Rebirth of Jinxuan

Old Qian slowly opened his eyes, the previous daze gone, replaced by deep weariness.

"Back then, the Qian family, though not as wealthy as the Luo family, was still considered a well-off household in Qingfeng Town. The head of the family, my father, arranged a marriage for me at a young age. The following year, my son was born, and I named him Xuanmo, Qian Xuanmo." He gently stroked the silk handkerchief in his hand, as if caressing the baby's delicate cheek.

"Xuanmo has been a smart and quick-witted child since he was a child, and he is also very filial. He is my greatest pride in this life."

A fleeting smile of pride vanished from Qian Lao's face, replaced by a gloomy expression.

"Good times don't last long..." He sighed, his voice filled with helplessness. "When Xuanmo was five years old, Luo Zhenshan brought his demon-hunting team to Qingfeng Town. Madam Luo was pregnant at the time, but she was attacked by a demon beast on the way and was seriously injured."

Mr. Qian paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

“At that time, I was the only one in town who knew medicine. Luo Zhenshan came to my door to ask me for treatment, so I naturally dared not neglect him.” He recalled the scene at the time, his tone filled with a hint of awe. “Luo Zhenshan was a very famous person. He became the leader of the demon hunting team at a young age, and his skills were unmatched.”

"Madam Luo gave birth to a son while in a coma; that child was the later Luo Si." Old Qian's voice lowered. "Although Madam Luo survived, she was left with chronic illnesses and her health has always been poor." He clutched the silk handkerchief tightly, as if he wanted to crush it. "To make it easier to care for Madam Luo, Luo Zhenshan decided to buy property in Qingfeng Town..." Old Qian looked at Mo Chenfan, his tone meaningful. "Back then, I often went to the Luo family to help..." He paused, his gaze falling on the silk handkerchief in his hand. "Madam Luo, she... she really liked Xuanmo..."

Mr. Qian's gaze was unfocused, as if he were lost in distant memories.

“I helped Luo Zhenshan buy a large mansion in the east of town and even helped him renovate it. Only then could the Luo family settle down in Qingfeng Town.” He stroked the twin lotus flowers embroidered on the silk handkerchief, his tone carrying a hint of bitterness.

"Madam Luo's health gradually improved, and a few years later she gave birth to another son, named Luo Li."

A hint of tenderness flashed in Old Qian's eyes. "That child, Rory, has been attached to Xuanmo since he was little. The two children are almost inseparable." The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. "Xuanmo is calm and steady, while Rory is lively and active. They complement each other quite well. Madam Luo often says that she wishes Xuanmo were her son." Old Qian said this casually, but Mo Chenfan sensed something unusual in his words.

"Luo Zhenshan is always traveling, and the demon-hunting group's business has grown bigger and bigger. Qingfeng Town has gradually become one of their strongholds." Old Qian's voice lowered again. "The children are growing up day by day. In the blink of an eye, Xuanmo and Luo Si have reached the age to learn martial arts. Luo Zhenshan personally teaches them martial arts, and both children have shown extremely high talent, especially Luo Si, who has shown amazing strength at a young age and is quite like his father."

Old Qian paused, a hint of regret in his eyes. "Luo Li is physically weak and not suited for martial arts, so he came with me to learn medicine. But this child... can't sit still. He only practices sporadically and never really learns anything." He sighed. "That's true. The Luo family has no shortage of doctors, so Luo Li doesn't really need to treat patients."

"Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Luo Zhenshan left Qingfeng Town with his demon-hunting team, saying he was going to develop in a more distant place." Old Qian's tone became solemn. "Before leaving, he left Madam Luo and their two children in Qingfeng Town. He said he would come back to pick them up once he settled down."

Mr. Qian's fingers gripped the table tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Not long after Luo Zhenshan left..." He suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on the silk handkerchief in his hand, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, "a member of a demon-hunting group, covered in blood, came to the town..."

Old Qian took a deep breath, as if using all his strength to utter a few words: "...He brought back news of Luo Zhenshan's death in battle." The silk handkerchief he clutched was deformed, as if it could also feel his grief at this moment.

Qian Xuanmo and Mo Chenfan remained silent, listening attentively.

"Madam Luo fainted on the spot," Qian Lao's voice trembled, "and after waking up... she never recovered." He closed his eyes, seemingly unwilling to recall that painful time.

"The demon-hunting group was leaderless, and everyone elected Luo Si as the new leader. Luo Si was only sixteen years old at the time, but he had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the entire demon-hunting group."

“He…he only came to see his unconscious mother once before he left,” Old Qian’s voice choked with emotion, “and then…he left Qingfeng Town with the demon-hunting team.” Qian Xuanmo’s fists clenched slightly; he seemed to be able to feel Luo Si’s helplessness and pain at that time.

"Madam Luo... she didn't last a month, she... she passed away." Old Qian finally couldn't hold back his tears, covered his face with his hands, and his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

The room was silent, except for the suppressed sobs of Old Qian.

Rory was young at the time and was nearly devastated by the series of blows.

Qian Xuanmo took care of him without hesitation, never leaving his side.

Like an older brother, Qian Xuanmo comforted Luo Li, wiped away his tears, and stayed with him through one sleepless night after another.

