Chapter 25

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Old Qin had already slapped the back of my head countless times, leaving Qin Huaidao, who was standing beside him, stunned. He probably thought that my bad habit of liking to slap the back of his head was learned from his father.

Old Qin had a bunch of bad habits, such as never washing his feet and liking to fart and burp while eating. These were all bad habits formed from years of military life, spending all day with a bunch of rough men. It would be strange if he didn't pick up these bad habits.

However, as soon as he returned home, Old Qin would immediately change, strictly adhering to the demeanor of a nobleman. He would walk with his hands behind his back, neither too fast nor too slow, and even if the sky fell, he would still slowly stroll over.

He couldn't shout loudly, even if he was angry, he couldn't curse, and he certainly couldn't spout coarse or dirty words. He couldn't bring the military's way of scolding soldiers into his home.

The reason for all this was that Old Qin was afraid of his wife!

In the Tang Dynasty, the most famous wife-beater was Fang Xuanling. The Fang family was unfortunate to have a wife who resembled a she-devil, who would throw tantrums and roll on the ground, making Fang's life miserable.

This clearly matriarchal family style directly shaped the weak nature of Fang Yiai, who not only wore a green hat due to Princess Gaoyang but was also ultimately beheaded because of her.

However, Old Qin's wife was not like Fang's wife. Lady Qin was truly well-educated, gentle, and virtuous, a lady of noble birth.

When Old Qin arrived at the Qin residence, Lady Qin had already arranged a banquet in the Tang style, with a low table in front of each person, and dishes and wine placed one by one.

Old Qin slowly walked to the low table and sat down in the typical kneeling position. Seeing Old Qin sit down, Zhao Chen had to follow his example and kneel behind the low table.

No talking during meals, no chatting while sleeping! Old Qin strictly adhered to this noble rule, silently picking up his bowl and chopsticks, chewing and swallowing slowly. There was also a beautiful maid by each low table, responsible for serving dishes and pouring wine. Zhao Chen was sweating profusely by the time the meal was over.

His legs were already numb from kneeling, but he couldn't move because there was another person at the table whom Old Qin hadn't introduced, and he didn't know who they were.

Finally, the meal was over, and the beautiful maid immediately brought a mouth rinse. Watching Old Qin calmly pick up his teacup, swish the tea around his mouth, and spit it into the spittoon, Zhao Chen quickly followed suit.

The meal took half an hour, and when they came out, Zhao Chen's legs were so stiff he could barely walk. He limped behind Old Qin into the back courtyard. As soon as they entered, Zhao Chen clearly saw Old Qin's shoulders sag, indicating that the meal had been tough for him too!

"Speak, boy!" In the back courtyard, Old Qin seemed to return to his relaxed attitude from the mountains, probably because Lady Qin didn't usually manage this area.

"Speak about what?" Zhao Chen asked, feigning ignorance.

Old Qin glared at Zhao Chen, his face darkening. "The last time you were with Daoist Sun, I heard that your mind almost lost control, and it was only thanks to Daoist Sun that you were awakened. This time, after seeing Li Chunfeng, you immediately became agitated and fell into a coma for three days! At such a young age, what could be troubling you so much that you would torture yourself like this!"

Zhao Chen's eyes immediately turned red. He indeed had a huge secret, but could he tell anyone? That he was from another world! It was a joke; even the most trusted Old Qin couldn't be told!

"Boy, you grew up there, got used to the mountains and waters, the grass and trees. Now that you're in Chang'an, you feel so lonely!"

"Do you want to go back?" Old Qin frowned, looking at Zhao Chen's red eyes, and after a long pause, he took a deep breath and asked.

Zhao Chen shook his head, his face filled with sorrow. "Uncle Qin, I can't go back. I've tried many times, but I can't. I can never go back in this life!"

"Why? I have two hundred personal guards. If you want to go back, I'll immediately pick a hundred guards to accompany you in your search!" Old Qin frowned, clearly not believing that there could be a place so hidden that one person couldn't find it, but a hundred people couldn't either!

Hearing this, Zhao Chen's thoughts wandered. If there were really a hundred people accompanying him to the depths of the Qinling Mountains, could he really find it?

When he got separated from his hiking companions, it was very sudden. By the time he realized it, he was alone. This suggested that the place might have a black hole or some kind of time-space tunnel.

But when he got separated, he stayed in place and searched for two or three days, and the only thing he found was a time-space supermarket app on his phone. Nothing else.

