know nothing about the mortal world?
Reality is the mortal world changed too much; perhaps to them, a simple retreat results in a world upheaval... Therefore, asking them to re-enter the world again is filled with unfamiliarity.
If she maintained her previous mindset, it wouldnât matter; after all, how the mortal world changes, or who rules it, doesnât concern her. But since she chose to lower her stance and re-enter the world now, adaptation needs time.
The only thing that surprised Li Zhibai was realizing even such an impressive woman as the Sect Leader needs to adapt when re-entering the world.
"The world has really changed a lot." Li Zhibai said with a bit of emotion.
"Has it?" Shi Qingjun pondered and asked, "Who is the current Lord of Qingzhou?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhibaiâs lashes quivered slightly.
At this moment, Li Zhibai deeply felt the existence of a so-called âgeneration gap.â
Lord of Qingzhou?
How many years has it been since she last heard this term?
Digging deep into her memory, she recalled only hearing legends about the Lord in her childhood.
The current ancient texts probably canât even find this term anymore.
Li Zhibai remained silent for a long time before calmly saying, "Sect Leader, there is no longer a Lord of Qingzhou under heaven."
"Is that so?" Shi Qingjun nodded, seemingly surprised that Qingzhou has lost its Lord.
Li Zhibai could only feel helpless at Shi Qingjunâs reaction.
If her knowledge from entering the Immortal Sect was correct, the lineage that once ruled and enslaved Qingzhou... was uprooted by the Sect Leader.
However, Li Zhibai could understand.
Does she still remember how many times she drank tea?
She canât remember.
The Sect Leader is the same.
In the dark ages of the past, countless powerful figures of the old era were swallowed whole in the wave named âShi Qingjun,â not even leaving behind a ripple.
The Lord of Qingzhou was just one among them.
The false Lord of Cyan was powerless against the true Qing Jun.
How many remnants of the dark era did the Sect Leader annihilate and bury, such that she wouldnât remember every single individual.
"Sect Leader, the current world is not unified." Li Zhibai paused and simply explained the current state of the world to Shi Qingjun.
Todayâs Qingzhou is divided into many segments, larger and smaller forces occupy territories, feudal lords form alliances, and small countries align with large ones, constantly splitting and merging over countless years. Under such circumstances, the rules and etiquette they knew have long transformed beyond recognition.
People only know their own king; as for the Lord of Qingzhou... it has become a mere legend.
"I see." Shi Qingjun nodded, gaining some understanding.
So thatâs why Shi Qingjun feels the need to re-enter the world and have a look, since the world she once knew... is long different from todayâs.
Thus, could she really converse with Xu Changâan or Yun Qian?
After all, compared to her old self, Yun Qian is in her prime.
"Hmm... the Sect should have records from these years." Li Zhibai nodded, suggesting that if the Sect Leader is interested in the historical changes of the world, she can look them over.
"I see." Shi Qingjun said.
Li Zhibai remained silent.
Her current feelings are quite complicated.
Indeed.
Even beings like the Lord once brought shadow upon Qingzhou, but now they are merely legends. And yet, the one who dispelled such shadows stands right before her, holding a wine cup.
This sense of timeâs blurriness brought Li Zhibai a feeling of nostalgia and a bit of pondering.
Back then, she was just an ordinary girl; born into an era where the remnants of the old were swept away by Shi Qingjun... So, she enjoyed a world made clear.
Thus, in Li Zhibaiâs memories, she was able to live comfortably, even having time for tea parties with friends.
As someone who caught the tail end of Shi Qingjunâs era, listening to the tales of âQing Junâ and âImmortal Chaoyunâ all the time, how could Li Zhibai not admire this woman?
Probably never did Li Zhibai imagine sheâd one day be able to converse this calmly with the Sect Leader about household matters that even baffled herself.
Time... is indeed the most terrifying thing.
Many Seniors were swallowed by the waves, yet women like her... came out.
"..." Shi Qingjun doesnât know what Li Zhibai is thinking; she just looks at her wine cup.
Shi Qingjun doesnât care about the past.
She only looks forward, and thoughts on the Lord of Qingzhou were just something brought up upon recollection, provoking some surprise.
If itâs gone, then so be it.
She is currently more concerned with other matters.
Shi Qingjun suddenly asked, "Zhibai, do you understand wine?"
"?"
Li Zhibai was momentarily stunned upon hearing, then filled with helplessness.
Sect Leader.
Isnât the skip in your topic a bit too large?
From Changâan to appearance, to entering the world, then to wine... How can there be no discernible connection?
It seems the Sect Leader really says whatever comes to mind.
No, not quite.
Li Zhibai glanced at the wine cup in the Sect Leaderâs hand and her faint wine scent, realizing âwineâ has been present all along, and the Sect Leaderâs mention was not just a whim.
"Wine..." Li Zhibai said: "I donât know if I can be considered knowledgeable..."
Previously, sheâd occasionally have fruit wine; nowadays she drinks more tea.
"But, the current worldâs wine, I certainly donât understand." Li Zhibai defined herself.
"Did you drink often before?" Shi Qingjun asked.
"Sort of." Li Zhibai laughed: "I suppose I count as a wealthy young lady, saying this feels a bit embarrassing."
Even as she says sheâs embarrassed, her face didnât blush, nor should it have.
"I didnât drink much." Shi Qingjun said.
Li Zhibai nodded, understanding.
The Sect Leader, unlike someone leisurely like her, probably couldnât understand the notion of drinking wine in the past.
Not wanting to appear âsuperiorâ to the Sect Leader, Li Zhibai said, "Actually, I only drank fruit wine before, and my alcohol tolerance was poor."
Shi Qingjun asked: "How poor?"
Li Zhibai thought for a moment: "Very poor."
As a wealthy young lady, she was probably the one to collapse after a glass; so... really, her alcohol tolerance was quite bad.
Of course, that was in the past.
After cultivation, wine... no longer has the ability to intoxicate her, so she doesnât remember.
"Alcohol tolerance?" Shi Qingjun thought: "I donât know my own alcohol tolerance."
Getting drunk... what kind of feeling would it be?
Shi Qingjun was curious; this curiosity was like her love for flowers or wanting to start snacking.
Li Zhibai didnât respond.
She didnât know what to say either.
Itâs strange talking about alcohol tolerance in the presence of a Qiankun Realm expert.
"I donât understand wine well, is there any wine that can make me drunk?" Shi Qingjun asked curiously.
"..." Li Zhibai remained silent.