Chapter 35: Divine General Plan, Immortal Aunt Yaozhen

When Ning Xuan returned to the mansion, it was already late at night.

In the past, at this late hour, Xiao Jie would only light the lamp in his room.

But today, the lights were all on.

When Ning Xuan walked into the courtyard gate, he immediately sensed that there were people in the reception hall.

There was his father, and a stranger.

Ning Xuan thought that another “Uncle Tang” had come this time, but when he looked around the screen wall, he saw a cold and beautiful young female Taoist.

She held a horsetail whisk in her hand, and her eyes were indifferent.

It was a kind of indifference that was beyond the clouds, in the ice and snow, without any worldly air.

It was as if she was indifferent to everything in the world.

This kind of indifference was extremely mismatched with her youth.

And what was even more unique was that such an indifferent female Taoist was wearing a black python Taoist robe.

The majestic black python Taoist robe was clearly very large, so much so that it wrapped around her body, completely concealing her originally plump body and beautiful curves.

Seeing Ning Xuan appear, Ning Taiyi hurriedly stood up and said, “Xuan’er, this is the imperial envoy, Immortal Aunt Yaozhen.”

Immortal Aunt?

Ning Xuan thought for a moment.

His big brother had told him that female Heavenly Masters were usually called Immortal Aunts, but because there were very few of them, he had not seen many.

He sized up this Immortal Aunt. The latter was definitely not much older than him.

To be able to become an Immortal Aunt at such a young age, she was indeed from a big place.

The indifferent python-robed female Taoist did not waste any words. She stood up directly and said in an extremely formulaic tone, “Ning Xuan, please show me a slash.”

Ning Taiyi added from the side, “Xuan’er, just like last time.”

Ning Xuan did not waste any words either. He took his saber and, with his 3.5 constitution, delivered a Swallow’s Union slash.

A long and sharp hum, like the cry of a startled swallow, lingered for a long time.

Immortal Aunt Yaozhen stared for a long time, nodded, and then took out a bright yellow silk scroll from her sleeve and said, “Ning Xuan, receive the decree.”

Ning Taiyi hurriedly went over, pulled Ning Xuan, and knelt down directly.

Immortal Aunt Yaozhen began to read.

“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims:

I have heard that Ning Xuan of the Ning family is gifted and exceptionally brave. Although he is young, he has the courage to slay demons and subdue devils, and is truly a pillar of the state. Today, he is specially promoted to the rank of General An Yuan, granted a tiger tally, and given command of the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping’an, to bring peace to the region.

I hope you will diligently practice martial arts, sharpen your edge, and not fail my great trust, to deter the demons with your courage and martial prowess, and to protect my territory with your loyalty and righteousness. When you achieve success in the future, there will surely be a great reward!

By imperial decree.”

After reading, Immortal Aunt Yaozhen took out another jade box and held it flat along with the imperial decree.

Ning Xuan’s eyes narrowed.

There was nothing else, it was all empty talk, but the key point was the sentence “command of the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping’an, to bring peace to the region.”

This gave him great power and also divided his jurisdiction.

The so-called great power was that he could freely mobilize the superficial prefectural power and the secret Fangshi power of the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping’an with the tiger tally.

By becoming General An Yuan, he could be said to have become the undisputed emperor of these two prefectures.

Why two prefectures?

Because Wangyue Prefecture was originally his family’s. This was the Son of Heaven giving him a bottom line, sending him what the Ning family had originally sought, and also saying “your Ning family doesn’t want to move, then don’t move. Not only will you not move, but I will also give your family double insurance. Not only is the prefect from your family, but the general above the prefect is also from your family.” This was called the vast imperial grace.

As for Ping’an Prefecture, it was interesting.

From the fact that Tang Chuan’s daughter was in the “Imperial Divine Weapon Camp,” and that “Tang Chuan had stayed in the imperial capital for many years,” and that “Tang Chuan knew about the reform and the intelligence of the imperial capital,” it could be seen that Tang Chuan was definitely a person of the Son of Heaven’s faction.

So, the Son of Heaven had issued an imperial decree, and placed a person above Tang Chuan’s head. Tang Chuan would not object fiercely.

But at the same time, Ping’an Prefecture was in the midst of a demon disaster.

Since he, General An Yuan, was in “command of the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping’an,” he naturally also needed to be responsible for solving the trouble in “Ping’an Prefecture.”

He had to accept this matter.

Because, this was also a test of his ability.

Only if he passed would he be the true General An Yuan who was in “command of the two prefectures of Wangyue and Ping’an.”

If he couldn’t pass, then the Ning family would not be qualified to enjoy the privilege of “glory for more than two generations.”

Ning Xuan did not waste any words either. He stood up directly, said “Thank you for your grace,” and then took the jade box and the imperial decree in his hand.

He opened the jade box, and inside was a dragon-shaped golden tally, which exuded a mysterious aura.

When Ning Taiyi saw the aura, he actually bowed respectfully to his son.

Ning Xuan frowned in confusion.

Ning Taiyi explained with a smile, “Reporting to the General, we who go out to serve are all Taoists under the Son of Heaven. It’s just that after we go out to serve, we have dispersed our power. Although that is the case, we are still familiar with the dragon qi of our former master. Seeing this tiger tally, a sense of loyalty naturally arises in our hearts.

