An Excellent Ghost Servant
Ignoring the female ghost’s repeated flattery, Zheng Que sat imposingly at the head of the hall as before, offering no response, his eyes fixed intently on Qing Li, observing her aura and the changes within it.
Qing Li lay prostrate in the hall, her entire body surging with turbulent Yin Qi. Amidst the fluttering of her robes and the wild dance of her black hair, the Yin Qi surrounding her had thickened to a tangible substance, layered and entwined, surging like waves, continuously rising.
However, this did not last long. The Yin Qi on Qing Li’s body soon ceased to increase.
Zheng Que frowned slightly. Qing Li’s cultivation was at the fourth layer of the 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】. Even after absorbing the Yin Qi from the four water ghosts, the density of her Yin Qi remained at the fourth layer.
The Yin Qi gained from four second-layer 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】 ghosts was far less than that from Old Madam Zhao last time!
“First and second-layer 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】 ghosts are easy to kill, but they provide too little Yin Qi for Qing Li.”
“Ghosts above the fourth layer of the 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】 should provide more Yin Qi, but encountering them at my current cultivation level would be very dangerous.”
“The best targets are third-layer 【Tongue-Tearing Hell】 ghosts.”
Zheng Que quickly analyzed the situation in his mind. Seeing the black energy between his brows diminishing, he immediately took advantage of Qing Li kneeling on the ground to use the 【Ghost Taming Art】, swiftly drawing her into his palm.
A moment later, as the last wisp of black energy was absorbed by the Book of Life and Death, Zheng Que returned to reality. The room was pitch dark, and beyond the mulberry-paper-covered rear window, the night was silent. It was already late.
Zheng Que opened his palm and released Qing Li.
After appearing, Qing Li glanced around and, realizing she was no longer in the Underworld, immediately became spirited. She cast an arrogant glance at Zheng Que and promptly ordered, “Human brat, your esteemed grandmother is going out for a while!”
Hearing this, Zheng Que looked at her with confusion. “What are you going out for?”
Qing Li sneered.
Naturally, she was going out to slay ghosts, so that the great one in the Underworld would reward her with more cultivation!
This human brat’s cultivation was currently too low, and when using that newly learned spell, he refused to give her control of his body. Having him around was nothing but a hindrance!
Hmm.
Might as well consider him a dog that only barks and does no work.
Thinking this, Qing Li immediately said, “Your esteemed grandmother is going out for important matters. You, human brat, stay put in this room and don’t cause trouble for your esteemed grandmother!”
Important matters?
What important matters could there be in the Town of Lasting Fortune?
Zheng Que couldn’t help but feel puzzled, but he soon worked out the reason.
It was because he had just helped Qing Li improve her cultivation.
Qing Li had been fully conscious during both trips to the Underworld. Given the current situation, she must have deduced the pattern: slaying ghosts would grant her the corresponding ghost’s Yin Qi.
Therefore, she was now going out because she found his ghost-slaying speed too slow and intended to take matters into her own hands!
Realizing this, Zheng Que nodded slightly. Qing Li was a Vengeful Spirit, stronger at night than during the day, and far more intelligent than ordinary ghosts. If she couldn’t win a fight, she would know to flee. There was no need for him to follow her out.
Thus, he instructed, “Do not leave the town, and do not harm the ordinary people in it.”
Qing Li snorted coldly, offering no reply.
Creak!
The next moment, the door swung open on its own. A chilling wind, carrying the coldness unique to the night, howled into the room. Qing Li drifted out the door, and it promptly closed behind her.
Once Qing Li had left, Zheng Que immediately resumed his cultivation.
After some time, as the influx of Yin Qi into his body deepened, he once again entered the Underworld.
Everything here remained unchanged, with the Book of Life and Death still spread open before him.
Zheng Que looked at the records in the Book of Life and Death, which now listed a total of forty-two names.
His gaze swept over these forty-two names before he began contemplating his arrangements for the next few days.
Once day broke, he could visit Cui Fugui’s home again to check on the father and daughter.
Then, either tomorrow or the day after, he would need to find time to meet with the town chief.
Now that his master had left the town, he wanted to purchase that vacant, dilapidated temple directly.
His master’s cultivation was profound, and having stayed in that dilapidated temple for so long, ordinary ghosts and creatures dared not approach.
It should now be the safest place in the entire town.
Therefore, he would face his impending tribulation there!
As he pondered this, Zheng Que immediately noticed a new name suddenly appearing in the Book of Life and Death.
…Zhang Dahua. Origin: Great Li Dynasty, Marsh Province, Great Peace County… Lifespan: Thirteen years, eleven months, and three days, died of illness at the second quarter of the noon hour.
Zheng Que was momentarily taken aback, then quickly realized: this was because Qing Li had slain a ghost in the outside world.
Not long after this name appeared, a second new name soon emerged.
…Ding Ya. Origin: Great Li Dynasty, Marsh Province, Great Peace County… Lifespan: Nineteen years, eight months, and nineteen days, died of starvation at the exact You hour.
Seeing two consecutive new entries, Zheng Que couldn’t help but feel somewhat surprised. Qing Li’s efficiency when acting on her own seemed much higher than his!
After careful thought, he quickly understood where the problem lay. He had previously always thought of personally slaying ghosts to help Qing Li improve her cultivation, but this line of thinking was fundamentally wrong.
As a master, why should he need to act personally?
He should let the ghost servant seek out ghosts herself, slay them, help the Book of Life and Death record names, improve her own cultivation, and protect him in the bargain.
This is what every ghost servant should actively do!
As for him, the master, he only needed to sit in the seat of the Underworld’s ruler and put on an imposing front.
In the swift turn of his thoughts, Zheng Que then saw the next new name appear in the Book of Life and Death.
…Qiu Shu… Lifespan: Fourteen years, three months…
Zheng Que nodded in satisfaction, then leaned back, reclining in the grand armchair with a broken leg, his gaze fixed intently on the Book of Life and Death.
Sure enough, before too long, a fourth new name appeared.
As the black energy between his brows was completely absorbed by the Book of Life and Death, Zheng Que returned to reality and continued his cultivation.
The night passed quickly.
Early the next morning, dawn light filtered through the window paper into the room. Zheng Que ended his cultivation and slowly opened his eyes.
Last night, the Book of Life and Death had added a total of six new names.
The first few appeared quickly, but the intervals between the last two were exceptionally long. Was it because the later ghosts were harder to find? Or had Qing Li encountered a formidable enemy?
Just as he was pondering this, the door burst open with a resounding crash. A gust of Yin Qi swept in, and Qing Li’s figure materialized inside the room.
At this moment, the female ghost’s Yin Qi surged and receded erratically. The thick layer of black smoke around her had faded considerably, and her form had grown somewhat translucent — clear signs of immense exertion, with even her soul suffering some damage. Yet Qing Li’s expression was one of great excitement, showing no concern for her injuries whatsoever.
With practiced ease, she hung herself from the beam again. Glancing at Zheng Que, she immediately declared, “This venerable lady needs to rest now, you little human race brat. Guard me well as my protector!”