Ark Undead

During the Lunar New Year, everyone visited the cemetery on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Perhaps it's because their ancestors left their mark here, or perhaps they simply came to pay homage to the warriors who defended the homeland of the people of Dayan.

In the cemeteries of Beijing, countless tombstones are adorned with offerings made by those who come to pay their respects.

It could be fresh flowers grown by the adults themselves, fine wine that the elderly have been saving for years and are reluctant to drink, or even the snacks that children love to eat.

Only soldiers who returned from the northern battlefields are entitled to rest in peace at the capital's cemetery.

Even high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital were not allowed to be buried in the highest-standard mausoleum of the Great Yan Dynasty.

This is a rule that has been passed down since ancient times, and no one can break this rule, not even members of the royal family.

The Undead Man walked alone in the Dayan Cemetery. He turned several corners and, following the signs, found the area where the burials were concentrated.

Here, he could see the tombstones left by the soldiers of the Great Yan Dynasty throughout history. Even though their faces have faded with time, their names are inscribed here without reservation on these stone pillars that are tens of meters high.

After each fire-worshiping ceremony, there would be a stone pillar with the names of the soldiers who died between the previous and current fire-worshiping ceremonies, and whose names could not be collected.

Their bodies had already decomposed underground in the northern border, and the Great Yan government could not find any items related to them. So they collected and burned these unidentifiable corpses, and engraved the names of those soldiers whose bodies could not be found but were recorded as missing on the remains.

For the remaining soldiers who can identify the bodies, the ashes will be sent to their homes.

Whether they are buried in the Dayan Cemetery or rest in the green mountains with their ancestors is entirely up to their family's choice.

They had walked for a long time, passing more than thirty stone pillars, and there were still many ahead. Roughly speaking, there were at least nearly a hundred stone pillars standing here, relics that have been preserved from ancient times to the present.

The undead stared ahead, and the further he went, the slower he moved.

Until he stopped and turned around.

He had hoped to find the name of the founding emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty here, but now it seems there's no need.

Everyone here is a part of the Great Yan Dynasty; even the emperor is just one of the initial components.

When he returned to the main gate and bought a bouquet of flowers at the supermarket to offer his blessings to the spirits inside, the supermarket owner answered his question.

"His Majesty the Founding Emperor?"

The shopkeeper looked at the undead man with surprise, then glanced at his attire before nodding in realization.

"I see. You must be from out of town, sir. Our Great Yan Emperor was not buried here."

The immortal was stunned for a moment. Even the emperors of the Great Yan Dynasty couldn't be buried here? Then where were the emperors of the Great Yan Dynasty buried?

"Then, them..."

"If you want to admire the emperor's great achievements, it's better to go to a museum."

"That's what the boss said."

"They have no cemetery."

...

Liang Xun is dealing with the house that is to be built today.

The list in his hand was what had just been handed to him; it was filled with the materials that would be delivered to the construction site today.

He needs to get this place built quickly; the project he's working on is crucial to whether the Day of the Dead can be held smoothly after the New Year.

The blueprints in his hand were for building a circular structure, over ten meters high, with a hollow center.

"Lord Liang Xun, the next batch of supplies is not expected to arrive until after the New Year. Everyone has been resting these past few days, and we have already delivered almost everything that could be sent from the vicinity of the capital."

Next to him was the person in charge of this batch of supplies. He was wearing a safety helmet and standing next to Liang Xun, looking at the list in his hand and glancing at the blueprints on the table.

"Look, I expect this batch of materials will be enough to build the bottom two floors. Then we can pile the stones in the middle and have them start carving the inscriptions from the bottom."

The person in charge offered his opinion to Liang Xun.

Liang Xun nodded; this was the only way.

Although it's not particularly urgent, the time between this year's Day of the Dead and the Lunar New Year is quite close, so we should make the most of the time.

"Thank you all for your hard work. Overtime pay remains the same, calculated at three times the normal rate. There will also be subsidized boxed meals and drinks at lunch and dinner. Please keep this in mind."

"Oh, what are you saying, Lord Liang? It's enough that we get paid for overtime. It's the New Year, and we local old men don't have much to do anyway. Our wives and kids are all out having fun, so we can't gossip like busybodies. It's good that we can come out and do some work."

The person in charge first laughed for a while, then his tone became increasingly serious.

"Besides, this isn't just any ordinary project... The fact that it's been assigned to us makes us proud when we tell our kids stories about it. Even though we couldn't go to the North, at least we've ensured our soldiers can return home safely."

Liang Xun looked down at the blueprint and nodded.

"Yes...at least these soldiers were able to go home safely."

The project they are building is for sculpting the latest monument.

