Rebirth of Jinxuan

On the outskirts of the Dark Forest, towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, with only a few dappled spots of light filtering through the branches. Mo Chenfan carried a simple bow and arrows on his back and a few wild rabbits in his hand, his brow furrowed. These rabbits were thin and shriveled, hardly a good catch, let alone worth ten taels of silver.

Ten taels of silver might be an astronomical sum for an ordinary family, and for Mo Chenfan, who spent his years roaming the mountains and forests, it was by no means an easy task. He knew that deep in the Dark Night Forest, there were many rare birds and beasts, and if he was lucky, he could hunt just one and make a fortune.

But he also knew that the deeper one went, the more treacherous the dangers became. There, not only were there ferocious beasts, but also venomous miasma that struck fear into the hearts of all. Once, one of his hunter friends had gone too far and ended up being devoured by wild animals, his body never to be found again.

"Sigh..." Thinking of this, Mo Chenfan couldn't help but sigh, his heart filled with inner turmoil.

"Uncle Mo!"

Just as he was hesitating, a clear shout came from afar. Mo Chenfan looked up sharply and saw a familiar figure running towards him.

"Yu Hang! What brings you here?" Mo Chenfan dropped his prey and rushed over, picking up Lu Yu Hang who had run up to him.

"My mother brought me here," Lu Yuhang said happily, hugging Mo Chenfan's neck and pointing to Lu Jinxuan walking slowly towards them. "My mother said she wants to make money with you!"

Lu Jinxuan walked closer with a smile, and seeing the worried look in Mo Chenfan's eyes, she said in a casual tone, "What? Aren't you welcoming us?"

"How could that be?" Mo Chenfan forced a smile and patted Lu Yuhang's head. "It's just that the depths of this forest are dangerous, you..."

“We’ll just wander around the perimeter, we won’t go in,” Lu Jinxuan said, seeing through Mo Chenfan’s concerns at a glance. “You can focus on hunting, don’t worry about us.”

Mo Chenfan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the expectant looks in Lu Jinxuan and Lu Yuhang's eyes, he swallowed his words. Oh well, since he was already here, he might as well let them come along; he would just have to be careful.

"Then be careful and don't wander off," Mo Chenfan instructed.

"Okay, Uncle Mo, you be careful too!" Lu Yuhang waved his little hand and watched Mo Chenfan turn and leave.

Watching Mo Chenfan's figure disappear into the depths of the dense forest, Lu Jinxuan's smile gradually faded. She pulled Lu Yuhang along and walked in another direction, her voice low: "Yuhang, do you want to help Uncle Mo?"

Lu Yuhang nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

“Alright, let’s go take a look over there.” Lu Jinxuan said, pointing to the depths of the forest, where ancient trees towered, casting long shadows and exuding a mysterious aura… Deep in the dark forest, the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind. Mo Chenfan moved with light steps, his eyes scanning the surroundings like a hawk, searching for prey. However, his mind wasn’t entirely on hunting; Lu Yuhang’s innocent and carefree smile kept flashing through his mind, lingering there.

"The day after tomorrow is the day Yu Hang enters the martial arts academy, ten taels of silver..." Mo Chenfan murmured, his hand gripping the bow and arrow tightening slightly. He knew how heavy a burden this sum of money was for Lu Jinxuan, a woman.

He desperately wanted to help them, but with his current strength, let alone ten taels, even earning one tael of silver would require risking his life. Thinking of this, Mo Chenfan couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly. He himself had been exceptionally talented, reaching the Spirit Master level at sixteen and joining a demon-hunting group, hoping to make a name for himself. Who knew…

"Cough cough..." Mo Chenfan suddenly coughed violently, a metallic taste rising in his throat. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, only slowly lowering it after the bloody taste dissipated. "It's happening again..." Mo Chenfan looked at the bloodstains on his hand, a trace of pain and resentment flashing in his eyes. Five years ago, during the demon-hunting operation, he was severely injured. Not only were his spiritual veins damaged and his cultivation completely lost, but he also suffered from a chronic illness, making it impossible for him to break through to the Spiritualist realm and reach the coveted Spiritual Master realm.

