The Return of the Condor Heroes: The Carefree Chapter (Part 10)

page views:1 Publication date:2023-06-11 20:19:01

On New Year's Eve, auspicious snow fell again. Xiaolongnü placed special importance on this year's celebration, saying it was the first time the whole family would celebrate
a night of reunion. She set up the ancestral tablets of the Yang family in the main hall, instructing everyone to kowtow before them, thanking Heaven and their ancestors
for their blessings, which brought harmony and good fortune to the family, warding off evil and overcoming obstacles, and enabling everyone to cultivate
supreme martial arts. Although Azi was not yet married into the family, Xiaolongnü treated her as a formal member, involving her in all the
ancestral worship ceremonies.

Yang Guo was deeply moved and filled with indescribable joy. He and Xiaolongnü had relied on each other throughout his life;
without her, he would have been gone long ago, and of course, he wouldn't have these wonderful wives later in life. The family's prosperity today
was all thanks to Xiaolongnü. Although they had no children yet, it was only a matter of time, and Yang Guo was not
in a hurry at all. During the New Year's Eve dinner, he raised his cup to Xiaolongnü and said, "Long'er, my entire life is thanks to you
. Although we are husband and wife, on this New Year's Eve, I still want to thank you with this cup of wine."

Xiaolongnü's starry eyes were misty, her beauty boundless, and she blushed as she said, "You are my husband, why are you saying such polite
things?"

All the women cheered, "Of course, of course."

Zhao Hua then said, "Young Master should give Sister Long a good kiss to show his sincerity."

Yang Guo chuckled, picked up the wine cup in front of Xiaolongnü, fed her a drink, and then
kissed . All the women clapped, overjoyed.

Yuan Mingming also raised her glass emotionally and said, "On this New Year's Eve, I also want to thank Sister Long.
Not only save my life, but you also gave me a secure future. My life
is all thanks to you, Sister Long. I toast you with this glass, wishing you good health, all the best, and many children."

Upon hearing this, all the women raised their glasses and fawned over Xiaolongnu, clamoring to toast her as well. For a moment, the air
was filled with sweet voices and laughter.

Little Dragon Girl smiled from ear to ear. Everyone toasted her, and she drank it all. Before long, her face was as red as a peach blossom, making her even more
beautiful. She said with a smile, "We wives should also toast our head of the family, Yang Guo, the great hero
."

Zhao Hua said, "Sister Dragon, we should toast each of you one by one. Our good husband really loves us. On New Year's Eve
, we should also take good care of him."

All the women cheered loudly, and then they toasted Yang Guo one by one. Yang Guo was also very happy. Everyone fed him
wine and food, and each of them gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek.

Reflecting on the past, Yang Guo sighed, "My late father and Uncle Guo Jing were sworn brothers. Uncle Guo was an upright man
who devoted himself entirely to the defense of Xiangyang. Although he cared for me a lot since I was little, he was a bit too protective. He took
me to Chongyang Palace and then ignored me, thinking that the Taoist priests would take good care of me and teach
me martial arts out of respect for him. Little did he know that I almost died there. If it weren't for Long'er taking me in and accepting me as her disciple, I wouldn't be where I am today."

The women, moved by his recounting of the past, didn't dare to interrupt. Xiaolongnu said affectionately, "Guo'er,
it's best to keep the past in your heart. Master Guo and Madam Guo were very good to you. We should visit them often
to fulfill our filial duties. Master Yideng, Island Master Huang, and the Old Urchin—these senior masters who have been so kind to you—we
should also visit them often. Although we have retired from the martial world, we must still cherish these family ties."

"What Long'er says is true. Although I held a grudge against Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo in the past, my kindness to them
has never diminished. I was unruly and dissolute when I was young, and it was already difficult enough that they could tolerate me. They even disregarded my father's past and
loved me so much. I am truly ashamed. That year, when Long'er jumped off the cliff in the Valley of Heartbreak, Aunt Guo went to great lengths to tell a huge lie
, trying to make me believe that Long'er was taken overseas by the South Sea Divine Nun. Wasn't it all to make me give up the idea of suicide? If she didn't love
and protect me, why would she do such a thing? But I was ungrateful and yelled at Aunt Guo, blaming her in various ways
. Looking back, it was truly inappropriate."

