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　　季玖一手提著劍，一手提著兩隻野兔和一隻錦雞在樹林裡穿梭。正值入秋，樹木遮蔽的山林十分陰涼，各色花果生長繁茂，鳥獸穿梭不休，仿佛另一個無憂世界。
　　他慢悠悠走著，金秋陽光熱辣，山林裡卻十分愜意，在林子裡走了這麼久，連汗都沒出一滴。本來還想獵完野物早早趕回去，現在倒是不急了。
　　季玖東逛西走，路過一叢半人高的野果，一顆顆小果綴在枝頭，個個珠圓玉潤的長相，十分招人喜愛。他伸手摘下一把，剔掉那些熟透的，扔掉完全生澀的，手中剩下的是半生半熟的果子，一顆顆扔進嘴裡，又甜又酸又澀的味道在口中綻開，倒是比純粹的甜果更有風味。季玖並不喜歡純粹的甜，太純粹的味道通常沒有綿長後味，過於直接鮮明，來得快也去得快。
　　手中一把山果吃完，恰好走到一處空曠地，一顆巨大的不知長了多少年的大樹矗立在中央，濃密的樹蔭仿佛龐大傘蓋，陰影籠罩在它紮根的土地，身旁沒有一株試圖和它爭奪陽光的植物，只有它自己一年又一年的落葉，鬆軟的覆在泥土上。
　　踩著厚重落葉，季玖走到樹下，仰望這株擎天大樹，想它多少年前也只是弱小一顆幼苗，和身旁不知多少植物一齊爭奪陽光和養分，最後廝殺出勝局，讓身邊再無可以和它爭奪養料的同類，最後獨秀與此。
　　季玖忍不住摩挲著粗糙堅硬的樹皮，想著植物的生命同人類並無區別，都是一場你死我活的戰爭。它費盡辛苦長的如此筆直挺拔，不知哪天會被伐木者看中，一把斧頭就毀了它幾百年的努力，就像區區凡人沈清軒，用十幾年光陰，就毀了一個千年修行妖精的清心寡欲。
　　這世界好沒道理。
　　
　　在樹下靜坐歇息了一陣，他估量著出門時間也差不多，該回去了，也不知伊墨一人等了多久，便提著兔子和雞，握著佩劍往回走。
　　剛踏上林蔭小道，就迎面撞上沈玨。沈玨化了原形，威風凜凜的黑色巨狼，蹲坐在小道上，模樣十分嚇人。
　　季玖不設防，先被唬了一跳，待看清是他時，松了口氣收起手中出鞘的劍鋒，責備道:“怎麼變成這個樣子？讓別人看到了把你當野獸獵了。”
　　沈玨說：“這樣打獵方便。”又道：“來人我會知道的。”
　　季玖這才看見他身前擺著小山一樣的野物，有兩隻灰兔子、一隻漂亮的雄山雞、一隻灰不溜秋的雌山雞，一隻猞猁、一隻小野豬……肉眼看不見任何傷口，只是都被沈玨扎扎實實捆住了，一動也不能動而已。
　　黑狼看到他注意到自己的獵物，忍不住眼底閃亮，邀功似的眼神瞅著他，耳朵尖一抖一抖，十分歡喜的神態。
　　季玖也不知道自己怎麼就能從他毛絨絨的臉上看出歡喜來的，然而就是看出來了，他走過去用腳尖踢了踢那些倒楣動物，問：“你一個人獵的？”
　　當然是沈玨一個人獵的，季玖笑話自己問的傻，他那懶到全身骨頭都酥掉的父親，自然不會屈尊做這樣的事。小院裡住了這麼久，伺候人的活從未見他做過，倒是天天被沈玨圍在身邊伺候著，好酒好菜還嫌不夠，今日又心血來潮想要烤野味吃。
　　季玖實在是看不過他那頤指氣使的模樣，拉著沈玨進了山林，且堅決不允他跟上來。
　　
　　他原本只想獵上三兩隻野味，回去給那懶蛇解個饞也就罷了，哪知他這二十四孝的傻兒子，獵了這麼一堆要給他父親打牙祭。
　　季玖看著那堆野味覺得頭都疼起來，雖是入了秋，夜裡涼爽了些，到底不是冬天，這些分量的肉食一夜過來也就變了味。那蛇妖又十分挑剔，味道稍微不盡意，便要撂筷子說自己清修不食人間煙火，他們都知道他在胡說，也拿他沒有辦法。如此挑剔的舌頭斷不會讓不新鮮的菜肴入口，季玖想他實在是刁鑽的可恨，偏偏沈玨二十四孝的縱著。
　　他也想不出上輩子是如何縱容這種又懶又挑又妖怪在身邊相伴的，怕是伏低做小都還不夠，要卑微到哪種情景，才能把個妖精嬌養成這副德性，也是天下奇聞。
　　“都解了放生。”季玖沖沈玨道：“他說要吃野味，你就要把山頭獵光？他那舌頭刁鑽的很，慣來吃兩口就扔，哪裡要準備這麼多。你如此縱他，將來他說想要吃龍肝鳳髓，你也要給他去弄麼？”
