Rebirth of Jinxuan

Under the cover of night, the Dark Protector's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples on the surface.

"Regarding the young master's demon core..." He frowned slightly, his tone tinged with confusion and doubt, "This is rather strange? When the Thousand Feather Clan and the Demon Clan interbreed, only women with demon blood possess a demon core; men don't..."

He looked up at Lu Yuhang, his eyes filled with doubt, "Unless..."

"Unless what?" the Dark Protector asked, his heart filled with curiosity.

The Dark Protector hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "Unless... the young master's father is human, not a demon..."

"This is impossible!" Qingyuan exclaimed. "The Queen is the Holy Maiden of the Thousand Feather Clan, that is absolutely true, and the late King was indeed a member of the Thousand Feather Clan!"

The Dark Protector shook his head. "We shouldn't presume to discuss the late king's affairs. However, in intermarriage among demons, the woman is always stronger than the man. Only if the woman's bloodline is strong can her offspring inherit the demon core. If the man's bloodline is stronger, then..."

He paused, not continuing, but Qingyuan already understood what he meant.

If Lu Yuhang's father was human, then it wouldn't be surprising if Lu Yuhang possessed a demon core.

But, how is this possible?

Qingyuan shook her head, dispelling the absurd thoughts in her mind. "Perhaps... perhaps it's just an isolated case? After all, the young master's situation is so special..."

Suddenly, something occurred to her. She turned to the Dark Protector and asked hesitantly, "Protector, do you think... it might be because you've never been married, so..."

The Dark Protector was taken aback at first, then shook his head with a wry smile. "What nonsense are you spouting now? What does my marriage status have to do with the young master's situation?"

Qingyuan stuck out her tongue and said playfully, "Who knows? Maybe it's because you've never been married, so you don't know much about these things? Perhaps, if you had... hehe..."

She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, but didn't continue speaking. Instead, she gave the Dark Protector a meaningful look.

The Dark Protector shook his head helplessly. This girl was getting bolder and bolder, daring to make fun of him.

"You little brat, are you asking for a beating?" The Dark Protector glared at her, feigning anger, but his tone was full of doting affection.

"Oh dear, Protector, I was just curious..." Qingyuan said coquettishly, "Just tell me, is it because you couldn't beat my mother back then, that's why..."

"You little brat, you're getting more and more disrespectful, even daring to joke about your protector." The Dark Protector glared at her, feigning anger, but couldn't hide the doting affection in his voice.

Qingyuan knew when to stop, stuck out her tongue, and didn't continue the topic.

The Dark Protector wiped the smile from his face and turned his gaze back to Lu Yuhang in the distance, his brows furrowing slightly as he fell into deep thought.

"Perhaps... marrying a human is inherently different from marrying one of us ordinary demons..."

The Dark Protector muttered to himself in a low voice, his tone tinged with uncertainty. It was already extremely rare for a demon and a human to have offspring, let alone for a man to possess a demon core—something unheard of.

“But… the princess clearly said back then that the young master was not abnormal at all…” Qingyuan recalled the scene when the princess gave birth to the young master, and her heart was even more puzzled.

"This matter is too suspicious. Let's wait and see." The Dark Protector pondered for a moment, but ultimately decided not to investigate further. "We must not alert them, and we must not let anyone else know about this, especially..."

The Dark Protector's gaze fell on Lu Jinxuan, who was chatting and laughing with Mo Chenfan in the distance, and he hesitated to speak.

"I understand, Protector." Qingyuan followed the Dark Protector's gaze and nodded in understanding.

"It's getting late, I'll head back now." The Dark Protector turned to Qing Yuan and instructed, "You should also go back and rest early."

"Yes, Protector." Qingyuan watched the Dark Protector leave, then turned to return to her room. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she quickly walked to the Dark Protector's side and asked in a low voice, "Protector, you said... about the young master having a demon core within him..."

"What's meant to be will be." The Dark Protector gave Qingyuan a meaningful look. "Moreover, for the young master, perhaps..."

He paused, then patted Qingyuan on the shoulder and turned to leave.

"Remember, this matter must never be made public, especially..." The Dark Protector's voice echoed in the night sky before finally disappearing into the wind.

Qingyuan watched the Dark Protector's departing figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions. The fact that the young master possessed a demon core was simply too shocking for her. She couldn't understand why the young master, being a half-demon, could possess a demon core that even many pure-blooded demons dreamed of.

What worried her even more was the unimaginable consequences if this matter got out. Humans have always been hostile towards demons. If they knew that a half-demon with a demon core lived among them, the consequences…

Qingyuan dared not think any further. She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off those terrible thoughts from her mind.

"What is meant to be will be..." Qingyuan repeated the words the Dark Protector had said before leaving, silently praying that the young master would be safe and sound.

At this moment, Mo Chenfan and Lu Jinxuan also finished their conversation and walked side by side towards this side.

