Rebirth of Jinxuan

Zhang Yuxi's voice was insignificant in the noisy crowd; everyone seemed bewitched, their eyes fixed solely on him. Only then did Lu Jinxuan notice that the women around her were looking at Zhang Yuxi with less wariness and hostility and more adoration and infatuation. Some had even begun whispering amongst themselves, boldly speculating about Zhang Yuxi's identity.

"Judging by his figure, he looks like a young nobleman from some family."

"It must be, I wonder which lucky young lady is..."

Lu Jinxuan sneered inwardly. It turned out to be a false alarm. They hadn't recognized Zhang Yuxi's demon identity at all; they clearly thought he was some extraordinary person. The crowd jostled and pushed, their chatter only pushing Lu Jinxuan and Lu Yuhang further to the side.

Lu Jinxuan inwardly groaned. She had left home in such a hurry that day that the hideous scar on her face was not yet fully covered. Now, with so many eyes watching her, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. She quietly tugged at Zhang Yuxi's sleeve and whispered, "Let's go back first. It's not too late to visit the Martial Hall in a few days."

Zhang Yuxi noticed her unease and asked, looking down, "What's wrong?"

Lu Jinxuan shook her head, about to explain, when a larger commotion suddenly erupted from the crowd. "Make way! Make way!" A loud voice came from behind the crowd, and everyone turned to look. They saw several men in tight-fitting clothes parting the crowd and walking towards them.

Zhang Yuxi frowned slightly and subconsciously pulled Lu Jinxuan behind her, shielding her behind her. Lu Jinxuan was startled and before she could react, she felt a force pull her into a warm embrace.

After the burly man cleared the way, a young man dressed in a brocade robe and wearing a jade belt was revealed. He had a handsome face and an imposing presence, but there was a hint of arrogance between his brows. The man glanced at the surrounding crowd, and his gaze finally landed on Lu Jinxuan, who was being protected by Zhang Yuxi, with a flash of amazement in his eyes.

This subtle exchange of glances, however, was like a spark falling into a pile of dry tinder, instantly igniting the flames of jealousy among the surrounding women. They were already deeply enamored with Zhang Yuxi's appearance, and now seeing him so protective of a woman only fueled their resentment.

"Who is this woman? Why is he protecting her like this?"

"Look at her timid and hesitant appearance, she's obviously not from a good family."

"That's right, I don't know what kind of seductive tricks she used to seduce the young master."

The sarcastic and cutting comments pierced Lu Jinxuan's eardrums like needles, making her cheeks burn. She wished she could disappear into the ground. Zhang Yuxi noticed her unease and tightened his grip on her, protecting her even more. His cold gaze swept over the gossiping women, his tone carrying a hint of warning: "Everyone, watch your words. This is my friend."

His words, though brief, carried an undeniable authority, and the surrounding whispers gradually subsided. Lu Jinxuan felt slightly relieved, but still dared not look up. She could feel the envious gazes around her, like knives scraping against her.

Just then, Lu Yuhang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Mom, I'm hungry."

His voice wasn't loud, but it broke the awkward silence. Lu Jinxuan then realized they had been traveling for a long time and hadn't eaten anything. She looked apologetically at Zhang Yuxi: "I'm sorry, you must have seen this."

Zhang Yuxi smiled slightly: "It's alright, let's find a place to eat first."

However, they were unfamiliar with Qingfeng Town and didn't know where to eat. Lu Yuhang's eyes lit up, and he pointed to a wonton stall not far away, saying, "Mom, I want to eat wontons."

Lu Jinxuan followed his finger and saw a steaming wonton stall by the roadside, run by a kind-looking old man. She nodded and was about to take Lu Yuhang over when Zhang Yuxi stopped her.

“There are too many people, it’s inconvenient for you to take the child, I’ll go buy it.” Zhang Yuxi said, and took out some loose silver and handed it to Lu Jinxuan, “Buy whatever you want to eat.”

Lu Jinxuan wanted to refuse, but realizing she didn't have much money on her, she had no choice but to accept it. Zhang Yuxi turned and walked towards the wonton stall, while Lu Jinxuan and Lu Yuhang stood there waiting.

Looking in the direction the crowd was moving, Lu Yuhang asked curiously, "Mom, where are we going?"

Lu Jinxuan explained, "We're going to the Martial Arts Hall."

What is the Martial Arts Hall?

Lu Jinxuan was about to explain when she suddenly had an idea. She squatted down and looked at Lu Yuhang, saying, "Yuhang, could you go ask that old man how to get to the Martial Arts Hall for me?"

Lu Yuhang readily agreed and ran towards the wonton stall with his short legs. When he arrived at the stall, he asked in his childish voice, "Uncle, do you know how to get to Wutang?"

The wonton stall owner was a kind and amiable old man. Looking at the adorable child in front of him, he asked with a smile, "Little one, are you alone? Where are your family?"