　　沈玨一句誇獎沒等來，倒是等來了責怪，忙忙變回人形，先給自己脫罪，說道：“不是我縱他，”又替自己父親辯解，“他也不挑嘴。”
　　季玖真不知道他怎麼好意思說這話，仿佛一天三餐變著花樣做飯的不是他似的；嘗兩口就說鹹了老了火候太小了，不是那老妖蛇似的。這才叫一個願打一個願挨，果真是一對好父子，倒顯得自己是個惡人了。季玖張了張口，最後什麼也沒說，提起自己獵的野物就要下山。
　　沈玨按他吩咐，放生了自己獵來的那些野物，只留下一隻小野豬，單手提著就追上去，深怕把他爹氣的不理他。他是真不知道打獵也能打出父子不和來，沈玨想著自己也有些年不曾在野外捕獵了，不過是一時放縱了下，多獵了幾隻動物，不曾想還能惹出這樣一樁事。
　　也是他自己欠周到，畢竟今時不同往日，從前沈宅家大業大，丫頭小廝數不過來。他去山上不論獵多少野物，提回府裡從來不怕吃不完，倒是都喜歡他去山中多獵些野物回來嘗鮮。那時伊墨會阻止他，不讓他多獵，以免絕了山中生靈。
　　而今已沒有沈家大宅，只有季玖守墳的小院，獵的多了，想送人都無人可送。
　　終究不是那個山頭，也不是那個宅院了。
　　沈玨看著前方佩劍大步行走的季玖，即使青衣布衫，也是武將風範。
　　只有看他背影，沈玨才想起提醒自己，人更不再是那個人。他爹不會如此邁步，也不會佩劍行走，更不會僅僅是背影，都帶著凶凜之氣。
　　然而每次看到那張一模一樣的臉，他又常常忘記這件事。
　　沈玨緊趕兩步跟上去，同季玖並肩前行，對他道：“他真的不挑嘴。”
　　季玖斜他一眼，看他滑稽的很。
　　沈玨繼續道：“你夾什麼，他便吃什麼。”
　　季玖愣了一下，聽他話中意思，倒是自己的緣故，才讓伊墨不肯好好用餐。剛要開口說話，便被沈玨截去話頭。
　　沈玨說：“你給他的，再不好吃，他都是吃的。”
　　青年人表情認真，眼底三分希翼，直直地盯著季玖看，看的季玖略不自在，不知該如何應對才不掃了他一腔熱忱。他父親有手有腳，更有千年道行在身，就是不吃不喝也無恙，做什麼偏要人給他夾菜方才可吃，就是習慣也當有個限度，天底下不是人人都是他的沈清軒。
　　
　　他的沈清軒已化土，那個肯嬌慣他的人早已死去並將他徹底遺忘，這世上不會再有第二個一模一樣的沈清軒，伊墨早該清醒並適應，而不是把所有找到的人都當成對他寵溺無度的那位沈家少爺。
　　失去的就是失去了，他失去的一切已經湮滅在時光撕開的巨大傷口中，除非光陰回轉，年輪倒退，否則永遠找不回。
　　
　　季玖望著沈玨，想說就算他不嫌繁瑣，肯給他父親殷勤夾菜餵食，那份情意，也不是兩百多年前的那份情意，何必強求。
　　然而季玖終究沒有說出一個字，他知道自己說的他們都懂，只是懂了也無濟於事，他們父子就是沖著沈清軒來的，任他們明白多少道理，也抵不住對沈清軒的渴望。他們三人的關係從來不是誰比誰更有道理。
　　轉過身順著彎彎曲曲的小徑，季玖快步往回走，比起滿眼真摯和企盼的沈玨，面對那無廉無恥的老蛇妖反倒更輕鬆些。
　　
　　沈玨失落了一下，知道他不會應允，也不再強求，步伐穩健的跟在他身後。
　　兩人沉默著行走，隨著太陽開始下山，季玖的步伐逐漸加快而不自知，跟在他身後的沈玨敏銳地察覺到這一點，盯著他的背影若有所思。
　　小院在望，遠遠能看到槐樹綠葉蒼鬱，這次換做沈玨加快步伐，跑了幾步將季玖落在後頭，很快又緩下來，等季玖走上前。
　　隨著越走越近，他們都看見自家院門大敞，一道黑色身影坐在門檻上，倚著門框，長髮在晚霞的秋風中飛揚。
　　季玖的腳步徹底慢下來，沈玨從他身邊擦肩而過，走到門前略頓了一下，一言不發地越過伊墨身邊，直接提著小野豬進了灶房，連門一起嚴實閉合，不露一絲聲響。
　　
　　院門口只剩兩個人，季玖緩緩走過去，看他黑袍被風吹的鼓蕩起來，看他倚著門框，正對晚霞，面容在絢爛的光線裡一片迷蒙。
