Starting as the young master of a medicine shop, he practiced swordsmanship for twenty years.

Chapter 319 The Descendants of the Lu Family! A Sudden Change!

Deep in the backyard lies a quiet little world.

The pavilions and towers are exquisite and elegant, with their upturned eaves partially hidden among the verdant ancient trees.

The winding path made of blue bricks leads to a stone table that has been gently touched by time.

Several towering ancient trees stretched out their branches, their dense canopies filtering down dappled golden light, which sprinkled onto the lush green grass.

A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, casting dappled shadows.

Suddenly, a series of clear, bell-like laughs broke the silence.

Beside the stone table, six adorable children were playing around a sprightly middle-aged man.

Two chubby-faced boys were present. One was tugging at the middle-aged man's sleeve and shaking it, while the other was tiptoeing and trying to snuggle into his arms.

Four pretty and lively girls, some with pigtails and others with red ribbons tied in their hair.

It was like a few chirping little sparrows vying to get close to the middle-aged man.

"Great-grandfather—"

A little girl with pigtails looked up, her big, dark eyes full of expectation, her little hands tugging at his clothes and gently shaking them.

"Yingying wants to be lifted up high!"

"I also want!"

"I also want!"

Upon seeing this, another girl with a red ribbon tied around her head immediately jumped up.

Her rosy cheeks flushed with excitement, and her chubby little hands were raised high, as if trying to grab the clouds in the sky.

The remaining two little girls, like mischievous little bear cubs, clung tightly to their great-grandfather's legs.

The two girls looked up at each other with their cute little faces and asked in their childish voices.

"Grandpa, why is your hair so black?"

"But Grandpa An's hair is white, isn't it?"

The middle-aged man surrounded by children is Lu Jiahe.

When Lu Jiahe was asked a question by his great-granddaughter, a smile instantly spread across his eyes, and even the fine lines around his eyes seemed to glow softly.

"Hahahaha..."

Lu Jiahe laughed loudly, and with a long arm, he steadily lifted a great-granddaughter over his shoulder.

The great-granddaughter, nestled in Lu Jiahe's palm, kicked her slender, lotus-root-like legs, her silvery laughter startling the birds on the branches.

"Hahaha, our Xiaoxue really has a keen eye for observation!"

As he spoke, Lu Jiahe gently rubbed his sparse stubble against Lu Ruoxue's flushed cheek, his voice filled with sweet, indulgent affection.

"This full head of black hair is all thanks to your Grandpa Xuan's miraculous healing skills."

Upon hearing Lu Jiahe mention those three words, six children's voices rang out simultaneously, eventually merging into exclamations of amazement, their bright eyes seemingly filled with a sky full of stars.

"Grandpa Xuan—!"

"It's Grandpa Xuan!"

Lu Ruoxue swayed her pigtails, the red ribbons at the ends of her hair fluttering like little butterflies across Lu Jiahe's neck.

She tilted her rosy little face up, her bright eyes brimming with anticipation: "Great-Grandpa!"

Lu Ruoxue's childish voice was filled with undisguised joy.

"Grandpa An said that Grandpa Xuan can stand on the clouds and pick the moon, and he can also make candied hawthorns out of tree branches!"

As she spoke, she unconsciously licked her lips, as if she could already taste the sweet flavor.

A sliver of saliva glistened at the corner of her mouth, and her little hands gripped Lu Jiahe's clothes tightly, as if afraid of missing any of the stories about the magical Grandpa Xuan.

Hearing this, the other children also chimed in, bombarding Lu Jiahe with questions:
"Grandpa Xuan, can he really turn tree branches into candied hawthorns?"

"Could you conjure up some osmanthus cake?"

"I don't want candied hawthorns, I don't want osmanthus cakes, I want to see the moon and the stars being plucked!"

...........
For a moment, the courtyard was filled with the innocent questions of children, and even the sparrows in the treetops stopped chirping, as if waiting for Lu Jiahe's answer.
However, before Lu Jiahe could answer his great-grandson's question, light footsteps came from the bluestone path ahead.

Lu Jiahe's fingers tightened suddenly, the teacup struck the stone table with a crisp sound, and the amber tea soup rippled in the cup.

Looking up, a tall, slender figure was slowly approaching through the dappled shadows of the trees outside the moon gate.

The hem of the dark brocade robe swayed gently with each step, flowing through the dappled light and shadow, as if a banished immortal had descended to earth.

In a trance!

Lu Jiahe's pupils trembled slightly as he watched the tall, slender figure approaching.

It perfectly matched the boy in my memory who always wielded a sword in his courtyard.

They were as upright as pine trees, with equally picturesque features, and even the curve of their flowing robes was exactly the same.

"Father."

The call, though still clear and crisp, carried the weight of over a century of history.