"Where is the protector?" Lu Jinxuan asked, somewhat puzzled, seeing that only Qingyuan was there.

"Your Highness, the Dharma Protector... suddenly felt unwell and has already left." Qingyuan concealed her inner panic and said with a smile, "Your Highness, it's getting late, you should rest early too."

Seeing that she looked normal, Lu Jinxuan didn't think much of it, nodded, and turned to go back to her room.

"Chenfan, do you feel that Yuhang..." After Lu Jinxuan left, Qingyuan lowered her voice, leaned close to Mo Chenfan's ear, and hesitated before speaking.

"What's wrong with Yu Hang?" Mo Chenfan noticed her unusual behavior and asked in confusion.

"I...I always feel that Yu Hang has a strange aura about him..." Qing Yuan hesitated for a moment before finally voicing her doubts.

"A strange aura?" Mo Chenfan frowned slightly. He carefully recalled every detail of his contact with Lu Yuhang, but found nothing unusual. "I didn't sense anything. Could it be that you're mistaken?"

Qingyuan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to begin. Just then, the Dark Protector's voice suddenly rang in their ears: "Those below the Spirit Emperor level are difficult to see through."

Qingyuan and Mo Chenfan were startled and turned around sharply to look in the direction from which the sound came. They saw that the Dark Protector had returned and was now standing behind them.

“Guardian, you…” Qingyuan looked at the Dark Guardian with some surprise, not understanding why he had returned.

“There are some things I think I need to remind you of.” The Dark Protector’s expression turned serious. “You don’t need to worry too much about the demon core inside Yu Hang’s body. For Yu Hang, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.”

"The advantages outweigh the disadvantages?" Mo Chenfan looked at the Dark Protector in confusion, not understanding what he meant.

“The demon core is the source of the demon race’s power. Possessing a demon core means possessing great power,” the Dark Protector explained. “Although Yu Hang is a half-demon, he has the blood of the Demon King flowing through his veins. This demon core will not only not cause him any harm, but will also help him better control his own power.”

“But…” Mo Chenfan wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by the Dark Protector raising his hand.

“I know what you’re worried about,” the Dark Protector said. “Humans have always been hostile towards demons. If they find out that Yu Hang has a demon core inside him, I’m afraid…”

“Therefore, this matter must not be known to anyone, especially…” The Dark Protector stopped abruptly, his sharp gaze sweeping across the surroundings before he said in a deep voice, “Someone is coming…” Qing Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead. She forced herself to remain calm and said in a low voice, “Protector, let’s disperse first to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.”

The Dark Protector nodded slightly, but his gaze remained wary as he scanned the surroundings. "No, they're not human," he said in a deep voice. "It's the aura of other demon races approaching." He turned to Qing Yuan, "You take them away from here first, I'll deal with this."

"Other demon races?" Qing Yuan was startled. Could they be after the young master? She subconsciously looked at Mo Chenfan, only to see that he also looked bewildered.

Just then, Lu Jinxuan came out of the room. "What happened?" she asked, noticing the strange atmosphere.

Seeing Lu Jinxuan appear, Qingyuan became even more nervous.

"Your Highness, it's nothing, it's just..." Qingyuan was about to find an excuse to brush it off when she was interrupted by the Dark Protector.

“Your Highness,” the Dark Protector stepped forward and bowed slightly to Lu Jinxuan, “I suddenly remembered that I have some important matters to attend to and must leave first. This young lady,” he pointed to Ai Xi behind him, “is a member of my clan and is skilled in medicine. Let her stay and take care of Your Highness and the young master.”

Lu Jinxuan looked at Ai Xi with some doubt. A strange woman had suddenly appeared here and was going to stay and take care of her and Yu Hang. This made her feel uneasy. "This..."

"Your Highness, rest assured, Ai Xi is absolutely reliable," the guard said firmly.

Lu Jinxuan hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. The Dark Protector gave Qing Yuan a look, signaling her to leave quickly. Qing Yuan understood, took Mo Chenfan's arm, and whispered, "Let's go first."

Although Mo Chenfan was puzzled, he knew that now was not the time to ask questions, so he left with Qingyuan.

After watching the two leave, the Dark Protector turned to Ai Xi and said, "Ai Xi, greetings to the Princess."

Ai Xi bowed respectfully to Lu Jinxuan: "Ai Xi greets Your Highness."

Lu Jinxuan nodded slightly, but her heart was still filled with doubt. She felt that something was amiss about what had happened tonight.

The Dark Protector glanced at Lu Jinxuan and Ai Xi one last time, then vanished into the night in a flash. At the same time, several dark figures approached rapidly from different directions, only to disappear just as quickly, as if they had never been there.

A night breeze rustled the leaves, and a faint smell of blood filled the air. Lu Jinxuan's unease grew stronger; she instinctively hugged Lu Yuhang tighter, her eyes filled with wariness.