All the women looked at Yang Guo with deep affection. Azi asked blankly, "Big brother, were you naughty when you were little?"

Yang Guo laughed, "Not really naughty, just a little mischievous and strange. Maybe it's because I didn't have
parents , so I lacked a sense of security and often did strange things."

Azi laughed, "Yes, I did too! If my parents ignored me, I would definitely try my best to do something
naughty to get their attention."

All the women laughed heartily.

Xiaolongnu smiled, "Our family is blessed by our ancestors and heaven, and we are so happy and prosperous today
. It's truly rare in this world, so we should cherish our blessings. Today is New Year's Eve, so let's stay up all night. Firstly, we hope to preserve
our existing good fortune, and secondly, we hope that more people can share our blessings. This requires us to do more good deeds and accumulate
merit ."

Everyone agreed, and each of them felt that they were truly blessed.

Zhao Yingjiao smiled and said, "Sister Long, although we are all the young master's wives, you are truly
the pillar of our family. All this happiness and bliss comes from you. We all hope that you, Sister Long, will live a carefree life.
If you have any worries or troubles, then we, your sisters, will bear them. As for doing good deeds and accumulating merit,
just give the order, and we will do our best."

Xiaolongnu smiled and said, "Doing good deeds and accumulating merit is a matter of personal merit, and it cannot be done by others. But we don't need to do it
deliberately; it's always best to let things take their course."

Yang Guo said, "What Long'er says
is very true. I have been wandering the martial world for more than ten years. Although I dare not say that I have done many good deeds, I have never done them deliberately or against the will of Heaven. The word 'fate' is very important. If you force yourself
to do something, you may succeed at the time, but there will definitely be endless troubles in the future."

This is a philosophical principle, and everyone has experienced many things themselves. The women were all intelligent and understood it.
Zhao Ying said, "I understand what you and Sister Long are saying. Hua Mei and I have been wandering the martial world for a
year or two, but we've only done small acts of kindness, nothing much to mention. However, back then, there were many things we
couldn't do. It would be different now." She spoke with a hint of pride.

A Zi timidly said, "Sister Ying, I think it's because your martial arts weren't as good back then, so you didn't dare to do
many things boldly. I was even more pitiful. My father taught me from a young age not to neglect small acts of kindness. So
, although my martial arts are poor and I'm often bullied, I still do good deeds along the way. Once I even carried..."
An old man was crossing a stream when the water suddenly rose. He was afraid to cross and sat by the stream crying.
I carried him across. After we crossed, he complained that I smelled bad, but I didn't blame him.”

Everyone laughed, remembering how dirty and smelly Azi looked when they first met her.

Little Dragon Girl was very happy. She smiled and said, “You have all accumulated good deeds, so you have all been rewarded. The
good deed , though small, was especially commendable because she had no expectation of reward.”

Azi's big eyes sparkled with joy.

Little Dragon Girl laughed again, "I'm the worst,

I don't think I've ever done a single good deed in my life." Yang Guo said, "Dragon Girl, don't be modest. Taking me in back then was a great act of kindness."

Yuan Mingming, Chunlan, Qiuju, Zhao Ying, and Zhao Hua all chimed in, "Sister, taking us in was also a
good deed. If we do anything good, it's all thanks to you. All the merit belongs to you."

Little Dragon Girl laughed, "Alright, alright, if you keep saying that, Palace Master Li will have to invite me to the Hundred Flowers Palace another day
. It'll sound like I'm just here to take in people."

Everyone laughed.

Zhao Hua thought of her mother and said sadly, "My sister and I haven't spent the New Year with Mother for two years."

