A life of idleness in the world of demons

Chapter 60. The Dragon's Aura Stolen, the People's Hearts Are Flawed (5.4K words - Large Chapter)

Amidst the picturesque scenery of the lake and mountains, Ning Xuan was surrounded by women on either side of him. Meanwhile, Madam Jie, who was usually alluring, appeared dignified and arranged the activities, having musicians and dancers perform one program after another. She also selected elegant and talented courtesans to play a game called "Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream" alongside the three scholars from the Ning family.

A light, double-eared jug, half-filled with wine, floats down from upstream. Whoever it lands in front of must recite a poem; if they fail to do so, they must drink the wine.

Liu Shirong and Ning Xuan huddled together, chatting and laughing.

As long as the matter of "Shamo religion and hunchbacked Shan Gong" is not mentioned, this eldest son of the wealthy merchant guild is still a normal person.

Ning Xuan carefully embraced the two fragile "paper beauties" who would crumble at the slightest pressure. He was intoxicated by his own presence, not by the wine. Now that his physique was becoming stronger, he could no longer play with these "paper beauties." He could only enjoy the moment of ease and comfort while watching the busy Madam Jie from afar.

At this moment, Lady Jie's hair was neatly styled, adorned with a hairpin, her eyebrows were drawn with snail-shell ink to resemble distant mountains, and a plum blossom decoration cut from red gold foil was pasted on her forehead. Her red skirt covered the tips of her embroidered shoes, and she often used a fan to cover her face while walking, making it difficult for you to even catch a glimpse of her appearance.

Ning Xuan looked at Madam Jie and suddenly felt that the two courtesans on either side of him were no longer appealing.

He still finds his own concubine more attractive.

Tonight we'll stay in the mountains and not return. We'll wait until we get to the tent to enjoy some more marital bliss with Lady Jie.

Just as he was drinking fine wine, a familiar scholar from his family came to offer him a toast, saying, "General Ning, I am grateful for the cultivation and blessings of my clan and family. I am now able to go to the capital to take the imperial examination. Although I am of humble status, I dare not forget the virtues of my ancestors."

I wish to use this fine wine to express my aspirations: if I achieve the highest honors next year, I will surely bring glory to my family with my unwavering loyalty and integrity; even if my writing fails to gain discerning recognition, I will still strive with undiminished dedication, living up to the family's teachings. May our ancestors bless us, granting my pen the power to soar to great heights, enabling me to leap over the dragon gate and repay their profound kindness!

Ning Xuan looked at the scholar and said, "Ning Guangcheng, when you were a child, you were bullied on the street, and I was the one who helped you get revenge. What, after not seeing you for a while, you're already being called General Ning by people from other places?"

The scholar laughed and said, "I've never been one to stand on ceremony. But a country has its laws, and a family has its rules. If we don't address you as 'General,' it would be a disorder of hierarchy."

Ning Xuan raised his cup.

The two clinked glasses and each drank their beverage.

Ning Xuan patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I will find a way to get you safely to the capital for next year's imperial examination."

The scholar named Ning Guangcheng said, "I was born a member of the Ning family, and I will die a member of the Ning family. I am at the general's mercy."

Soon, two other scholars also came up to offer a toast.

These Ning family scholars were all born and raised in the Ning family and were familiar with Ning Xuan. After becoming successful candidates in the provincial examinations, they had been spoken with by Master Ning and naturally understood the heavy responsibilities they bore. They also knew that only by passing the provincial examinations and becoming tribute students, and then achieving good results in the palace examinations, could they truly help the Ning family prolong its life and truly establish themselves in this world.

Several days later.
In another lush and verdant place, Ning Xuan and Lady Jie were nestled together, watching the sunset and enjoying their leisure time, when suddenly a golden light surged beside them, revealing a human-shaped silhouette.

Her wide, black robe adorned with five pythons fluttered wildly, and her face was cold and alluring.

If Ning Xuan hadn't known what kind of personality lay beneath that cold and aloof demeanor, he would have been completely intimidated.