Lu Jiahe's throat tightened instantly, and he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

He gazed at the face so close yet so distant, a face that seemed like a lifetime ago, and all his unspoken words were reduced to a soft sigh.

"Xuan'er, you're back."

These six simple words carry the heaviest concern in the world and express the deepest affection between father and son.

The six little children surrounding Lujiahe were completely unaware of the emotional fluctuations of their elders.

Instead, they all turned their gazes toward Lu Yun'an, who was standing quietly to the side.

"ah!"

"Grandpa, what brings you here!"

"Hello, Grandpa An!"

Amidst the rising and falling baby voices of greeting, the most mischievous and clever Lu Ruoxue blinked her big eyes.

She stared intently at Lu Xuan's handsome face and asked in a crisp voice.

"Grandpa An, Grandpa An, who is this handsome older brother?"

Lu Ruoxue tilted her head, the red rope swaying gently with her movements: "This big brother is much better looking than Brother Huaichen and Brother Huaiming!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yun'an's face instantly froze, his expression turning dark with exasperation.

Ruoxue, that little brat, actually calls her older brother "big brother"?
This generational hierarchy is such a mess it's giving me a headache!
Lu Yun'an felt a throbbing pain in his temples and his vision went black.

"Pfft—hahahahaha..."

Lu Jiahe was the first to break down, and his hearty laughter rang out like a booming bell.

He gently rubbed Lu Ruoxue's fluffy little head with his large, warm hand, his beard trembling with laughter: "Good girl, you have good taste!"

"Hahahaha!"

Lu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle, his clear laughter mingling with his father's, echoing in the courtyard.

The coldness in his eyes melted away, revealing a hint of youthful vigor.

Lu Yun'an stood there, stunned, watching the scene of fatherly love and filial piety before him.

He felt like his worldview was about to collapse!

Lu Yun'an stared in disbelief at the smiling older brother in front of him.

Is this still the same dignified, composed, and unsmiling older brother I remember?
Anyway, Lu Yun'an had never seen his older brother show such an expression in front of others before.

Lu Ruoxue was still curiously observing Lu Xuan, completely unaware of the shocked expression on Lu Yun'an's face.

She tilted her head, the red ribbon in her hair swaying gently with her movements: "Big brother looks even better when he smiles!"

Lu Ruoxue's innocent and carefree words finally made Lu Yun'an unable to restrain himself any longer.

He felt he could no longer remain silent and had to correct the shortcomings of his six grandsons.

"Xiao Ruoxue, this isn't some older brother, he's yours." Lu Yun'an was about to correct him when he was interrupted by Lu Jiahe's hearty laughter.

"Hahaha!"

At this moment, Lu Jiahe put Lu Ruoxue down from his shoulders and affectionately rubbed her little head. "Little Ruoxue, this is not some big brother."

As he spoke, Lu Jiahe looked around at his six great-grandsons, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"This is the omnipotent Grandpa Xuan that you've been asking about all day long!"

As soon as Lu Jiahe finished speaking, the six little children all widened their eyes in unison.

Lu Ruoxue's small mouth opened into a round "O" shape, and she even forgot to shake the red ribbon in her hair.

"Grandpa Xuan...?"

Lu Ruoxue stammered as she repeated those words, her big, dark eyes filled with disbelief.

The other children looked at each other in bewilderment.

It's clear that it's impossible to connect the handsome, ethereal "big brother" in front of me with the "Grandpa Xuan" I had imagined, a white-bearded old man.

Looking at the scene before him, Lu Jiahe's eyes and brows were filled with a loving smile.

He slowly squatted down, his rough yet warm hands stroking the soft hair of each child in turn, his voice filled with undisguised affection: "My little grandchildren, why don't you call him Grandpa Xuan?"

Lu Jiahe deliberately lowered his voice and winked mysteriously: "Didn't you always pester your great-grandfather to ask if Grandpa Xuan could conjure up candied hawthorns from tree branches?"

Upon hearing this, the six little dumplings' bright black eyes immediately lit up.

The red tassel on Lu Ruoxue's head swayed gently as she suddenly looked up, her delicate face filled with anticipation.

"Now!"

Lu Jiahe deliberately dragged out his words, watching the children unconsciously lean forward, "Your beloved Grandpa Xuan—"

He suddenly raised his voice: "Right here!"

Before the words were even finished, the six little figures had already eagerly started walking.

Wearing tiger-head shoes, little feet stumbled forward, their slender arms outstretched, looking just like a flock of fledglings who had just learned to walk.

"Grandpa Xuan!"

"Grandpa Xuan—"

The babyish calls rose and fell, startling the swallows under the eaves.

Just as they were about to pounce on Lu Xuan, a warm golden light, like the morning sun, suddenly appeared.

The children were surprised to find that their little feet had left the ground.

It was as if it was being gently lifted up by clouds, floating lightly in mid-air.