Azi also thought of her parents and her eyes welled up with tears. For a moment, everyone was silent.

Yang Guo said, "Family ties are the most precious thing; we should cherish them and visit them often in the future."

Zhao Ying, Zhao Hua, and A Zi clung to Yang Guo, acting coquettishly. A Zi kept calling out, "Big brother is so good,
big brother is so good..." Yang Guo also kissed her affectionately.

Yang Guo said, "Tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year. Luoyang will be bustling with activity. Let's not
stay cooped up at home. Do you have any plans?"

Everyone was delighted to hear that Yang Guo wanted to go out, but no one had a specific opinion, so
they all looked at him.

After waiting for a while and seeing that no one had any objections, Yang Guo said, "Luoyang has been
a cradle and center of culture since ancient times. Since we came to Luoyang, we've only been walking around this area and haven't gone far. I think
we should spend a few days exploring properly, as long as we come back before the sixth day of the Lunar New Year."

The sixth day of the Lunar New Year was the wedding day of Yang Guo and A Zi. A Zi was overjoyed upon hearing this and couldn't help but cling to
Yang Guo rubbing him for a long time.

Little Dragon Girl laughed, "Great! I've heard that the mountains around Luoyang are treasure troves
of martial arts—the Taihang Mountains, Wangwu Mountains, and Zhongtiao Mountains—have been said to be home to immortals since ancient times. The Shaolin Temple on Mount Song is a major center of martial arts; we really should go
explore!"

The women's eyes lit up again. Yuan Mingming laughed, "Actually, immortals may not
exist, but highly skilled martial artists might. If we happen to meet one, we can have a friendly competition. Isn't Azi always eager to fight? Maybe we can really
have a good fight!"

Chunlan also laughed, "With Young Master and Sister Dragon's martial arts skills, others might think they're immortals!"

Qiuju laughed, "Yes! We didn't see any immortals, but others did!"

Everyone laughed heartily. Yang Guo laughed, "There are always people more capable than us, and heavens beyond heavens—this is a profound truth, and we
must never be complacent. In fact, I've thought about this many times; perhaps immortals really do exist.
The difference between immortals and us might not lie in martial arts, but in their state of mind. People like the Old Urchin and Master Yideng, with their desireless and unattached cultivation
, can already be considered immortals."

Xiaolongnu nodded in agreement. Zhao Yingqi asked, "Master Yideng is a monk, how could he become an immortal?"

Yang Guo laughed, "That's a metaphor. Who knows what an immortal looks like? And who says monks can only become Buddhas
and not immortals?"

Everyone burst into laughter at Yang Guo's amusing words.

Yuan Mingming giggled and said, "I don't want to become an immortal, nor a Buddha."

Everyone was surprised. Xiaolongnu asked, "Why is that?"

Yuan Mingming blushed and said, "Sister, haven't you heard people say, 'I only envy the mandarin ducks, not the immortals'? Immortals can't have
emotions and desires, nor can they have romantic relationships. How boring! I want to spend my whole life with you, my brother, and my sisters."

All the women exclaimed, "That's right!"

They all said they didn't want to be immortals, and then they all went to pester Yang Guo. Azi said, "Big brother, you can't
become an immortal. You have to stay our good husband forever."

Yang Guo laughed and said, "What are you talking about? Is it so easy to be an immortal?"

Zhao Hua said, "No, young master, you must say that you won't become an immortal."

Yang Guo laughed and said, "I've said it before. With such good wives like you, I won't go anywhere or
become anything. How could I bear to give that up? If there's even one thing I can't bear to give up, I can't become an immortal."

The women were overjoyed and very satisfied with Yang Guo's words. Tender feelings welled up in their hearts.

