Rebirth of Jinxuan

Ai Xi returned, her face beaming with undisguised joy. She ran happily towards Qing Yuan, her voice ringing out even before she arrived: "Brother Qing Yuan, I'm back!"

Lu Jinxuan looked at Ai Xi, who had returned alone, and her doubts deepened. Qing Yuan had clearly told her to go and invite "Father" just now, so why was he nowhere to be seen, and why was this little girl so happy?

Qingyuan ignored Aixi's enthusiasm, turned to face behind Aixi, knelt respectfully on one knee, and bowed her head in greeting: "Your child greets Father, may Father be well."

Lu Jinxuan was startled. Could it be that this "father" also knew the art of invisibility?

Just as she was wondering, a tall figure dressed in black appeared out of thin air behind Ai Xi. The figure seemed to have emerged from the shadows, with deep-set features, sharp eyes like a hawk, and an aura of coldness that sent chills down one's spine.

"Get up." A deep, hoarse voice rang out, the man in black speaking indifferently, without the slightest emotional fluctuation.

Qingyuan stood up, turned to the side and pointed to Lu Jinxuan and her son, introducing them to the man in black: "Father, this is the Princess and the young master."

The man in black nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Lu Jinxuan. He looked her up and down, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"So you are... a descendant of the Thousand Feather Clan?" the man in black asked slowly, his voice low and scrutinizing.

"The Thousand Feather Clan?" Lu Jinxuan murmured to herself. This name seemed to have touched a fragment of memory deep in her mind, but she couldn't grasp it or figure it out.

“That’s right.” The man in black continued, “You are the daughter of the former chieftain of the Thousand Feather Clan, which is to say… the current Demon King’s queen.”

"The Demon King?" Lu Jinxuan was even more puzzled. "What exactly is going on?"

The man in black didn't seem to intend to answer her questions immediately, but instead began to speak on his own: "A hundred years ago, the Crimson Serpent Demon King appeared out of nowhere, unifying the demon race with swift and decisive methods, and establishing the demon realm we know today. As one of the most powerful demon races at the time, the Thousand Feather Clan naturally became the Crimson Serpent Demon King's target. In order to protect his people, your father, the former Thousand Feather Clan chief, was forced to agree to the Crimson Serpent Demon King's marriage proposal, betrothing you to him..."

The man in black paused here, as if recalling something, or perhaps organizing his thoughts.

Lu Jinxuan's heart skipped a beat. She vaguely sensed that what the man in black was about to say would completely overturn her understanding of the world and herself...

Just then, Lu Yuhang, who had been silent all along, suddenly clapped his little hands, pointed at the man in black, and said in a childish voice, "Wow! This uncle is amazing! He can even do magic tricks!"

Hearing this, Ai Xi couldn't help but roll her eyes. She was about to speak when a look from the man in black stopped her. Seeing that her father didn't seem to mind, Ai Xi reluctantly shut her mouth, inwardly thinking: "This brat, so disrespectful! He dares to say anything! Doesn't he know what kind of occasion this is!"

Upon hearing Lu Yuhang's youthful voice, the Dark Protector's icy expression softened somewhat. He looked down at Lu Yuhang, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Young master is joking. I don't know any magic tricks; I've just cultivated a technique of concealment." The Dark Protector's voice was still deep, but his tone had softened considerably.

Lu Yuhang seemed very interested in the Dark Protector's explanation, blinking his big eyes and asking curiously, "Concealment technique? What is that? Is it very powerful? Can you teach me?"

Before the Dark Protector could answer, Ai Xi couldn't help but interrupt, "Why are you asking so many questions, you little brat! Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are talking!"

Lu Yuhang was immediately annoyed by Ai Xi's sharp rebuke, and he pouted unhappily. He hid behind Lu Jinxuan with a wronged look, peeking out his little head to secretly observe the Dark Protector.

The Dark Protector's smile deepened as he watched Lu Yuhang's actions. He ignored Ai Xi and bowed slightly to Lu Jinxuan and Lu Yuhang, saying respectfully, "Your Highness, Young Master, I am the Dark Protector of the Silver Moon Demon Kingdom, ordered to protect your safety."