"Yuhang, are you cold?" Lu Jinxuan asked with concern, noticing that Lu Yuhang's small hands were a little cold.

Lu Yuhang shook his head and rubbed his little head against Lu Jinxuan's chest.

Lu Jinxuan returned to her room, her mind heavy with worry. Ai Xi followed quietly behind her, her gaze frequently drifting to Lu Yuhang. A dim oil lamp illuminated the three of them, casting a somber glow on their faces. Lu Jinxuan placed Lu Yuhang on the bed and gently covered him with the blanket. The child slept soundly, his breathing even and deep.

Mo Chenfan followed Qing Yuan at a brisk pace, only stopping when they were far away from the inn. "What happened?" he asked anxiously, his heart filled with doubt. Qing Yuan hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't know either. The Protector only told me to take you away." Mo Chenfan recalled the look the Protector had given Lu Yuhang before leaving, and his unease deepened. "Yuhang..." Mo Chenfan murmured to himself, the image of the child's obedient and adorable face flashing through his mind. He abruptly turned and ran towards the inn. "Qing Yuan, let's go back!" Qing Yuan tried to stop him, but was intimidated by his resolute gaze.

Back at the inn, Mo Chenfan went straight into Lu Jinxuan's room. He only breathed a slight sigh of relief when he saw Lu Yuhang sleeping peacefully in bed. Lu Jinxuan and Ai Xi both looked at him with some surprise.

“Yuhang…” Mo Chenfan walked to the bedside and gently picked up Lu Yuhang. The child’s body was soft and warm, which made him feel a sense of inexplicable peace.

After seeing Mo Chenfan off, Lu Jinxuan asked Ai Xi, "Are you really a member of the Dark Guardian Clan?" Ai Xi nodded, "Absolutely." Lu Jinxuan didn't press further, but her doubts weren't completely dispelled.

When Mo Chenfan returned to the village, he discovered that he had not achieved his purpose in entering the forest at all. He had originally intended to hunt some precious medicinal herbs to treat the village's old doctor, but the unexpected turn of events had delayed his plans.

Seeing Mo Chenfan's distraught state, Ai Xi felt a pang of pity. She knew she had to earn money as soon as possible to leave this place.

The next day, when it was completely dark, Ai Xi still hadn't returned. Lu Jinxuan stood by the window, gazing at the pitch-black night outside, her heart filled with worry. The occasional howls of wild animals outside the inn only added to her unease.

Mo Chenfan walked to her side and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, Ai Xi is very capable, she'll be fine. She probably found more valuable medicinal herbs, so she came back late."

Just then, the inn door opened, and Ai Xi returned, looking travel-worn. She carried two furry little animals in her hands and a large bundle on her back, clearly having made quite a haul.

"Sister Aixi!" Upon seeing Aixi, Lu Yuhang immediately slid off Lu Jinxuan's arms and ran happily towards her.

Ai Xi smiled and put the little beast down, taking out several herbs that emitted a shimmering glow from her pack. "I'm lucky today, I found some good stuff. These herbs should fetch a good price, enough for us to stay here for a while."

Mo Chenfan immediately recognized that what Ai Xi had brought back were not ordinary herbs, but extremely rare spiritual medicines, especially one of them, the "Mind-Concentrating Grass," a rare and highly sought-after treasure. He was extremely surprised; how could Ai Xi, a seemingly frail woman, have obtained such things?

Lu Yuhang looked curiously at the herbs, then at the two furry little animals in Ai Xi's hands, and asked in a childish voice, "Sister Ai Xi, are these little animals going to be sold too?"

Ai Xi patted Lu Yuhang's head and said with a smile, "Yes, these little guys are very valuable. If we sell them, we can..."

"I won't sell them!" Lu Yuhang suddenly hugged one of the small animals and shouted, "I won't allow you to sell them!"

"Yuhang, how can you talk to your sister like that?" Lu Jinxuan scolded softly.

Lu Yuhang looked at Ai Xi stubbornly, "I don't like you selling them. I like them, and I want to play with them."

Ai Xi paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I won't sell it. If you like it, keep it to play with. Tomorrow, I'll go into the mountains again and catch an even prettier little spirit beast for you, okay?"

Lu Yuhang nodded happily, then picked up the two little animals and ran into the house to play.

Mo Chenfan looked at Ai Xi and asked in a low voice, "Are you crazy? That's..."

“I know,” Ai Xi interrupted him, a sly glint in her eyes. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I won’t sell them.” With that, she turned and followed him into the house, leaving Mo Chenfan standing there alone, his brow furrowed, his heart filled with doubt and unease. He had a feeling that Ai Xi was hiding many things, and those things might very well be related to Lu Yuhang…

Mo Chenfan watched Lu Yuhang's retreating figure as he played, then glanced at Ai Xi, hesitating to speak. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing.