UGB Chapter 35 Xin 4 Niang
Chapter 35 Xin 4 Niang
When Zhou Ning left Lanruo Temple, it was already close to dusk.
He didn't rush on his way, but walked slowly along the mountain path, making plans in his mind as he went.
The demonic calamity in the north has far-reaching implications, and with his current strength, going there rashly would likely be extremely dangerous.
But since Master sent him, he must have had his reasons.
"Perhaps, Master wants me to hone my swordsmanship in actual combat," Zhou Ning muttered to himself.
As we were walking, we suddenly heard a rustling sound ahead, as if something was struggling in the grass.
Zhou Ning stopped, gripped his Qingfeng sword tightly, and cautiously approached.
He parted the grass and saw a young woman huddled in the bushes, her clothes torn, her face pale, and her body covered in blood.
She had a deep wound on her shoulder, still bleeding, which looked like it had been caused by some sharp weapon.
"Girl?" Zhou Ning crouched down and called softly.
The woman raised her head, revealing a delicate yet pale face.
Her eyes were amber, shimmering with an unusual light in the twilight, with slightly upturned corners, carrying a hint of foxy allure.
What surprised Zhou Ning even more was that he could sense a faint demonic aura emanating from the woman.
She is a demon.
But the demonic aura was not strong, nor did it have the chilling coldness of evil spirits. Instead, it carried a touch of pure and spiritual energy, making it completely different from ordinary demons.
"Help...help me..."
The woman stretched out her hand with difficulty, her voice weak.
Zhou Ning hesitated for a moment, but still helped her out of the bushes.
Regardless of whether she is human or demon, it is not his style to stand by and watch her die.
He carried the woman to a large tree by the roadside, let her sit down against the trunk, and then took out wound medicine and bandages from his bag to treat her wounds.
"Who are you? How did you get injured?" Zhou Ning asked while bandaging the wound.
The woman, panting, said intermittently:
"I...I'm Xin Shisi Niang, I'm...I'm from the Qingqiu Fox Clan. I...I'm being chased by bad guys..."
The Fox Clan of Qingqiu?
Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat.
The white-clad sisters I met in Guobei County last time were also from the Qingqiu Fox Clan.
It seems that the situation of the Qingqiu fox clan is much worse than he imagined.
"Who's hunting you down?"
"The people of Black Mountain..." A flicker of fear crossed Xin Shisi Niang's eyes.
"They...they're capturing us foxes everywhere, they want...to turn us into elixirs..."
Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine.
Montenegro again.
"Don't worry, it's not far from Lanruo Temple. My master, Yan Chixia, is on the mountain; he will definitely protect you," Zhou Ning comforted him.
Xin Shisi Niang nodded, closed her eyes, and seemed to have exhausted her last bit of strength.
Zhou Ning carried her on his back, quickened his pace, and hurried towards Lanruo Temple.
When we returned to the temple, it was already completely dark.
Yan Chixia was meditating in the main hall when he heard footsteps and opened his eyes.
"Why are you back again?"
Zhou Ning placed Xin Shisi Niang on the prayer mat and briefly recounted what had happened.
Yan Chixia walked up to Xin Shisi Niang, reached out his hand, placed it on her wrist, and closed his eyes to sense it for a moment.
"The internal injuries are serious, but his life is not in danger."
He took out a pill from his sleeve and put it into Xin Shisi Niang's mouth:
"Take this 'Rejuvenation Pill,' and you'll be fine after a night's rest."
He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning: "You're lucky, you've picked up another one."
Zhou Ning smiled wryly: "Master, I didn't pick you up, I saved you."
"Save me?" Yan Chixia snorted coldly.
"Do you know who she is? Do you know why she's being hunted? You're just recklessly rescuing her, aren't you afraid of getting burned?"
Zhou Ning fell silent.
He truly did not know Xin Shisi Niang's identity, nor did he know why she was being hunted down.
But seeing her covered in wounds and the fear in her eyes, he couldn't bear to ignore it.
"Master, I know what you're worried about," Zhou Ning said.
"But refusing to help someone in distress is not something you taught me."
Yan Chixia glanced at him, said nothing more, and turned to walk out of the main hall.
"Let her rest here. We'll find out what happened when she wakes up tomorrow."
Zhou Ning nodded and stayed in the main hall all night.
The next morning, Xin Shisi Niang finally woke up.
She opened her eyes and saw Zhou Ning sitting cross-legged to the side. She was slightly taken aback, and then remembered what happened last night.
"Was it...was it you who saved me?"
Zhou Ning opened his eyes and smiled, "It was nothing. How are you feeling, young lady?"
Xin Shisi Niang moved her shoulder; the wound had scabbed over and was no longer painful.
She struggled to sit up and bowed deeply to Zhou Ning.
"Thank you so much for saving my life. I will never forget your kindness."
Zhou Ning quickly helped her up: "Miss, there's no need for such formality. May I ask, where are those people who were chasing you?"
A flicker of fear flashed in Xin Shisi Niang's eyes:
"They...they're down the mountain. I escaped into the mountains last night, and they're probably still looking for me."
Zhou Ning frowned: "How many people?"
"Three of them, all henchmen of Black Mountain, and their cultivation levels are not low," Xin Shisi Niang said.
"They captured more than a dozen of us from the Qingqiu Fox Clan and imprisoned us in a stronghold at the foot of the mountain. I escaped when they weren't looking and was trying to find someone to help me."
Zhou Ning thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry, young lady, this is Lanruo Temple. My master, Yan Chixia, cultivates here. Those Black Mountain henchmen dare not come up."
When Xin Shisi Nian's mother heard the name "Yan Chixia," a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes:
"Immortal Yan? That's the one... Immortal Yan, renowned throughout the world for slaying demons and monsters?"
Zhou Ning nodded: "It is indeed my master."
Xin Shisi Niang was overjoyed and wanted to bow again.
Zhou Ning quickly stopped her.
"No need for such formalities, young lady. Please rest first, I will go and report to my master."
He walked out of the main hall, found Yan Chixia practicing his sword on the back mountain, and relayed Xin Shisi Niang's words.
Yan Chixia sheathed his sword, turned around, and after a moment of silence, said:
"Black Mountain's claws have already reached Qingshan Town."
He paused, then continued, "Since we've run into them, we can't just ignore it. Go and take care of those Black Mountain henchmen. While you're at it, rescue those captured fox clan members."
Zhou Ning was taken aback: "This disciple is alone?"
Yan Chixia glanced at him: "What? Scared?"
Zhou Ning shook his head: "This disciple is not afraid. It's just... I don't know the cultivation levels of those three Black Mountain henchmen. What if..."
"If we can't win, we'll run." Yan Chixia interrupted him:
"Don't you have my jade talisman? That's enough to save your life."
He took out a new jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning:
"This is the last one. Use it sparingly."
Zhou Ning accepted the jade talisman and solemnly said, "This disciple understands."
He returned to the main hall and told Xin Shisi Niang what had happened.
"Girl, do you know where those Black Mountain henchmen's stronghold is?"
Xin Shisi Niang nodded: "I know. It's in an abandoned manor outside Qingshan Town at the foot of the mountain."
"Okay. You wait here, I'll go rescue them."
Xin Shisi Niang quickly said, "I'll go with you; I'm familiar with the terrain there."
Zhou Ning hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay. But your injuries haven't healed yet, so don't push yourself when you get there."
Xin Shisi Niang nodded and followed Zhou Ning, leaving Lanruo Temple.