Lu Yuhang pointed to Lu Jinxuan not far away and said, "My mother is over there."

The old man scooped up a spoonful of steaming hot wontons and brought it to Lu Yuhang's lips: "Here, have a wonton first to warm yourself up."

Lu Yuhang took a bite and his eyes lit up: "It's delicious!"

The old man smiled and fed him a few more, then asked, "Where are your parents? Why are they letting you run around alone?"

As Lu Yuhang ate his wontons, he said, "My mother and I wanted to go to the martial arts hall, but we got lost..." He licked his lips, his gaze falling on the steaming pot of wontons. The old man scooped up another spoonful of wontons and handed it to him, saying, "Eat slowly, don't burn yourself..." His eyes were full of affection.

"Lost?" A hint of worry appeared on the old man's kind face. He looked around but didn't see anyone who resembled Lu Yuhang's parents. "What's your mother's name? I'll go call her for you."

Lu Yuhang shook his head, his little face bulging from eating so heartily. "No need to call, Mommy is over there, she can see me." He pointed in the direction of Lu Jinxuan, then pointed to the bustling street. "We want to go to the Martial Arts Hall, but we don't know how to get there."

The old man looked in the direction Lu Yuhang pointed and immediately spotted Lu Jinxuan standing gracefully in the crowd. He suddenly realized, "You're also going to see the excitement? Just keep walking along this street, and you'll see the Martial Arts Hall. There are a lot of people today, so don't get separated."

Following the direction the old man pointed, Lu Yuhang saw a tall archway faintly visible at the end of the street, with the two large, elegant characters "Martial Arts Hall" written on it. He clapped his hands happily, "Thank you, old man!" and then nimbly jumped off the stool.

"Hey, kid, slow down..." Before the old man could finish speaking, he saw Lu Yuhang take out a gleaming gold coin from his pocket and put it on the table with a "thud".

"Uncle, the wontons are delicious, this is for you!" After saying that, Lu Yuhang ran off like a gust of wind.

The old man stared at the gold coin on the table, stunned. A single gold coin was no small sum; it was enough to sell his wontons for several days. He hurriedly chased after Lu Yuhang to the stall, shouting at his retreating figure, "Child, you gave too much! This…"

However, Lu Yuhang had already run far away, his voice drowned out by the noisy crowd. The old man shook his head helplessly, looking at the gold coins in his hand with astonishment in his eyes. This kid is too generous…

"Mother, I know how to get to the Martial Arts Hall! Let's go!" Lu Yuhang ran to Lu Jinxuan's side and excitedly took her hand.

Before Lu Jinxuan could ask anything, Zhang Yuxi had already brought over two steaming bowls of wontons. "Come on, have something to eat first."

Lu Yuhang took the wontons and eagerly began to eat, describing the directions the old man had given him to Lu Jinxuan and Zhang Yuxi as he ate. After listening, Zhang Yuxi smiled and patted Lu Yuhang's head, "You're quite clever."

The three followed the crowd forward. The street was teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder. Various stalls lined the street, displaying a dazzling array of goods. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares and haggling filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere. Lu Jinxuan held Lu Yuhang's hand tightly, afraid that he would get lost in the crowded streets.

"Make way, make way..." A rude voice came from behind, followed by a tremendous force that shoved Lu Jinxuan and Lu Yuhang forward...

Lu Jinxuan staggered a few steps and almost fell, but fortunately Zhang Yuxi caught her quickly. "Be careful!" he whispered, his brows furrowing slightly. This sudden shove made him feel a little displeased.

"Mother, are you alright?" Lu Yuhang asked worriedly, his little hand tightly gripping Lu Jinxuan's sleeve.

Lu Jinxuan shook her head and patted his hand reassuringly, "It's okay, there are just too many people." The stalls on both sides of the street were filled with a dazzling array of goods. The sweet aroma of candied hawthorns, the vibrant colors of clay figurines, and the soft touch of rag dolls all attracted Lu Yuhang's attention. He looked around curiously, his small figure appearing particularly petite in the crowd.

"Want to sit higher?" Zhang Yuxi looked at Lu Yuhang's curious eyes and smiled.

Before Lu Yuhang could answer, Zhang Yuxi scooped him up and placed him steadily on her shoulder. Lu Yuhang immediately cried out excitedly, his field of vision suddenly widening considerably. He could clearly see the archway of the Martial Arts Hall in the distance, and even the bustling crowd beneath it.

"Wow! It's so high!" Lu Yuhang clapped his hands happily, directing like a little general, "Go forward, go forward!"

Zhang Yuxi smiled and shook his head, one hand protecting Lu Yuhang's legs and the other around Lu Jinxuan's shoulder, like a wall, resolutely pushing his way towards the martial arts hall. His tall figure made him stand out in the crowd, and the imposing aura he exuded caused people around him to unconsciously make way for him.

