Protector?
A "Resentful Soul" needed a protector? What for?
Zheng Que was instantly at a loss for words. The whole town only had one cultivator—himself. Who could possibly come looking for trouble with her?
That was what he thought, but just in case, he didn't dare let his guard down. He quickly went over and shut the front door, then returned to the inner room and sat on the edge of the bed. He activated [Spirit Eye Technique] and carefully watched his surroundings.
Time passed slowly, and Qing Li's condition gradually improved.
By nearly noon, the dark energy swirling around her had settled, and her form had grown more solid. She turned back into a figure wreathed in black smoke, wrapped around in white robes.
At that point, Qing Li turned to face Zheng Que and immediately asked, "Did anything happen while your grandaunt was resting?"
Zheng Que shook his head. "No..."
As soon as he said it, he froze, suddenly struck by how familiar the scene felt.
Then it hit him. After he and Qing Li had fought, he'd been about to cultivate, so he had asked her to stand guard. When he'd finished cultivating, he'd asked her a question just like the one she'd asked him now...
Qing Li was imitating him!
More precisely, she was learning how to act like a master.
At the thought, Zheng Que's face darkened. He'd thought she'd angered some especially powerful ghost outside and needed his help standing guard.
Turns out, she was simply copying her master's mannerisms!
Zheng Que took a deep breath and quickly calmed down. Then he asked, "Have you comprehended any new techniques?"
Last night, this Female Hanging Ghost had absorbed the dark energy of four Water Ghosts. He wanted to see whether she'd inherited any of their abilities.
At that, Qing Li gave a cold snort and bluntly chided him. "You Human Race brat, you really don't understand anything."
"Your grandaunt may be a heaven-gifted genius, with talent far beyond what your blockhead could ever match, but I can't just comprehend new techniques at every moment."
"It takes time."
"Hmm..."
"Tonight should just about do it!"
Hearing this, Zheng Que's expression didn't change. He understood that Qing Li hadn't inherited any techniques from the four Water Ghosts this time.
That might have been because those four Water Ghosts were too weak, or it might have been for some other reason...
He'd have to let Qing Li absorb the dark energy of more ghosts before he could figure out the exact cause.
As he pondered this, Zheng Que hesitated. Should he raise Qing Li's cultivation right now?
But soon, he shook his head.
He intended to build his Underworld into something big and powerful. He couldn't run it like a little workshop, as if Qing Li were the only ghost in the whole Underworld...
So yesterday, he'd raised Qing Li's cultivation at Xu Hour. From now on, no matter how many ghosts Qing Li killed, he'd raise her cultivation at Xu Hour every day.
He had to make it seem like his Underworld was actually very busy...
So Zheng Que said, "Come with me. We're going out."
Before he'd even finished speaking, he was already on his feet and heading outside.
Qing Li floated down from the crossbeam and followed behind him with an air of haughty pride.
The town was still very quiet in the daylight, though there were faint signs of life.
Following the familiar streets and alleys, Zheng Que soon arrived at the small courtyard of the Cui Family, on the eastern side of town.
Yesterday, he had helped the Cui father and daughter get rid of the four Water Ghosts in their home. Because of the Water Ghosts' rampage, the Cui daughter, Cui Ni'er, had been submerged for a while and had lost consciousness. Cui Fugui had also been frightened unconscious by Qing Li. Dusk had been falling at the time, and Zheng Que hadn't had time to do much else. He'd carried them both inside, closed the doors and windows for them, then gone home.
Now that he was visiting again, his main purpose was to make sure the Cui father and daughter were all right, and to take another look at the well the Water Ghosts had occupied.
Knock, knock, knock!
Looking at the courtyard gate in front of him, Zheng Que raised his hand and gently knocked three times.
Soon, a shuffling of footsteps came from behind the gate, followed by a wary voice. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Zheng Que," he replied at once.
"Uncle Cui, how are you both doing?"
The moment he heard Zheng Que's voice, Cui Fugui hurriedly removed the latch and opened the gate. Seeing Zheng Que and Qing Li behind him again, he wasn't as frightened as he'd been at first. He even smiled, stepping aside to welcome them in as he said, "Zheng Que, I really can't thank you enough!"
"Come on, come in and sit!"
Zheng Que nodded slightly. He had already activated [Spirit Eye Technique] and first looked Cui Fugui over. Once he'd confirmed that nothing was wrong, he followed him into the courtyard.
The courtyard looked much as it had the day before. Grain and dried vegetables were spread across the packed dirt. A clothesline stretched across one corner, with several patched outer garments draped over it. The old well, with its ancient railing, stood unchanged.
Cui Fugui invited Zheng Que into the main room and said gratefully, "We owe you so much for yesterday. Otherwise, my Ni'er would've been in real trouble... We only have each other to rely on. If anything happened to her, I wouldn't want to go on living either..."
"I was just telling Ni'er that we had to invite you over for a meal to thank you!"
"Since you're here, come sit down. I'll make some tea."
As he spoke, he raised his voice and called toward the back courtyard, "Ni'er, go kill a chicken!"
Hearing this, Zheng Que quickly shook his head. "Uncle Cui, I have something to do later. There's no need for a meal."
He was pressed for time and didn't want to waste too much of it just to satisfy his appetite.
So Zheng Que took a few quick steps to the well and leaned over to look inside.
The bottom of the well was dim and murky. The clear water glimmered faintly with a cold light. There were no traces of ghosts left, but a thin layer of dark energy still lingered.
After examining it carefully, Zheng Que straightened up and said, "Uncle Cui, I've taken care of the Water Ghosts in the well, but you still shouldn't drink the water for a while."
"I'll come back in a few days and check again. Wait until I've made sure it's safe before you use it."
Cui Fugui thanked him repeatedly. Seeing that Zheng Que really had no intention of staying for a meal, he quickly said, "Then take a chicken with you! The chickens we raise are pretty fat..."
As they spoke, Cui Ni'er ran over from the back courtyard, holding a chicken in each hand. One was a rooster and the other a hen; both were struggling desperately. A few feathers drifted through the air, and one stuck to Cui Ni'er's hair.
"Dad, which one should I kill?" Cui Ni'er asked, looking to her father for instructions while curiously sizing up Zheng Que.
Zheng Que turned around and looked at Cui Ni'er with [Spirit Eye Technique]. The young woman's aura was dim, just like an ordinary person's. There was nothing wrong with her.
Seeing this, Zheng Que felt reassured and was about to say goodbye and leave, when his expression suddenly changed!
There was nothing at Cui Ni'er's feet. She didn't cast even the faintest shadow.
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