Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 10 Sword Breaks the Demonic Path

Yan Chixia's gaze fell on the depths of the mass grave, where there stood a solitary tomb with a simple wooden stele in front of it, inscribed with the four characters "Tomb of Lady Liu".

A thin layer of black mist lingered around the grave, appearing and disappearing in the moonlight.

"Come out," Yan Chixia said calmly.

"Your master is dead, how long are you going to hide?"

There was silence for a moment.

The soil in front of the grave began to loosen, and a white figure slowly rose from the ground.

It's Liu Niang.

She was no longer the ferocious ghost she had been the night before.

Her figure was ethereal, her face was pale, and the will-o'-the-wisps in her eyes had dimmed, leaving only a sense of bewilderment and exhaustion.

She looked at the pool of black pus on the ground, then at Yan Chixia, her lips trembling slightly.

"He...is dead?"

Yan Chixia nodded:

"He's dead."

Liu Niang lowered her head and remained silent for a long time before suddenly letting out a mournful laugh.

"Dead...finally dead..."

Her laughter contained relief, sorrow, and, more than anything, an indescribable emptiness.

Zhou Ning stepped forward and looked at her:

"Liu Niang, that evil Taoist priest controlled you and made you harm people. Now that he has been executed, you should let go of it."

"Put it down?" Liu Niang raised her head, her eyes filled with tears:

"I've hurt so many people, do you think I can let it go?"

She stretched out her pale hands, looking at her blood-stained fingertips, her voice trembling:

"Every person who died at my hands, their face, their fear, their pleas... I remember them all. Clearly, I can't forget a single one."

Zhou Ning fell silent.

He didn't know how to answer.

Yan Chixia spoke up:

"You were originally an innocent person, but you became a ghost because of your resentment, and you were controlled by the evil Taoist priest, so you had no choice in your own life. Although you committed murder, the sin is not yours."

He paused, then continued:

"I will send you into the cycle of reincarnation, so that you may be reborn into a good family in your next life. Forget all of this."

Liu Niang stared at him blankly, then suddenly knelt down and kowtowed three times.

"Thank you, Immortal Master."

Yan Chixia nodded and raised his hand to form a hand seal.

A golden light shone from his palm, slowly spreading and enveloping Liu Niang.

The light was warm and peaceful, carrying a power to purify everything.

Liu Niang's figure gradually became transparent in the light, and the fierceness and resentment on her face also dissipated, revealing a delicate and peaceful face.

"Zhang Lang..." she murmured, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes:

"I am coming……"

Before she finished speaking, her figure completely transformed into specks of golden light and vanished into the night sky.

The mass grave has returned to silence.

Zhou Ning looked in the direction where Liu Niang had disappeared, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Master, can she... really enter the cycle of reincarnation?"

Yan Chixia nodded:

"Her resentment has dissipated, and her sins have been atoned for. In the next life, she will have a good ending."

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"And what about her husband? Carpenter Zhang...is he really dead?"

Yan Chixia glanced at him:

"She's dead. Her soul has already been reincarnated; she couldn't wait any longer."

Zhou Ning felt a pang of sadness.

After waiting for three years, this is the ending we got.

The woman who wept under the moonlight never saw her husband return.

"Let's go." Yan Chixia turned around.

"There's one more thing to take care of."

He walked to the place where the demon had disappeared, squatted down, and picked up a token from the pool of black pus.

The token is dark black, with a hideous ghost head engraved on it, and a line of small characters below the ghost head.

Yan Chixia glanced at it and frowned slightly.

"Black Mountain..." he murmured.

Zhou Ning leaned forward:

"Master, what is this?"

Yan Chixia put the token into his sleeve and said calmly:

"That sorcerer's origins are more complicated than I imagined. This matter involves many things, and it's not something you should concern yourself with."

He glanced at Zhou Ning:

"That's enough for tonight. Return to the mountain and continue your cultivation."

Although Zhou Ning was curious, he didn't dare to ask any more questions since his master was unwilling to say more.

He helped the unconscious Manager Zhao to his feet and followed Yan Chixia away from the mass grave.

-

When we got back to town, it was already dawn.

When Manager Zhao woke up in the inn, he learned that Manager Wang had died, and tears streamed down his face.

Zhou Ning offered a few words of comfort and then informed the townspeople that the evil sorcerer had been exorcised and the painted-skin ghost had been exorcised.

The townspeople were moved to tears and wanted to host a banquet in their honor.

Zhou Ning politely declined, taking only some dry food and water, and then returned to the mountain with Yan Chixia.

Upon returning to Lanruo Temple, Yan Chixia summoned him to the main hall.

"What are your thoughts on what happened tonight?" Yan Chixia asked.

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said:

"I originally thought that demons and monsters were all heartless creatures, and that killing them would suffice. But the story of Liu Niang has made me realize that some ghosts and monsters are also pitiful beings."

