The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

"Then you should eat something first," Shen Lixi said.

The homeless man took the food and water and began to eat. He moved slowly, but it was clear he was very hungry.

“We have to find a way to help him,” Luo Yifei said.

"Let's go, we still have a long way to go," Shen Lixi said.

“Yes, it’s getting late,” Shi Hao agreed.

"Why didn't Xiao Hei bring us here? There are inns on two streets in this alley!" Han Yue said.

Luo Yifei and Shen Lixi exchanged a glance, also feeling somewhat puzzled. Xiao Hei seemed very interested in the homeless man, constantly circling around him.

"Xiao Hei, do you know him?" Luo Yifei asked tentatively.

Xiao Hei didn't answer, but just kept staring at the homeless man.

“Maybe Xiao Hei really knows him,” Shen Lixi said. “Why don’t we take him back to the inn first, and see if we can find his family or friends tomorrow?”

Luo Yifei nodded in agreement. So, they took the homeless man and Xiao Hei back to the inn.

The next morning, Luo Yifei and Shen Lixi got up early and began inquiring about the homeless man. They asked the innkeeper and guests if anyone knew him. However, everyone said they didn't.

Luo Yifei and Shen Lixi were somewhat disappointed, but they did not give up. They decided to go to the town's market to see if anyone could recognize the homeless man.

The market was bustling with activity. Luo Yifei and Shen Lixi, along with the homeless man and Xiao Hei, wandered through the market, asking passersby for information.

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached their ears.

"Little black!"

Luo Yifei and Shen Lixi turned around and saw a middle-aged woman running towards them. Her face was full of excitement and joy.

"Little Black, you're finally back!" the middle-aged woman said.

She hugged Xiao Hei tightly, tears welling in her eyes.

"Madam, do you know Xiao Hei?" Luo Yifei asked.

“Of course I recognize it, it’s my dog,” the middle-aged woman said. “Thank you for helping me find it.”

"You're welcome," Luo Yifei said. "However, we have another question for you."

"What's the problem?" the middle-aged woman asked.

"Do you know this person?" Luo Yifei asked, pointing to the homeless man beside him.

The middle-aged woman looked at the homeless man, frowned, and seemed somewhat puzzled.

“I…I don’t know him,” she said.

Luo Yifei and Shen Lixi exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat disappointed. Could it be that they really couldn't find the homeless man's family or friends?

Just then, Xiao Hei suddenly broke free from the middle-aged woman's embrace and ran to the homeless man's side, licking his hand.

“Little Black…” The homeless man looked at Little Black, a tear glistening in his eyes.

"You...you remember me?" he asked in a trembling voice.

Xiao Hei nodded, seemingly answering his question with his actions.

"I...I am your master!" the homeless man suddenly said. "Little Black, I've finally found you!"

The middle-aged woman stood awkwardly to the side; perhaps she found the puppy adorable and intended to keep it for herself. Unexpectedly, she was caught red-handed.

She never expected that the little dog already had an owner. Moreover, the owner was a homeless man.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was your dog," the middle-aged woman said somewhat awkwardly.

“It’s alright, thank you for helping me find it,” the homeless man said, a smile spreading across his face.

Luo Yifei and Shen Lixi were also very happy that they had finally helped the homeless man find his family.

"How did you become a homeless person?" Luo Yifei asked curiously.

“I don’t remember. I only remember that this dog has always lived with me, and I’m already a homeless person.”

The homeless man shook his head, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. He seemed to have lost many memories, only remembering the days when he and Xiao Hei depended on each other for survival.

Luo Yifei and Shen Lixi exchanged a glance, both feeling a pang of sympathy. They decided to help this poor homeless man regain his lost memories and his life.

"Han Yue, do you still have a few Illusion Fruits? Give him one; Illusion Fruits are incredibly effective at treating amnesia," Shen Lixi said.

Han Yue took out the Illusionary Spirit Fruit he had obtained in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

The homeless man took the Illusion Fruit and ate it without hesitation.

At this moment, the middle-aged woman quietly left.

Before long, the homeless man's eyes gradually brightened. He patted his head, as if trying to remember something.

“I remember now, my name is Lin Xuan, and I am a swordsman,” Lin Xuan said. “What about that woman just now? She’s the one who caused my family to be destroyed.”

Lin Xuan said he was a swordsman who came from a remote village. He originally had a happy family, with a virtuous wife and a lovely daughter. However, a middle-aged woman framed his entire family in order to obtain their family heirloom—a legendary divine sword.

His wife and daughter were killed in the conspiracy, and he himself lost his memory due to serious injuries and became a homeless person on the streets.

"Where is that divine sword?" Luo Yifei asked.

"I don't know." Lin Xuan shook his head. "I haven't seen it since I lost my memory."

Shen Lixi was silent for a moment, then said, "Lin Xuan, we'll help you regain your memories and the divine sword. Would you like to come with us?"

Lin Xuan nodded, his eyes shining with determination.

“Thank you, I’m willing to go with you,” he said.

"What kind of divine sword is that?" Shi Hao couldn't help but ask on the way back to the inn.

“It’s a divine sword inlaid with purple gems. It’s a divine artifact. One of the legendary artifacts that can open the gate of time and space. It’s of the earth element,” Lin Xuan replied.

"Where is it now?" Luo Yifei pressed.

Lin Xuan shook his head. "I don't know. I haven't seen it since I lost my memory. But I can sense its presence. As long as we keep following this presence, we'll definitely find it."

“Alright, let’s go find the divine sword together!” Luo Yifei said.

Following Lin Xuan's senses, the group headed north. Along the way, they encountered various dangers and challenges, but they overcame them all with their courage and wisdom.

A few days later, they arrived at a desolate mountain peak. Lin Xuan pointed to the peak and said, "The divine sword is on that mountain peak."

They began their ascent, encountering many treacherous cliffs and steep mountain paths along the way. However, they did not give up and continued to strive forward.

Finally, they reached the mountaintop. There, they saw a divine sword inlaid with a purple gem, lying quietly on a boulder.

"That's it!" Lin Xuan exclaimed excitedly.

They carefully approached and took the divine sword down. The sword's blade emitted a faint purple light, as if it possessed boundless power.

“Now, we can go back and settle accounts with that middle-aged woman!” Luo Yifei said.

They returned to the town with the divine sword and found the middle-aged woman.

"You're the one who ruined my family!" Lin Xuan said angrily, pointing at the middle-aged woman.

The middle-aged woman turned pale as she looked at the divine swords in their hands. She knew she had nowhere to escape.

"I was wrong, I was wrong!" she cried, kneeling on the ground. "I'm willing to accept punishment, I just beg you to spare my family."

Lin Xuan looked at her, and the anger in his heart gradually subsided. He knew that hatred would only plunge people into deeper suffering.

“Alright, as long as you hand over all your assets and never do anything bad again, we’ll let you go,” Luo Yifei said.

The middle-aged woman nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“Your matter is settled now, we have a request,” Luo Yifei said.

"What?" Lin Xuan asked.

“We want to exchange something for your purple divine sword. To be honest, we want to open the portal between time and space,” Shen Lixi said.

Lin Xuan was stunned, then said, "Alright, how about we exchange it for that Illusion Fruit?"