Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 6 First Steps into the Mortal World

Spring has passed and autumn has come; several months have passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past few months, Zhou Ning had been almost completely isolated from the world. Every day at dawn, he would get up, practice swordsmanship, and then meditate to cultivate the "Innate Qi" until late at night.

Day after day, rain or shine.

His progress even slightly moved Yan Chixia, who was usually stern and unsmiling.

That initial wisp of energy, barely perceptible at first, has now grown strong enough to circulate freely throughout the body, nourishing the meridians and internal organs.

His physical condition has also improved significantly. His originally weak physique has gradually become stronger, his steps are light, and his breathing is long and steady.

In terms of swordsmanship, he went from not being able to even hold a sword steadily at the beginning to now being able to master the "Twelve Basic Sword Techniques". Although he has no actual combat experience, his moves are already quite impressive.

On this day, Yan Chixia summoned him to his side.

"You have been cultivating for several months, and your foundation is beginning to take shape."

Yan Chixia said calmly:

"But the path of cultivation cannot be confined to the mountains. Only by tempering the heart in the mortal world can one truly see the results."

He took out a list and a small bag of silver from his sleeve and handed them to Zhou Ning:

"In Qingshan Town at the foot of the mountain, there is a shop called 'Baicaotang'. Go there to buy the medicinal herbs on the list and cinnabar paper. Be sure to return within three days."

Zhou Ning took the list, a surge of excitement welling up inside him.

We can finally go down the mountain.

For months, apart from the occasional conversation with Yan Chixia, he had hardly spoken to anyone.

Although his spiritual practice had calmed him down considerably, he was still a young man full of vigor and longing for the outside world.

"Your disciple obeys."

He bowed respectfully and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute."

Yan Chixia called out to him, her gaze slightly narrowed.

"Qingshan Town has been rather unsettled lately. You must be careful on your journey. If you encounter trouble, prioritize your own safety and do not act recklessly."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine:

"Master, what happened in Qingshan Town?"

Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, then said:

"I've only heard about it. Go and see for yourself. Remember, if you encounter any demons or monsters, with your current cultivation level, you can barely handle some minor characters. If things become unbearable, return immediately and don't linger in battle."

Zhou Ning solemnly said:

"Disciple understands."

He packed his bags, slung the wooden sword he was already familiar with across his back, bid farewell to his master, and embarked on the journey down the mountain.

The mountain path was rugged, but months of training had greatly increased Zhou Ning's physical strength, and he descended the mountain in less than an hour.

Qingshan Town is located at the foot of Qingyun Mountain. It is a small town, but because it is located on a major transportation route, there is a constant flow of merchants and travelers, making it quite lively.

However, when Zhou Ning stepped into the town, he felt a strange sensation.

It was midday, the sun was shining brightly, and it should have been the busiest time of day for the market.

But there were very few pedestrians on the street, and they all seemed to be in a hurry, walking quickly with their heads down, as if something terrible was chasing them.

Most of the shops on both sides were closed, with only a few still open, and even those were deserted.

Even when pedestrians occasionally pass by, they never look to the side or glance at their surroundings.

Zhou Ning frowned and found "Bai Cao Tang" according to the address on the list.

This is a small pharmacy with an old storefront, but it is fairly clean.

The shopkeeper was an elderly man in his fifties, surnamed Wang. He had a kind face, but his eyes held a hint of weariness and fear that he could not hide.

"Young man, are you here to pick up medicine or see a doctor?"

When Manager Wang saw that there were customers, he quickly greeted them.

Zhou Ning handed over the list:

"Shopkeeper, fill out the medicine according to this order, and also get some cinnabar and yellow paper."

Manager Wang took the list, glanced at it, and frowned slightly:

"Vermilion and yellow paper? Is this young man a Taoist practitioner?"

Zhou Ning smiled slightly:

"I know a little bit about it."

Shopkeeper Wang didn't ask any more questions and turned to get the medicine.