　　他最終還是停在他面前，一手提著野味，一手提著劍。
　　伊墨抬頭看他逆光而立，互相凝望片刻，季玖先開口：“一直在這裡？”
　　“等你。”
　　季玖頓了一下，抬了抬手中的野味：“進去罷。”
　　伊墨站起身，順手拿過他手中的兔子和雞，一揮手，可憐早已嚇破膽的三隻小東西便一頭撞開灶房緊閉的木門，穩准地落在沈玨腳邊。受襲的沈玨抬眼瞅了一下他父親，一聲不吭地揮手，再次緊閉灶房門，拾起三隻倒楣的東西，低頭認真收拾乾淨。
　　季玖忍不住，道：“你倒是會使喚人。”
　　這話莫名有些耳熟，伊墨回想了一下，自己似乎同沈清軒說過同樣的話，說道：
　　“不如你。”
　　
　　季玖心想我哪裡使喚過你，刹那就明白他口中的“你”指的不是自己。
　　季玖已學會不再同他爭辯，平靜地接受他再一次把自己認作做沈清軒的事實，心中連波瀾都不起，只轉身收拾柴禾，預備晚間的烤野味。
　　他和沈玨在院子裡來來去去，伊墨並未動彈，坐在竹椅上，看他們為自己忙碌不休，沈玨是忙碌慣了的，多少年圍在身邊侍奉左右；另一個人卻從未如此伺候過他，上輩子的沈清軒是沈家大少爺，生下來就是被人伺候的主子，即使又啞又殘，也習慣了使喚他人。
　　他們在一起時，瑣事上倒是他被沈清軒指使的多。
　　伊墨靜靜地看他們生起篝火，架起打理乾淨的野味，季玖坐在火旁轉動著木架，木枝上串著那只被沈玨打理乾淨的小野豬，他不徐不疾地轉動木架，時不時往小野豬身上添加調料；沈玨擺弄著另一個木架，烤著季玖提回來的三隻小可憐。
　　
　　天空早已黑了，頭頂天幕繁星點點，院子裡紅紅的篝火散發著明與熱。
　　白嫩嫩的小野豬被烤的通體焦黃，泛著水澤油光，沈玨調配的佐料又讓季玖重新改動過，加上了蜂蜜和梅酒，極有耐心的一遍遍邊烤邊刷，鮮香的味道逐漸彌漫在小院裡，愈發濃重勾人，連季玖都覺得饞蟲們開始蠢蠢欲動。
　　終於烤好時季玖取出匕首，挑了最軟嫩入味的那塊肉，一刀刀片下去，他刀工極好，每一片都薄如蟬翼，大小均等。片下來的肉被淋好蘸料，季玖反手卻遞給了等待許久的老蛇妖。
　　伊墨接過小碟，一邊吃一邊看他又片了第二份，給了沈玨。
　　最後輪到他自己，最鮮嫩多汁的那塊肉已所剩無多，可他卻沒有再動，只換了個又柴又老的部位片給自己，依然咀嚼出津津有味的神情。
　　伊墨沉默地看著一切，將空掉的碟子遞給他，季玖接過去並未多想，依然在那所剩無多的部位，將最好的那份全給了他。一如當年沈清軒，食魚時一定要剜給他最好的兩塊胭脂肉，自己一口也不嘗。
　　縱然這一世他已不是沈清軒，可渾然不覺的動作裡，誰又能說他是冷心寡情的季玖。
　　最好的東西永遠都是給他的，一點也不藏私，甚至無需猶豫，仿佛已是天性。
　　
　　季玖察覺他的視線，回過頭看他碗碟已空，只當不夠吃，又取了沈玨烤制的山雞，切了兩隻腿，放在他碗裡。剛放進去又想起白天沈玨說過的話，心想這也算夾菜了罷，他吃了那麼多，難不成還真能給多少吃多少麼，也不怕被撐壞。
　　可伊墨確實吃了。
　　他親手片的野味，親手擱在他碗裡的菜肴，一個也沒有推拒，更不曾撂下筷子嫌棄不好吃，來者不拒的一一放在口中，盡數吃完。
　　這時還沒有後來的翻臉，季玖也莫名有了偶爾給人夾菜的習慣。
　　
　　幾年後領兵出征，啟程前季玖與將領們一同擺宴相聚，席間他笑語晏晏，說到愉快時舉起筷子夾了滿滿的菜，欲送到右邊時，才想起那個要人夾菜才肯正經吃飯的老妖怪，已不在身邊。
　　他淡淡一笑，將菜肴放進自己碗碟中，不知為何想起那年替老妖怪打獵時在山中見到的那顆大樹。他最後去山中閒逛時，那棵樹已經不見了，只留下低矮的木樁，能看到一圈圈深淺不一的年輪。
　　木秀于林，必被伐之。
　　他同那棵大樹一樣，到該倒下的時辰了。
　　他想著自己早知前途與歸路，卻依舊看不開，始終計較繁多。
　　明知那個人喜歡他做的一切事，依然不曾多替他打幾回野味，也沒有多夾幾筷子菜。
　　
　　實在遺憾的很。

