Chapter 371: Probe

　　Back at the Green Jade Valley, Liu Jizhen and An Tongchen exchanged glances.

　　“That’s fast, huh?” An Tongchen sneered. “She’s indeed worried about Mingshu!”

　　It was Yin Hong who came.

　　“Junior sister Yin? Come in.” Liu Jizhen called out.

　　Hearing his voice, Yin Hong couldn’t help but feel intimidated, with it soon being replaced by a pang of unhappiness.

　　They were from the same generation, and Yin Hong had personally witnessed how powerful Liu Jizhen was back then. So naturally, she both feared and respected him. However, things had changed and Liu Jizhen was no longer the talented martial artist he once was. ~He is still acting as if he’s my superior? Not even coming out to welcome me?~

　　But she had her task to complete, it was not time for her to throw her temper even if she wanted to. Yin Hong took a deep breath to calm herself down and followed Hui Niang into the study.

　　“Senior brother Liu, senior brother An.” Yin Hong greeted them with a smile.

　　Lu Mingshu stood up and bowed, but didn’t say anything.

　　Yin Hong was clear of how anti-social and coldLu Mingshu was, so she didn’t really pay attention to Lu Mingshu but even went forward and grabbed her tightly. “I’m so glad that junior niece Lu is alright.” She said, smiling widely. “The sect leader was extremely worried about her so he sent me to check on her once he learned of her return.”

　　“Thanks for your concern.” Liu Jizhen said coldly. “Mingshu has just returned from her trip so she’s very tired. I will ask her to visit the sect leader when she’s more rested.”

　　“Senior brother Liu, no need for the courtesy.” Yin Hong smiled. “We are a family, why the courtesy? Junior nephew Lu has been missing for so long, the sect leader and madame are very worried. They are glad that you finally returned.”

　　~Worried?~ An Tongchen thought. ~What do you mean worried? The queen nearly flipped the whole of China over upside down to try and find Xie Lianzhen but all that couple did was cry crocodile tears and ignore the matter.~

　　Realizing that nobody was responding to her, Yin Hong let out an embarrassed cough and smiled at Lu Mingshu widely. “Where have you been all these years, Junior nephew Lu? You still … look the… same” ~like the day you left, nothing has changed.~

　　“Not Really.” Lu Mingshu nodded coldly.

　　Yin Hong pretended not to notice that none of them were willing to respond, so she continued to ramble as if she didn’t notice.

　　When she has nothing left to say, Yin Hong could only nod. “I’m glad that junior nephew Lu is okay. By the way, junior nephew Lu has yet to collect the document of her being a successor, please remember to do so. And you have missed the previous two heavenly door competition. If you miss the next one, you will lose the title of successor.”

　　“Thanks for the reminder.” Liu Jizhen said softly. “But I am afraid that she will not be able to participate in this heavenly door competition.”

　　“Oh, why is that?” Yin Hong tried to hide her smile. ~Was she injured? The next competition is still far away!”

　　“She isn’t eligible anymore. Only harmonization realm disciples can participate, right? It’s time for her to let go of the title of successor too. Mingshu, we should get your identity card changed soon.”

　　“Yes, master.” Lu Mingshu nodded.

　　Yin Hong stared at Lu Mingshu blankly, not sure if she understood Liu Jizhen correctly, ~Hopefully I understood wrong.~

　　An Tongchen smiled at her in glee and clapped his hands. “Junior sister Yin, our junior nephew Lu has broken through! The first of the sixteenth generation! That’s such great news! Remember to inform the sect leader about this wonderful piece of news!”

　　“Wha–at?!” Yin Hong yelped. “Broken through?”

　　“Yes, to the spirit realm!” An Tongchen covered up his laugh at Yin Hong’s reaction “What’s wrong? Isn’t it a blessing?”

　　“Of course it is!” Yin Hong forced a smile on her face and made a high pitched laugh. “But didn’t junior nephew Lu only cultivate in the harmonization realm for seven years?”

　　“Uh huh.” Lu Mingshu nodded slowly. “I guess it’s thanks to my father’s talent. It makes sense, doesn’t it?”

　　“Yeah…yup.” Yin Hong nodded, but her mind was already elsewhere. ~There’s no reason for her to lie about this, and I can see that she did indeed break through to the spirit realm.~

　　Hearing this, Yin Hong did not have the patience to stay anymore. She laughed and bid her goodbye. “Erm, I’ll get going to report this to madame and the sect leader. Goodbye.”

　　She then left in a hurry.

　　Seeing her leave, An Tongchen rolled his eyes and laughed. “Is she an idiot? Even exposing her master’s thoughts! Oh my god, how did Zhou Miaoru choose her as her lackey?”

　　“That’s why she chose her.” Lu Mingshu laughed. “Because Yin Hong is stupid. Zhou Miaoru is not smart enough to control a genius.”

　　“True.” An Tongchen chuckled, before sighing. “We, the line of willow, never used to oppose them. But since that bitch wants to move against us when my master is injured, then don’t blame us for opposing them! If not for that bitch, why else would I be injured?” He gritted his teeth in anger.

　　“Senior uncle An, Zhou Miaoru was the cause behind your injury as well? What’s going on?” Lu Mingshu looked at him in utter shock.

　　…

　　Yin Hong hurried to the Jasper jade palace and soon after she arrived, Zhou Miaoru came out to meet her.

　　“What is it?” Zhou Miaoru was already in her forties, yet she only looked like she was in her twenties because of her cultivation and the fact that she knew how to preserve her beauty.

　　“Madame, bad news!” Yin Hong almost shouted. “That bastard broke through!”

　　“What did you say?” Zhou Miaoru furrowed her eyebrows, trying to figure out what Yin Hong was rambling about.

　　“Lu Mingshu has broken through to the spirit realm!” Yin Hong repeated herself.

　　Zhou Miaoru stared at her with wide eyes. She placed her cup down and smiled thinly. “Elder Yin, do you understand what you are saying?”

　　“Of course.”

　　“Are you nuts? How old is that bastard? Do you think it’s possible to break through that quickly?”

　　“I’m very sure!” Yin Hong replied firmly. “I felt her aura, how can I make such a simple mistake?”

　　Zhou Miaoru’s face fell immediately. She laced her fingers before looking back at Yin Hong. “How is this possible? Only seven years. Did she do some magic or something? Is her cultivation stable?”

　　“Er….” How would Yin Hong know? She rushed to deliver the news immediately after she heard it. She looked down and mumbled. “She’s unstable, but madame, our sect leader broke through within seven years as well and she’s his flesh and blood too so it makes some sense….”

　　“Bullshit!” Zhou Miaoru snapped. “That’s insane, how is that possible!”

　　Yin Hong apologized and shut up.

　　Zhou Miaoru sighed and paced up and down the room, looking extremely worried.

　　~How is it possible? Seven years? It was already hard to find someone as talented as Liu Jizhen yet she’s even more talented? Even if she stayed in the peak, it wouldn’t be so fast!~

　　From the start to end of the conversation, she didn’t take Yin Hong’s words “our sect leader broke through within seven years as well and she’s his flesh and blood too so it makes some sense….” into consideration.