"Mo Chenfan! How long are you going to hide?!"

The disdainful voice of the former leader of the demon-hunting squad seemed to echo in his ears again. Mo Chenfan shook his head violently, trying to shake off those unbearable memories. "I can't live like this anymore!" Mo Chenfan clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with determination. "Yu Hang needs martial arts training, he needs money, and I must help them!"

He took a deep breath, gritting his teeth against the pain, and continued deeper into the forest. He knew that the more dangerous the place, the more likely it was to yield valuable prey. "Roar—"

A deafening roar suddenly came from ahead, startling countless birds into flight. Mo Chenfan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly found a thick tree to hide under, while cautiously peering towards the direction from which the sound came.

Not far ahead, a huge wooden sign stood by the roadside, with several alarming words written on it in bright red paint: "Danger Zone, Do Not Enter!"

Mo Chenfan looked at the wooden sign, a flicker of struggle crossing his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. He looked back at the path he had come from, as if he could see the expectant eyes of Lu Jinxuan and Lu Yuhang.

"Fight!"

He tightened his grip on his weapon, took a deep breath, and lifted his foot...

Mo Chenfan took one last look at the dense shadows of the trees behind him. He knew that once he stepped into this area, it would mean facing unknown dangers alone, but he had no other choice.

"I hope today will be fruitful," Mo Chenfan prayed softly, as if pouring all his courage into those words. He tightened his grip on the gleaming machete in his hand, strode over the warning sign, and resolutely entered the danger zone.

On the outskirts of the Dark Forest, sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Lu Jinxuan was teaching Lu Yuhang the superior light-body technique, "Lingbo Weibu" (Light Steps on Waves).

"Yuhang, remember, the key to this movement technique is lightness and agility. Your steps should be as light as a feather, and your movements should be as fast as lightning." Lu Jinxuan explained while slowly demonstrating the movements. With a light touch of her toes, her figure moved gracefully and swiftly like a wisp of smoke.

Although young, Lu Yuhang was exceptionally intelligent. He intently observed Lu Jinxuan's movements and imitated her steps, his innocent face full of seriousness.

"Mom, let me try!" Lu Yuhang couldn't wait to give it a shot.

"Okay, Yuhang, remember the mantra your mother taught you, don't be impatient," Lu Jinxuan encouraged with a smile.

Lu Yuhang took a deep breath, silently recited the incantation as instructed by Lu Jinxuan, lightly touched the ground with his toes, and rushed forward like an arrow. However, he was still young and his foundation was unstable. After only a few steps, he became unsteady and was about to fall to the ground.

Lu Jinxuan reacted quickly, appearing beside Lu Yuhang in a flash and catching him, preventing him from falling.

"Yuhang, don't be discouraged. This movement technique is extremely difficult to master. You've already done very well on your first attempt," Lu Jinxuan comforted gently. "Come, let me teach you the incantation again. This time, you need to focus on feeling and experiencing that lightness."

Lu Yuhang nodded and began practicing diligently again, following Lu Jinxuan's instructions. He tried again and again, fell again and again, but Lu Yuhang never gave up. His eyes shone with a determined light, like a stubborn rock that, even if shattered to pieces, would transform into a sky full of stars.

Finally, after countless repetitions, Lu Yuhang suddenly felt as if he had become one with his surroundings. His steps became incredibly light, and his body became agile and free, allowing him to move freely among the trees, as if...

"Mom, look at me!" Lu Yuhang shouted excitedly, his figure transforming into a blur as he rushed towards Lu Jinxuan. In the blink of an eye...

...Like a fawn leaping through the forest, light and agile. Before Lu Jinxuan could react, Lu Yuhang had already stopped steadily in front of her, his face beaming with the joy of success.