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Ji Jiu was walking through the woods, holding a sword in one hand and two hares and a golden pheasant in the other. It was autumn, and the forest shaded by trees was very cool. Various flowers and fruits grew luxuriantly, and birds and animals shuttled around, as if it was another carefree world.

He walked slowly. The autumn sun was hot, but the forest was very comfortable. He walked in the forest for so long without sweating a drop. He had wanted to go back early after hunting, but now he was not in a hurry.

Ji Jiu was walking around and passed by a bush of wild fruits half a person’s height. The small fruits were adorned on the branches, each of which was round and mellow, and very attractive. He reached out and picked a handful, picking out the ripe ones and throwing away the completely unripe ones. What was left in his hand were half-ripe fruits. He threw them into his mouth one by one, and the sweet, sour and astringent taste bloomed in his mouth, which was more flavorful than pure sweet fruits. Ji Jiu did not like pure sweetness. The taste that was too pure usually had no lingering aftertaste, was too direct and vivid, and came and went quickly.

After finishing a handful of wild fruits, I happened to walk into an open space. A huge tree, who knows how many years old, stood in the middle. The dense shade of the tree was like a huge umbrella, covering the land where it was rooted. There was no plant around it trying to compete with it for sunlight, only its own leaves that fell year after year, softly covering the soil.

Stepping on the thick fallen leaves, Ji Jiu walked under the tree and looked up at the towering tree. He thought about how it was just a weak seedling many years ago, competing with countless plants around it for sunlight and nutrients, and finally won the battle, leaving no other plants around it that could compete with it for nutrients, and finally it stood out alone.

Ji Jiu couldn’t help stroking the rough and hard bark, thinking that the life of plants is no different from that of humans, and it is a life-and-death battle. It took great effort to grow so straight and tall, and who knows when it will be noticed by a logger, and an axe will destroy its hundreds of years of hard work, just like Shen Qingxuan, a mere mortal, who used more than ten years to destroy the pure heart and desire of a thousand-year-old goblin.

This world doesn’t make sense.

After sitting quietly under the tree for a while, he estimated that it was almost time to go out and should go back. He didn’t know how long Yi Mo had been waiting alone, so he picked up the rabbit and chicken and walked back with his sword in hand.

