The scenery on the way to Green Jaded Valley was still the same as when she left; nothing had changed. The sense of familiarity made tears trickle down Lu Mingshu’s cheek.
Lu Mingshu planned to return within a year or two when she left. But who would expect that two years would suddenly turn into six?
~it’s been so long, is Master alright? And Hui Niang and Ah Sheng, how are they now? Do they really think that I’m dead?~
On their way back, An Tongchen summarised what happened these six years. Back then, both she and Xie Lianzhen disappeared in Beijing. The Queen of Zhongzhou spent an enormous amount of money to search for them and nearly flipped the entire state upside down. It caused such a commotion that everyone in ancient china knew about it.
Because the Queen even hired assimilation realm fighters to search for them the past six years, and there was no result, many believed that they were dead.
As for the Nine Jade Palace, Zhou Miaoru didn’t stop the rumors and helped spread them.
It’s been six years, yet they still hadn’t returned. Soon, many believed in the rumors.
“Neigh—” as soon as they reached the Green Jaded valley, little Daze could no longer stay still, and he shook to get Lu Mingshu off.
Lu Mingshu let go of his leash and patted its head, nodding. “Yeah, let’s go.”
Little Daze neighed happily and trotted off.
The Green Jaded Valley had always been a quiet, isolated place, without many visitors. So Liu Jizhen immediately knew that someone was coming as he heard footsteps. “Hui Niang.”
“Yes? Court master?”
“Who’s here? I heard noises. Is there a visitor?”
“It’s just Ah Sheng, I think.” Hui Niang replied. “He went out to do errands today.”
“Ah.” Liu Jizhen replied after some time.
Lu Mingshu felt her tears rolling down her cheeks. ~ Master sounds tired and hopeless. As if he’s given up on me being alive.~
“Neigh—” Little Daze dashed towards Lu Mingshu’s house.
“Hui Niang!” Liu Jizhen called for her again. “Did you hear Little Daze, or was it just my imagination?”
Hui Niang raised an eyebrow and stepped out. ” I heard some noise too. Let’s go and check it out.”
As soon as she stepped out, a horse came towards her and blocked her. Hui Niang was taken aback at first but soon recognized little Daze. “Is this …little Daze? Wow, you’ve become so fat that you can’t even come in?”
Hearing this, Liu Jizhen walked out quickly, panting as he moved. Seeing little Daze, his jaws dropped.
He tried to look past Little Daze’s huge body to search for his precious disciple.
A young woman was standing outside his house, eyes brimming with tears.
“Am I imagining things?” He rubbed his eyes profusely, but the young woman was still standing there, tears trickling down her cheeks.
~How could it be Mingshu? Even if it’s her, she should have grown! I must be imagining things again. Haish, the older I get, the more my mind plays tricks. Sometimes I see her practicing, sometimes I see her playing with little Daze, and sometimes I think that she’s still around and returning for dinner….~
~However, she’s never returned.~
~Did she forgot about the three of us who are still waiting for her? Or did time pass so slowly that it only seems that she’s left for a long time?~
~As the days pass, the less I hope. But I still can’t accept the fact that she might not return, so I still wait….~
“Master!” The young woman ran towards him, hugging him tightly.
~She’s feels warm. It’s not an illusion!”
Liu Jizhen breathed heavily as he touched her face to check if she was real. “Mingshu? Are you really Mingshu?”
“Yes, Master. I’m back.”
“This isn’t a dream, right? I’m awake now, right?”
“Yeah, this isn’t a dream. I’m breathing, right?!”
Liu Jizhen looked at her in disbelief and reached out to feel her pulse. He only believed it after he felt her heartbeat. “Great, thank god that you’re finally back.”
Lu Mingshu let go of him and ran towards Hui Niang. “Hui Niang, I’m back!”
She had never before realized that Hui Niang was skinny and small. But now, after six years. Not only Hui Niang had not grown in size, her hair all turned white too…..but she wasn’t even in her fifties! ~How hard must her life be?~
“Miss!” After realizing what was going on, Hui Niang burst out into tears as well.
“Sorry for making you worry.”
After crying for some time, Hui Niang finally sniffed and stopped crying.
When Ah Sheng returned, he stood rooted to the ground. ~Is that…..Mingshu?”
“Uncle Sheng!”
Seeing her running towards him, Ah Sheng couldn’t contain his tears either. He was at a loss for words. He stroked her head, “Thank god, thank god.”
Their family was finally reunited. All of them were so happy that they couldn’t stop crying.
After they have gathered themselves, An Tongchen walked in, full of smiles, which was a rare scene. “Senior brother Liu, you can finally be at ease.”
“Of course.” Liu Jizhen turned to An Tongchen and thanked him profusely. “Thank you for sending Mingshu back.”
“Ah no. I just saw her while on my duty. Senior brother Liu, haven’t you realized anything?”
“Huh?” Liu Jizhen looked at Lu Mingshu in confusion.
“Your precious disciple has already broken through into the spirit realm.”
“What?” Liu Jizhen gasped. He pulled Lu Mingshu over to get a better look, and indeed, she was different from when she was in the harmonization realm.
“Master, we are still at the door. Let’s go in first.” Lu Mingshu laughed.
“Yeah, yeah. Sorry about that.”
Lu Mingshu, An Tongchen, and Liu Jizhen went into Liu Jizhen’s study.
Lu Mingshu sat on the lowest chair. She glanced around the room and back at Liu Jizhen. Nothing had really changed from when she left. Only Liu Jizhen looked older. He had already grown a grey-white fringe and wrinkles—a sign showing that his life was not easy these past few years.
~Master is going to turn fifty soon. Back then, he was an excellent martial artist. Now, he’s nothing, and it’s already been twenty-three years since it happened.~
Lu Mingshu felt her heartache. Her Master could have led a good life, but it was ruined thanks to somebody.
“Master, how’s your health?”
“I’m good.” Liu Jizhe smiled. “Even though I have no more cultivation, my foundation is still there, making me stronger than non-martial-artists.”
Seeing her Master in this state, Lu Mingshu felt anger rushed up to her head. She bit her lips and asked. “Master, can I ask something?”
Seeing her look so serious, Liu Jizhen couldn’t help but frown.
“Master, is Zhou Miaoru the culprit behind alk this?”
Understanding what she meant, Liu Jizhen turned pale.
Lu Mingshu choked back a sob and shook her head. “Who was the person that you fought back at Beiming?”
Liu Jizhen felt his blood gushing, as his lips trembled.
“Mingshu!” Realizing the tension, An Tongchen immediately cut her off. “Why ask about such things? You’ve just returned, and it’s supposed to be a happy occasion. ” An Tongchen sighed. “Give your Master some time. He will tell you when he feels like it, okay?”
Lu Mingshu didn’t reply.
“Ah, let’s not talk about this. Don’t you want to know what happened in the Nine Jaded Palace during the last six years? It’s not good. Grand Elder Yuan Xi’s time is soon to be up.”
This got Lu Mingshu’s attention. “What? Grand elder Yuan xi’s time…”
“That’s not just it. Your martial granduncle Zhuo…. Haish….”