Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 199 Good and Evil, Right and Wrong

On the way back to Jinling, Jingchen remained silent.

She walked behind Zhou Ning, holding the colorful phoenix feather in her hands, her gaze sometimes clear and sometimes dreamy.

The light from the phoenix feathers shone on her face, casting her features in shifting light and shadow, much like her current state of mind.

Half Buddha, half demon.

Zhou Ning walked ahead without looking back, but his divine sense kept a close watch on Jing Chen, vigilantly observing her every move.

Ashu followed beside her, glancing at Jingchen and then at Zhou Ning from time to time, his eyes filled with worry.

Three days later, they returned to Jinling.

Jingchen did not return to Zuixianlou, but followed Zhou Ning to the inn where he was staying.

She booked a room, locked herself inside, and didn't come out for a whole day.

Zhou Ning didn't disturb her, but simply had A-Shu guard the door while he sat cross-legged in the room meditating and regulating his breathing.

The next evening, Jingchen finally emerged.

She changed into a clean monk's robe and tied her hair up with a wooden hairpin, looking much more energetic than before.

But a lingering shadow still lingered in her eyes.

She walked to Zhou Ning's door and knocked gently.

"Zhou Ning, I want to talk to you."

Zhou Ning opened the door and invited her in.

Ashu followed in and stood to one side.

Jingchen sat down at the table, took out a phoenix feather from his sleeve, and placed it on the table.

The phoenix feathers shimmered with seven colors under the candlelight, illuminating the entire room like a fairyland.

"Thank you for helping me find it," Jingchen said. "Without you, I probably wouldn't have been able to find it."

Zhou Ning sat down opposite her and said, "No need to thank me. I just did what I was supposed to do."

Jingchen looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Would you still be willing to accompany me to Zuixianlou for a drink?"

Zhou Ning shook his head: "I don't drink."

Jingchen laughed, but there was a hint of bitterness in his laughter.

"You're still so stubborn. It's just a glass of wine, not poison."

Zhou Ning said, "It's not about the alcohol, it's about principle. I've said it before, I won't drink with you until you've completely overcome your inner demons."

Jingchen's smile froze.

She lowered her head, remained silent for a long time, and finally sighed.

"Alright. Then we won't drink. But I'd like to invite you to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to sit down and see those people who have been misled by my 'Paradise Cult.' I want you to see for yourself what their 'Paradise' is like."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."

The three left the inn and arrived at Zuixianlou.

Zuixianlou is exceptionally lively tonight.

The building was full of people, men and women, young and old, some dressed in fine clothes, others in tattered clothes.

They sat around tables laden with food and wine.

The air was filled with the strong aroma of wine and meat, mixed with people's laughter and singing.

But unlike ordinary restaurants, everyone here has an unusual fervor in their eyes.

They drank, ate meat, hugged, and kissed without any restraint, as if they had forgotten all the etiquette and constraints of the world.

Some people stood on the table and sang loudly, some lay on the ground and cried bitterly, some hugged strangers and laughed wildly, and some sat alone in the corner and muttered to themselves.

"Is this what bliss is?" Zhou Ning frowned.

Jingchen said, "In their view, yes."

"They cast aside all constraints and indulged their desires. They felt that this was true freedom."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "This isn't freedom, this is decadence."

True freedom is gained through restraint, not lost through indulgence.

Jingchen looked at him, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

"You know what? You look a lot like my master."

"She always said, 'Restraint is the right path; indulgence will only lead to destruction.' But what did she gain from her lifelong restraint? When she passed away peacefully, not a single person came to see her off. None of the people she had helped came to pay their respects."

Zhou Ning said, "She doesn't need anyone's worship. Her merits are in the hands of Heaven."

Jingchen laughed, but there was a hint of sadness in his laughter.

"The Way of Heaven? What is the Way of Heaven? It is invisible, intangible, never speaks, and never manifests itself. By what right does it judge people's good and evil?"

Zhou Ning said, "The Way of Heaven is not external, but internal. Everyone has a scale in their heart. They know best whether it is good or evil, right or wrong."

Jingchen remained silent for a long time before finally sighing.

"You're right. But I can't do it."

She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night sky outside.

"Zhou Ning, do you know? I actually envy you. Your Dao heart is so firm, it never wavers."

"And I always waver between good and evil. I want to be a good person, but when I see those hypocritical 'good people,' I feel disgusted."

"I want to be a bad guy, but when I see those innocent victims, I can't bring myself to do it."

"I don't know what I should do, or what I can do."

Zhou Ning walked to her side and said, "Then let's not do anything for now. Calm down and listen to your inner voice."

Jingchen turned her head and looked at him, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.

"Can you help me?"

Zhou Ning said, "I can help you find the Phoenix Feather, but I can't make the decision for you. You have to walk your own path."

Jingchen nodded, turned around and left Zuixianlou.

A-Shu walked up to Zhou Ning and whispered, "Young Master Zhou, do you think she can turn over a new leaf?"

Zhou Ning said, "I don't know. But at least she's willing to try. That's better than those who are stubbornly persistent."

The two left Zuixianlou and returned to the inn.

The next morning, Jingchen came to Zhou Ning's room again.

This time, her eyes held less gloom and more determination.

"Zhou Ning, I've made up my mind. I'm going into seclusion to refine the Phoenix Feather. I won't harm anyone until I've finished refining it. Can you help me find a safe place?"

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "Lanruo Temple. My master is there; he can protect you."

Jingchen hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."

The three left Jinling and headed to Lanruo Temple.

Jingchen followed behind Zhou Ning with light steps. She carefully tucked the phoenix feather into her sleeve, and occasionally the seven-colored light shone through the sleeve, like the twinkling stars in the night sky.

Ashu walked at the very back, glancing back every now and then, as if wary of being followed.

All three remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

After traveling for five days, they finally returned to Qingyun Mountain.

Lanruo Temple still stands atop the mountain, its green bricks and gray tiles nestled among the evergreen pines and cypresses.

Zhou Ning stood at the mountain gate, gazing at the familiar temple, feeling at peace.

Jingchen also raised his head, looking at the mottled plaque above the temple gate, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

"Lanruo Temple...I've heard of that name before," Jingchen murmured.

"Among those masters who sealed me back then, one came from Lanruo Temple."

Zhou Ning glanced at her but didn't reply.

He pushed open the temple gate and went inside.