Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 193 The Decline of Human Nature

Jingchen said, "This is the place I once tried to save."

Zhou Ning looked at her warily: "What do you want to do?"

Jingchen said, "I want to show you what true bliss looks like."

She waved her sleeve, and the scene before her began to change.

The people on the street no longer smiled, but became greedy, selfish, and indifferent.

Merchants cheat customers, officials accept bribes, couples betray each other, and children bully the weak.

"This is the truth about Loulan," Jingchen said.

"On the surface, they are prosperous, but underneath they are corrupt. I tried to influence them with Buddhist teachings, but they wouldn't listen."

"I tried to suppress them with force, but they weren't afraid. In the end, I gave up."

"I let them indulge their desires and bring about their own destruction."

Zhou Ning said, "So you destroyed this city?"

Jingchen shook his head.

"I didn't ruin it. They ruined themselves. I was just an onlooker who helped push them along."

She looked at Zhou Ning, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"You know what? I used to be even more steadfast than you. I believed that Buddhism could save all sentient beings."

"But I traveled all over the Western Regions and the Central Plains, and all I saw was hypocrisy and evil."

"Those monks who claim to 'save all sentient beings' are actually greedy and lustful in secret, while those cultivators who claim to follow the 'righteous path' are actually vying for power and profit in secret."

"Faced with this world where 'people's hearts have grown cold,' to be honest, I'm really tired. I don't want to lie to myself anymore."

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "What you see is evil, but you've overlooked good. There are also people in this world who are willing to sacrifice for others."

Jingchen smiled.

"For example, you? You are willing to sacrifice yourself for the people of the world, which is truly admirable."

"But can you save them temporarily, or even forever? Can you save a city, or the whole world?"

Zhou Ning said, "Saving one is saving one."

Jingchen's laughter stopped abruptly.

She looked at Zhou Ning, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

"You're stubborn. Just like I was back then."

She waved her sleeve, and the illusion changed once more.

This time, Zhou Ning saw what he longed for most.

Yan Chixia gave him an approving smile, and Xin Shisi Niang strolled hand in hand with him. The people of the world lived in peace and prosperity, and the Three Realms were filled with harmony.

"This is your deepest desire."

Jingchen said, "You want to protect everyone, but you can't. Because the human heart is complex, and desires are endless."

"You saved them once, but they will face danger a second time."

"You save one generation, but the next generation will repeat the same mistakes. You can never save them all."

Zhou Ning closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He recalled what Yan Chixia had said.

The path of spiritual practice is filled with countless temptations; one must guard one's true nature.

"You're right, I can't save everyone. But I won't give up because of that."

He opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them.

Righteous energy flowed through his body, dispelling all the illusions around him.

"Your illusions have no effect on me."

A hint of surprise flashed in Jingchen's eyes, then she smiled.

"Interesting kid. You're much better than those monks."

She put away the wine jug and turned to walk away into the distance.

"Three days from now, at Zuixianlou, I'll be waiting for you."

Her figure disappeared into the illusion.

The illusion shattered, and Zhou Ning returned to reality.

He found himself standing in front of a mural in the palace, his hands still pressed against the wall.

Ashu was anxiously pulling on his arm, trying to wake him up.

"Young Master Zhou, are you alright?"

Ashu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him open his eyes.

Zhou Ning shook his head: "It's nothing. I was just caught in an illusion."

He withdrew his hand, looking at the crazed faces on the mural, a complex emotion welling up inside him.

"Let's go. Back to Jinling."

The two left the ancient city of Loulan and embarked on their journey back to the Central Plains.

On the way back to Jinling from the ancient city of Loulan, Zhou Ning kept thinking about Jingchen's words.

You can't save everyone.

These words were like a thorn stuck in his heart.

He knew Jingchen was right; one person's power is limited. He couldn't protect every citizen or prevent every disaster.

But that's precisely why he can't give up.

Even if we can only save one person, it's worth it.

Ashu walked beside him, silent.

Since revealing his identity, he has become quieter than before, as if he is thinking about something.

Zhou Ning didn't press the matter. He believed that Ashu's "change of mind" was genuine, but he wouldn't let his guard down.

"A-Shu, how much do you know about the 'wine and meat bodhisattva'?" Zhou Ning suddenly asked.

After thinking for a moment, A-Shu said, "Before the True Emperor was sealed, he had an encounter with the Wine and Meat Bodhisattva."

He said that the "wine-and-meat bodhisattva" was a very contradictory person.

"She hated the world, yet she also pitied it."

"She indulged her desires, yet longed for liberation."

"The True Emperor said that if we could win her over, it would be of great help to the unsealing project."

"But later, the Wine and Meat Bodhisattva was sealed away, and the True Emperor's plan was put on hold."

Zhou Ning asked, "Why does the True Emperor want to win her over?"

Ashu said, "Because the Wine and Meat Bodhisattva is very powerful, and her 'Pure Land Cult' has a deep foundation among the people."

"Although she was sealed away for a thousand years, the descendants of those believers are still alive."

"They've been operating in secret, waiting for her return."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "The Blissful Cult is still around?"

Ashu nodded: "Yes. They're just more hidden now. They don't proselytize openly, but rather infiltrate all walks of life."

"They may have spies among merchants, officials, monks... and even righteous sects."

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then asked, "How do you know all this?"

Ashu said, "Before the True Emperor was sealed away, he sent me to investigate the remnants of the Blissful Sect."

"I've been tracking them for years and discovered that their power is far greater than I imagined."

"But they acted secretly and never left any evidence. Therefore, the righteous sects were unaware of their existence."

Zhou Ning asked, "Do you have a list?"

Ashu shook his head: "No. They are very careful and never record the names of their members."

"All communication is one-way; even if you catch one person, you can't trace their superior."

Zhou Ning sighed.

It seems that force alone is not enough to deal with a gluttonous and greedy person.

We must first ascertain the extent of her influence and sever her reach.

The two quickened their pace and returned to Jinling five days later.

The Drunken Immortal Pavilion remained deserted. When the two waiters at the door saw Zhou Ning, their expressions changed, and they quickly stepped aside.

Zhou Ning walked into the building, and Jing Chen was still sitting in that corner, holding a wine pot in her hand, with wine and dishes laid out on the table.

She smiled slightly when she saw Zhou Ning.

"You've arrived, earlier than I expected."

Zhou Ning sat down opposite her, while Ashu stood to the side, watching Jingchen warily.

"I've seen what you showed me. I've also experienced the illusion of the ancient city of Loulan. What exactly do you want?"

Zhou Ning got straight to the point.

Jingchen put down the wine pot and looked at him intently.

"I need your help with something."

Zhou Ning asked, "What kind of busyness?"

Jingchen said, "Help me find something."

She took a jade pendant from her sleeve and placed it on the table.

The jade pendant is bluish-white in color and is carved with a phoenix spreading its wings as if about to take flight. Two red gemstones are inlaid in the eyes of the phoenix, making it lifelike.

The jade pendant has some charred marks on its edges, indicating that it has been exposed to intense fire.