With a sigh and a touch of sadness, Xiaolongnu said, "I've practiced the Ancient Tomb Sect's martial arts since childhood, which cultivates detachment from emotions and
desires. When Granny Sun was injured and died for Yang Guo, I didn't feel
any
or grief. I felt that there was no difference between life and death. She raised me with her own hands, and I was so heartless and ungrateful. I truly owe her a debt. I almost killed Yang Guo, wanting him to die with me... Alas! In this sense, immortals are truly boring. They can't have emotions or desires
, yet they have to be willing to give up everything. That's what it means to be detached from worldly desires. Even if one lives forever, what's the point? Let's
just be ordinary mortals and enjoy life in the human world!" Yang Guo was also moved by her words. Granny Sun had
been very kind to him, and he had always remembered her kindness.

Azi said, "I must work hard to master my martial arts. Even if I don't become an immortal, I'll be as powerful as one."

Zhao Hua laughed, "Your martial arts are already very powerful! No one dares to fight you anymore!"

Upon hearing this, Azi pestered Zhao Hua again, saying, "Sister Hua is the worst! She never fights with me! I really want
to fight !"

Zhao Hua quickly said, "Alright, alright, let's go on a long trip tomorrow and find a secluded place so we can all have a good
fight . Young Master said that after we practice the Combined Qi Fighting Technique, our power will be different. It will definitely be very exciting when we fight
."

Everyone was eager to try, their hands and feet itching with excitement.

Yang Guo kept smiling and said, "Since we're on night watch, we need to find something to do. Azi, go to the kitchen and ask Old
Man Zhang for a set of dice. Let's gamble with dice. Also, ask them to prepare some dry food and water, saying that we'll meet tomorrow..."
"Tian is going on a long trip and is scheduled to return on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year."

Old Zhang was their family's old servant. He and several other old servants and maids didn't go home for the New Year and were now having their New Year's Eve dinner in
their private dining room.

Azi was overjoyed. Every year during the New Year at the Prince's Mansion, they would inevitably gamble a bit, so she knew how to play . She
said with a grin, "Big brother, this is so much fun! I'm really good at it! You definitely can't beat me!"

As she spoke, she skipped and hopped to the kitchen.

Dice are bone instruments used for games and gambling. They are square, with six sides marked with one to six dots.
The numbers one and four are red, and the rest are black. The winner is determined by the number or color of the dot or color rolled directly at the top. Therefore, they are also called dice or dice
rolls. It is said that they have been around for over a thousand years, especially during the New Year. Whether in the imperial palace or in ordinary households
, everyone plays a few rounds. So when the women heard Yang Guo say that he wanted to play dice, they were all extremely excited.

Of all these people, only Xiaolongnu didn't know how. Seeing everyone so excited, she was dumbfounded.

Yang Guo laughed, "Long'er, it's very simple. Just toss the dice, and the winner will be calculated for you."

All the women laughed. Zhao Hua said, "Sister Long, it's a lot of fun. You'll learn it in no time."

Xiaolongnu smiled, "I've heard that gambling is the most fascinating thing in the world. So what should we use as the bet
?"

Then a variety of suggestions arose. Some said to use a coin, some said to flick the ear, and some said to slap the palm. Everyone laughed and joked
non-stop.

As everyone was talking, Azi excitedly grabbed a large bowl and a set of dice wrapped in white cloth
, calling out, "What are you all laughing at?"

Zhao Hua laughed, "We're discussing what to bet on."

Azi was taken aback, then said, "Oh right, I wonder what would be fun to bet on?"

Yuan Mingming asked with a smile, "What did you bet on back in the Prince's mansion?"

"We could only play dice with Daddy, Mommy, and my older brothers and sisters, not with anyone else. I was the best,
and I always won. We bet on gold coins, and I won a lot every year."

Zhao Ying laughed, "You silly little thing, your Daddy and Mommy deliberately lost to you to make you happy!"

Azi blushed and protested, "Sister Ying is so mean, everyone's laughing at me. I'm really good, you
'll see soon enough."

"You're such a fool, and you still won't admit it. Gambling isn't about skill; it's all about luck. Unless you're a doctor
, of course you win and lose. You're the youngest in your family, so your father, mother, and all your older brothers and sisters naturally
let you win to make you happy!" Zhao Yingge said with a laugh.