Even so, he still called out, "Fairy Maiden, you've finally decided to come back."

Fairy Yao glanced at Madam Jie.

Ning Xuan said, "Speak frankly. My wife Jie is very sensible, much more so than you."

Fairy Yao Zhen raised her head proudly, spread her hands behind her back, making the five black pythons on her black robe even more clearly visible.

Madam Jie smiled and said, "I found a good spring, gathered some fragrant branches, and brewed tea. It should be ready soon. I'll go and take a look."

With that, she gracefully rose, respectfully bowed to Fairy Yao Zhen, and then walked away into the distance.

Fairy Yao Zhen said, "Your wife Jie is more sensible than you."

Ning Xuan was delighted.

The fairy is still so argumentative.

However, as a "supervisor" of the emperor's faction, he was quite satisfied that he could get along with such a person and even be a little naive.

He asked, "Weren't you always working as an outside helper? Why are you suddenly back? What's up?"

Fairy Yao Zhen said, "You have left your fiefdom time and time again, and I have kept it a secret for you."

Ning Xuan said, "Thank you."

Fairy Yao asked, "Where did you go after leaving your fiefdom?"

Ning Xuan squinted at the woman who couldn't hide her thoughts.

That eager look in his eyes was like a trap, waiting for him to lie, then jumping out to shout "General!" and tell him, "Don't hide it, I actually know everything you've been doing."

Ning Xuan, of course, did not give her that chance. He asked himself if he had ever made a move without any trouble, and he did not know where he had given himself away. However, he was not nervous at all. He just smiled helplessly and said, "As expected of the Emperor's Attendant, you know everything."

"Of course."

The fairy Yao Zhen confronted her directly.

The air suddenly became quiet.

Ning Xuan closed his eyes and embraced the setting sun.

Seeing that he didn't ask, Fairy Yao's fair face turned red with anger. She said directly, "Did you attack Huang Cihe? Did you kill the Flying Eagle Pavilion that he had subdued, as well as a quasi-first-rank Daoist disciple? You killed them all?"

Ning Xuan remained silent for a moment.

Fairy Yao said, "That's good. In this way, you won't have to put yourself in a difficult position between His Majesty and General Qin."

Seeing that Ning Xuan remained silent, Fairy Yao Zhen's tone softened somewhat, and she said with a hint of comfort, "You asked for the land to be ceded before and refused Qin Yi'er, which was for the sake of the Ning family and you didn't want to get involved in the conflict. Now that Huang Cihe has made the choice for you, you don't need to worry anymore."

Ning Xuan sighed again.

After thinking for a moment, Fairy Yao Zhen straightened her python robe, bent over, and sat down beside him. She then said, "General Qin recently submitted a memorial stating that demons are rampant in the Frozen Hell. He is willing to send all the elite soldiers, personal guards, and inner guards in his mansion to serve Your Majesty and bring peace to the four directions."

At the same time, he also stated that he was getting old and had contracted a minor illness, so he requested to retire and recuperate at his residence, and would no longer personally lead the expedition.

General Qin included a couple of requests in his memorial, one of which was to earnestly request His Majesty to order General An Yuanning and Huang Cihe to set aside their past grievances and jointly face the calamity posed by the demon.

Ning Xuan never held a grudge against those who died.

Huang Cihe's situation couldn't be worse than it gets.

He killed the man, and his body was probably taken by a demon.

So he nodded and said, "With the nation in peril, personal grudges should be put aside. Everything should be for the greater good. I am willing to put aside all past grievances with Prefect Huang."

After saying that, his mind wandered again.

He had previously thought it might be a plan by demons to secretly seize the identity of a prefect, but now, after seeing General Qin's memorial, he was certain that General Qin was related to those demons.

At least one thing Fairy Yao was right about: he really didn't need to be torn between the General and His Majesty anymore.

He needs the Emperor's mercy to select one of the Ning family's scholars and grant him the qualification to become an official.

Besides, Your Majesty is a newly enthroned emperor who wants to make a name for yourself.

