Zhu Xian led Qin Luo to the back mountain.

The back mountain is quite steep and not suitable for farming. The mountain path is winding and twisting, surrounded by lush forests and bamboo groves, with bamboo shoots just sprouting from the ground.

Near the mountain peak were two much higher mounds of earth, surrounded by overgrown weeds. Zhu Xian said softly, "My father is on the right, and my mother is on the left."

"......"

Qin Luo stood there, stunned.

He had assumed the Great Xia emperor was living in seclusion in the mountains, and asked in confusion, "Your father should still be alive, right?"

“Azhu’s father died a long time ago.”

Zhu Xian put down what she was holding on the open ground and started pulling weeds from the grave. Qin Luo didn't stop there; he followed suit and pulled weeds as well.

"Brother Dog, I chose this place. What do you think of the feng shui?"

"This place faces north, so the yin energy is relatively heavy, and the feng shui is not very good. The best location is on the hillside behind your house, with the mountain behind you and the water in front of you."

"There are also burial arrangements where the male is on the left and the female on the right."

Zhu Xian raised an eyebrow and said crisply, "I can't control them while they're alive, but they must listen to my arrangements after they're dead. It's so nice to watch the sunset together. Ancestors are not to be followed, I have my own rules."

"Then why are you asking me?"

"Let me test you."

Zhu Xian continued to pull weeds with his head down.

After clearing away the weeds from the grave, Zhu Xian added some fresh soil to make the grave a little higher.

Qin Luo had visited graves before, but he had never done these things before, since he was still young at that time.

Zhu Xian placed the bowl containing wild vegetable dumplings in front of the grave on the left, then lit the talisman Qin Luo had given her and whispered, "Mother, Father will soon be reunited with you."

"......"

Qin Luo didn't know what to say.

Zhu Xian picked up the porcelain bowl that had been placed in front of the grave for a long time. She used leaves to scrape the soil out of the bowl, then poured wine into it, wrapped it in yellow paper, and lit a lamp.

Qin Luo remembered something, "In a couple of days it's the traditional day for ancestor worship, will you still come?"

Zhu Xian shook his head, "I'll be very busy in a couple of days. I need to go back to the capital and also go to Lieshan to pay homage to the Human Emperor."

"Brother Dog, there's still a mouthful of wine left in the flask. Do you want some?"

"I won't drink it."

Qin Luo smiled and shook his head.

Drinking in this setting is somewhat inappropriate.

Zhu Xian poured the last mouthful of wine onto the grave mound on the right. She curled her lip and sneered, "Old man, I'll give you a drink because you look pitiful."

Qin Luo could sense that Zhu Xian might have a conflict with her father, but she didn't ask why.

Zhu Xian said to herself, "Sometimes I really like my father, I like his greatness, and sometimes I really hate my father, I hate his ruthlessness."

Qin Luo couldn't understand Zhu Xian's feelings, but he had heard that the imperial family was the most ruthless. "A Zhu, do you have any brothers or sisters?"

Zhu Xian shook her head, her eyes dim. "No, my mother paid a huge price to give birth to me. She left when I was very young. But I have Ying'er. I didn't have any friends at first, until I met Ying'er. She was the same as me and didn't have any friends either. Later, we became best friends."

"One true friend is enough."

Qin Luo asked with a smile, "Since you're here, why didn't Hua Ying come?"

Zhu Xian looked into the distance. "She's been very busy lately, preparing for the Daoist debate."

Have you ever met the Imperial Advisor?

"I have never seen the Imperial Advisor in person, but I know that old man is just like my father. He has lofty ambitions, but he can only hide in the shadows, fearing the will of Heaven."

"Aren't you afraid of the will of Heaven?"

"Fearless."

Qin Luo asked with a smile, "Why?"

Zhu Xian pointed her finger at the sky, her eyes sharpening. "Do you dare to fight me?"

Boom!

A thunderclap resounded.

Qin Luo looked up at the sky.

White clouds rolled across the sky, flashing with lightning.

Qin Luo's heart suddenly raced; he could sense the presence of the Heavenly Dao.

Zhu Xian remained calm and mocked, "See? He only dares to fart."

Qin Luo couldn't help but laugh out loud; Zhu Xian's words had eased the tense atmosphere.

The thunder came quickly and disappeared just as quickly.

Qin Luo asked with a puzzled look, "Even the Imperial Advisor and your father are afraid of the Heavenly Dao, why aren't you afraid of it?"

Zhu Xian's eyes narrowed slightly. "The Dao Ancestor caused the Heavenly Dao to collapse, resulting in his power being incomplete. Those powerful figures at the pinnacle want to kill him completely, so he will not easily show himself."

"I see."

Qin Luo had never thought about these things before. "Just now, I could feel His killing intent."

"Brother Dog, are you afraid of Him?"

“I am afraid of death, but I am not afraid of Him.”

“I am not afraid of death, nor am I afraid of Him. If He really dares to show himself, I will admire Him.”

Qin Luo chuckled and said, "Is there any farm work I can help with? If not, I'm preparing to head to the capital."

Zhu Xian grinned, "Don't rush off. Help me chop firewood first, and later we'll go to the fields to spray manure. I'll cook you something delicious tonight."

"Alright."

Qin Luo nodded with a smile.

The trees were concentrated on the mountainside. Qin Luo took a machete and searched for suitable trees to chop firewood in the mountains. He used to chop firewood often in Longhu Temple, so he was very skilled at it.

Zhu Xian carried a basket as she picked mushrooms in the woods and also picked two very tender bamboo shoots.

evening.

Zhu Xian was cooking at home.

Qin Luo carried manure to the fields to irrigate the land.

The sunset glow fell on the courtyard, turning the plum blossoms fiery red. When Qin Luo returned to the courtyard, he smelled a rich aroma. Zhu Xian had prepared a table full of dishes, as lavish as a banquet in Chenjiagou.

Qin Luo could feel the warmth of home and experience the happiness of coming home to a meal after a hard day's work.

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