Duanmu Zang looked at the school and sighed with emotion.
Xu Qing also looked at the school. The sound of reading rang out from there, talking about the history of the human race.
Many of the parts were wrong and beautified.
There were also some places in this city that imparted cultivation and herbal knowledge. It could allow mortals to have the chance to grasp extraordinary powers.
There were even more children there.
When he arrived, Xu Qing heard a little girl's voice coming from inside.
"Teacher, I know about the seven-leaf grass you mentioned, but I've searched many places, and I couldn't find it. And as for the soaring bullwood, I couldn't find it either!"
Duanmu Zang also heard this voice and spoke softly.
"The cultivation techniques and knowledge of plants and trees here are some that I personally know, while others I obtained through theft or trade from the outside. Most of them are ancient texts and no longer hold much significance. For example, when it comes to plants, most of them are not found in the current Moon Worship Region."
"However, it's still knowledge in the end. Perhaps… it will be useful in the future."
Xu Qing nodded silently.
The two of them left and continued to walk around the entire city. Xu Qing also saw many low-level cultivators like Shi Pangui. They were all guards in the city and were in charge of trading for the necessities needed by the city when there was no heavenly fire.
Time slowly passed.
When the blue curtain in the sky gradually darkened as the heavenly fire dimmed and many items that flickered like starlight appeared, Xu Qing finally finished walking through the entire city.
Those starlights were formed by the mirrors of the Mirror Image Race.
Under the night sky, Duanmu Zang stood outside an empty house. He turned his head and looked into Xu Qing's eyes. After looking at him for a long time, he spoke hoarsely.
"How's my home?"
"Senior is virtuous!"
Xu Qing said solemnly.
"I don't deserve the word 'virtuous'." Duanmu Zang shook his head.
"What you see is that I'm protecting them, but in reality… they are also accompanying me."
"Therefore, I said that this place is my home."
Duanmu Zang spoke softly and walked into the distance. Just as Xu Qing was about to follow, Duanmu Zang's voice echoed.
"The heavenly fire crossing the sky will last for another two months. You can stay here for the time being."
Xu Qing stopped in his tracks. He knew the weight of this sentence because to Duanmu Zang, this was equivalent to letting him stay at his house.
Hence, he solemnly cupped his fists and bowed.
Duanmu Zang left. He also lived in this city. After his figure disappeared from sight, Xu Qing turned his head and looked at the residence behind him.
In his perception, the simple building exuded a warmth that the Moon Worship Region didn't have.
Just like that, Xu Qing stayed in it.
Ling'er also chose to temporarily transform. Her small face was filled with joy as she decorated the small house, as though she was trying her best to use her actions to tell Xu Qing that she indeed knew how to do housework.
Looking at Ling'er's busy figure, a smile appeared on Xu Qing's face. His entire person slowly relaxed as he attempted to integrate into this city.
The process of integration wasn't difficult.
The kindness from everyone could melt all the gaps. It also made Xu Qing's state of mind increasingly stable.
The sky alternated between black and blue, and heavenly fire brightened and dimmed. Half a month passed.
In the past half a month, Shi Pangui visited seven to eight times. Every time, he would bring exquisite food. His wife's culinary skills were very good and Ling'er especially liked the cakes she sent.
However, Ling'er didn't immediately appear in front of others in her transformed form. Later on, when they got familiar, she showed herself to Shi Pangui.
After noticing Ling'er, Shi Pangui was stunned for a moment. When he visited again, he was no longer alone. Instead, he brought a woman who was about the same age as him and a little girl.
"Senior, this is my wife and my younger sister."
Shi Pangui respectfully spoke. The woman and the little girl beside him nervously bowed to Xu Qing.
A gentle expression appeared on Xu Qing's face. Previously, when he asked Shi Pangui why he went out that day, the other party had said that he went to buy medicine for his wife.
His wife's body was weak and she often fell sick. Two months ago, her condition worsened and Shi Pangui was anxious. Hence, even though he knew that the heavenly fire was coming, he still took the risk to go out to the other two races' cities to buy medicine.
This action was very dangerous but he had no choice.
"The old king protects more than 100,000 humans. We can't always look for the king when something happens."
This was what Shi Pangui said when he answered Xu Qing's question.
The people here were grateful and respected Duanmu Zang. Hence, they didn't want anything to distract him, and did their best to take care of themselves.
Xu Qing didn't encounter many kindnesses in his life. Hence, after his gaze swept past Shi Pangui's wife, he fell silent for a moment. He then took out some medicinal pills from his storage bag and gave them to Shi Pangui.
"Your partner has accumulated the yin poison from the underground cavern and the yang evil from the heavenly fire, creating an incompatible situation like that of water and fire within her. These pills can neutralize it. If taken continuously, while not completely resolving the issue, they can certainly suppress it to some extent."
Shi Pangui and his wife were excited and grateful. The couple was about to kneel down and thank Xu Qing when Xu Qing waved his hand and helped them up.
"Having eaten your snacks so many times, it's only right that I give you these pills. There's no need to be like this."
Shi Pangui and his wife were even more touched. As for the little girl beside him, she secretly watched as Xu Qing took out the storage bag with the pill bottle and fell into deep thought.
Very soon, their family left. They were going to send the little girl to school.
After they left, Ling'er picked up the snacks and took a bite happily. She then looked at Xu Qing, her eyes forming the shape of a crescent moon as she felt proud in her heart.
"Big Brother Xu Qing is the most upright person I know. He doesn't let his status get to his head just because someone has a lower cultivation level. He's warm-hearted."