Yan Chixia nodded:

"The fact that you could think of this shows you have a good character. But you must remember..."

His gaze suddenly sharpened:

"Pitiful as she may be, harming others is still harming others. Although Liu Niang may have her reasons, her hands are stained with the blood of innocent people, so she cannot be let off lightly. I have already shown her mercy by sending her into reincarnation."

Zhou Ning bowed his head:

"Disciple understands."

Yan Chixia then said:

"Behind that evil Taoist priest lies a powerful force. He dies here today, and someone will surely come seeking revenge in the future. You must seize the opportunity to cultivate and not slack off."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine:

"Master, is that force... very powerful?"

Yan Chixia remained silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"Those are under the command of the Black Mountain Demon."

Black Mountain Demon.

Zhou Ning had never heard of this name before, but he could feel a heavy pressure from his master's tone.

"What is the Black Mountain Demon?" he asked.

Yan Chixia did not answer directly, but walked to the window, put his hands behind his back, and looked into the distance.

"That is a great demon dwelling in the north, who has cultivated for a thousand years and possesses boundless magical power. He commands countless demon followers and his influence extends throughout the world."

He paused, then continued:

"Over the years, the Black Mountain Demon has been secretly expanding his power, and many demons and monsters have submitted to him. That evil Taoist priest today is one of them."

Zhou Ning's heart sank.

"Will he... seek revenge?"

Yan Chixia said calmly:

"Not for now. That evil Taoist was just a minor character; his death is nothing to worry about. But as you travel the world in the future, you will inevitably have to deal with the Black Mountain forces. At that time, things won't be as easy as they are tonight."

He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning:

"Therefore, you must improve your strength as soon as possible. At the very least, you must learn to protect yourself."

Zhou Ning solemnly said:

"This disciple will certainly strive to do my best."

Yan Chixia nodded, took out a thin booklet from his sleeve, and handed it to him.

"This is 'The True Explanation of Talismans,' which records the methods for drawing various basic talismans. Take it and study it; I will check it in three days."

Zhou Ning took the booklet, overjoyed.

Talismans?

He can finally learn talismans.

"Thank you, Master."

Yan Chixia waved his hand:

"Go and rest. Tomorrow at dawn, practice your sword as usual."

Zhou Ning bowed respectfully and withdrew from the main hall.

He returned to his residence, carefully placed the book "True Explanation of Talismans" on the table, and opened to the first page.

It has a picture of a "talisman for warding off evil" drawn on it, and is covered with annotations.

Zhou Ning was so engrossed in watching that he didn't realize it, and the sky had already brightened.

He rubbed his sore eyes and got up to stretch his muscles.

A new day has begun.

His path of cultivation has only just begun.

-

a few days later.

The situation in Qingshan Town gradually calmed down, and the townspeople returned to their normal lives.

Manager Wang's Herbal Hall closed down, while Manager Zhao's Inn continued to operate, though business was much quieter than before.

When Zhou Ning occasionally went down the mountain to buy things, he would always stop by Manager Zhao's inn when he passed through Qingshan Town.

Every time Manager Zhao saw him, he was moved to tears and insisted on waiving his room fee.

Zhou Ning always smiled and refused, asking only for a cup of tea and a few words of casual conversation with Manager Zhao.

On this day, Zhou Ning went down the mountain to buy things as usual. When he passed by Baicaotang, he found a "Shop for Sale" notice posted at the door.

He stood there for a while, feeling a slight sense of emotion.

Manager Wang was a good man, but he died so suddenly.

"Sir, you've arrived?"

Manager Zhao's voice came from behind.

Zhou Ning turned around and saw him holding a pot of hot tea, smiling at him.

"Manager Zhao, how's business?" Zhou Ning asked.

Manager Zhao sighed:

"It's alright, we can manage."

He placed the teapot on the table and poured Zhou Ning a cup of tea:

"Sir, I've been wanting to thank you for what happened that day. If it weren't for you, I would have lost my life."

Zhou Ning took the teacup and smiled:

"It was nothing, no need to thank me."

Manager Zhao rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice:

"Sir, I've heard that your master is a sword immortal?"

Zhou Ning smiled, neither denying nor admitting it.

Seeing this, Manager Zhao didn't ask any more questions, but simply sighed:

There are still more good people than bad in this world.

Zhou Ning took a sip of tea, then stood up to take his leave.

He walked out of the inn and looked up at the sky.

The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was cloudless.

But he knew that beneath this glamorous surface, undercurrents were surging.

Black Mountain Demon...

He remembered that name.

Zhou Ning gripped the package tightly and strode towards Qingyun Mountain.

Behind us, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of Qingshan Town, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene.

But no one knows how long this peace will last.