Mud and White Jade

Ling Qing and Daoji made their way to Three Pure Ones Temple.

Though there were city walls along the way, how could they possibly stop the two of them?

"Today, I'll have to ask the monk to put up with staying the night with this poor Taoist," Ling Qing said as he led Daoji to his cell.

"No hardship, no hardship. A monk can sleep anywhere." Without even taking off his shoes, Daoji threw himself onto the room's only couch, rolled over as he stretched lazily, then lay spread-eagled.

Ling Qing paid him no mind. He merely dragged over a meditation cushion, placed it on the floor, and sat down cross-legged.

By the time he had gone to Zhou Manor, it had already passed the second watch.

Liu Taizhen and the others had reset the ritual altar and subdued the demon, while Ling Qing and Daoji had fought a battle. It was already nearing the fourth watch.

Daoji lay on the couch grinding his teeth and snoring. Every now and then, he smacked his lips or scratched himself, utterly devoid of any semblance of quietude.

Ling Qing, meanwhile, sat upright on his meditation cushion, unmoved though the eight winds blew upon him, steady as he sat upon a Purple Gold Lotus. No disturbance could affect his meditation.

Before long, as the drums and gongs of the fifth watch sounded, Ling Qing rose and left his room. Passing through the moon gate, he arrived at Sanqing Hall.

Daoji was still sleeping soundly.

Bai Suzhen, Xu Xian, Xiaoqing, Clear Wind, and the others had long been waiting in the hall.

Without hesitation, Ling Qing went before the statues of the Three Pure Ones and offered a stick of incense.

He then had Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian offer incense as well.

After