"The Dark Protector of the Silver Moon Demon Kingdom?" Lu Jinxuan was completely unfamiliar with this title, but she didn't show any wariness. Instead, she asked with some curiosity, "You mean... you're here to protect us?"

The Dark Protector nodded and said with certainty, "Indeed, I am under orders to protect the Queen and the Young Master. Anyone who dares to harm you will be punished with the most severe measures by the Silver Moon Demon Kingdom!"

Lu Jinxuan wanted to ask something more, but suddenly she felt a familiar footstep behind her. She subconsciously turned around and saw Mo Chenfan standing not far away, looking at her and the Dark Protector with complicated expressions...

Mo Chenfan's sudden appearance instantly froze the already somewhat delicate atmosphere. He strode to Lu Jinxuan's side, his sharp gaze sweeping over the Dark Protector, his tone icy: "Who are you? Why do you call her Princess? And what are you deceiving her about?"

Faced with Mo Chenfan's questioning, the Dark Protector remained calm and answered neither humbly nor arrogantly: "I am the Dark Protector of the Moon-Dwelling Demon Kingdom. I was ordered to protect the Queen and the young master, and I have no intention of deceiving anyone."

"Princess? Young Master?" Mo Chenfan sneered. "Nonsense! She's just a woman with amnesia. How can she be called a princess? Don't spout nonsense and try to mislead people!"

The Dark Protector remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "The Princess may have forgotten the past, but I have always remembered it. Back then, I was ordered to protect the Princess, and I became her shadow, never leaving her side."

"A shadow?" Lu Jinxuan couldn't help but interject, "You're saying you're my shadow?"

The Dark Protector nodded respectfully: "That's right. Back then, the Princess was being chased and seriously injured. In order to protect the Princess, I had to hide my identity and become her shadow to secretly escort her to this place."

Hearing this, Mo Chenfan became even angrier. He pointed at Ai Xi and said to the Dark Protector, "And what about you? Why were you hiding inside her body?"

The Dark Protector glanced at Ai Xi and said calmly, "I am ordered to protect the Princess and the young master, so naturally I must ensure the safety of the surrounding environment. Miss Ai Xi has a special identity, so I have to be careful."

"Be cautious?" Mo Chenfan laughed angrily. "How is your behavior any different from that of a peeping tom?!" He grabbed Lu Jinxuan's hand, his tone resolute. "Come with me! I won't let you stay with these people of unknown origin!"

Lu Jinxuan was startled by Mo Chenfan's actions. Before she could react, she heard Qing Yuan's clear voice behind her: "Where are you taking her?"

Mo Chenfan turned around and saw Qing Yuan standing not far away, looking at him coldly, and the long sword in her hand was pointing at... Lu Yuhang.

"Where are you taking them?" Qingyuan's voice was like ice spring striking stone, clear yet carrying an undeniable deterrent force. The long sword in her hand was still steadily pointing at Lu Yuhang, but her gaze was locked on Mo Chenfan, as if she would not hesitate to attack if his answer was slightly inappropriate.

Mo Chenfan paused, not expecting Qing Yuan to suddenly turn her attention to him, much less to use a child to threaten him. Although he was furious at the Dark Protector's concealment and deception, he never intended to harm Lu Jinxuan and her child.

"I..." Mo Chenfan opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. He couldn't very well say that he was taking Lu Jinxuan away to protect her from being used by these people of unknown origin, could he?

“Since Young Master Mo doesn’t know where to take the Princess and the young master, why don’t we take them back to the Moon Dwelling Demon Kingdom?” Qing Yuan sheathed her longsword, her tone calm, as if the tense atmosphere just now was just an illusion.

“This…” Lu Jinxuan hesitated. Although she had lost her memory, she was still subconsciously filled with unfamiliarity and resistance towards the term “Moon-dwelling Demon Kingdom”.

The Dark Protector stepped forward, shook his head slightly at Qing Yuan, and said in a low voice, "This matter requires careful consideration; we cannot rush it." He turned to Lu Jinxuan, his tone respectful, "Your Highness, would you be willing to hear my explanation of all this?"

Lu Jinxuan looked at the man before her who called himself her "shadow," her heart filled with mixed emotions. She didn't remember who he was, nor did she remember what princess she was, but she could sense the sincerity and concern in his tone.