As soon as he stepped onto the tree-lined path, he ran into Shen Jue head-on. Shen Jue had transformed into his original form, a majestic black giant wolf, squatting on the path, looking very scary.

Ji Jiu was caught off guard and was startled at first. When he saw that it was him, he breathed a sigh of relief, put away the sword in his hand, and scolded: “Why did you become like this? If others saw you, they would treat you as a beast and hunt you down."

Shen Jue said, “This makes hunting more convenient." He added, “I’ll let you know when someone comes."

Only then did Ji Jiu see that there was a small hill of wild animals in front of him , including two gray rabbits, a beautiful male pheasant, a dull gray female pheasant, a lynx, and a little wild boar… No wounds could be seen with the naked eye, but they were all tied up tightly by Shen Jue and could not move at all.

black wolf saw that he noticed his prey, he couldn’t help but have a twinkle in his eyes. He looked at him with a look of seeking credit, and his ears twitched , with a very happy expression.

Ji Jiu didn’t know how he could tell joy from his furry face , but he could tell. He walked over and kicked the unfortunate animals with his toes, and asked, “Did you hunt alone?"

Of course, Shen Jue hunted alone. Ji Jiu laughed at himself for asking such a stupid question. His father, who was so lazy that his bones were broken , would naturally not condescend to do such a thing. He had lived in the small courtyard for so long, and he had never seen him do the work of serving others. Instead, he was surrounded by Shen Jue and served him every day . He was not satisfied with the good wine and food, and today he suddenly wanted to roast wild game.

Ji Jiu really couldn’t stand his domineering look, so he pulled Shen Jue into the forest and refused to let him follow.

He originally just wanted to hunt a few wild game to take back and satisfy the lazy snake’s craving, but he didn’t expect that this silly son of his would hunt so many to satisfy his father’s hunger.

Ji Jiu felt a headache when he looked at the game. Although it was autumn and the nights were cooler, it was not winter after all. The taste of the meat would change overnight. The snake demon was very picky. If the taste was not satisfactory, he would put down his chopsticks and say that he was a monk and did not eat worldly food. They all knew he was talking nonsense and could not do anything about it. Such a picky tongue would never let stale dishes enter. Ji Jiu thought he was really picky and hateful, but Shen Jue indulged him .

He also couldn’t figure out how he had allowed such a lazy, picky, and weird person to be by his side in his previous life. He was afraid that being humble was not enough. What kind of humble situation would have to happen to cultivate a goblin into such a character? It was a wonder in the world.

“Release them all." Ji Jiu said to Shen Jue, “He said he wanted to eat wild game, so you have to hunt all the game on the mountain? He has a very cunning tongue, he usually eats a few bites and throws them away, why should you prepare so much. If you indulge him like this, if he wants to eat dragon liver and phoenix marrow in the future, will you also get it for him?"

Shen Jue didn’t receive any praise, but instead received a rebuke. He quickly changed back to human form and tried to exonerate himself, saying, “It’s not that I indulged him," and then defended his father, “He ‘s not picky."

Ji Jiu really didn’t know how he could say that, as if he wasn’t the one who cooked three meals a day in different ways; he said it was too salty, too old, and too low in heat after taking two bites, like he wasn’t that old demon snake . This is what it means to fight and be beaten, they are really a good pair of father and son, but he looks like a bad guy. Ji Jiu opened his mouth, but in the end he said nothing, and mentioned the game he hunted and was about to go down the mountain.

Shen Jue followed his instructions and released the wild animals he had hunted , leaving only a little wild boar behind. He picked it up in one hand and chased after it, fearing that his father would be angry and ignore him. He really didn’t know that hunting could cause discord between father and son. Shen Jue thought that he hadn’t hunted in the wild for some years, but he just indulged himself for a while and hunted a few more animals. He never thought that he would cause such a thing.

It was also his own fault. After all, things are different now. In the past, the Shen family was a big family with countless maids and servants. No matter how many wild animals he hunted in the mountains , he never worried about not being able to eat them all when he brought them back to the mansion. Instead, they liked him to hunt more wild animals in the mountains to taste. At that time, Yi Mo would stop him and not let him hunt more, so as not to exterminate the creatures in the mountains.

Now there is no Shen family mansion, only the small courtyard where Ji Jiu guards the graves. There are too many preys, and there is no one to send them to.