In order to ensure that every part of the stone could be carved neatly and that the soldiers' names could be engraved, a building that was tall enough to provide a stable working environment for the workers was required.

On the Day of the Dead, the Celestial Master will personally carry out the carving of the monument to the Dayan Cemetery, where it will stand there forever for people to pay their respects.

For these workers, this was a task filled with a sense of honor. Therefore, even during the Chinese New Year, many people were willing to participate in this project.

Liang Xun's job was to be in charge of the initial construction and building, while the subsequent carving was handled by others.

After finishing his work for the day, Liang Xun gave a final inspection of the construction site before heading to his temporary residence.

After a busy day, Liang Xun still had many messages to reply to when he got home that evening.

It wasn't about political matters, but rather that many high-ranking officials sought him out for private conversations.

Previously, the divine general was handling affairs in Shang Shu. This matter was revealed along with news from the palace confirming the divine general's return.

Many people knew that Liang Xun was serving as the prefect of Shangshu during that period. As a result, countless letters arrived, asking Liang Xun about the divine general.

For example, is the God General easy to talk to? Is the God General even real? And even more outrageous, he wants Liang Xun to help him arrange a marriage.

When Liang Xun saw these messages, he was somewhat bewildered.

Even if the god-general really returns, are you really going to marry your daughter off to him? You know, even if the god-general is mighty and powerful, he's still an ancient monster who has lived for countless years. Are you really going to have the heart to send your child there?

Moreover, Liang Xun vaguely remembered that the family's youngest daughter was only twelve or thirteen years old and still in school.

Liang Xun simply threw away these strange letters without reading them.

Just kidding, Liang Xun's status is quite high now.

In Shangshu, he suppressed the power of Si Suitai, secretly met with the divine general, and even helped the divine general quell the Si Suitai's rebellion.

It's obvious to everyone that Liang Xun is destined for great success. Even high-ranking officials in the court wouldn't openly suppress him at this time.

Whatever Liang Xu does now, it's likely that His Majesty has given him instructions behind the scenes. Who would dare to test his background?

If this really escalates to His Majesty's ears...

Liang Xun was still racking his brains over the paperwork for tonight. When he got home, Yan Di immediately came to greet him at the door.

"Lord Liang, you're back."

"Ah."

Liang Xun watched as Yan Di opened the door for him and slowly walked in. Yan Di then began to report on the day's events to Liang Xun.

"Lord Liang, more than forty documents were delivered today. More than thirty of them are replies to the letters you sent a few days ago, and a few others were just delivered today."

"How come there are so many?"

Liang Xun tapped his head, feeling that he shouldn't have started that conversation; he should have replied to everyone.

Yan Di also looked helpless. These past few days, the capital city had been in an uproar over the matter of the Divine General.

The common people were fine; they all grew up listening to the stories of the divine general, and his return had no impact on them, so they naturally welcomed him with open arms.

But those in high positions must carefully consider whether the return of the gods will have any impact on the current Great Yan Dynasty.

The imperial palace collapsed first, and who knows who will be next?

Liang Xun rubbed his temples. He decided to put these things aside for the time being and rest for the night.

He was about to tell Yan Di to throw away all the letters when Yan Di whispered something in his ear.

"Lord Liang, there is a letter that I think you should take a look at."

Liang Xun glanced at Yan Di.

Yan Di looked at Liang Xun seriously and said.

"It was sent from the palace."

Liang Xun had his own judgment, and he nodded.

"Send it to my study."

"Yes!"

Liang Xun first took a bath and changed his clothes, and then ate his dinner before leisurely going to his study.

He'd been walking all over the study door these past few days, and he didn't really want to come in anymore.

But what Yan Di said still made Liang Xun hold his nose and walk into the study.

There was no other reason, just because of this letter...

"It was delivered by the eunuch serving His Majesty. I saw it when you went to meet the Emperor last time."

Yan Di had a good memory and was adept at dealing with people. For Liang Xun, such a clever follower was a great help, and this time was no exception.

So Liang Xun waved his hand, telling Yan Di to go aside.

Yan Di bowed and left the study.

Liang Xun then tore open the envelope and took out the letter.

As soon as he drew it out, Yan Di knew that it was definitely His Majesty's own handwriting.

Only members of the royal family would use such expensive stationery and ink. The smell of ink wafted from the envelope, which greatly excited Liang Xun.

So, Liang Xun carefully read the contents of the letter, and then he was stunned.

However, Liang Xun quickly realized what was happening.

He put down the letter and beckoned Yan Di in.

"Moisten the brush and grind the ink."

Yan Di silently prepared the preliminary steps for Liang Xun to reply, and then he saw Liang Xun take a pen and write on the letter paper.