Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 37 Ancient Road Aid

The journey from Lanruo Temple to Guobei County is about 100 li (50 kilometers) of mountain road.

Zhou Ning led Xin Shisi Niang northward along the ancient road.

Although Xin Shisi Niang's injuries were no longer serious, her energy had not yet recovered, so she could not walk too fast.

Zhou Ning slowed his pace and walked slowly alongside her.

Along the way, Xin Shisi Niang recounted her life story in fits and starts.

She and her sister Liu Niang were originally descendants of a collateral branch of the Qingqiu Fox Clan.

A hundred years ago, their family suffered a great calamity when their parents and relatives were all killed by a Taoist priest surnamed Wang.

Her older sister, Liu Niang, led her to escape, and after many twists and turns, they ended up at Lanruo Temple in Guobei County, where they lived for a hundred years.

"My sister has always wanted revenge." Xin Shisi Niang's voice was soft, tinged with bitterness:

"But she couldn't find that Taoist priest. Over the years, she had been searching for clues, but to no avail."

Zhou Ning asked, "Then how did you end up in the hands of the Black Mountain people?"

Xin Shisi Niang sighed:

"I came out to find my sister on my own. Half a year ago, my sister suddenly left Lanruo Temple, saying that she had a clue about the Taoist priest Wang. I was worried about her, so I secretly followed her out."

"Who knew we'd run into the Black Mountain people on the way? They...they captured me, and they also captured several other fox clan sisters."

"Why did they arrest you?"

"Alchemy." A flicker of fear flashed in Xin Shisi Niang's eyes:

"The people of Black Mountain have been capturing our fox clan, using our inner cores and blood essence to refine elixirs. It is said that these elixirs can prolong life, and even... even grant immortality."

Zhou Ning frowned.

Using living creatures to refine elixirs is the most evil of all evil arts.

The Black Mountain forces are indeed capable of any evil.

"Does your sister know about this?" he asked.

Xin Shisi Niang shook her head: "I don't know. My sister has been searching for Wang Daoshi's whereabouts and probably doesn't know that the people from Black Mountain are trying to capture us."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "Once we get to Lanruo Temple, you'll be able to see your sister. Then, you sisters can be reunited, and we can discuss things further."

Xin Shisi Niang nodded, her eyes full of anticipation.

The two continued on their journey, and it gradually grew dark.

The ancient road is lined with dense pine forests.

The wind rustled through the treetops, making a soft whispering sound, like someone was whispering among themselves.

Zhou Ning suddenly stopped and gripped the Qingfeng sword tightly.

"What's wrong?" Xin Shisi Niang asked.

"Someone's there." Zhou Ning lowered his voice:

"More than one."

As soon as he finished speaking, three men in black emerged from the woods ahead.

Their clothing was exactly the same as the black-robed men they had encountered in the abandoned manor.

The leader was a thin, middle-aged man with a pale face, sunken eyes, and a sinister smile on his lips.

"Xin Shisi Niang, you run really fast." The middle-aged man licked his lips.

"But do you think you can escape our grasp just by finding a gigolo?"

Xin Shisi Niang's expression changed drastically, and she instinctively hid behind Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning held the Qingfeng sword horizontally in front of him and said coldly:

"Are you from Montenegro?"

The middle-aged man chuckled:

"Good to know. If you know what's good for you, hand over that fox spirit, and I might spare your life."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Impossible."

The middle-aged man's face darkened:

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences. Let's do it."

The three men in black attacked simultaneously.

The middle-aged man raised his hand, and a black beam of light shot towards Zhou Ning.

The other two men in black flanked Zhou Ning from the left and right, their black mist transforming into sharp blades as they slashed towards his vital points.

Zhou Ning was prepared and dodged the beam of light with a swift movement.

At the same time, he swung his Qingfeng sword, and a cyan sword aura slashed towards the black-clad man on the left.

The man in black hurriedly dodged, but the sword energy was too fast and still grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep wound.

"Kid, you've got some skills."

The middle-aged man sneered, formed a hand seal, and muttered incantations.

The ground began to tremble, and countless black vines surged from the ground, wrapping around Zhou Ning.

It's that same trick again.

Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to weave and dodge among the vines, while simultaneously drawing an "evil-repelling talisman" from his waist and throwing it at the middle-aged man.

"disease!"

The talisman transformed into a golden ray of light, heading straight for the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man snorted coldly and raised his hand, blocking the golden light with a wisp of black mist.

But the moment the golden light collided with the black mist, he took a step back, clearly shaken quite badly.

"This kid... there's something strange about him." The middle-aged man's expression changed slightly.

Zhou Ning seized the opportunity to press his advantage, condensing his inner energy at the tip of his sword and unleashing the "Demon-Slaying Slash".

A dazzling cyan sword aura shot out from the tip of the sword, slashing towards the middle-aged man like a crescent moon.

The middle-aged man was shocked and quickly used magic to dodge.

However, the sword energy was too fast and still grazed his left arm.

"what!"

The middle-aged man let out a scream as a deep wound was slashed into his left arm by the sword energy, and black blood gushed out.

He clutched his wound, glaring venomously at Zhou Ning:

"Who...who exactly are you?"

Zhou Ning did not answer, and slashed out with his sword again.

The middle-aged man dared not take the blow head-on. He suddenly crushed a black token, which turned into a wisp of black mist and disappeared into the air.

Seeing this, the other two men in black also fled.

Zhou Ning did not give chase. He sheathed his sword, turned around, and looked at Xin Shisi Niang.

Are you alright?

Xin Shisi Niang shook her head, her eyes filled with gratitude:

"Young Master Zhou, you've saved me again."

Zhou Ning smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all. However, it's still dozens of miles to Guobei County. It's getting dark, so we need to hurry."

Xin Shisi Niang nodded and followed Zhou Ning to continue their journey.

As night fell, the moon was obscured by thick clouds, and the world was plunged into darkness.

Zhou Ning lit a torch to illuminate the road ahead.

Xin Shisi Niang followed behind him, her pace much faster than before.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from ahead.

Zhou Ning stopped and gripped his Qingfeng sword tightly.

A fast horse burst out of the darkness, and the rider on it was a woman dressed in white.

"Sister!" Xin Shisi Niang exclaimed.

The woman in white dismounted; it was none other than Liu Niang.

"Fourteenth Sister!" Liu Niang rushed forward, hugged her younger sister tightly, and tears welled up in her eyes:

"You...you're finally back."

Xin Shisi Niang also cried:

"Sister, I...I miss you so much..."

The two sisters hugged each other and cried bitterly, and it took them a long time to separate.

Liu Niang looked at Zhou Ning, her eyes filled with gratitude:

"Young Master Zhou, thank you. Thank you for saving my sister."

Zhou Ning shook her head: "No need to thank me. Your reunion is the best outcome."

Liu Niang wiped away her tears and said:

"Young Master Zhou, we should not linger here. The people of Black Mountain have been relentlessly hunting down our fox clan. Let's return to Lanruo Temple first and then discuss this further."

Zhou Ning nodded and followed the two sisters toward Lanruo Temple in Guobei County.

It was already late at night when we arrived at Lanruo Temple.

Liu Niang led Zhou Ning and Xin Shisi Niang to the cave behind the temple.

The cave was furnished like a simple home, with dry grass and animal hides on the stone bed and several oil lamps on the table.

"Young Master Zhou, you should rest first. I'll go prepare some food," said Liu Niang.

Zhou Ning waved his hand: "No need to trouble yourself. I'll just sit for a while and then leave."

Liu Niang was taken aback: "Leave? It's so late, where are you going?"

Zhou Ning said, "I'm going back to Qingyun Mountain. My master is still waiting for me."

Liu Niang hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Young Master Zhou, I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"I'd like to ask you to help me investigate someone."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "Wang the Taoist?"

Liu Niang nodded: "It's him. I've been searching for him all these years. Recently, I heard some clues; he might be hiding in the Black Mountains of the North."

Montenegro again.

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "Miss Liu, to be honest, I'm on my way to the North. If you trust me, I'll help you find out where Taoist Wang is."

Overjoyed, Liu Niang bowed deeply to Zhou Ning, saying, "Thank you so much, Young Master Zhou!"

Zhou Ning helped her up: "No need for such formalities."

"The yin energy in your sister's body hasn't been completely cleared yet. I have a pill here that can help her expel the remaining poison."

Zhou Ning took out a "Heart-Clearing Pill" from his bag and handed it to Liu Niang:

"Have her take it and meditate and regulate her breathing every day. She should be fine after seven days."

Liu Niang accepted the pills and thanked them profusely.

Zhou Ning stood up and said, "It's almost dawn, I should go."

Liu Niang and Xin Shisi Niang escorted him to the temple.

"Young Master Zhou, take care on your journey." Xin Shisi Niang's eyes were full of reluctance.

Zhou Ning smiled and said, "You too. I'll come see you again when I return from the North."

He turned around and strode down the mountain.

Behind him, the two sisters stood at the entrance of Lanruo Temple, watching him leave until his figure disappeared into the morning mist.