Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Liu Jizhen stared blankly into space.
That night, he and his disciple fought again.
He has never expected her to be so fierce and impulsive. “This has always been me, just that I’ve never shown you,” she said.
During the heavenly door competition, Grandelder Yuan Xi gave her advice. “Failure and humiliation are inevitable. Just do your best, and act appropriately.” Liu Jizhen never took note of the last three words, as he thought all she meant was for her to stay strong after everything she had been through. But who knew, the most insignificant words meant the most.
She had never wanted to obey but even swore to take revenge when she was younger.
Liu Jizhen wanted to advise her to wait for a bit longer until she was more stable. She had just broken through; how strong can she be? Furthermore, what does she have to compete with them? Did she think she was superior to the line of willow woods, or did she think that everything was as simple as she thought? If it was, Yu-Wen Shi and An Tongchen would have already done something.
But her voice rang in his head again.
“Where are your ambitions, master? Did it vanish with your cultivation?”
“Stay in the Green Jade Valley like this until you die?”
“Lacking ambition, a lame coward.”
Liu Jizhen shut his eyes. He could feel his emotions raging inside him. Still, he was unaware whether it was because he felt ashamed that he was reprimanded by his disciple or guilt due to failing to teach his disciple well.
~Yeah, my ambitions may have disappeared with my cultivation. But who would be clearer than me of the pain that I face? Does she understand it? Or how worried I am, fearing that she might go through the same hell.” ~
~ “Master, I’ll make sure to show you that I can make all of them go to hell!” That’s what she said before she left.~
~Am I too traditional, or is she too arrogant?~ There was so much Liu Jizhen wanted to make her understand. His worries and fears might come true. But she seemed to not take note of any of that.
He could hear someone knocking at the door. Somebody had come to visit, but Hui Niang didn’t inform him.
“Hui Niang.” Liu Jizhen called.
“Yes, courtyard leader?” Hui Niang came to him, as polite as ever.
“Who came?”
“Ah, someone from Taifu cliff came to visit.” Hui Niang smiled.
“Taifu cliff…” ~Line of Taifu.~
Liu Jizhen hummed and signaled for her to leave. “Got it, you may leave now.”
Kuai Xin couldn’t believe his luck.
Staring at the white-colored book in his hand, he looked at Lu Mingshu in shock, trembling. “Are you sure that….this is for me?”
Lu Mingshu nodded.
When Yu Wen Shi came by, she guessed that she had the treasure everyone was looking for. ~So I might as well make use of it. Even if I give it out, I’m sure that I’ll still be better than them.~
“Senior uncle Kuai, are you not going to look at it?”
Kuai Xin looked up at her nervously. He hesitated before flipping the book over. ~ This doesn’t even have a name!~
He breathed in and out slowly to calm himself down before reading it.
However, once he started, he was unable to stop.
It was only about fifty or sixty-pages, but the content was like a bombshell.
~ There was such a secret in the world? With this method of cultivation, we will surely be able to reach greater heights in no time!~
Kuai Xin was obsessed with swordsmanship, so he couldn’t wait to get home to test things out. However, he still hadn’t done what he promised.
He calmed himself down before flashing Lu Mingshu a smile. “So, you are sure that you will give this to me?”
“Senior uncle Kuai, isn’t it too late to ask that now?”
Kuai Xin chuckled and nodded. “Then voice your request.”
He was a straightforward person who didn’t like to beat around the bush.
Lu Mingshu smiled. Comparing to how careful Shao Zhenyang was, she preferred Kuai Xin’s character. Clear-cut and decisive.
“Senior uncle Kuai, the line of Taifu is not on good terms with the Zhou’s, right?”
Kuai Xin nodded. ~Who in the nine jade palace doesn’t know about this?~
“Great. I hope that in the future, when the Zhou’s move against me, you will stand with me.”
“Huh…?” Kuai Xin stared at her dumbfoundedly.
“Everyone around knows how much the Zhou’s dislike me, and yet I came back alive! I am afraid that they are unhappy, so …yeah. I don’t think I need to elaborate further, right?”
Kuai Xin processed what Lu Mingshu said and looked up, nodding. “Ah, I get it. But I think it will be better if junior niece Lu discusses this matter with my senior uncles. I have yet to break through, so I have very little say over this.”
“No, it’s okay. Senior uncle’s help is enough.”
“Do you want me to pass a message …?”
“No, it’s fine. In fact, I hope you can keep this deal a secret. Just try to help me subtly in the future if anything bad happens. Senior uncle is one of the best disciples in Taifu. They will surely take your words into consideration.”
Kuai Xin didn’t like to play mind games, but he wasn’t stupid. It was obvious that Lu Mingshu couldn’t trust the others.
“Well, I’m okay with it. But Junior niece Lu might be making a loss if you choose to give me the secret method now.”
“No, I trust that senior uncle will be able to breakthrough soon with the help of this skill. If senior uncle can breakthrough before Chinese new year, it will be even better!”
…
Before Kuai Xin left, he went to visit Liu Jizhen first.
As soon as he was gone, Hui Niang walked over to Lu Mingshu. “Miss….” She whispered.
Regarding her plans, Lu Mingshu didn’t keep them a secret from her “family” members. Hui Niang went in to serve Kuai Xin, so she knew about Lu Mingshu’s plans.
“What is it?” Lu Mingshu’s eyes were fixed onto the path leading out of the green jade valley.
It was currently winter, and the green jade valley was decorated with white snow.
“Aren’t you being too anxious….”
Hui Niang was extremely shocked at Lu Mingshu’s actions. Hui Niang hated the Zhou’s more than anyone else, but she still feared them after everything they had done.
“I don’t think so.” Lu Mingshu shrugged. “It’s been fifteen years. It’s been long enough.”
“But….”
Before Hui Niang could say anything else, Lu Mingshu turned to her and smiled sweetly while tugging on her shirt. “Aunt Hui, have you prepared for Chinese new year? I miss celebrating it, and it’s right around the corner!”
Distracted by Lu Mingshu’s smile, Hui Niang forgot what she was about to say and nodded happily. “Yeah, just a few more days and Miss’s costume will be ready.”