After all, it is not that hill, nor that house anymore.

Shen Jue looked at Ji Jiu, who was walking in front of him with a sword on his shoulders. Even in his blue cloth shirt, he had the demeanor of a military general.

Only when he saw his back did Shen Jue remember to remind himself that he was no longer the same person. His father would not walk like that, nor would he walk with a sword, and his back would not be so fierce .

However, every time he saw that identical face, he often forgot about it.

Shen Jue hurriedly followed him, walked side by side with Ji Jiu, and said to him, “He is really not picky."

Ji Jiu glanced at him and thought he was very funny.

Shen Jue continued: “Whatever you pick up, he will eat."

Ji Jiu was stunned for a moment. From what he said, he realized that it was because of him that Yi Mo refused to eat properly. Just as he was about to speak, Shen Jue interrupted him.

Shen Jue said: “No matter how unpalatable the food you give him is, he will eat it."

The young man looked serious, with a hint of hope in his eyes , staring straight at Ji Jiu, which made Ji Jiu feel a little uncomfortable, not knowing how to respond so as not to dampen his enthusiasm. His father had hands and feet, and he had practiced Taoism for thousands of years, so he could be fine even if he didn’t eat or drink. He insisted on having people pick up food for him before he could eat anything, so even habits should have limits, and not everyone in the world was his Shen Qingxuan.

His Shen Qingxuan has turned to dust, the person who spoiled him has long since died and completely forgotten him. There will never be another Shen Qingxuan exactly the same in this world. Yi Mo should have woken up and adapted long ago, instead of treating everyone he finds as the young master of the Shen family who doted on him excessively.

What is lost is lost. Everything he has lost has been obliterated in the huge wound torn by time. Unless time turns back and the years go back, it can never be found again.

Ji Jiu looked at Shen Jue and thought that even if he didn’t mind the tediousness and was willing to diligently pick up food and feed his father, that affection was not the same as it was more than two hundred years ago, so there was no need to force it.

However, Ji Jiu didn’t say a word after all. He knew that they all understood what he said, but it was useless even if they understood it. They came here for Shen Qingxuan. No matter how much they understood, they couldn’t resist their desire for Shen Qingxuan. The relationship between the three of them was never about who was more reasonable than who.

Turning around, Ji Jiu walked back quickly along the winding path. Compared to Shen Jue, whose eyes were full of sincerity and expectation, he felt more relaxed facing the shameless old snake demon.

Shen Jue felt disappointed for a moment, knowing that he would not agree, and stopped forcing him, following him at a steady pace.

The two walked in silence. As the sun began to set, Ji Jiu’s pace gradually quickened without him realizing it. Shen Jue, who was following behind him, noticed this keenly and stared at his back thoughtfully.

The courtyard was in sight, and the lush green leaves of the locust tree could be seen from afar . This time it was Shen Jue who quickened his pace. He ran a few steps and left Ji Jiu behind. He soon slowed down and waited for Ji Jiu to come forward.

As they got closer, they saw that the door of their courtyard was wide open. A black figure was sitting on the threshold, leaning against the door frame, with long hair flying in the autumn breeze under the sunset.

Ji Jiu’s pace slowed down completely. Shen Jue brushed past him, paused for a moment in front of the door, walked past Yi Mo without saying a word, and went straight into the kitchen carrying the little wild boar, closing the door tightly without making a sound.

There were only two people left at the gate of the courtyard. Ji Jiu walked over slowly and saw his black robe fluttering in the wind. He saw him leaning against the door frame, facing the sunset, his face hazy in the brilliant light.

He finally stopped in front of him, game in one hand and sword in the other.

Yi Mo looked up at him standing against the light. They stared at each other for a moment. Ji Jiu spoke first: “Have you been here all the time?"

“Wait for you."

Ji Jiu paused for a moment, raised the game in his hand and said, “Let’s go in."

Yi Mo stood up, took the rabbit and chicken from him, and waved his hand. The three little creatures, who had been frightened for a long time, crashed into the kitchen door and landed at Shen Jue’s feet. Shen Jue, who was attacked, looked up at his father, waved his hand without saying a word, closed the kitchen door again, picked up the three unfortunate creatures, and lowered his head to clean them up carefully.

Ji Jiu couldn’t help but said, “You are good at ordering people around."