The general, however, has a problem.

Since the general has problems, everything he does is questionable.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "It is certainly a good thing that General Qin can set such an example and send his elite troops to serve His Majesty. But His Majesty must be careful if he wants to use those elite troops, as they have followed the General for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Fairy Yao's cold and beautiful face flushed with a hint of pleasure, and her gaze towards Ning Xuan softened considerably.

"Ping'an Prefecture is still yours. Not only Ping'an Prefecture, but also many other prefectures will be entrusted to your jurisdiction. You can't shirk your responsibility this time."

Fairy Yao became more and more excited as she spoke, "The Flying Eagle Tower is a mix of truth and falsehood, and it may very well be a trap set for you. It is truly remarkable that you were able to step into it, break through the trap, and escape unscathed."
Your first-rank martial arts skills have been completely exposed. This leaves you with no way out, and His Majesty no longer needs to keep you hidden away.

Your rating has been changed from mediocre to a first-grade martial artist, which is very rare.

After all, while there are many martial artists, those capable of condensing demonic incense are truly rare, at least among the new generation of generals, you are the only one.”

Ning Xuan was taken aback.

But on second thought, it's not so strange.

Finding a general with a specific gender is almost impossible.

Because a general with a spiritual nature needs to absorb incense offerings to unleash their power.

As for incense, one needs to slay demons and obtain the demon's incense bodhisattva statue, and then use the incense-stealing and incense-condensing techniques to obtain it.

But a general without power is just a mortal. How can he slay demons, obtain incense and Bodhisattva statues, and thus demonstrate his potential as a general?
Ning Xuan thought for a moment and said, "Is it possible that I am not only a first-grade martial artist in terms of personality, but also a first-grade martial artist in terms of destiny?"

Fairy Yao Zhen was stunned for a moment.

Ning Xuan is already a "double second-rank martial artist". Revealing that he is a "double first-rank martial artist" can bring benefits, avoid trouble, and gain attention and resource allocation.

He had a plan for what power he could reveal and what power he needed to hide, generally keeping seven-tenths hidden and three-tenths revealed, which would avoid trouble and also help him deal with unexpected events and risks.

At this moment, Ning Xuan didn't waste any words. He stood up, controlled his physique to about five or six points, and threw a punch forward with the "Yan He" technique.

A thin humming sound filled the air.

The buzzing sound dragged the fist as it landed on the mountainside not far away.

throat!
throat!
throat!
boom!
Several loud bangs blasted a huge crater into the hard mountain wall.

Smoke billowed, stone chips flew, and the smoke seemed to pierce through.

Ning Xuan stood in front of Fairy Yao Zhen, and the flying stone chips hit him, making a "clinking" sound, before bouncing away.

Fairy Yao was stunned.

She only knew that Ning Xuan was powerful, but after Ning Xuan ate the "demon-attribute" pill, she regarded Ning Xuan as a demon-attribute martial artist.

She never imagined that Ning Xuan's physical strength could be improved further.

This is much stronger than when she first met Ning Xuan, and he has definitely entered the category of a first-grade physical martial artist.

“But you didn’t eat the demon core, you…” Fairy Yao stammered.

Ning Xuan said, "I practiced it myself."

Fairy Yao Zhen's beautiful eyes widened, and she suddenly realized, "Oh~~ So you've been cultivating all this time?" Ning Xuan nodded, then said seriously, "Fairy, there's something else, but I don't know if I should say it."

The fairy maiden Yao Zhen was filled with awe and reverence.

The young general before us not only knows how to be patient and prudent, how to plan and strategize, and how to know when to advance and retreat, but also knows how to fight hard and sweat it out.

Hidden within his seemingly dissolute and unrestrained exterior lies a soul of extraordinary diligence and brilliance.

She took a deep breath and said in a trembling voice, "Double first-class status, unprecedented!"

Ning Xuan's heart also trembled.

Is this unprecedented "Double First-Class" initiative too high-profile?
He was a little nervous.

