The rest of the day went smoothly in every respect. Zheng Que patrolled the streets and didn't encounter any more trouble.
The shadows shortened inch by inch, then stretched longer inch by inch.
People came and went along the streets, the cries of vendors rising in a dense clamor before gradually fading away.
Before he knew it, the day had passed. The Golden Crow sank in the west, and the daylight slowly dimmed.
The mortals finished their day's labor. Shops closed, vendors packed up their things, and everyone went their separate ways.
As daylight ended, yin energy gradually spread, and the temperature around them began to drop noticeably.
In the silence, Zheng Que looked around. Every household had shut its doors, and he was alone on the empty, long street.
He immediately found a corner hemmed in by high walls on both sides, with a lush tree overhead. He opened the Soul-Nurturing Bag and let Qing Li out.
"Qing Li, I'm going to cultivate now. Keep watch for me."
"If any [Tongue-Pulling Hell] ghosts appear nearby while I'm cultivating, just beat them to death."
"Remember, don't disturb the mortals in the city."
Zheng Que gave her careful instructions.
Qing Li immediately snorted coldly, then floated up to a tree branch and hung herself from it.
Seeing this, Zheng Que didn't hesitate. He sat down cross-legged at once, took out a Spirit Stone, and began cultivating.
Time trickled by.
The night passed quickly, and all was peaceful in the city.
Amid the rising and falling crow of roosters, Taiping County Town welcomed another dawn.
When the sky was just beginning to brighten, Zheng Que stopped cultivating and opened his eyes. He glanced at Qing Li hanging from the tree branch, then immediately opened the Soul-Nurturing Bag and put her away.
Next,