As golden light flowed, the six little babies were steadily delivered to Lu Xuan's side, surrounding him like stars around the moon.

"Wow--"

The two little boys were the first to shout excitedly, waving their little hands and feet wildly in the air.

"We're flying! Great-Grandpa, Grandpa An, we're flying!"

The four girls were both surprised and delighted. Lu Ruoxue first closed her eyes in fear.

Immediately, her eyes darted around, and she opened her arms and threw herself into Lu Xuan's embrace, clinging to him like a little koala.

"Grandpa Xuan~"

Lu Ruoxue tilted her little face up and said in her childish voice, "I want to see tree branches turn into candied hawthorns!"

As she spoke, she wiggled her little feet.

Seeing this, the other children followed suit, climbing all over Lu Xuan.

"Grandpa Xuan, I want to see you pluck stars from the sky!"

"Grandpa Xuan, I want a little dress that lights up!"

"Grandpa Xuan, I want a sword that can breathe fire!"

"Grandpa Xuan, I want some sweet fruit!"

"Grandpa Xuan, I want a puppy!"

In no time, Lu Xuan was covered with chattering little babies.

Lu Yun'an watched in stunned silence, while Lu Jiahe stroked his beard, grinning from ear to ear.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan smiled, a gentle light appearing in his eyes.

He raised his right hand slightly, and a deep black-gold flame vortex suddenly appeared in his palm.

Within that vortex of flames, countless stars seemed to circulate, and mountains and rivers appeared and disappeared, as if he were supporting a miniature world!
In an instant, the sky above Qingyun County changed color.

As if summoned, the clouds stretched for miles and gathered together.

At the same time, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a hundred miles of Qingyun County suddenly surged.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth transformed into a visible rainbow that hovered above the Lu family courtyard.

An ordinary tree branch flew into the air and gently brushed past the mysterious vortex of flames in Lu Xuan's palm.

To everyone's astonishment, the tree branch transformed in an instant into a string of crystal-clear candied hawthorns.

The bright red hawthorns are coated with an amber-colored sugar coating, gleaming enticingly in the sunlight.

The strange phenomena of heaven and earth are far from over.

The sky suddenly darkened at an altitude of 10,000 meters, and a dazzling purple star broke through the clouds, hanging like a pearl above the courtyard.

A light blue silk skirt, made of pure spiritual energy, danced in the air, its hem swirling as if surrounded by wisps of smoke.

A long sword wreathed in golden flames slowly descended, its blade engraved with profound patterns of heaven and earth!
A vibrant green spiritual fruit was born from the void, exuding a refreshing fragrance.

There was even a tiny dog ​​formed from solidified flames, wagging its tail with lifelike detail…

Holding Lu Xuan's six little babies, she stared in disbelief, almost forgetting to breathe.

The entire courtyard was bathed in a dreamlike, seven-colored light, as if one were in a fairyland!

No, bro, are you serious?!
Lu Yun'an stared at the scene before him, his jaw almost dropping to the ground.

He rubbed his eyes and pinched himself hard to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

The fiery puppy was affectionately rubbing against Lu Yingying's little hand, making the little girl giggle.

The glow of the purple stars illuminated the entire courtyard, making it appear like a dream.

The golden flaming longsword exuded an aura of power that even terrified him, a Grandmaster of External Strength.

“This…this…”

Lu Yun'an stammered, unable to speak coherently, feeling that his worldview had been completely overturned by Lu Xuan.

His usually serious older brother was now smiling as he distributed "toys" to the children, just like an ordinary elder doting on his grandchildren.

What reassured Lu Yun the most was that Lu Xuan had thoughtfully added protective restraints to each "toy," for fear of hurting the children.

After a long while, Lu Yun'an coughed lightly and exchanged a knowing look with his father, Lu Jiahe.

Then, he stroked his white beard and called out towards the courtyard, "Someone come here."

Several maids dressed in light blue dresses immediately and respectfully entered the courtyard.

Lu Yun'an said gently, "Let's take the young ladies and gentlemen to play in the back garden."

"No~"

Lu Ruoxue pouted and quickly took the candied hawthorn out of her mouth.

"I want to play with Grandpa Xuan again!" The other children also hugged their respective treasures tightly, their little faces full of reluctance.

Lu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle, squatting down to gently pinch Lu Ruoxue's and the other five children's cheeks: "Good girls, Grandpa Xuan will play with you later."

Once the maids had led the reluctant children away, the courtyard suddenly fell silent.

Lu Yun'an gradually composed himself and unconsciously straightened his back.

Lu Jiahe's kind smile gradually faded, and a deep worry appeared between his brows.

The teacups on the stone table had long since gone cold, reflecting the faces of the three people.

“Xuan’er.” Lu Jiahe took a deep breath, his aged voice trembling slightly.

"Xiao Cheng and Yun Qing are in trouble."

..........
(End of this chapter)