Chapter 366: Where’s justice?

　　“Granduncle Zhuo?” Lu Mingshu’s felt her heart in her throat.

　　One could tell how bad it was in the Nine Jade Palace if they walked around. It could be said that the Nine Jaded Palace was only still barely a middle-graded sect thanks to the three assimilation realm elders.

　　Among the three, Grand Elder Yuan Xi and another assimilation elder, Grand Elder Wan Yu, were very old. They were from Grandmaster Xiang’s era. Zhuo Jianguo was the youngest of them all, as he was from a later era. This meant that if no one from the Nine Jade Palace breaks through soon, Zhuo Jiangui would be the only assimilation realm elder left in the sect.

　　To Lu Mingshu, Nine Jaded Palace’s future wasn’t important. However, Zhou Jianguo helped her a lot back when she and her master struggled. The favors she owed him was not something she could easily repay.

　　“Two years ago, he made a trip to Nanze and returned seriously injured.” An Tongchen whispered.

　　“By who?” Lu Mingshu blurted out.

　　“I don’t know.” An Tongchen shook his head and smiled bitterly. “Even I’m not clear about this incident.”

　　“Granduncle Zhou didn’t say?”

　　An Tongchen nodded. Nobody knows why he chose not to speak. It may be that the difference between An Tongchen’s strength and the mastermind was too great. There’s nothing they can do, so he might as well not say anything, so at least his disciples would not live for hopeless revenge.

　　“Grand elder Yuan Xi’s time will soon be up, and it’s the same for Grand Elder Wan Yu, and yet your granduncle got injured recently. Look how bad the situation in the Nine Jade Palace is now. Moreover, there aren’t any new disciples who recently broke through into the spirit realm….:

　　“What about Gao Xiang?”

　　An Tongchen’s face lit up upon hearing his disciple’s name. He smiled thinly and shook his head. “He’s too young and naive. I hope to let him train more, and I’m not sure when he will return since he has just left to gain experience.”

　　Lu Mingshu sighed in regret. It had been a long time since she saw him, yet they missed each other this time.

　　In fact, Gao Xiang was still young for his age to breakthrough. He was only a few months older than Lu Mingshu, and even if he was like Kou Wei, an elite in the harmonization realm, they only reached their peak at twenty-five. Adding the time put in to polish their skills, the earliest someone usually breakthroughs is twenty-eight. As for Lu Mingshu, she was an exception. Given such an excellent environment for cultivation, who would not be able to breakthrough in a short time? ~Many thanks to the emperor.~

　　“No wonder the atmosphere seemed so solemn on our way back.”

　　“The Zhou’s must be happy, huh? Since there isn’t anyone left to stand against them.”

　　Lu Mingshu sneered.

　　She used to be weak, someone that the Zhou’s could manipulate as they wanted. Now, she has grown, and that is no longer significant.

　　But how did the Zhou’s became so powerful? It all started when twins from the Zhou family became the nine jade palace’s disciples a few decades ago. They were both extremely talented, so after they broke through to the spirit realm, they started to accept disciples and gained power.

　　The elder twin entered the assimilation realm successfully and became a grand elder in Nine Jade Palace. Soon after, a few more Zhou family disciples broke through successfully.

　　There would be at least a few Zhou family members who entered the spirit realm in the past generations, and soon, they took over the Nine Jade Palace. Even after Grand Elder Zhou passed on, their power didn’t wane. They used their connections with the different Grand Elders to gather power. Grand Elder Wan Yu was their ally, and Grand Elder Yuan Xi had close relations with the Zhou’s elder. Furthermore, the Zhou family had a good relationship with many families and disciples around the Nine Jade Palace, resulting in a strong influence.

　　Everything went well until the lastest generation, where they reached their limit.

　　What a pity that everything in the world has an end. The Zhou’s era finally came to an end when the last sect master could not find a successor before he died. If that wasn’t the case, why would Fu Shangqing, who was from a poor family, get such a chance?

　　A martial family without a successor was nothing.

　　Lu Mingshu was no longer the weak Lu Mingshu back then. Now, the Zhou family was just struggling on their deathbed.

　　All they have left was just their skin, which made them seem like they were still strong despite having almost nothing.

　　“So what if nobody dares to go against them?” Lu Mingshu shrugged. “A nest of idiots will just breed more idiots.”

　　An Tongchen chuckled upon hearing her. “Great! I like what you said.”

　　The willow woods line held a special position, so the Zhou’s couldn’t do anything to them.”

　　However, Zhou Jianguo was now injured, and there was no one left to stop them.

　　“Don’t fight with them.” Liu Jizhen tapped Lu Mingshu. “They’ve committed so much evil that I am sure their karma will come soon. It’s not worth it to deal with such idiots. You will just dirty your hands.”

　　“Master.” Lu Mingshu turned to stare at him. “You have yet to answer my question.”

　　Liu Jizhen sighed, refusing to look at her.

　　“It’s the Zhou’s, right?” Lu Mingshu insisted.

　　Liu Jizhen looked at her and shook his head. “Why do you even want to know?”

　　“Because they should pay for what they did?!”

　　“Heaven will punish…”

　　“Master!” Lu Mingshu yelled. “If heaven really has justice, that bitch Fu Shangqing should die! My grandfather and mother died because of him, yet he is still leading a happy life! Where is my justice? Am I blind?”

　　“Mingshu….”

　　Lu Mingshu stood up and turned away. “If my mother didn’t bet on her life, Master and Grand Uncle Zhou weren’t here to take care of us. I would be dead thanks to Zhou Minoru! Since god isn’t giving justice, then I’ll take it into my own hands!”

　　“Lu Mingshu!” Liu Jizhen called her sternly. “Is reaching the spirit realm extraordinary? Do you think you are that special? When did you become this arrogant? This frivolous?”

　　“I’ve always been like this! And how am I arrogant?” Lu Mingshu bit her lips, eyes filled with anger. “What is master thinking? Are you not angry, or have you totally given up on life after you lost your cultivation?”

　　“Impudent!” Liu Jizhen shouted. “Kneel!”

　　Lu Mingshu looked down and kneeled silently.

　　An Tongchen stood at the side, watching their quarrel. He wanted to interrupt at times. He felt it was getting out of hand but eventually decided not to since it was a private matter between them and, ~ That’s something I’ve wanted to say for a while.~

　　Liu Jizhen sat on his seat, staring at his disciple blankly.

　　After some time, he rubbed his face and sighed. “Mingshu, everyone has their limits. Furthermore, I’m still human.”

　　“But master…..”

　　“But, I don’t act repulsively. I cannot afford to. What I want isn’t that simple.” Liu Jizhen gritted his teeth. “For the past twenty-three years, I’ve never forgotten that day.”