Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 61 A Narrow Escape

After leaving Shuangfeng Town, Zhou Ning continued north.

After walking for three days, he arrived at the foot of a large mountain called "Cangwu Mountain".

Mount Cangwu is steep and densely forested, serving as the last natural barrier in northern China.

Beyond the Cangwu Mountains lies the boundless Black Mountain Wasteland, the core area where the Black Mountain Demon's forces are entrenched.

Zhou Ning found an inn at the foot of the mountain and planned to rest for the night before crossing the mountain early the next morning.

The inn was small, with only a few guest rooms. The innkeeper was an elderly man in his fifties, surnamed Chen, with a kind face.

Zhou Ning asked for a room and also asked Manager Chen to prepare some dry food and water.

"Sir, are you heading north?" Manager Chen asked as he tidied up.

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

Manager Chen sighed:

"The north is not peaceful. A few days ago, a group of people from the Demon Suppression Division passed by here, and they all had solemn expressions."

I've heard that the Black Mountain Demon's men have been active lately, arresting anyone they see. Sir, it's too dangerous for you to go alone."

Zhou Ning said, "Thank you for the reminder, shopkeeper. I will be careful."

As night fell, Zhou Ning was meditating and regulating his breathing in his room when he suddenly heard a rustling sound outside the window.

He opened his eyes, gripped his Qingfeng sword, walked to the window, and looked outside.

Under the moonlight, several dark figures darted out of the woods and surrounded the inn.

They were agile and nimble, holding black weapons that emitted a faint black aura.

The people of Montenegro.

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down her spine, quickly walked out of the room, and knocked on Manager Chen's door.

"Shopkeeper, the Black Mountain men are here. You'd better hide!"

Shopkeeper Chen turned pale with fright and quickly led his family into the cellar.

Zhou Ning walked out of the inn, stood at the door, and gripped the Qingfeng sword tightly.

Under the moonlight, six men in black robes surrounded them.

The leader was a burly man with a face full of scars, holding a large black knife with a hideous ghost head engraved on the blade.

"You're Zhou Ning?" The burly man looked him up and down, his eyes full of contempt.

Zhou Ning nodded: "It's me. Are you from Black Mountain?"

The burly man grinned maliciously: "Good to know. You've repeatedly ruined our Black Mountain's plans, destroyed several of our strongholds, and killed our men. Today is your death day!"

With a wave of his hand, six men in black robes attacked simultaneously.

Black beams of light, mist, and chains attacked Zhou Ning from all directions.

Zhou Ning was prepared. He dodged several attacks with a flash, and at the same time, he took out three "evil-repelling talismans" from his waist and threw them at the three men in black robes.

Three golden beams struck the three men in black robes.

"what!"

The three men in black robes screamed, their bodies engulfed in golden flames, rolled a few times on the ground, and then fell silent.

The burly man's expression changed: "Kid, you've got some skills."

He formed a mudra with his hands and chanted incantations.

The ground began to shake, and countless black chains surged from underground, wrapping around Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to weave and dodge among the chains, while simultaneously concentrating his inner energy at the tip of his sword to unleash the "Demon-Slaying Slash".

A streak of cyan sword energy slashed out, severing several chains.

The burly man snorted coldly and increased his magical output.

More chains emerged from underground, blocking all of Zhou Ning's escape routes.

"Oh no!"

Several chains wrapped around Zhou Ning's left foot, then a second, a third... He was dragged to the ground and slid towards the burly man.

The burly man raised his broadsword and chopped down at Zhou Ning's head.

At the critical moment, a silvery-white light shot from afar and struck the burly man in the chest.

"Bang!"

The burly man was sent flying and crashed into a large tree, spitting out a mouthful of black blood.

Zhou Ning seized the opportunity to break free of his chains and leap into the air.

He looked in the direction from which the silvery-white light was coming and saw an old man in a white Taoist robe walking out of the woods.

The old man had white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and held a whisk in his hand. He emanated a faint spiritual light.

"Qingfeng Temple, Xuanzhenzi," the old man said calmly.

"Young Master Zhou, I am late."

Zhou Ning was taken aback.

Xuan Zhenzi?

Isn't that the same swindler he exposed in Ping'an Town before?

No, that swindler was also named Xuanzhenzi, but this person's temperament and cultivation were far superior to that swindler's.

"You are...?"

The old man said:

"I am the abbot of Qingfeng Temple, with the Dharma name 'Xuanzhen'. The fraudster who impersonated my disciple has been expelled from the temple by me."

Zhou Ning suddenly realized, "So it's Daoist Xuanzhen. Thank you for your help, Daoist."

Xuanzhenzi waved his hand and looked at the burly man.

The burly man struggled to his feet, clutching his chest, his eyes filled with resentment and malice.

"You...you wait, Black Mountain won't let you get away with this."

He suddenly crushed a black token, which turned into a wisp of black mist and disappeared into the air.

The other two men in black robes also fled.

Zhou Ning did not pursue, and sheathed his sword.

"Master Xuanzhen, what are you doing here?"

Xuanzhenzi said, "I have been tracking the people of Black Mountain. I heard they intend to harm you, so I have come to help you."

He paused, then continued:

"Young Master Zhou, your reputation has spread throughout the North. The Black Mountain Demon hates you to the bone and has sent several groups of people to kill you. It's too dangerous for you to go alone. Why don't you come with me?"

Zhou Ning thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Then thank you very much, Daoist Master."

The two settled into the inn.

The next morning, Zhou Ning and Xuanzhenzi set off together to cross the Cangwu Mountain.

The mountain path was rugged and the forest was dense. The two walked carefully, one in front of the other.

After walking for about two hours, a valley appeared ahead.

The valley was shrouded in mist, obscuring its depths.

Xuanzhenzi stopped and frowned, saying, "There's something strange about this valley."

Zhou Ning also sensed it.

A thick, eerie aura permeated the valley, exactly like the aura emanating from the people of Black Mountain.

"The people from Black Mountain are inside," Zhou Ning said.

Xuanzhenzi nodded: "Be careful."

The two moved stealthily along the valley.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a huge cave appeared ahead.

At the cave entrance stood four men in black robes, each holding a black spear, patrolling back and forth.

"There are guards." Zhou Ning lowered his voice.

Xuanzhenzi took out two invisibility talismans from his sleeve and handed one to Zhou Ning:

"Put it on, then sneak in."

Zhou Ning took the invisibility talisman and stuck it to his chest.

The two figures gradually blurred and disappeared into the air.

They quietly bypassed the guards and entered the cave.

The cave is very deep, and the further you go in, the more open the space becomes.

The cave walls were inlaid with glowing minerals, illuminating the path ahead.

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 people.

There were men and women, young and old, all with pale faces and eyes full of fear.

Beside the iron cage stood a burly demon general with a ferocious face.

He was dressed in black armor, holding a large black sword in his hand, and exuded a strong, chilling aura.