The Old Night Watchman Opened His Eyes and First Asked If It Was Dark Again

In the afternoon, two night watchmen pushed a small cart to the shop entrance.

There was no cargo on the cart, only an old man wrapped in a worn cloak. He lay on his side atop a cushion, clutching his bronze clapper in both hands, deeply asleep.

"What happened to him?" Hu Liena asked.

"He fell asleep."

"Asleep on a cart?"

"He agreed to come himself!" the other hurried to say. "We definitely didn't sneak Uncle Meng out!"

Xia Che lowered the hand he had been about to use to call someone over. "I hadn't even asked that yet."

The two parked the cart in the shade. Duskull was floating out from inside with Ghost, its black body gliding past the cart as its single eye peeked beneath the cloak.

Uncle Meng happened to open his eyes.

He first saw Duskull, then Ghost sitting by the wall. His entire body froze for two breaths.

"Is it dark?" he asked.

"Not yet," Ghost said.

"Did I sleep until the next day?"

"A quarter of an hour."

Uncle Meng sat up. Seeing the bright sun overhead, he finally lowered the bronze clapper from his chest. Then he looked at Duskull. "What is that?"

"A Pokémon."

"It patrols at night too?"

"It keeps me company."

Duskull hid behind Ghost, revealing only one eye. It had no plans to get itself a new night watchman today.

Uncle Meng had not fully awakened when wood suddenly cracked by the street.

A freight cart carrying long bamboo poles passed in front of the shop. The topmost pole caught the pull rope of the awning outside. The driver failed to notice and continued onward. The rope instantly went taut, wrenching open an old iron ring that secured the crossbeam.

The entire awning toppled toward the waiting area.