Zhou Ning took the opportunity to look around the shop and noticed several strings of old copper coins strung together with red rope on the counter. The coins had faint runes on them and emitted a faint spiritual light.

A thought struck him, and he pointed to the copper coin and asked:

"Shopkeeper, what is this?"

Manager Wang's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his voice:

"Hey buddy, you're from out of town, right?"

Zhou Ning nodded:

"Coming from the mountain."

No wonder.

Shopkeeper Wang sighed and said in a low voice while preparing the medicine:

"These copper coins... are used to ward off evil spirits."

"Exorcising evil spirits?"

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

"What happened in town?"

Manager Wang hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering whether or not he should speak.

After a moment, he sighed and said:

"Since you are a cultivator, I won't hide it from you. This Green Mountain Town has been... rather unsettled for the past six months."

He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts:

"Six months ago, people in the town started dying mysteriously. The victims were all middle-aged men, and when they were found, their chests had been cut open, and their hearts... were missing."

Zhou Ning frowned:

"Is the government not going to do anything?"

"We investigated, but after six months, we found nothing."

Shopkeeper Wang smiled wryly:

"What's even stranger is that none of the victims showed any signs of struggle before they died, as if... as if their hearts were ripped out while they were asleep."

He lowered his voice, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes:

"Everyone in town says... it's the work of ghosts."

Zhou Ning's heart stirred, recalling his master's instructions before his departure.

"And these copper coins..."

He pointed to the copper coins on the counter.

"It was given to me by the old Taoist priest in town."

Shopkeeper Wang said, "They say hanging it at the door can ward off evil spirits. Since we hung this copper coin, nothing bad has happened. But the people in town are still afraid. They close their doors and windows as soon as it gets dark, and no one dares to go out."

As he spoke, he carefully wrapped up the medicine and handed it to Zhou Ning along with the cinnabar and yellow paper:

"Young man, I advise you to stay in town tonight and leave first thing tomorrow morning. Don't linger."

Zhou Ning took the items, paid the money, thanked him, and turned to leave.

He walked out of the Hundred Herbs Hall and looked up at the sky.

As the sun sets in the west, the sky is already tinged with orange-red hues.

As instructed by his master, he should stay in town for one night and return to the mountain the next day.

But Manager Wang's words made him feel uneasy.

If there were truly ghosts causing trouble, how could he turn a blind eye?

Zhou Ning found an inn in town and booked a room.

The innkeeper was a middle-aged man in his forties, surnamed Zhao, with a kind and honest face.

Seeing that Zhou Ning wanted to stay at the inn, they quickly and attentively invited him to do so.

"Sir, you've come at the perfect time. If you had come any later, our shop would have closed."

Manager Zhao led the way while chattering on and on:

"You don't know, this town has been quite unsafe lately. Once it gets dark, nobody dares to wander around outside."

Zhou Ning nodded:

"I've heard about it. Shopkeeper, what were the origins of those deceased...?"

Manager Zhao's expression changed slightly. He looked around and lowered his voice, saying:

"Sir, it's best if you don't ask about this. The more you know, the more dangerous it becomes."

He led Zhou Ning to a guest room on the second floor and said:

"Sir, please stay inside tonight. No matter what noise you hear, do not open the door. Remember, remember."

After saying that, he left in a hurry. Before leaving, he hung a string of copper coins on Zhou Ning's door, exactly the same as the ones from Baicaotang.

Zhou Ning closed the door, put down his luggage, and sat on the edge of the bed in deep thought.

If, as Manager Wang said, the hearts of those who died were ripped out in their sleep, then this "ghost" must have some secrets.

He's only just entered the path of cultivation, not even at the Qi Refining stage yet. He might be able to handle ordinary minor demons and monsters, but if he encounters a powerful opponent...

Zhou Ning shook his head, dismissing these distracting thoughts.

Let's rest first, and then investigate when it's late at night and everyone is quiet.

As night fell, Qingshan Town fell into a deathly silence.

