Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 20 Whispers from the Tomb

It was already dusk when we emerged from the cave.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the mountains and forests, gilding everything with a golden halo.

The village head and several villagers were still anxiously waiting outside the cave entrance. When they saw Zhou Ning come out, they cheered.

"Brother Zhou, you've finally come out." The village headman stepped forward and looked him up and down.

"How is it? Inside...?"

Zhou Ning forced a smile:

"Everything's alright for now. But..."

He paused, but did not reveal the matter of the Corpse King.

The villagers were already terrified enough; if they were told that an ancient corpse king was buried underground, the entire village would probably run away.

"But what?" the village head asked nervously.

Zhou Ning shook his head:

"It's nothing. Village head, from now on, every year during the Qingming, Zhongyuan, and Hanyi Festivals, you must burn incense and pray at the village entrance to commemorate the deceased. This will appease the resentment in the underworld and reduce the occurrence of corpses turning into spirits."

The village head nodded repeatedly:

"Definitely, definitely."

Zhou Ning added, "Don't go into that cave again. I will set up a barrier at the entrance to prevent outsiders from entering."

The village head was extremely grateful and insisted that Zhou Ning stay in the village for a few days.

Zhou Ning initially wanted to refuse, but considering that his internal energy was almost depleted and he really needed to rest, he agreed.

That evening, the village head killed a chicken and prepared a table of wine and dishes to entertain Zhou Ning.

During the meal, Zhou Ning inquired about the origin of the cave.

The village head thought for a moment and said:

"The older generation says that the cave is the tomb of a general from ancient times."

"The General's Tomb?" Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat.

The village head nodded: "It is said that a long time ago, there was a general named Chen who died in battle nearby. His subordinates buried him in the mountains and erected a monument in front of his grave. Over the years, the monument fell down, and the grave was robbed, leaving only that cave."

Zhou Ning seemed to be deep in thought.

Could the corpse king in that stone coffin be General Chen?

"Village head, what kind of person is General Chen?" he asked.

The village head thought for a moment and said:

"The older generation said that General Chen was a good man. He fought to protect his country and never killed innocent people indiscriminately. When he died, the entire army wept."

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

If the Corpse King is indeed General Chen in disguise, then his resentment must be related to dying on the battlefield and being unable to return home.

Resolving resentment may be more effective than forcibly suppressing it.

The next morning, Zhou Ning returned to the cave.

This time, he didn't enter the cave. Instead, he set up a simple barrier at the entrance and sealed the entrance with several "house-protecting talismans".

Then, he sat cross-legged outside the cave entrance, closed his eyes, and probed his divine sense into the ground, attempting to communicate with the Corpse King in the stone coffin.

"General Chen, can you hear me?"

silence.

After a long while, a deep and hoarse voice echoed in his mind.

"Who are you?"

Zhou Ning was delighted to receive a response.

"I am Zhou Ning, a cultivator. General Chen, why are you trapped here and unwilling to leave?"

silence.

After a long while, the voice rang out again.

"I... am waiting for someone."

"Waiting for someone?"

Zhou Ning asked, "Who are we waiting for?"

"Wait... for my subordinates." General Chen's voice carried a hint of confusion:

"I promised them I would take them home. But... but they're all dead, and I'm dead too. I... I can't go back."

Zhou Ning was startled.

He got it.

General Chen's obsession was not dying on the battlefield, but failing to fulfill his promise to his subordinates.

Take them home.

"General Chen, your men have all been reincarnated," Zhou Ning said.

"They don't blame you. You should let it go."

"Put it down?" General Chen's voice suddenly became sharp:

"How can I let go? I promised them, I... I can't break my promise."

Zhou Ning was silent for a moment, then said:

"General Chen, if you are willing, I can help you pass on to the afterlife. May you and your men find peace."

"A ritual for the deceased?" General Chen's voice held a hint of hesitation.

"You...you can do it?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "I can give it a try."

"Alright," General Chen said, "If you can do it, then... then I will leave in peace."

Zhou Ning took a deep breath, took out talisman paper, cinnabar and pen from his bag, and began to draw the "Rebirth Talisman".

These talismans are specifically used to help the souls of the deceased find peace.

He had seen it in "The True Explanation of Talismans", but had never drawn it.

First attempt, failure.

The second attempt failed.

The third one, success.

But the aura is very weak.

Zhou Ning did not get discouraged and continued drawing one picture after another.

It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that he finally managed to draw a "Rebirth Talisman" that was full of spiritual energy and of decent quality.

He took the talisman, entered the cave, and came to the stone chamber.

The stone coffin still lay there quietly, its lid locked with iron chains.

Zhou Ning affixed the "Rebirth Talisman" to the stone coffin, formed hand seals, and chanted a mantra for salvation.

"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, soul to the netherworld, lest you linger in the mortal realm. May you be reborn in paradise, where reincarnation proceeds in its orderly fashion..."

The talisman glowed with a soft golden light, enveloping the entire stone chamber.

A low, buzzing sound came from inside the stone coffin, as if something was responding.

"General Chen, let's go," Zhou Ning said softly.

"Your men are waiting for you."

silence.

After a long while, the deep voice rang out again, this time with a hint of relief.

"Young man... thank you."

A phantom figure floated out of the stone coffin; it was a middle-aged general in armor with a resolute face.

He bowed deeply to Zhou Ning, then transformed into specks of golden light and dissipated into the air.

The aura of the Corpse King within the stone coffin also vanished.

The seal is no longer needed.

Because the Corpse King has already left on his own initiative.

Zhou Ning let out a long breath and slumped to the ground.

He did it.

He not only temporarily sealed the Corpse King, but also resolved its resentment, causing it to leave on its own.

Although the process was tortuous, the result was good.

Zhou Ning stayed in Baihe Village for another three days, and after confirming that there was nothing unusual in the cave, he bid farewell to the villagers and embarked on his journey back to Lanruo Temple.

Before he left, the village headman placed a jade pendant in his hand.

"Brother Zhou, this is a family heirloom from our Baihe Village. It's said to ward off evil spirits. Please accept it; it's a small token of our appreciation."

Zhou Ning initially wanted to refuse, but seeing the sincerity in the village head's eyes, he accepted it.

The jade pendant was bluish-white, with a coiled dragon carved on it, and two red gemstones inlaid in the dragon's eyes, making it look very lifelike.

It feels warm and smooth to the touch, and you can vaguely feel the subtle spiritual energy it contains.

"Thank you, sir." Zhou Ning bowed and expressed his gratitude.

Five days later, they returned to Lanruo Temple.

Yan Chixia was practicing his swordplay on the back mountain when he saw Zhou Ning return. He stopped and said calmly:

"how?"

Zhou Ning recounted everything that had happened in Baihe Village, including the seven zombies, the old man in the stone chamber, General Chen's spirit, and the jade pendant given to him by the village head.