Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 47 The Scheme of Heart Transplantation

"Judge Lu?"

Zhou Ning stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "What brings you here?"

Judge Lu glanced at him and said indifferently, "I have come to see Zhu Erdan."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "What business does the judge have with Young Master Zhu?"

Judge Lu did not answer and walked straight towards Zhu Erdan's house.

Zhu Erdan was reading in the courtyard when he saw Judge Lu walk in. He was startled at first, then stood up and bowed respectfully.

"Student Zhu Erdan greets the judge."

Judge Lu looked him up and down and nodded slightly:

"You look much better than the last time I saw you."

He sat down on the stone bench and gestured for Zhu Erdan to sit down as well.

"I have come here today to make a deal with you."

Zhu Erdan was taken aback: "A deal? What deal?"

Judge Lu took out a crystal-clear bead from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

The beads emitted a soft glow, and one could vaguely see clouds of mist swirling within them.

"This bead is called the 'Wisdom Bead.' After consuming it, you will possess a seven-aperture exquisite mind, profound wisdom, photographic memory, and the ability to draw inferences from one instance," said Judge Lu.

"I am willing to give you this pearl in exchange for something from you."

Zhu Erdan frowned: "What does the judge want?"

Judge Lu said, "Your lifespan."

Zhu Erdan's expression changed: "Lifespan?"

Judge Lu nodded: "Judging from your appearance, I predict you will live to be eighty-three. I will take forty years of your life in exchange for this Wisdom Pearl. After you consume it, you will have forty-three more years to live, enough for you to enjoy wealth and honor and become famous throughout the world."

Zhu Erdan remained silent.

Zhou Ning stood to the side, his brows furrowed.

Trading lifespan for wisdom?

This sounds like the work of evil spirits and heretics. But Judge Lu is a righteous god of the underworld, why would he propose such a deal?

"Judge, there is something I don't understand," Zhou Ning said.

Judge Lu looked at him and said, "Speak."

"As a judge of the underworld, in charge of life and death in the mortal realm, why would you make such a deal with mortals? Isn't this... abusing your power for personal gain?"

Judge Lu's face darkened: "Are you questioning me?"

Zhou Ning did not back down: "This disciple simply does not understand."

Judge Lu was silent for a moment, then said:

"My deal with Jurdan was fair and voluntary. He gave me life, and I gave him wisdom. We owe each other nothing, so how can it be considered an abuse of power for personal gain?"

Zhou Ning shook his head: "Judge, you are mistaken. Lifespan is fundamental to a person, and so is wisdom. Exchanging one fundamental thing for another may seem fair, but it is not."

"If Young Master Zhu were to exchange forty years of his life for a Wisdom Pearl, it would seem like he'd gained something on the surface. But what he would lose is forty years of youth, forty years of experience, forty years of family, friendship, and love. These things cannot be exchanged for a single pearl."

A flash of anger crossed Lu Pan's eyes: "You, a mere mortal, dare to discuss the Dao with me?"

Zhou Ning cupped his hands and said, "This disciple dares not. This disciple only feels that Young Master Zhu should not exchange his lifespan for anything. A person's value lies not in the level of his wisdom, but in how he spends his life."

He looked at Zhu Erdan: "Young Master Zhu, what do you think?"

Zhu Erdan remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he raised his head, looked at Judge Lu, and slowly said:

"Judge, my life was given to me by my parents. I dare not use this life to exchange for anything else. Please, Judge, take back the Wisdom Pearl."

Judge Lu's face was very grim.

He stared at Zhu Erdan for a long time, then looked at Zhou Ning, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

"What a fine 'a person's value does not lie in the level of their intelligence'!" He scoffed.

"Yan Chixia's disciple is indeed just like him, ignorant of his own limitations."

He stood up and put the Wisdom Pearl back into his sleeve.

"Zhu Erdan, I'll ask you one more time. You really don't want it?"

Zhu Erdan shook his head: "The student doesn't want to."

Judge Lu was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Very well. I will do as you say."