Zhao Chen shook his head, and the brief glimmer of hope quickly faded.

"Hidden Sect, do they really have such supernatural abilities that even their own people can't find the sect's location?" Old Qin, seeing Zhao Chen's eyes quickly lose their sparkle, frowned and sighed.

"Uncle Qin, what Hidden Sect?" Zhao Chen looked up, puzzled, and asked. How did the conversation suddenly turn to a Hidden Sect?

"Boy, you yourself are from the Hidden Sect, so why are you asking me? It's ridiculous!" Old Qin was immediately upset. This boy was really something, treating him like a family member, yet he still tried to act dumb.

"No, Uncle Qin, you need to explain clearly. I really don't know what Hidden Sect!" Seeing Old Qin angry, Zhao Chen quickly defended himself. He didn't know what the Hidden Sect was, and he couldn't let it be pinned on him without a reason.

"Boy, whether you're from the Hidden Sect or not has nothing to do with me. There's no need to put on such an act in front of me!" Old Qin stubbornly believed that Zhao Chen didn't want to tell him. It made sense, as the Hidden Sect was always shrouded in mystery, rarely showing itself to the world, and even if it did, it was in the guise of a worldly person, let alone revealing its location to others.

"Uncle Qin, can you be reasonable?" Zhao Chen felt like he was about to lose it. Old Qin's expression, which seemed to have already decided he was from the Hidden Sect, made him extremely uncomfortable. It didn't sound like a good place, and to be labeled with it without reason would drive anyone crazy.

He glared at Old Qin, breathing heavily. "I'm from the mountains, but I'm not from any Hidden Sect. I've never even heard of it. You can't just pin it on me!"

"Really not?" Old Qin frowned, looking at Zhao Chen, who seemed genuinely upset, and began to doubt.

"Do you want me to swear an oath?" Zhao Chen, sitting across from Old Qin, said angrily.

"Then tell me, what kind of person is your master?" Old Qin thought for a moment, a possibility suddenly occurring to him, and he looked at Zhao Chen.

"My master is a very relaxed person, not seeking fame or fortune. Over the years, I've only known that he loves fishing, growing vegetables, and teaching me to read and write!" Zhao Chen tried to imagine a hermit living in the mountains, detached from worldly affairs, and described it to Old Qin.

Old Qin, listening to Zhao Chen's description, immediately pictured a crane-haired, child-faced old man sitting by a pond, leisurely fishing.

So, he sighed and asked Zhao Chen again, "Did your master ever mention anything related to the Hidden Sect?"

Zhao Chen shook his head, suddenly becoming angry and looking at Old Qin. "Uncle Qin, are you determined to link me with this Hidden Sect?"

'Whack' Old Qin, enraged, slapped the back of Zhao Chen's head. "You're so despicable! I'm trying to help you, but you talk about me like this! I'm so angry!"

Old Qin, getting angrier, picked up a stick and swung it at Zhao Chen's head. If it hit, it would be bad. Zhao Chen, scared, let out a loud cry and started running around the back courtyard.

"Boy, if you have the guts, stand still!" In the spacious back courtyard, Old Qin chased after him with a stick, occasionally threatening him.

"I won't stand still. If you have the guts, don't hit me!" Zhao Chen, fleeing in a panic, realized that Old Qin was really angry. If he were caught, who knew what would happen!

A young girl in a pink robe, with delicate features and a beautiful hairstyle, entered through the moon gate. She looked like a fairy from a painting.

Zhao Chen, who had been fleeing in a panic, immediately stopped when he saw the girl, showing a friendly smile. He had heard that Old Qin had a beautiful daughter and didn't want to scare her.

Qin Yuyan, who had been watching Zhao Chen being chased by her father, blushed when she saw him smiling at her. She quickly lowered her head, secretly scolding him.

She had heard from her mother about this troublemaker in Chang'an, and today's encounter confirmed his reputation. What a lecher!

Zhao Chen, of course, didn't know that his friendly smile had immediately earned him the label of a lecher from Old Qin's daughter.

'Clang' The sound of the stick hitting the ground made both Zhao Chen and Qin Yuyan turn to see Old Qin standing with his hands behind his back, looking calm, as if the commotion in the back courtyard had nothing to do with him.

Zhao Chen's lips curled up. Old Qin was afraid of his wife, and it seemed he was also afraid of his daughter!

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