He hopes to become a double-third-ranked individual as soon as possible.

"Hiding seven and revealing three" is too radical. In this dangerous world, he should "hid nine and reveal one".

"General, please speak." Fairy Yao Zhen's tone became respectful; she was completely captivated by the young man's character and talent.

She understands him.

No one understands him better than her.

Ning Xuan sighed softly, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

Encouragingly, Fairy Yao Zhen said, "General, please speak."

Ning Xuan then explained the reasons for the destruction of the Flying Eagle Tower, and said: "The Divine Eagle Overturning the Sky Technique and the Lingyan Small Group Technique are techniques from the Hehuan Sect a hundred years ago. They are techniques that require a strength of at least a first-grade martial artist, or even a second-grade martial artist, to cultivate."

If one can cultivate, it will greatly benefit one's strength, thus enabling one to guard a region and protect the common people.

But this method of aphrodisiac is ultimately an evil art, which I deeply abhor. However, I have encountered a bottleneck and, in order to become stronger, I have no choice but to propose it.”

Immortal Yao Zhen pondered and said, "Sect techniques from a hundred years ago? I have heard of those."

The palace originally housed some copies, but they were all incomplete, supposedly burned by a fire decades ago.

Later, some people tried to practice according to those incomplete manuals, but none of them had any effect, so the matter was dropped. General, are you sure this method is effective?

Ning Xuan nodded and said, "Indeed."

Fairy Yao Zhen said solemnly, "Since it is for the purpose of becoming stronger, General, there is no need to feel embarrassed. I will certainly report to the Emperor and see if I can find a Daoist partner for you. In this way, it can be considered a win-win situation, and our dynasty will gain two great generals."

Ning Xuan sighed, "In the end, it's still an evil technique."

Fairy Yao Zhen said, "General, you are wrong. There is no good or evil in merit. Any technique that can subdue demons and eliminate evil is a good technique."

Ning Xuan seemed to be deep in thought, as if he was having an internal struggle, and finally nodded after a long while.

Fairy Yao was very happy to see that he had come to his senses.

Although the two partners had not seen each other for a long time, they had a very pleasant conversation when they met again.

Madam Jie brought the tea and gracefully approached from afar, placing the teacup on the wooden post in front of the two of them.

Just as I was about to drink my tea, a sudden gust of cold wind seemed to surge up from beneath the earth.

In an instant, dark clouds gathered over the mountains and forests.

It is going to rain.

Fortunately, the group had passed by a dilapidated temple on their way here.

The temple had been abandoned for a long time, and all the items inside had been removed. Even the surface of the Buddha statue sitting in the shrine had been peeled off, leaving it pitted and uneven.

Everyone hurriedly moved away.

However, only halfway through the transfer, the mountain rain began to fall hurriedly through the forest and leaves.

By the time everyone arrived at the dilapidated temple, they were all quite soaked.

The accompanying servants and maids hurriedly tidied up the dilapidated temple, and soon clean stone benches were revealed.

A scholar from the Ning family, who had passed the imperial examination, stood in front of the door and looked at the misty rain, saying, "The wet green drips onto the empty steps, and the mist swallows the distant trees; it is indeed a first-rate artistic conception."

Although it was late summer, deep in the mountains, Madam Jie quickly ordered people to light a bonfire to prevent people from catching a cold.

A group of people gathered around the campfire and took the food they had brought.

A moment later, a courtesan began to play the pipa. The continuous, ethereal music, accompanied by the sound of rain in the mountains, was quite delightful. Nearby, a scholar from the Ning family clapped his hands and sang along, making the atmosphere even more lively.

They were not afraid to be by the general's side, especially since there was a fairy maiden who could come and go freely and travel underground.

Ning Xuan and his group spent the night in the dilapidated temple.

He sat on a leather cushion, with Lady Jie nestled close to him like a little bird.

Fairy Yao Zhen sat cross-legged not far away, her whisk hanging to one side.

This is quite a rare experience.