Azi twisted her body in protest, but in her heart, she did suspect that her father and mother were deliberately letting her win
. Although her older brothers and sisters usually bullied her, they had to give in to her in front of her father.

Everyone rolled up their sleeves and got into position. Yang Guo said, "Let's not rush into any betting. Let's all try our luck first.
"

Xiaolongnu went first, throwing three dice into the bowl. They spun around a few times, resulting in two, four, and six. Xiaolongnu asked,
"What's this?"

Yuan Mingming smiled and picked up the dice, saying, "It's nothing. It has different
meanings Let's try it too, sister." She weighed the dice in her hand a few times, looking quite confident, and exclaimed, "
All red!"

The result was all black, and everyone burst into laughter.

Zhao Ying also picked up the dice, breathed on them a few times, and muttered something, then exclaimed, "Great
luck!"

The result was five, five, and six, and everyone laughed non-stop.

When it was Azi's turn, she was nervous, saying she was very good, but she had no confidence in herself and
stammered, "Bie Shi!"

To everyone's surprise, it was actually 226, a big Bie Shi.

Azi was speechless, and everyone clapped loudly and shouted, "You're really amazing!" Azi blushed,
wondering if she should still boast about her abilities, since everyone else had already done it.

Yang Guo laughed loudly, saying, "Ah Zi is truly amazing!" Upon hearing this, Ah Zi retorted
, "Big brother is so mean, big brother is so mean..."

Yang Guo pulled up his left sleeve, took the dice from the bowl, and laughed, "As I said before, chivalrous deeds
sometimes require money. Without money, many things can't be done. Where does the money come from? Here it is, this is how it comes about."
Saying this, he shouted "All red!" The dice spun around in the bowl a dozen times. One of the three dice stopped
, revealing a four; then another stopped, also revealing a four; and finally, the last die also
revealed a four. It was indeed all red.

The women clapped loudly, and Ah Zi exclaimed, "Big brother can do magic!" The women looked at Yang Guo with a mixture of curiosity and
admiration , yet also some skepticism.

Yang Guo laughed, "This is real skill, not a doctor's trick or luck."

Xiaolongnu also laughed, saying, "So Guo'er didn't really want to gamble with us by rolling dice."

Yang Guo smiled and said, "I've known how to roll dice since I was a child, so I've always had great ambitions. I've always wanted to figure out how
to control the dice. You know, when I'm traveling around the martial world, if I want to solicit donations from wealthy people and big
spenders to help the poor and orphans, it's harder than climbing to heaven. But if I want to
gamble with them, it's a completely different story. If I win, they not only willingly give me money, but they also keep saying they'll come again next time
!"

The women laughed until they were breathless.

Little Dragon Girl reached out and picked up the dice, weighing them in her hand. She said, "
It's not !"

Yang Guo laughed, "Of course it's difficult. If everyone could do it, where would I get the money? While training the dice
to obey requires skillful use of internal energy, it's not absolutely related to the strength of internal energy. The tricks
are accumulated over many years. I was just thinking that if you could master the dice, your One
Yin Finger would truly be able to control it at will, unlike now, which looks more like the One Yang Finger."

The women had actually practiced the One Yin Finger quite well, but they all felt that they couldn't quite master the skillful use of it
. They all felt a little regretful. When they heard Yang Guo say that mastering the dice would help them improve their One Yin Finger,
they were overjoyed.

Yuan Mingming giggled, "That day in Luoyang, you really showed off your One Yin Finger technique!"

Upon hearing this, Azi went to pester Chunlan again, saying, "Sister Chunlan is so mean, she won't teach me that freehand fighting style."

Chunlan laughed, "What's the use of practicing that freehand fighting style? Under the combined Qi-based fighting techniques, no other style is enough. That
Miss Sun Xiaohong admires you so much, and you practiced the same freehand fighting style as her, but you weren't as good as
her. Didn't she laugh at you?"