However, after all, we have dispersed our power, and a long time has passed. That kind of forced loyalty has faded a lot, and has been replaced by spontaneous loyalty.”

He had the appearance of a subordinate to a superior.

But anyone could see that he was overjoyed.

What in the world was more worth being happy about than “one’s son becoming one’s own immediate superior”?

Then, he explained again, “This kind of imperial decree appointing a general will be announced to the world, so the General does not need to worry that the law cannot be implemented.”

Ning Xuan also smiled and then said, “Dad, you can rest assured now.”

Ning Taiyi was not at ease. There was still a bit of worry in his eyes. How could he not hear what Ning Xuan could hear?

Ning Xuan said, “Dad, you should go and rest first.”

Ning Taiyi said, “Chou Nu is about to break through. He can go with you.”

Ning Xuan nodded.

Only then did Ning Taiyi smile and retreat.

He had given all his dragon qi to his eldest son with extreme partiality, and had given the task of continuing the family line to his younger son. But now, his younger son was also very promising. He naturally hoped that his eldest son would do his best to protect his younger son.

In the reception hall, only the two of them were left.

Ning Xuan asked, “When will the Immortal Aunt leave?”

Yaozhen shook her head.

Ning Xuan said, “Does the Immortal Aunt also have the task of being an inspector, to see how I will bring peace to Ping’an Prefecture, and then leave?”

Yaozhen said, “I will not leave.”

Ning Xuan said, “Oh?”

Yaozhen said, “The imperial family has been trying its best to cultivate a group of Taoists who have a deep hatred for demons, have no family ties, and are completely loyal to the imperial family for the past twenty years, in order to implement the Divine General Plan twenty years later. Now is twenty years later, and you and I are both part of the Divine General Plan.”

Ning Xuan was curious, “What Divine General Plan?”

Yaozhen said, “The demons will become stronger and stronger. The imperial family plans to pour all its resources into cultivating twelve divine generals.”

Ning Xuan asked, “What about Great General Qin? Is he participating?”

Yaozhen said, “He is not participating.”

After speaking, she added, “We, this group of Taoists, all master a special power called ‘Whisper.’ We can communicate with each other, and even if we are thousands of miles apart, we can talk without error.

In addition, we can also be exclusively for one person, and conduct a ‘Whisper’ with this person over thousands of miles. This person is our divine general.

The purpose of our cultivation is to be arranged by the side of the quasi-divine general, to grow together with the quasi-divine general, until we become comrades who live and die together.

I can get a lot of intelligence, and I can also help you apply for some necessary subsidies. At the same time, I can also guard by your side when you go on an expedition.

I came to deliver the decree, and I gave you the imperial decree, the tiger tally, and myself.”

Ning Xuan was stunned for a moment and asked tentatively, “Is this a marriage bestowed by His Majesty?”

Yaozhen said, “No.”

Ning Xuan said gently, “That’s good.”

After speaking, he said, “I don’t like the people around me to be forced. Since we are destined to be partners, I hope you can have more freedom and more of your own ideas, even if it’s love.”

Yaozhen said, “This poor Taoist’s heart is寄 (jì – entrusted) to the great void, and is not stained by the dust of emotion. I am self-sufficient in my purity, and my blessings are immeasurable.”

The first round of confrontation… ended.

Ning Xuan wanted to test whether the other party was a love-struck fool. After all, the elements of “orphan, being cultivated as a tool” combined together were very easy to “lack love.”

But, Yaozhen saw through his thoughts at a glance and directly expressed “I don’t lack love, thank you.”

Ning Xuan said again, “Then I want to sleep with you. Does His Majesty agree?”

Yaozhen said seriously, “I don’t agree.”

Ning Xuan said, “Don’t you know that the Divine General Plan is very important? Since you were born for the Divine General Plan, are you… unwilling to make a little necessary sacrifice? If you can make me a slave to your skirt, wouldn’t it be much more convenient to do things in the future?”

As he spoke, he returned to his dissolute and dandy look.

The eyes that had fought in all directions in the Chenxiang Pavilion at night rolled, and swept over Yaozhen’s wide python robe, as if wanting to see what was hidden inside.

Yaozhen’s cold face finally couldn’t hold it anymore. Where had she ever met such an old rogue? Her cheeks suddenly turned red.

She said again, “This poor Taoist’s heart is entrusted to the great void, and is not stained by the dust of emotion! If the General wants to find me, you can just send me a message. I have already linked the ‘Whisper’ with the General. Even if the General is at the ends of the earth, as long as you mention the two words Yaozhen, I can hear the General speak.”

As she spoke, her figure moved, and a golden light appeared. She disappeared from the spot directly.

Ning Xuan let out a sigh of relief.

At least this person sent by His Majesty would blush when she was teased, and was not a puppet.

He perceived for a moment and felt that a mysterious aura had been added to his soul.

This must be the “Whisper” that Yaozhen had mentioned.

He thought for a moment, thought of Immortal Aunt Yaozhen, and said, “I love you.”

No response.

He said again, “Yaozhen, I love you.”

This time, there was a response from the other side.

“General, don’t joke!”

The voice was filled with an anger that was hard to suppress.

Ning Xuan laughed out loud.

Alright, the initial test was over.

He had a simple preliminary understanding of his position and the character of this partner.