At that time, Lu Baoyou was only ten years old, at an age of ignorance. His father's sudden return home made him a little overwhelmed. Just when he was about to accept him, Lu Qiu suddenly left.

After this departure, he did not return for many years.

Lu Qiu made their Lu family the most enviable family in the surrounding villages. The villagers speculated that Lu Qiu had made a fortune outside, but because he did not return home for many years, some rumors in the village spread secretly.

Some people said that he became a big boss outside, married a new young wife, and made Lu Baoyou's mother his mistress; some people said that he did illegal things outside and made a lot of money, but he was afraid of being caught by the police and didn't dare to come back; others said that he had become a wanted criminal because someone saw him secretly put a knife and a gun at home...

Young Lu Baoyou didn’t understand these, but he could feel that other people were looking at him strangely.

Envy? Jealousy? Ridicule? Pity?

Perhaps it was from that time that the seeds of resentment were planted in his heart. As he grew older, this emotion was fueled by adolescent rebellion and became out of control.

Lu Baoyou stood at the gate of the small villa with a complicated expression.

It has been a very long time since he ran away from home... During this time away from home, he has experienced a lot, entered the gate of the Night Watch, and learned about their existence... Because of this, when he returned to this door again, he suddenly found that his views on some things in the past had changed.

Deep in his memory, the pair of angry golden eyes reappeared, and Lin Qiye's voice echoed in his mind:

"...You think you can grow up in peace, walk around freely outside, and stand here in high spirits and arrogance, threatening to kill a night watchman. Why?!

Because you are lucky? Because this is how the world is supposed to be?

fart!

This is because there are countless night watchmen who are carrying the burden for you!"

Night Watch...

Lu Baoyou stretched out his hand and gently rubbed the heavy door, and his mood suddenly became heavy.

"Eh? Isn't this Xiao Baoyou?" An elderly voice sounded behind him.

Lu Baoyou turned around and saw an old man leaning on a cane in the small house opposite, waving at him.

Xiao Baoyou is Lu Baoyou’s nickname.

Lu Baoyou also knew this old man. After all, their two families were neighbors back then and he often visited next door when he was a child. But since he started to rebel, they basically had no contact.

Lu Baoyou pursed her lips and nodded politely. Just as she was about to reach out and knock on her own door, the old man's voice sounded again:

"Why didn't you come back when your father was buried a few days ago?"

Lu Baoyou's hand suddenly froze in the air.

After a moment, he turned his head stiffly, looked at the old man, frowned and asked: "What did you say?"

"I said, why didn't you come back when your father was buried?" The old man repeated, "Now it's been so many days since the funeral, and all the relatives and friends who came to visit have left. Why did you come back just now?"

"Lu Qiu?" Lu Baoyou frowned even more tightly, and walked quickly to the old man's door. "He's dead? How did he die?"

"It seems he died in battle." The old man's eyes flashed with memories, "That day, it was raining heavily, and several large trucks drove up from the foot of the mountain. Then many people in military uniforms got off the trucks, carrying a large and imposing coffin, and knocked on your door.

In that coffin, your father was wearing a dark red cloak, covered with the national flag, and there was a shiny medal next to him?

I remember that your mother and your grandmother cried so sadly at that time.

"The soldiers helped your father hold a grand funeral. Almost everyone in our village and the neighboring village came. It was very lively. I heard from them that your father had made great contributions and was a great hero of our Great Xia, right?"

The old man couldn't help but sigh, "I never thought that Xiaoqiu would go out to serve in the army after all these years. Our village has also produced a great hero. This is a great thing that will bring honor to our family!"

Lu Baoyou stayed where he was.

Lu Qiu...died in battle?

Just two days ago?

"Little Baoyou, your family is now..."

Before the old man could finish his words, Lu Baoyou suddenly turned around and rushed to the door of his own home, knocking hard.

Soon, a voice came from inside the house, "Who is it?"

As the door opened, an old and haggard figure stood behind the door. When she saw Lu Baoyou, who was two heads taller than her, she was suddenly stunned.

"Grandma..." Lu Baoyou looked at the old woman with red eyes in front of him and spoke in a hoarse voice.

Grandma's lips trembled uncontrollably. She took a step forward and hugged Lu Baoyou in her arms. Her silver-white hair fell lightly on Lu Baoyou's chest. She choked and said, "Bless... Why did you come back just now? Your father..."

At this moment, a middle-aged man in mourning walked out of the villa. When he saw Lu Baoyou outside the door, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

When he saw Lu Baoyou, Lu Baoyou also noticed him.

"Grandma." Lu Baoyou pointed at the man, "Who is he?"

"He was your father's colleague. He helped arrange our family's funeral," Grandma explained.

The man walked up to Lu Baoyou, patted his shoulder, and sighed, "You are Lu Baoyou, right? Let's go to another place to talk."

…

On the road behind the mountain, Lu Baoyou walked side by side with the man.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Liu Qi, and I'm the deputy captain of the 287th squad of the Daxia Night Watch stationed in Tanxiang City." The man took out a cigarette from his arms and handed it to Lu Baoyou.

"I don't smoke."

"...Oh, yes, you are not yet an adult, so you really can't smoke. I almost forgot." Liu Qi raised his eyebrows and put the cigarette back. "I heard that you just came back from the Night Watch training camp?"

"Um."

"How much do you know about your father?"

Lu Baoyou didn't say anything.

Liu Qi looked at him for a moment and smiled bitterly, "It seems that you don't know anything at all?"

Seeing that Lu Baoyou did not deny it, Liu Qi started talking to himself, "Lu Qiu, he came from our Tanxiang City back then..."

On the long and rugged mountain road, the two slowed down their pace. The breeze blew across the mountains, bringing with it the fragrance of soil and grass, as they listened to the story buried in the years.

After an unknown amount of time, the two men reached the top of the mountain, where a gray stone tablet stood quietly.

Lu Baoyou walked to the stone tablet and stopped.

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