He turned around and looked at Zhou Ning: "Your name is Zhou Ning?"

Zhou Ning cupped his hands in greeting: "Indeed."

Judge Lu nodded: "I will remember you."

He strode out of the courtyard, got into the sedan chair, and disappeared at the village entrance.

Zhu Erdan let out a long breath and slumped onto the stone bench.

"Young Master Zhou, thank you." He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Just now, I almost said yes."

Zhou Ning shook his head: "No need to thank me. You made the right choice yourself."

He paused, then continued, "Young Master Zhu, I will be setting off for the North tomorrow. Take good care of yourself. Remember, no matter what temptations you encounter, you must guard your principles."

Zhu Erdan solemnly replied, "I have remembered."

Zhou Ning returned to the inn, packed his bags, and prepared to set off early the next morning.

It was late at night, and he was meditating and regulating his breathing in his room when he suddenly felt a cold wind blowing by.

He opened his eyes and saw Lu Pan standing by the window, his hands behind his back.

Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine and quickly stood up to bow.

"The judge has come to visit so late at night; what brings you here?"

Judge Lu turned around, looked at him, and said calmly:

"You have ruined my plans today, and I should punish you. However, considering that you are not a bad person and are Yan Chixia's disciple, I will not hold it against you."

Zhou Ning said, "This disciple did not intentionally oppose the judge, but I felt that the deal was unfair to Young Master Zhu."

Judge Lu sneered, "Unfair? Do you even know who that Zhu Erdan is?"

Zhou Ning was taken aback: "Young Master Zhu... isn't he just an ordinary scholar?"

Judge Lu shook his head:

"He is the reincarnation of the God of Literature, destined to become famous throughout the world. But with his current aptitude, he can at most become a scholar who passes the imperial examinations. I gave him the Wisdom Pearl to help him achieve greater things."

Zhou Ning frowned: "Why would the judge help him?"

Judge Lu was silent for a moment, then said, "Because I owe his ancestor a favor."

He paused, then continued, "A hundred years ago, Zhu Erdan's great-grandfather saved my life. I have always wanted to find an opportunity to repay him, but I have not found a suitable person. It was not until I met Zhu Erdan that I realized he was a promising talent."

Zhou Ning said, "I understand the judge's good intentions. But Young Master Zhu has already made his choice, and the judge should respect it."

Judge Lu glanced at him and suddenly smiled.

"You're quite the talker."

He walked to the window, put his hands behind his back, and looked up at the night sky.

"Zhou Ning, do you know why I didn't force a deal with Zhu Erdan?"

Zhou Ning shook his head: "This disciple does not know."

Lu Pan said, "Because I see in you something exactly the same as Yan Chixia did back then."

"What is it?"

"Uprightness." Judge Lu turned around, his gaze piercing.

"Back then, Yan Chixia also fought against the Underworld for a complete stranger. That sense of righteousness left a deep impression on me."

He paused, then continued, "Today, you dared to defy me for the sake of Zhu Erdan, which shows that you also possess that sense of righteousness."

Zhou Ning lowered his head: "This disciple dares not."

"No need to be modest," Judge Lu waved his hand.

"I have come today to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"The Black Mountain Demon's men have already infiltrated Guobei County."

Zhou Ning's heart skipped a beat: "What?"

Lu Pan said, "I sense the presence of Black Mountain forces in the county town. Their target may be Zhu Erdan."

Why?

"Because Zhu Erdan is the reincarnation of the God of Literature, his destiny is helpful to the Black Mountain Demon's cultivation," Judge Lu said.

"The Black Mountain Demon is practicing an evil art that requires devouring the souls of people with special destinies. Zhu Erdan is one of his targets."

Zhou Ning clenched his fist: "Then what should this disciple do?"

Judge Lu said, "You will be going to the North tomorrow. I will handle the matter in Guo Bei County. But you must remember that the Black Mountain Demon's power is much greater than you imagine. Be careful when you arrive in the North."

Zhou Ning solemnly replied, "This disciple understands."

Lu Pan nodded, his figure gradually fading and disappearing into the night.