Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 197 Solo Operation

After leaving Mengjin, Zhou Ning and Ashu continued north along the Yellow River.

The Yellow River was turbid and swift, crashing against the rocks on the banks with a deafening roar.

On the river, a few fishing boats occasionally bob in the wind and waves, and the fishermen sing rough work songs, which intertwine with the sound of the waves to form a desolate ballad.

Zhou Ning walked ahead, with Ashu following behind him. Both of them were silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

The meeting of the Righteous Alliance left Zhou Ning feeling an unprecedented sense of exhaustion.

It's not because of the difficulty in finding the "Phoenix Feather," but because of the complexity of human nature.

Those so-called "righteous people" appear to be united in their hatred of the enemy, but secretly harbor their own agendas.

Yu Zhenzi's doubts, Zhang Tianshi's observations, Liu Zhenren's ambiguity...

Everyone is calculating their own interests.

True unity is virtually nonexistent in this alliance.

"Young Master Zhou, what are you thinking about?" Ashu's voice came from behind.

Zhou Ning stopped and turned to look at him.

Ashu's eyes were clear, but something seemed to be hidden deep within them.

Zhou Ning shook his head and said, "It's nothing. I was just thinking about how to proceed from here."

Ashu walked up to him, pointed to a small hill in the distance, and said, "Let's rest over there. You haven't eaten anything after walking for most of the day."

Zhou Ning nodded, and the two walked up the hill and sat down on a large rock.

Ashu took out dry food and water from his bag and handed them to Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning took it and ate it silently.

"Young Master Zhou, do you think the Righteous Path Alliance is reliable?" A-Zhu suddenly asked.

Zhou Ning glanced at him: "Why do you ask that?"

Ashu said, "You saw it at the meeting today. Those people outwardly supported you, but in reality, they each had their own agendas."

"Yu Zhenzi is targeting you at every turn, Zhang Tianshi is ambiguous, Liu Zhenren's attitude is ambiguous... only Xuanzhenzi Daoist is genuinely helping you. What can such an alliance possibly accomplish?"

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "You're right. But the Righteous Alliance can at least mobilize the resources of various factions, making their search for the 'Phoenix Feather' much more efficient."

Ashu shook his head: "Highly efficient? Those people are all scheming; can they really work together?"

"I suspect that some of them may have been infiltrated by the Blissful Cult. You also said today that Yu Zhenzi might have a problem."

"If he has truly been infiltrated, every move of the Righteous Alliance will be exposed to the gluttonous bodhisattvas."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

Ashu makes a good point.

If the Blissful Cult truly has spies within the Righteous Alliance, then all their actions will be meaningless.

They might even be used by the enemy to turn against them.

"you mean?"

Ashu said, "What I mean is, we shouldn't rely on the Righteous Alliance anymore. Acting alone is actually safer and more efficient."

"You're alone, a small target, and agile. Besides, you have the ability to sense the 'Phoenix Feather,' so you don't need their help."

Zhou Ning hesitated.

Ashu's words sound reasonable, but acting alone also means losing the intelligence networks and resource support of various factions.

Moreover, if there really are spies from the Blissful Cult within the Righteous Alliance, wouldn't his solo actions play right into the enemy's hands?

"Let me think about it," Zhou Ning said.

Ashu nodded and said nothing more.

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

The roar of the Yellow River was even clearer in the night wind, like thousands of white horses galloping.

Zhou Ning sat cross-legged on a large rock, closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, repeatedly replaying the events of the day in his mind.

Ashu's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

Is the Righteous Alliance really unreliable?

Does Yu Zhenzi really have a problem?

Or is Ashu hinting at something?

He remembered Ashu's identity.

The servant of the True Emperor of the Demon Realm.

Although Ashu said he had changed his mind and no longer wanted to aid and abet evil, who can guarantee that he wasn't just putting on an act?

Who can guarantee that his "suggestion" wasn't intended to put Zhou Ning in a helpless and isolated situation?

"A-Shu." Zhou Ning opened his eyes.

Ashu was dozing off nearby when he heard the call and quickly sat up.

"Young Master Zhou, what's wrong?"

Zhou Ning looked at him with piercing eyes.

"Are you suggesting I act alone to help me, or to help yourself?"

Ashu was taken aback, then lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he raised his head, his eyes full of sincerity.

"Young Master Zhou, I don't want to lie to you. I did have my own reasons for suggesting you act alone."

Zhou Ning gripped the Heavenly Fox Sword tightly, but did not draw it.

"What ulterior motives?"

Ashu said, "Before the True Emperor was sealed, he gave me a task: to find someone who could break the seal."

"I have observed you for a long time and discovered that your righteous spirit has a natural restraining effect on the seal. If you are willing, you can help the True Emperor break the seal."

Zhou Ning coldly replied, "Why should I help him?"

Ashu said, "The True Emperor has been sealed for a thousand years, and he has already repented."

"He no longer wants to be an enemy of the Three Realms; he only wants to regain his freedom. If you help him, he promises you he will never step out of the Demon Realm again."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "I won't help him. He was sealed away because he harmed the Three Realms."

"If he truly repents, he should repent within the seal, not try to get out."

Ashu lowered his head and said, "I understand. So, I've changed my mind. I don't want to pressure you anymore."

"But I really think the Righteous Alliance is unreliable. Some of them are more hypocritical and terrifying than the True Emperor of the Demon Realm."

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "I will consider your suggestion. But remember, if I find out you're lying to me, I won't hold back."

Ashu nodded: "I understand."

The two stopped talking and went to rest.

The next morning, before dawn, Zhou Ning and Ashu continued their journey north.

After walking for about two hours, a small town appeared ahead.

The town is small, with only a few dozen households, but it is located on a major transportation route, and merchants and travelers come and go in an endless stream.

Zhou Ning wanted to walk around it, but Ashu stopped him.

"Young Master Zhou, it sounds like there's a fight going on up ahead."

Zhou Ning looked in the direction of the sound and saw several people fighting in the open space at the entrance of the town.

They were dressed in various colored Taoist robes and carried weapons, clearly indicating that they were practitioners.

A crowd of onlookers gathered around, pointing and whispering amongst themselves.

"They're from the Righteous Alliance," Ashu said.

As Zhou Ning approached, he discovered that the two sides fighting were disciples from Qingcheng Mountain and disciples from Longhu Mountain.

They fought fiercely, completely disregarding the people around them.

"Stop!" Zhou Ning roared, releasing the pressure of his Dao Integration stage cultivation, which forced both sides back.

The disciples of Qingcheng Mountain recognized him, and their expressions changed: "Zhou... Zhou Ning?"

The disciples from Longhu Mountain also stopped, panting as they looked at him.

"Why are you fighting?" Zhou Ning asked.

The disciples from Qingcheng Mountain said, "Those people from Longhu Mountain stole our intelligence."

The disciples of Longhu Mountain retorted, "Nonsense! We were the ones who discovered that intelligence first."

Zhou Ning frowned: "What intelligence?"

A disciple from Qingcheng Mountain took out a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Ning.

There were a few words written on the note.

"The phoenix feather is on Mount Tai."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat.

Mount Tai?