"Sugar figurine! Mother, I want a sugar figurine!" Lu Yuhang pointed to a stall selling sugar figurines and shouted loudly.

Lu Jinxuan smiled helplessly. This child really had boundless energy. Just as she was about to speak, Zhang Yuxi said first, "Okay, I'll go buy it for you."

He put Lu Yuhang down from his shoulder and let him stand by the roadside, then turned and walked towards the sugar figurine stall. Lu Jinxuan stood to the side, watching Zhang Yuxi skillfully haggle with the stall owner, and a warmth rose in her heart. This man, though seemingly cold, was very gentle at heart.

After buying the sugar figurines, Zhang Yuxi lifted Lu Yuhang back onto her shoulders and continued towards the martial arts hall. The closer they got to the hall, the more crowded it became, and a tense atmosphere filled the air. Lu Jinxuan noticed that most of the people around her were dressed in martial arts attire, with swords at their waists, clearly indicating that they were all martial artists.

"It seems that the martial arts academy's recruitment this time has attracted quite a few people," Lu Jinxuan remarked.

Zhang Yuxi nodded, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding crowd, a barely perceptible hint of wariness flashing in her eyes. Suddenly, a commotion arose ahead, the crowd began to push and shove, and someone shouted, "Run! There's trouble!"

Zhang Yuxi's expression changed, and he quickly picked up Lu Yuhang and placed him in Lu Jinxuan's arms. "Protect him!" he said in a deep voice, then turned and walked towards the direction of the commotion.

"Yu Xi!" Lu Jinxuan's heart tightened. She wanted to call out to him, but his resolute figure was swallowed up by the surging crowd. She hugged Lu Yuhang tightly, feeling his body temperature, her heart filled with unease. Just then, a small hand patted her cheek.

"Mother, I can go in by myself." Lu Yuhang looked up at Lu Jinxuan with a determined gaze. In front of the martial arts hall gate, a surging crowd, like boiling water, created a deafening cacophony. The sounds of hawking, arguing, and children crying mingled together, forming a chaotic scene. Lu Jinxuan held Lu Yuhang tightly, struggling to move through the crowd, trying to see the direction Zhang Yuxi had disappeared in, but could only see a sea of ​​heads.

"Hang'er," Lu Jinxuan looked down at Lu Yuhang in her arms and asked worriedly, "Can you go in by yourself?"

Lu Yuhang's little face was tense, but his eyes were unusually firm. He nodded, his childish voice standing out clearly amidst the noise: "Mother, I can do it."

The next moment, Lu Jinxuan felt a lightness in her arms as Lu Yuhang's small figure darted out like an arrow. He was light on his feet, seemingly moving with the wind, nimbly weaving through the crowd like a nimble little monkey, climbing upwards at an astonishing speed.

“This kid…” Zhang Yuxi appeared beside Lu Jinxuan at some point, looking at Lu Yuhang’s agile figure, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes, “Not bad, looks like he took after me.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Jinxuan rolled her eyes at him, annoyed: "What do you mean, 'from you'? I think he's from me! When I used to refine medicine, I often had to gather herbs on cliffs, so I'm naturally agile. He must have inherited my genes!"

Zhang Yuxi chuckled lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Mother, I'm coming in!" Lu Yuhang's clear voice came from inside the wall, tinged with a hint of pride.

Lu Jinxuan breathed a sigh of relief, looking up at the towering wall, feeling both gratified and worried. She was gratified by Lu Yuhang's quick wit and bravery, but worried about whether he would encounter any danger while alone in the martial arts hall.

"Let's go in too." Zhang Yuxi took Lu Jinxuan's hand and walked towards the entrance of the martial arts hall.

With Zhang Yuxi clearing the way, the two easily squeezed into the martial arts hall. Passing through an archway with carved beams and painted rafters, a bright and spacious view suddenly appeared before them.

The front courtyard of the martial arts hall was very spacious, and fifty or sixty children were gathered together, chattering excitedly, creating a lively scene. Lu Yuhang was standing in the center of the crowd, surrounded by a group of children, looking every bit like a little star.

A little girl with two pigtails and wearing a pink dress was holding Lu Yuhang's hand and said in a clear voice, "You were so amazing when you were scaling walls! How did you do that?" This little girl was Momo, whom he had met at the teahouse earlier.

Another boy, dressed in a blue brocade robe and looking somewhat arrogant, came forward, sized Lu Yuhang up and down, and said, "My name is Li Yicheng. What's your name? Let's have a match!"

Despite the crowd's enthusiasm, Lu Yuhang remained calm and composed, showing no signs of stage fright. He patted Li Yicheng on the shoulder and said in a mature tone, "From now on, I'm your boss!"