Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 191 Drunken Immortal Restaurant

Ashu stayed at Lanruo Temple for three days.

During those three days, he helped Zhou Ning clean the yard, chop wood, fetch water, and cook, working diligently without getting tired.

Yan Chixia rarely spoke to him, but every time his gaze swept over him, there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

Ashu seemed to sense something, and he was always unusually reserved in front of Yan Chixia, even his breathing became lighter.

Zhou Ning observed all of this and vaguely felt that this young man was not simple, but he did not delve into it further.

Everyone has their own secrets, and as long as they don't harm others, he doesn't want to interfere too much.

On this day, Zhou Ning was meditating on the back mountain when A-zhu suddenly ran over, panting heavily.

"Young Master Zhou! Young Master Zhou! There's someone looking for you down the mountain."

Zhou Ning opened his eyes: "Who?"

Ashu said, "I don't know her. She's a girl in white, and she's very pretty."

"She said her name was Xuanjing and she was from Qingfeng Temple."

Zhou Ning stood up and walked down the mountain.

Ashu followed behind him, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

At the mountain gate, Xuanjing stood there, dressed in white as snow, gently waving his whisk.

Her expression was somewhat solemn, and upon seeing Zhou Ning, she quickly came to greet him.

"Young Master Zhou, you're finally back. My senior brother sent me to find you; it seems something serious has happened."

Zhou Ning asked, "What is it?"

Xuan Jing said, "A strange woman has recently come to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in Jinling City."

"She drinks and eats meat at Zuixianlou every day without paying, yet no one dares to ask her for money."

"Some people have seen her use magic to turn stones into gold and scatter it among the people."

"The people in the city all say that she is a living bodhisattva descended to earth."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

"Drunken Immortal Pavilion? What does that woman look like?"

Xuanjing said, "I've heard that she's extremely beautiful, but she always wears a magnificent monk's robe and carries a wine pot in her hand. She calls herself... the Wine and Meat Bodhisattva."

Sure enough it was her.

Zhou Ning gripped the Heavenly Fox Sword tightly and said, "Miss Xuanjing, I'll go to Jinling now."

Xuan Jing nodded: "My senior brother said to be careful. That woman's methods are strange; don't be fooled by her."

Zhou Ning said, "I understand."

He returned to his lodgings and packed his bags.

Ashu stood at the door, hesitant to speak.

"Young Master Zhou, are you going to Jinling?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "I need to take care of something."

Ashu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Can I go with you?"

"Jinling is a big city, I'd like to go and have a look. I'll also try to find my caravan."

Zhou Ning thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay. But you have to listen to me and not run around."

Ashu was overjoyed: "Definitely! Definitely!"

The two left Lanruo Temple and headed towards Jinling.

Zhou Ning did not use the "Transform into a Rainbow" technique, but instead used the "Lightness Technique," yet his figure still flew along the official road like a blue-gold lightning bolt.

Although Ashu's cultivation level was not high, his speed was fast, and he followed closely behind him.

"A-Shu, have you learned martial arts?" Zhou Ning asked.

A-Shu laughed and said, "When I was a kid, I studied with a wandering Taoist priest for a few years and learned some rudimentary skills. They're okay for traveling, but not for fighting."

Zhou Ning nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

After traveling for less than two days, the two arrived in Jinling City.

Nanjing, the ancient capital of many dynasties, remains prosperous.

The streets were bustling with people and vehicles, and the shops were thriving.

But unlike the last time I came, the atmosphere in the city was somewhat eerie.

The pedestrians on the street hurried along, their faces showing worry.

At the city gate, a notice was posted that read: "Anyone who can drive away the demoness from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold."

"It seems that the 'wine-and-meat bodhisattva' has caused quite a stir," Zhou Ning thought to himself.

He led Ashu to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Zuixianlou is the largest restaurant in Jinling City. It has three floors, carved beams and painted rafters, and is very impressive.