There were no barking dogs, no chirping insects, and even the sound of the wind seemed to have been swallowed up by something.

Zhou Ning sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, circulating his internal energy through a small cycle.

Once he was refreshed, he opened his eyes, pushed open the window, and leaped out.

After months of training, his physical abilities have far surpassed those of ordinary people, and climbing out of windows and downstairs is no problem for him.

The streets were deserted, and the pale moonlight shone coldly on the bluestone pavement.

Zhou Ning walked along the street towards the direction of Baicaotang.

He remembered that Manager Wang had said that the dead all lived in the east end of the town.

The eastern end of the town is a cluster of old residential houses, with low-rise buildings and narrow alleys.

Zhou Ning shuffled through the crowd with light steps.

Suddenly, a faint sobbing sound came from ahead.

The voice was plaintive and mournful, like a woman sobbing softly, or something wailing.

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine and quietly approached, following the sound.

The sound came from a dilapidated courtyard.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and it was pitch black inside.

Zhou Ning held his breath and peered through the crack in the door.

Under the moonlight, a woman dressed in white was kneeling on the ground with her back to him, weeping softly.

Her hair was loose, obscuring her face.

Her slender figure appeared particularly eerie in the moonlight.

Zhou Ning frowned, about to push the door open and enter...

"Hey buddy, don't go in."

A hand suddenly reached out from behind and grabbed his shoulder tightly.

Zhou Ning froze and turned around abruptly.

It turned out to be Manager Zhao from the inn.

Manager Zhao's face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with fear. He clung tightly to Zhou Ning and whispered:

"Hey buddy, do you want to die? That thing... that thing is not to be touched."

Zhou Ning was startled:

"What is that?"

Manager Zhao didn't answer, but just desperately pulled him back.

Zhou Ning hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not struggle, letting Manager Zhao pull him back to the inn.

After closing the door, Manager Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief, slumped into a chair, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

"Dude, you almost got yourself killed."

He said in a trembling voice, "That thing...it's not human."

Zhou Ning frowned:

"What is that?"

Manager Zhao was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"That's... the Painted Skin Demon."

Painted Skin Ghost?

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine, recalling the accounts in supernatural tales.

A kind of evil spirit that wears human skin and feeds on people's hearts.

"How did you know?" he asked.

Manager Zhao smiled wryly:

"Because the first person to die six months ago was her husband."

Zhou Ning's pupils contracted.

"That woman was a respectable woman. Her husband was conscripted to build the city wall and never returned. She waited for three years, only to receive news of her husband's death."

Manager Zhao sighed:

"She couldn't bear the blow and hanged herself. Her resentment lingered after death, and she became a vengeful ghost. I don't know where she learned the evil magic, but she peeled off other people's skin, wore it on her body, pretended to be alive, and specifically seduced strong young men, and then... dug out their hearts."

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.

"Is the government not going to do anything?"

"We can't control it." Manager Zhao shook his head.

"Several Taoist priests and monks were hired, but they all died at her hands. Later, an old Taoist priest in town hung talisman coins at the door of every household to ward off evil spirits, and she calmed down a bit. But every now and then, she would still come out to harm people."

He looked at Zhou Ning, his eyes full of pleading:

"Young man, I can tell you're a cultivator, but take my advice and don't meddle in this. That thing is extremely powerful; you're no match for it."

Zhou Ning remained silent for a long time before slowly saying:

"I see."

Manager Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, saying:

"Get some rest, young man. Leave early tomorrow morning."

He turned and left, leaving Zhou Ning alone in the room.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting flickering shadows on his face.

Painted Skin Ghost...

Zhou Ning clenched his fist.

He was no match for them; he knew it.

But he also knew that if no one did anything, whose husband or whose father would be the next victim?

Zhou Ning took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Tomorrow, I will first return to the mountain to report to my master.

As for tonight...

He opened his eyes, his gaze resolute.

He wants to go and take another look.