“Xuanmo…brother…” Luo Li lay weakly on the bed, his face pale and his eyes empty. “I…I’m so scared…” He tightly grasped Qian Xuanmo’s hand, as if he were grasping the last straw.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here," Qian Xuanmo gently patted Luo Li's back, his tone gentle yet firm, "I will always be with you."

As time went by, Rory gradually emerged from his grief.

His dependence on Qian Xuanmo grew deeper and deeper.

It was no longer just brotherly affection, but... it was a kind of... He dared not think about it in detail, only feeling his heart filled with inexplicable bitterness and sweetness.

One night, Rory developed a high fever.

Qian Xuan took care of him without taking off his clothes, repeatedly applying a towel soaked in cold water to his forehead.

In his dazed state, Rory gripped Qian Xuanmo's hand tightly, murmuring, "Xuanmo...don't go...don't leave me..."

Looking at Luo Li's pale face, Qian Xuanmo felt an indescribable emotion welling up in his heart.

He leaned down and gently kissed Rory on the forehead.

Rory's lips curled slightly upward in his sleep, as if he could feel the gentle touch.

Qian Xuanmo got up, walked to the window, looked at the bright moonlight outside, and felt...

"Mo'er..." Old Qian's voice suddenly came from outside the door...

“Mo’er…” Old Qian’s voice trembled slightly, but it sounded particularly clear in the quiet night.

Qian Xuanmo turned around abruptly and saw Old Master Qian standing at the door, his face gloomy and his eyes full of disappointment.

He instantly realized that everything had been exposed.

“Father…” Qian Xuanmo’s voice was low and weak.

Old Qian walked into the room, went to Luo Li's bedside, looked at the sleeping Luo Li, and sighed.

"You...you're confused!" He turned around, pointing at Qian Xuanmo, his finger trembling slightly. "The Luo family...the Luo family is already...how could you..."

"I like him." Qian Xuanmo's tone was firm, without the slightest hesitation.

Old Qian was stunned; he hadn't expected Qian Xuanmo to admit it so bluntly.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm down his emotions.

"Outrageous! How can the Qian family allow such a thing to happen!" he said firmly. "You must marry and have children to continue the family line!"

"I will not marry anyone else." Qian Xuanmo's tone was icy, his eyes revealing a resolute determination.

"You!" Old Master Qian trembled with rage, pointing at Qian Xuanmo, speechless for a long time. Finally, he waved his hand, "Guards! Lock the young master up!"

Several servants immediately rushed into the house and took Qian Xuanmo away.

Locked in his room, Qian Xuanmo was filled with anxiety. He didn't know what would happen next, but he knew he couldn't just give up on Rory like that.

A few days later, Luo Li secretly came to Qian Xuanmo's room. "Xuanmo..." He looked at the haggard Qian Xuanmo and felt heartbroken.

“Rory…” Qian Xuanmo hugged him tightly, “Let’s… elope.”

Rory was stunned; he hadn't expected Qian Xuanmo to make such a suggestion. He hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Okay."

The wedding arranged by the Qian family for Qian Xuanmo took place as scheduled.

On his wedding night, Qian Xuanmo was drugged with an aphrodisiac.

He was in a daze, but he still remembered Rory.

He struggled to shove a purple jade ring into Rory's hand, saying, "Take it...wait for me..."

Rory clutched the ring tightly, tears streaming down his face… “Xuanmo…”

One night, as darkness fell, the Qian family's house was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. It should have been a joyous occasion, but an eerie silence enveloped the place.

Qian Xuanmo paced back and forth in the room, restless and anxious.

He clutched the wooden bird that Rory had given him tightly in his hand, his fingertips stroking the smooth wood as if drawing strength from it.

Tonight is the night he and Rory have agreed to elope.

As midnight approached, Rory heard several strange noises coming from the backyard. His heart tightened, knowing that Qian Xuanmo had arrived.

He quietly opened the window and slid down the rope he had prepared beforehand. When he landed, he didn't see Qian Xuanmo.

"Xuanmo?" Rory called out in a low voice, but only the sound of the wind answered him.

A sense of unease washed over him, and he began searching the vicinity of the agreed-upon location, but still could not find Qian Xuanmo.

Could it be... that he's been discovered?

As time ticked by, Rory's hope gradually faded.

He forced himself to calm down, thinking that perhaps Rory had encountered some unexpected delay.

He decided to go back to the Qian family home first, and then think of another way.

When he returned to the Qian family home, he was stunned by what he saw.

The Qian family home, which was originally brightly lit, is now engulfed in flames and billowing with thick smoke.

The courtyard was littered with the corpses of Qian family servants, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.

"Xuanmo!" Rory's heart sank. He rushed into the sea of ​​fire like a madman, shouting Xuanmo's name.

“Cough cough… Rory… Run…” A weak voice came from not far away.

Rory looked in the direction of the sound and saw Qian Feng's mother, who was also Xuan Mo's nominal wife, lying in a pool of blood, barely alive.

Beside her, a baby in swaddling clothes was crying incessantly.

Rory rushed to her side and helped her up. "What happened? Where's Xuanmo?"

"Cough cough... Luo family... Luo family... cough cough..." She managed to utter a few words before swallowing her last breath.

“The Luo family…” Qian Xuanmo murmured to himself, a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He picked up the baby and was about to leave when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Rory!"

Qian Xuanmo turned around abruptly and saw Xuanmo, covered in blood, staggering and collapsing...