This sounded strangely familiar. Yi Mo thought about it and felt that he had said the same thing to Shen Qingxuan. He said:

“Not as good as you."

Ji Jiu thought to himself, how could I have ever ordered you around? And instantly he realized that the “you" he was talking about was not him.

Ji Jiu had learned not to argue with him anymore and calmly accepted the fact that he once again identified him as Shen Qingxuan. Without even a ripple in his heart, he just turned around to collect firewood and prepare the game for the evening roast.

He and Shen Jue came and went in the yard. Yi Mo did not move. He sat on the bamboo chair and watched them busying themselves for him. Shen Jue was used to being busy, having served him for many years; but another person had never served him like this. In his previous life, Shen Qingxuan was the eldest master of the Shen family. He was born to be a master to be served. Even though he was mute and disabled, he was used to ordering others around.

When they were together, Shen Qingxuan often gave him instructions on trivial matters.

Yi Mo watched quietly as they lit a bonfire and set up the cleaned game. Ji Jiu sat by the fire, turning the wooden rack. On the wooden branch was skewered the little wild boar that Shen Jue had cleaned. He turned the wooden rack neither fast nor slow, adding seasoning to the little wild boar from time to time; Shen Jue fiddled with another wooden rack, roasting the three poor little things that Ji Jiu had brought back.

The sky had already darkened, the sky overhead was dotted with stars, and the red bonfire in the yard was emitting light and heat.

tender white wild boar was roasted until it was golden brown and shiny. Ji Jiu modified the seasoning prepared by Shen Jue and added honey and plum wine . He patiently roasted and brushed the boar over and over again. The fresh and fragrant aroma gradually filled the courtyard, becoming more and more tempting. Even Ji Jiu felt that his appetite was beginning to stir.

When it was finally done, Ji Jiu took out his dagger, picked the softest and most tender piece of meat, and cut it with a knife. His knife skills were excellent, and each piece was as thin as a cicada’s wing and of equal size. The sliced meat was dipped in sauce , and Ji Jiu handed it to the old snake demon who had been waiting for a long time.

Yi Mo took the small plate and ate while watching him take a second piece and give it to Shen Jue.

Finally it was his turn. There was not much of the most juicy piece of meat left, but he did not touch it. He just replaced it with a piece of tough and old meat, still chewing it with relish.

Yi Mo watched everything in silence and handed him the empty plate. Ji Jiu took it without thinking much and gave him the best of the remaining parts. Just like Shen Qingxuan in the past, when he ate fish, he would always give him the two best pieces of rouge meat and would not taste a single bite himself.

Even though he is no longer Shen Qingxuan in this life, from his unconscious actions, who can say that he is the cold-hearted Ji Jiu.

The best things are always given to him, without any reservation or hesitation, as if it is natural.

Ji Jiu noticed his gaze, turned around and saw that his bowl was empty, thinking that it was not enough, so he took out the pheasant roasted by Shen Jue, cut two legs, and put them in his bowl. As soon as he put it in, he remembered what Shen Jue said during the day, thinking that this could be considered as picking up food. He ate so much, could he really eat as much as he was given, and not be afraid of being stuffed.

But Yi Mo did eat it.

He sliced the game himself and put the dishes in his bowl himself. He did not refuse any of them, nor did he put down his chopsticks because they were not tasty. He put everything in his mouth and ate them all.

At this time, there was no quarrel between them later, and Ji Jiu inexplicably developed the habit of occasionally picking up food for others.

A few years later, Ji Jiu led his troops to go on an expedition. Before departure, he had a banquet with his generals. He was laughing and talking happily during the banquet. When he raised his chopsticks to pick up a full plate of dishes, and when he was about to send them to his right, he remembered that the old monster who insisted on having others pick up dishes before he would eat properly was no longer around.

He smiled faintly and put the dishes into his own bowl. For some reason, he remembered the big tree he saw in the mountains when he was hunting for the old monster that year. When he went to the mountains for the last time, the tree had disappeared, leaving only a low wooden stump with circles of growth rings of varying depths.

A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be cut down.

Just like the big tree, it’s time for him to fall down.

He thought that he already knew the future and the way back, but he still couldn’t let go and was always concerned about too many things.

Even though he knew that the man liked everything he did, he still never hunted game for him more often, nor did he pick up more food with his chopsticks.

It’s really a pity.