But at this moment, the building was deserted, with not a single guest.

Two men stood at the door, their faces pale and their legs trembling. When they saw Zhou Ning and A Shu, they quickly came to greet them.

"Esteemed guests, we are closed today. Please leave."

Zhou Ning said, "I didn't come here to eat. I'm here to find someone."

The waiter asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Zhou Ning said, "A bodhisattva who indulges in wine and meat."

The waiter's face turned even paler, and he waved his hands repeatedly.

"Sir, please don't harm us. That woman is not to be trifled with. A few days ago, a Taoist priest came looking for her, but after she glanced at him, he ran away insane and is still talking nonsense in the street."

Zhou Ning ignored him and walked straight into the building.

The lobby on the first floor was empty, except for one person sitting in a corner.

It was a woman, dressed in a magnificent monk's robe, with long hair flowing over her shoulders and an exquisitely beautiful face.

She was holding a white jade wine pot in her hand and was pouring wine into her mouth.

The table was laden with delicacies from land and sea, including fish, meat, chicken, and duck, and the aroma was irresistible.

At her feet were several empty wine jars, and the air was filled with a strong aroma of wine.

"A bodhisattva who indulges in wine and meat." Zhou Ning walked up to her.

The woman looked up and glanced at him.

Those were amber eyes, clear and deep, as if they could see through all the illusions of the world.

A slight smile played on her lips.

"You're Zhou Ning?"

Her voice was soft and ethereal, like a mountain stream.

"The renowned swordsman Zhou, whose fame has spread throughout the Central Plains, is quite impressive; he's even younger than I imagined."

Zhou Ning remained calm and cautious, his tone cold as he said, "So you're the 'wine-and-meat bodhisattva'?"

The woman laughed and said, "That's a nickname others gave me. I prefer to be called Jingchen. Although... I'm no longer worthy of it."

She stood up, walked to Zhou Ning, looked him up and down, and nodded, saying, "Your Dao heart is indeed firm, your cultivation is profound, and you are good-looking. No wonder the people of the Central Plains like you so much. Your master, Yan Chixia, also seems to be a very famous Daoist. Master and disciple are both renowned. It seems I have not made a mistake in choosing you."

Zhou Ning was not swayed by her words and said in a deep voice, "I already know what you did at Dabei Temple."

"Did you kill those monks?"

Jingchen shook his head.

"I didn't harm them. I just made them see their own hearts clearly."

"They appear pious on the surface, but are actually greedy and lustful. I simply unleashed their desires completely."

Zhou Ning said, "You're harming them. True cultivation is about restraining desires, not indulging them."

Jingchen laughed, a hint of sorrow in his voice: "Restraint? How many people have you actually met who can truly restrain themselves?"

"Your master, Yan Chixia, can he control himself?"

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down her spine, but she didn't show it.

"You contacted me just to say this?"

Jingchen shook his head, took out a jade slip from his sleeve, and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"These are the notes left behind by those 'masters' who sealed me away a thousand years ago."

"Everything you want to know is inside: about me, about the Heavenly Demon, about the Demon Realm, about the truth of the Three Realms."

"Take it back and take a look. After you've read it and understand me, come back to me."

Zhou Ning took the jade slip but did not examine it immediately.

Why did you give me this?

Jingchen said, "Because you are the second person to defeat the Heavenly Demon."

"I want to see just how much potential you have. Maybe you can do things that even the 'experts' can't."

She turned and walked upstairs.

"I'll still be at Zuixianlou in three days. Come have a drink with me then, and I'll tell you the next clue."

Her figure disappeared at the top of the stairs.

Zhou Ning held the jade slip, standing still for a long time.

A-Shu peeked out from the doorway and whispered, "Young Master Zhou, that woman is gone?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "I'm leaving."

Ashu walked in, looked at the table full of food and wine, and swallowed hard: "Is all this... edible?"

Zhou Ning said, "Don't touch it. It might be poisonous."