Chapter 560

In an instant, Wang Ping'an's gaze toward Xuanqing Daozhang was filled with pity; he never could have imagined that one tragic incident after another would happen to his master, Xuanqing Daozhang.

"I never expected this tiny peach tree could hold such a story!"

Le Wenmao's complexion changed involuntarily; he knew that his Wenjun would visit the temple's peach tree every holiday, indicating that the tree was very important to Wenjun. He guessed there might be a story he was unaware of, but he had never imagined such a layer of story, and he couldn't help asking:

"Gouzi Ge, after all these years, have you ever found the burial place of your parents and Wenjun's parents?"

Xuanqing Daozhang smiled, but on close inspection his smile was even uglier than a cry, and he corrected himself: "Why haven't I seen you and Wenjun's child?"

Back then.

When he learned that his master would use connections to send him to Ziyang Palace for cultivation, his heart was unusually excited; his Wenjun also felt happy for him and said many things. Wenjun did suggest that before he went to Ziyang Palace, they should retrace the path they took during the famine years.

It wasn't to revive old memories, but to see whether they could locate the burial place of his parents and Wenjun's parents.

When he heard Wenjun's suggestion, he was initially inclined; with his abilities at the time, retracing the famine route would not take long. Yet before he could agree, he immediately refused—not out of fear of not finding the burial places of his parents or Wenjun's parents.

What he feared was that they would locate the burial sites but find no corpses of his parents or Wenjun's parents!

Le Wenmao, seeing Xuanqing Daozhang change the subject, was first stunned, then recovered and self‑mocked: "Gouzi Ge, Xiao Zhuang's parents have been gone for many years!"

"How could that be?"

Xuanqing Daozhang was startled and asked, "What exactly happened?"

"It's all my fault; I'm powerless..."

Le Wenmao chuckled self‑mockingly, but before he could finish, Le Zhuang angrily cut him off: "Grandpa, it's not your fault; those bastards were too overbearing. If they hadn't bullied us so much, my father and mother wouldn't have died!"

"What exactly is going on?"

Xuanqing Daozhang said expressionlessly.

Wang Ping'an felt a sudden shock; he vaguely sensed a murderous intent radiating from his master, making the surrounding air feel many times heavier, and thought to himself, "This is a prelude to a massive killing spree!"

However.

He could understand his master: after all, the old man before him and the child of Wenjun's grandmother are his master's nephew. From Le Wenmao's words, it was clear that the deaths of his master's nephew and niece‑in‑law involved a massive injustice. If his master were powerless, he might have had to swallow his anger, but his master is a cultivator, even at the Golden Core stage.

On the great path of cultivation, one cannot merely cling on; at the very least, one can seek justice against unfairness.

If his master knows that his own nephew and niece‑in‑law died under such a grave injustice, and shows no reaction, then he would not be his master.

"Gouzi Ge, don't act rashly..."

Le Wenmao suddenly felt a chill through his whole body, as if the surrounding temperature dropped rapidly. In his peripheral vision he saw Xuanqing Daozhang's expressionless face, instantly realized Xuanqing Daozhang harbored murderous intent, wanted to advise him, but the beasts that harmed Xiao Zhuang's father and mother were not ones they could provoke. Yet thinking of Xuanqing Daozhang's situation, the words at his mouth were swallowed, and he replied: "Since Gouzi Ge wants to know, I won't hide it from you..."

Afterwards.

Le Wenmao recounted the events point by point, describing them in detail, and he did not shield Xiao Zhuang's father's fault—though Xiao Zhuang's father's only fault was his hot temper, but if it were anyone else, and his own wife were harassed, wouldn't a man have to stand up?

"Good, good, good—what a Zhu family of Xiang County!"

Xuanqing Daozhang's face grew grim; he turned to leave, but before he had taken a few steps, Le Wenmao hurriedly called out, "Gouzi Ge, are you confident?"

He knew that Xuanqing Daozhang was aware of Xiao Zhuang's parents' deaths, and that turning to leave now meant he intended to seek revenge against the Zhu family's eldest son, Zhu Xing. He silently prayed that Xuanqing Daozhang could accomplish it; after all, his own son and daughter‑in‑law had been brutally killed before his eyes, and he was not a weak, easily bullied man—how could he not have thought of revenge?

Only.

Le Wenmao subconsciously glanced at Le Zhuang; if he hadn't been concerned that Le Zhuang was still young, and he left, no one would look after Le Zhuang. Upon learning of Xiao Zhuang's parents' deaths, he would have gone to avenge the Zhu family long ago, even if he wasn't a match for the Zhu family's warriors; he would not have endured humiliation and hidden away for so many years.

Now.

Xuanqing Daozhang is willing to avenge Xiao Zhuang's parents; he is unusually excited, and could not possibly pretend ignorance, yet he still worries that Xuanqing Daozhang may not be a match for the Zhu family.

The Zhu family are renowned local wealthy landowners of Xiang County, possessing countless gold, silver and jewels, and have close ties with every county official. During festivals they host grand banquets, attended by all of Xiang County's elite. Moreover, because they have committed many misdeeds, fearing retribution from righteous people, they spend heavily to hire successive groups of formidable thugs.

This novel you have reached.

"You lowly dog!"

How could Xuanqing Daozhang not grasp the meaning in Le Wenmao's words? He replied coldly, turned, and prepared to leave.

"Old master..."

Quietly listening to the gossip, the invisible Le Zhuang suddenly spoke, calling out to the departing Xuanqing Daozhang, and before he could finish, Le Wenmao cut him off:

"What old master, this is your uncle; he is your father's uncle!"

Xuanqing Daozhang asked curiously, "So, do you want me to bring you people, so you can witness the murderer of your parents die before you, or do you want me to bring the murderer's head to your parents' graves?"

"Uncle, I won't trouble you with my parents' revenge..."

Le Zhuang shook his head, and before he could finish speaking, Le Wenmao shouted an insult, "Little brat," and before Le Wenmao could finish his other words, a "Thump!" sounded as he fell to his knees before Xuanqing Daozhang, pleading:

"Uncle, I want to avenge my parents myself; can you teach me the skills?"

"You little brat, why are you acting tough? You have no talent for martial arts, let alone learning from your uncle; how could you avenge your parents?"

Le Wenmao could no longer restrain himself, cursed loudly, and after only a few words he began to cough violently. Under a healing spell from Xuanqing Daozhang, he recovered somewhat and continued:

"Gouzi Ge, you don't know, this little brat knows how his parents died and tries to fool me into teaching him skills. Yet he's not a martial student; he secretly learned others' techniques for half a year, thought himself great, set an ambush for his parents' avenger, believing he could avenge them, but he didn't expect to be severely wounded by the opponent's vicious dog—this leg of his was crippled by that dog!"

(End of chapter)