X-Dragon Era

Looking at the wariness and defense in the woman's demeanor, Xin Yun couldn't help but give a bitter smile. He was just a little over eight years old, and yet he had frightened her this much—a clear sign that Ming Xuan and his mother were in a very difficult situation.

As he pondered, Xin Yun smiled and said, "This must be Ming Xuan's mother, right?"

"Ming Xuan!" Hearing Xin Yun's words, the woman's eyes narrowed slightly, a confused expression on her face. However, quickly her eyes emitted a sharp light as she asked cautiously, "Who are you? What has happened to Ming Xuan?"

"This..." Faced with the vigilant woman, Xin Yun couldn't help but inwardly sigh. How should he explain—that he was a fan of Ming Xuan in his past life, and now he wanted to recruit him early?

Fortunately, Xin Yun's mind was still sharp. With a quick thought, he smiled and said, "Please don't be nervous. Nothing is wrong with Ming Xuan. In fact... we've just learned about Ming Xuan's situation, so we wanted to come and see for ourselves."

"You... are you Ming Xuan's classmates?" After looking Xin Yun and the two others over, the woman guessed uncertainly.

Xin Yun smiled and nodded, "You could say we're classmates, but... we study at Combat Dragon Academy in Mountain Sea City."

"Oh!" Upon hearing Xin Yun's words, the woman's expression immediately calmed down. She was well aware that those who could study at Combat Dragon Academy were either rich or noble. Moreover, the people standing before her were all children, who would not give her a hard time. And if they really wanted to trouble her and her son, they wouldn't have any peace of mind either.

Although Xin Yun was just a little over eight years old, no one in this world should underestimate children because they have their own dragons, which ordinary people cannot oppose.

As she pondered, the woman carried the water bucket to the door, gently opened the crooked wooden door with a smile, and said, "Come inside and take a seat..."

Hearing the woman's words, Xin Yun smiled and nodded. He entered the room along with Yi Luo Xiang and Yan Qingying. The two girls made themselves comfortable on the wooden bed without any hesitation, while Xin Yun took a fairly sturdy stool and gently sat down.

Soon, the woman put the bucket next to the simple stove, then took a towel and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She smiled at Xin Yun and the others, "You're here to see Ming Xuan, aren't you? He'll be back in a little while."

"Oh?" Xin Yun looked puzzledly at the sky outside and said, "If I remember correctly, school should have ended by now, right? Why hasn't he returned yet?"

"Ah..." Hearing Xin Yun's question, the woman sighed sadly and said mournfully, "That child, he doesn't have great talent, and he's always bullied at the academy. So he works very hard, and he won't come back until he's absolutely exhausted, even after school has ended."

More than two hours had passed since the end of school, and yet the boy was still training. Xin Yun wondered exactly what he was training on.

Out of curiosity, but knowing he couldn't possibly rush over now to see, Xin Yun looked up after a moment's thought and said to the woman, "We've heard a bit about Ming Xuan. His aptitude and talent may not be impressive, but he is very hardworking. We believe that he is destined to be someone great in the future!"

"Mhm..." At Xin Yun's words, the woman couldn't help but reveal a tender smile, sweetly saying, "This child is like his father, very stubborn and proud. When he grows up, he'll surely become a true man, just like his father."

"Hehe..." Watching the woman's gentle and sweet gaze, Xin Yun couldn't help but laugh. It was much more than just being a man—Ming Xuan would later become the third among the Nine Great Experts, an admirable figure indeed, one that leads and inspires!

Xin Yun slowly looked around the room, which, just like what he had seen outside, was dilapidated, shabby, and even in ruins. There wasn't a single valuable item to be found.

Finally, Xin Yun's gaze fell on the woman. Under Xin Yun's watch, the petite woman was washing the cookware while chatting and smiling with Yi Luo Xiang. As for Yan Qingying, her personality seemed rather cold, which meant she spoke less often and typically did not engage in the conversation.

After pondering for a moment, Xin Yun interrupted, "I wonder what Auntie is doing now? The tuition for Ming Xuan must be quite a pressure on you..."

Upon hearing Xin Yun's words, the woman's body trembled slightly. She then slowly cleaned the vegetables while sighing, "It's not too bad. I help sell vegetables in the market during the day. It's barely enough to get by..."

Although the small woman spoke lightly, Xin Yun could hear the bitterness in her tone. She was merely minding a stall for someone else, not selling wares of her own, and the money she earned was barely sufficient to cover Ming Xuan's tuition.

Such a judgment could be made from the vegetables in the woman's hands, which were obviously just the broken leaves fallen from the bunches. After being washed clean, these became the food for the mother and son.

"Creak..." While Xin Yun was silently sighing, a crisp sound of the door opening echoed as the wooden door to the house was pushed open. Turning to look, a skinny figure with a face covered in bruises appeared at the doorway.

Upon closer inspection, it was a boy about eleven or twelve years old, pale and thin. He was dressed in a washed-out cloth garment that was nonetheless very clean. His hair was long like a girl's and tied with a string, hanging behind his head.

As for his appearance, although he would be handsome, cool, and striking when he grew up, right now, his face was so bruised and swollen that it was impossible to discern his actual features.

As soon as he entered the room, Ming Xuan's first glance fell on Xin Yun seated on the wooden stool in front of the bed, as well as the two girls behind him. His body immediately tensed up, and he asked with a vigilant tone, "Who are you? What are you doing at my home?"

Looking at the intimidating little tiger that Ming Xuan resembled, Xin Yun stood up excitedly. He had not expected that Ming Xuan, known in the past life for his cool demeanor, would have such an adorable side. But on reflection, no matter how great someone is, they all grow from their childhood, and how could Ming Xuan be an exception?

Taking a deep breath, Xin Yun said with a smile, "What, did you get beat up at school again today? You look pretty bad..."

Hearing Xin Yun's words, Ming Xuan's demeanor couldn't help but deflate. He glanced worriedly at his mother by the stove and then retorted angrily, "Stop making things up. I got these injuries during training, no one bullied me."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Observing Ming Xuan's stubborn little man image, Xin Yun smiled even deeper, shook his head, and continued, "Don't worry, we mean no harm. And even if we did, the current you couldn't resist us, could you?"

Hearing Xin Yun's words, Ming Xuan immediately thrust out his right arm, saying fiercely, "I don't care who you are. If you're thinking of causing trouble at my home, I'll fight with all I've got..."

Faced with the aggressive Ming Xuan, Xin Yun slightly sank his body, his right hand loosely positioned in front of his right leg, his fingers rapidly twitching as he said coldly, "Heh... do you think I'd give you time to summon the dragon?"

Seeing Xin Yun's threatening posture, and the seven gleaming flying axes on Xin Yun's right leg, Ming Xuan's complexion instantly turned deathly pale. He was well aware that at such a close distance, he couldn't dodge if the other party struck.

Watching Ming Xuan's pale face, Xin Yun couldn't help but laugh heartily, thinking to himself that he had never expected to have a day when he could intimidate Ming Xuan. That feeling was simply too exhilarating!

However, Xin Yun was no sadist. He behaved this way not for the pleasure of making Ming Xuan feel helpless, but to show him through action that if they had wanted to harm him, he would not have been able to stop them.