The next morning, the chirping of tits echoed from the roof of the dilapidated temple, and golden sunlight slanted into the temple through the holes.

The maids and servants woke up and began preparing to boil some water.

Just then, an extremely abrupt scream shattered the tranquility of the early morning.

In a corner of the temple, a prostitute, drooling, stared blankly into the distance with wide eyes, emitting strange "hehe, hehe" laughs.

Besides the prostitute, there was also a scholar from the Ning family who had passed the imperial examination.

The scholar stared wide-eyed, mouth agape, gazing blankly into the distance, motionless.

Everyone was stunned. Everything had been fine since last night, and no one knew when this bizarre scene had occurred.
Ning Xuan glanced at the Ning family scholar who had become mentally impaired, his cold gaze sweeping over the surroundings, but he found nothing.

The temple eaves cast shadows, and the remnants of last night's rain still dripped intermittently.

Each drop is like the drool of a demon falling into people's hearts.

Xinghe County, Ning Family Old House.

A violent coughing sound came from inside.

At the beginning of the year, Mr. Ning appeared quite refined, and last night he was still full of energy. In an instant, he seemed to have aged a lot, with his head full of white hair.

In the county town, hurried footsteps could be heard, and screams and cries of agony could be heard outside, accompanied by several incredulous shouts.

"Something happened, something happened!"

"Zhang Laosan, the county magistrate, turned into a fool overnight."

"Widow Zhao is one of them."

"Madam Xu is in trouble too!"

"Which Lady Xu?"

"Even Madam Xu, who always did good deeds, has become senile."

More and more voices converge into a stream.

Ning Taiyi's cough worsened.

The First Madam gently patted his back.

Ning Taiyi waved his hand and ordered, "Have someone go and deal with it properly, and make sure those who were injured, as well as their relatives and children, are settled in a good manner."

The First Madam asked, "What's going on, sir?"

Ning Taiyi closed his eyes for a long time, shook his head, and said, "Take some money and go see if there are any orphans or widows who have been left behind and have no one to take care of them. If so, give them some silver to help them get through the day, and see if there is any suitable work for them."

The First Madam stood up and said, "Master, our Xuan'er has become quite capable. You can entrust all matters to him."

The First Madam clearly knew nothing.

I know neither the general nor the prefect.

Ning Taiyi did not refute, but simply smiled and nodded, saying gently, "I know, thank you for your hard work, Madam."

The First Madam then left.

Ning Taiyi gazed into the distance, sighed deeply, and murmured to himself, "Heaven steals, therefore it is flawed. The dragon's energy has been stolen, and the people's hearts are flawed. This is a rain of lost hearts, and also a natural disaster that warns us."

The prefect is a person who gathers the dragon's energy.

At this moment, he truly felt the warning from heaven and earth, which caused him to lose a lot of vital energy. This was the punishment given by heaven and earth, and it was the first punishment. He would probably be more severe in the future.

At the same time, he also sensed that the "dragon's energy had been stolen".

"Shanyang Prefecture, isn't that where Huang Cihe just took office?"

At the same time, the other three prefectures surrounding Shanyang Prefecture were all hit by the "Heartbreak Rain," and all the prefects were punished.

It seems that Heaven and Earth are blaming them for failing in their duty of guarding, allowing their belongings to be stolen.

This is a case of collateral damage.

The three prefectures are Liuyun Prefecture, Shanyin Prefecture, and Ping'an Prefecture.
The three prefects are now quite weak, and they have all begun to turn their attention to Shanyang.

Immediately, the three prefects, along with Ning Taiyi, made the same decision: to report to the prefect of Hanzhou, the general of Hanzhou, and the imperial attendants who were still in their respective jurisdictions.

This kind of stealthy theft of dragon energy is beyond their ability to handle. Let the higher-ups send someone to deal with it; they can just act as guides and provide necessary assistance in the area.
Ning Taiyi wasn't in a hurry to send it; he wanted to wait for his son and ask him something like, "Should we add a note that you're unwell and shouldn't be working?"

(End of this chapter)