"Mother, I did it! I've mastered the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique)!" Lu Yuhang exclaimed excitedly, his clear voice echoing through the forest.

Lu Jinxuan looked at her son with satisfaction, her eyes and brows full of smiles. "Yuhang is so amazing! He grasped the essentials so quickly. It seems he inherited his mother's talent." She gently pinched Lu Yuhang's nose, her tone full of affection.

"Of course!" Lu Yuhang proudly raised his little head. "I'm going to become as amazing as my mother!"

"Okay, Mother believes you." Lu Jinxuan ruffled Lu Yuhang's hair. "However, this movement technique still requires diligent practice to use it freely."

"I understand, Mother." Lu Yuhang nodded seriously, then, as if remembering something, his eyes lit up, and he tugged at Lu Jinxuan's sleeve, pleading, "Mother, let's go find Uncle Mo! He must have caught something. I want to go see!"

Lu Jinxuan hesitated. The Dark Night Forest was fraught with danger, and Mo Chenfan had risked going deep into it to raise money for Yu Hang's martial arts school. As if sensing Lu Jinxuan's concerns, Lu Yu Hang pouted and said in a slightly aggrieved tone, "Mother, Uncle Mo never let me come hunting before, saying it was too dangerous. Now that we finally have a chance, please let me go, okay?"

Lu Jinxuan's heart softened. This child had been sensible since he was little, and now that he had finally made a small request, how could she bear to refuse? "Alright, then let's go take a look, but you must stay close to your mother and not run around."

"Okay!" Lu Yuhang jumped up excitedly and pulled Lu Jinxuan along as they ran into the depths of the forest.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Lu Jinxuan held Lu Yuhang's hand and walked step by step into the depths of the forest. The silhouettes of the mother and son looked especially warm in the dappled light.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the trees ahead gradually thinned out, and some faint noises could be heard. Lu Yuhang stopped and whispered to Lu Jinxuan, "Mother, it sounds like there's someone ahead..." "Shh—" Lu Jinxuan put her index finger to her lips, signaling Lu Yuhang to be quiet, then quietly walked forward.

Pushing aside the last thicket of bushes, Lu Jinxuan was stunned by the sight before her. Mo Chenfan was kneeling on the ground, confronting a massive wild boar. The boar had sharp tusks and bloodshot eyes; it was clearly enraged, pawing the ground and roaring furiously.

Lu Yuhang also saw the scene before him and was immediately terrified, turning pale. He instinctively grabbed Lu Jinxuan's hand tightly.

"Uncle Mo, be careful!" Lu Yuhang couldn't help but shout.

Hearing the sound, Mo Chenfan turned to look at Lu Jinxuan and her son, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and whispered, "Why are you here? Get out of here, it's dangerous!"

"Mom, Uncle Mo seems to be injured!" Lu Yuhang said anxiously, pointing at Mo Chenfan's arm.

Lu Jinxuan then noticed that Mo Chenfan had a deep wound on his arm that exposed bone, and blood was gushing out continuously.

"Mom, let's go help Uncle Mo!" Lu Yuhang said, and was about to rush out.

Lu Jinxuan grabbed him and shook her head. "Yuhang, be good. Uncle Mo is worried about us getting hurt. Let's listen to him and go to a safe place."

Although Lu Yuhang was worried, he knew he couldn't cause trouble for Mo Chenfan at this time, so he could only follow Lu Jinxuan back step by step, looking back every few steps.

After the mother and son had retreated to a safe distance, Lu Jinxuan breathed a sigh of relief and said to Lu Yuhang, "Yuhang, how has your mother always taught you? You must stay calm and not act impulsively when you encounter danger, understand?"

Lu Yuhang nodded, and said with some guilt, "Mother, I was wrong. I shouldn't have disobeyed you."

Lu Jinxuan patted his head and said softly, "It's good that you know you're wrong and can correct it. We'll wait here for Uncle Mo. Once he defeats the wild boar, we'll go find him."