Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 170 Dragon Pattern Jade Pendant

"Shopkeeper, what kind of person is Prince Rui?"

Shopkeeper Chen said, "Prince Rui is the current emperor's uncle, and his power is immense."

"Rumors are spreading in Nanjing now. Many people are saying that Prince Rui is outwardly respectful to scholars, but in reality, he is ruthless."

"Anyone who offends him will lose their job at best, and their life at worst. So, no one dares to investigate him."

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

As night fell, the moonlight was pale and dim.

Zhou Ning changed into a black night outfit, slung his Qingfeng sword across his back, and hung a talisman pouch at his waist before quietly leaving the inn.

His figure moved like a wisp of green smoke, darting across the rooftops.

The Prince Rui's Mansion in the north of the city covers a vast area, with numerous pavilions and towers, and is exceptionally grand.

Zhou Ning landed on the wall of the Prince's mansion and spread his divine sense, covering the entire mansion.

He quickly sensed something was wrong.

In the underground of the Prince's Mansion's backyard, there is a huge secret chamber, where a faint demonic aura surges.

"There really is something fishy going on."

Zhou Ning jumped down from the wall and crept towards the backyard.

Several guards were patrolling in the backyard.

Zhou Ning took out an invisibility talisman from his bag and stuck it to his chest.

His figure gradually blurred and disappeared into the night.

He quietly bypassed the guards and came to a dry well in the backyard.

The wellhead was covered by a stone slab, on which some runes were engraved and emitted a faint black light.

"The secret room is down in the well." Zhou Ning moved the stone slab aside and jumped down.

The well was very deep, at least several dozen feet deep.

Zhou Ning landed at the bottom of the well and discovered a hidden passage leading to the depths.

He walked along the secret passage.

The passage was very narrow, only allowing one person to pass at a time. The walls were rough rocks, and water droplets fell from above from time to time, making a dripping sound.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a huge stone chamber appeared ahead.

Inside the stone chamber were several iron cages, each containing a dozen or so young women.

Their faces were pale, their eyes were filled with fear, and they huddled in the cage, trembling.

In the center of the stone chamber, there was an altar with a black incense burner on it, from which wisps of black smoke rose.

Beside the altar stood a middle-aged man dressed in a black Taoist robe. His face was pale, his eyes were sunken, and a sinister smile hung at the corner of his mouth.

"The Demonic Way."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Ning's eyes.

He tore off the invisibility talisman, drew his Qingfeng sword, and slashed at the demonic Taoist.

A streak of purple-gold sword energy shot out from the tip of the sword, like a giant purple-gold dragon, heading straight for the demon's chest.

The demon's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly pulled out a talisman from his sleeve and threw it at the sword energy.

The talisman transformed into a streak of black light, colliding with the sword energy and producing a muffled explosion.

The demon was forced back several steps, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Who are you?" the sorcerer asked in terror.

Zhou Ning said coldly, "The one who will take your life."

With a single sword strike, the purple-gold sword energy shattered the demon's talisman, its momentum undiminished, heading straight for the demon's head.

The demon was unable to dodge in time and was struck by the sword energy. He screamed and fell to the ground, unable to get up.

Zhou Ning walked to the iron cage, used his Qingfeng sword to cut the chains, and released the women.

"It's alright, you're safe now."

The women knelt down and kowtowed, expressing their deepest gratitude.

Zhou Ning helped them up and led them out of the secret room.

When I stepped out of the dry well, it was already getting light.

Zhou Ning delivered the women to the government office and handed over the sorcerer's corpse to the government for disposal.

The officials were overjoyed to see the missing women, and after obtaining the Emperor's approval, they immediately sent people to Prince Rui's residence to arrest them.

Standing on the city wall, Zhou Ning watched the sun gradually rise, and a sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

He turned and left Jinling.

The case of the missing women in Jinling City was solved the day after Zhou Ning rescued them.

Following the clues provided by the sorcerer, the authorities traced the route to Prince Rui's residence.

Although Prince Rui himself vehemently denied colluding with the sorcerer, the account books and letters left behind by the sorcerer clearly recorded his transactions with the steward of Prince Rui's mansion.

For each young woman captured, the Prince Rui's mansion would pay five hundred taels of silver.

As for what Prince Rui wanted these women to do, it wasn't written in the account book, but the answer was self-evident.

Prince Rui was placed under house arrest in his residence, awaiting the court's decision.

His butler was imprisoned and, under severe torture, revealed more details.

It turns out that Prince Rui has become obsessed with the art of immortality in recent years, searching everywhere for alchemists and Taoist priests in an attempt to refine elixirs of eternal life.

That sorcerer claimed to have a secret method for achieving immortality, but it required the blood of a young woman as a medicinal ingredient.

Prince Rui believed it to be true and secretly funded the sorcerer to capture women throughout Jinling City.

"Absurd." Zhou Ning stood on the city wall, gazing at the Prince Rui's mansion in the distance, and shook his head.

It is only natural for those who cultivate themselves to pursue longevity.

But to exchange the lives of others for one's own immortality is a heretical and evil practice.

True immortality is not achieved through crooked methods, but through daily cultivation and unwavering resolve.

Prince Rui did not understand this principle, or rather, he did not want to understand it.

"Young Master Zhou." Han Wei's voice came from behind.

Zhou Ning turned around and saw Han Wei walking towards him.

His complexion was much better than a few days ago. With the missing person case solved, the pressure on the Demon Suppression Division was also greatly reduced.

"Lord Han, what does the court intend to do with Prince Rui?" Zhou Ning asked.

Han Wei said, "His Majesty spared his life because he was his uncle, but stripped him of his title and placed him under house arrest in his palace for life. His steward and the guards who participated in the arrest of the women were all sentenced to beheading."

Zhou Ning nodded: "It's fairly fair."

Han Wei sighed.

"Unfortunately, those dead women will never come back."

The two remained silent for a moment.

Han Wei took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"Young Master Zhou, this is something the court officials asked me to give you."

Zhou Ning took the jade pendant and examined it carefully.

It was a jade pendant with a dragon pattern, its surface smooth and warm. A coiled dragon was carved on it, and two red gemstones were inlaid in the dragon's eyes.

"Perhaps, Prince Rui... is not that person," Zhou Ning murmured.

Han Wei was taken aback.

"What?"

Zhou Ning shook his head and said with a wry smile, "It's nothing. Lord Han, I'm going back to Lanruo Temple. I'll leave the aftermath of the events in Jinling City to you."

Han Wei nodded: "Don't worry, go ahead. I'll take care of things here."

Zhou Ning bid farewell to Han Wei, left Jinling, and returned to Lanruo Temple.

As he walked, he took out the jade pendant with dragon patterns and examined it carefully.

The jade pendant felt warm and smooth to the touch, and one could vaguely sense a trace of dragon energy contained within it.

That was a symbol of the imperial family's fortune, as well as the court's trust and friendship towards him.

"The Protector of the Nation, what a fine Protector of the Nation..." Zhou Ning smiled bitterly.

"I never imagined that I, Zhou Ning, had sworn to rid the people of evil, so I went to the capital to take the imperial examination in order to earn a career in government and gain the recognition of the court."

"I thought that after I abandoned literature for Taoism, this wish would be difficult to fulfill. Unexpectedly, instead of gaining the court's recognition for my literary talent, I gained the court's recognition for slaying demons and monsters."

"Both of them were for the benefit of the people and both received the approval of the imperial court."

"Perhaps gaining the approval of the people is more meaningful than gaining the approval of the imperial court."

Zhou Ning carefully put away the jade pendant and continued on his journey.