She took a deep breath, broke free from Mo Chenfan's hand, walked up to the Dark Protector, and said calmly, "Tell me, I want to know the truth."

The Dark Protector looked up, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Lu Jinxuan's face. He slowly spoke, "Your Highness, you come from the Thousand Feather Clan..."

The Dark Protector's voice was deep and resonant, as if it had traveled across mountains and rivers, echoing from ancient times. "The Thousand Feather Clan is one of the most powerful races among the demon races. They possess the power to manipulate the wind element, allowing them to soar freely through the sky. Their territory is the snowy plateau in the far north, a place perpetually covered in ice and snow, rarely visited by humans, yet teeming with countless rare treasures and powerful demon beasts."

Lu Jinxuan listened quietly, but had no recollection of any of this in her mind. She tried hard to grasp something, but found herself like a lone boat adrift on a vast ocean, unable to find any direction.

"The Thousand Feather Clan has protected the peace of the Snowy Plateau for generations. Their current clan leader, who is also your father—the Thousand Feather Demon Chief, is highly respected and deeply loved by his people." The Dark Protector's tone was full of admiration. "The Crimson Serpent Demon King is a newly rising power in the Demon Realm. He is ambitious and wants to unify the Demon Realm. The Snowy Plateau where the Thousand Feather Clan is located is his goal that he is determined to achieve."

"To avoid war and for the future of both races, the Thousand Feather Demon Chief has decided to form a marriage alliance with the Crimson Serpent Demon King, and will marry you to him as his consort." The Dark Protector's tone became more somber as he said this. "You are the only direct descendant of the Thousand Feather Clan to be born in the last hundred years, and you bear the mission of revitalizing the Thousand Feather Clan. Your marriage will affect the fate of the entire Thousand Feather Clan."

"So, I have to go back?" Lu Jinxuan's voice trembled slightly. She didn't understand why her life had to be arranged like this.

“Your Highness, you are the hope of the Thousand Feather Clan. Only your return can quell the wrath of the Crimson Serpent Demon King and save the Thousand Feather Clan from this calamity.” The Dark Protector knelt on one knee, his tone earnest. “I know you have no memory of the Thousand Feather Clan now, but that is not important. The bond of blood cannot be severed. Sooner or later you will understand where you belong.”

Mo Chenfan listened silently. Although he didn't know if the Dark Protector was telling the truth, he could sense Lu Jinxuan's resistance and unease. He clenched his fists and finally couldn't help but speak up: "Even if she really was some kind of princess, that's all in the past. Now she has amnesia and remembers nothing. What right do you have to force her to go back?"

“Young Master Mo, you are unaware of this,” Qing Yuan glanced at him coldly, “the Princess Consort carries the legacy of the Holy Maiden of the Thousand Feather Clan. Even if she loses her memory, she cannot change her identity, nor can she escape her responsibilities.”

"The Saintess's legacy?" Lu Jinxuan murmured, repeating the phrase. A sudden, inexplicable fear welled up within her, as if something was about to burst forth from the earth...

“Indeed,” the Dark Protector looked up at Lu Jinxuan, his eyes flashing with a complex light, “You are the only person in the Thousand Feather Clan in a thousand years to awaken the bloodline of the Holy Maiden. Your existence is related to the future of the entire Demon Realm…”

"But if I go back, will they accept me?" Lu Jinxuan's voice was soft, but it was like a heavy hammer, striking everyone's heart.

The Dark Protector fell silent. Avoiding Lu Jinxuan's gaze, he slowly rose and said in a sorrowful tone, "Your Highness, you are unaware of what has happened. After you left the Thousand Feather Clan, the Crimson Serpent Demon King used your disappearance as a pretext to launch an attack on the Thousand Feather Clan..."

"So, they'll think I betrayed them, right?" Lu Jinxuan smiled bitterly. She didn't know why she said such a thing, but she could feel her heart bleeding...

"Your Highness..." The Dark Protector wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Lu Jinxuan.

“Enough,” Lu Jinxuan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were calm again. “I want to know everything, including… how I left the Thousand Feather Clan.”

The Dark Protector looked at Lu Jinxuan, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end it turned into a sigh: "Your Highness, do you know why you left the Thousand Feather Clan and married the Crimson Serpent Demon King?"