Azi laughed, "I'll go teach her a set of techniques too!" "That would be fun if she used her left hand to fight her right!"

Chunlan said. "Only Sister Long's ability to use her mind in two ways can do that."

Azi then pestered Xiaolongnu, who laughed and said, "Our Azi is really like an old rascal, she's become a martial arts fanatic
, wanting to learn every kind of martial art. As long as you master your internal energy and the combined qi fighting technique, you'll already be invincible.
What else do you need to learn? Sister Chunlan has already developed her own style and created her own palm technique. You're still clamoring to learn it, isn't that just a waste of
energy?

" Zi was taken aback and said, "Sister, you mean I can create my own martial arts?"

Xiaolongnu laughed and said, "Your Qi-based fighting technique wasn't created by yourself, was it taught to you by your older brother?"

Zi was taken aback again, thinking, "It's true that my older brother taught me the Qi-based fighting technique, but I created the moves myself
! That's different from everyone else's, and it changes all the time." Thinking of this, she couldn't help but jump up and
down , clapping her hands and saying, "So I'm really amazing!"

Xiaolongnu smiled and said, "Of course you're amazing, so you have to be careful when you fight in the future. Many people
can't withstand your palm or finger strikes. If you're not careful, you could kill someone. You're so good at rolling dice, and
if your older brother teaches you some more tricks, your One Yin Finger might become the most powerful among us."

Yang Guo knew that Xiaolongnu was taking the opportunity to teach Zi, because on the night of the Winter Solstice at Yan Ju's house, Zi accidentally
killed three people, but they had never mentioned this incident to avoid leaving a shadow in her heart. So he laughed and said, "Azi
, when we get to Lin'an, if you fight your older brothers and sisters, be very careful. They
can't even withstand a flick of your little finger now. Don't be like before, sending them flying with one palm strike."

Azi was excited but also a little doubtful, and asked, "Am I really that good?"

She always told herself she was very good, but now that everyone said she was, she didn't believe
herself .

Everyone laughed.

Zhao Ying hugged her and said affectionately, "Azi, you've been wandering the martial world for months and being bullied. You've
been feeling uneasy. We really need to go out and explore the martial world again so Azi can build up her confidence."

Chunlan laughed and said, "In that case, the blonde heroine will truly become famous throughout the world and cause a sensation in the martial world."

Azi laughed and was very proud, her eyes sparkling, as if she had already caused a sensation in the martial world.

Yuan Mingming laughed, "Judging from Azi's appearance, she'll never become an immortal in this life. Immortals can't have thoughts of fame
and ."

Azi, who always clung to everyone, went to pester Yuan Mingming again when she heard her teasing her. Yuan Mingming laughed and said, "You
never , and you didn't want your older brother to be one either, did you?"

Everyone laughed for a while longer. Yang Guo said, "Dice are
not considered refined , but we won't argue about that. Instead, let's talk about how to make the most of dice."

Yang Guo added, "There are many ways to gamble with dice." There are generally
many to list. Moreover, different regions have different methods; some use two dice, some three or four,
and some even six. However, the most common are three and four. Saying this, he picked up
three dice, making six in total. He swished them in his palm, then scattered them into the bowl, shouting, "All red!"
The six dice clinked and clattered in the bowl for a while, then fell silent. This time,
the ones flipped up were all one-digits—all red. The women were dumbfounded, staring blankly at the dice in the bowl.

Azi grabbed Yang Guo's left hand, examining it from left to right. She saw that Yang Guo's palm was as delicate as the women's, but
there was nothing special about it; it was simply handsome. She watched for a while before clamoring, "Big brother, teach
us ! Teach us!"

The girls all looked at Yang Guo with great interest. Yang Guo smiled and said, "In the martial world, there are so-called 'doctors.' Doctors
also have certain skills; not everyone can hit the 'bang bang' (a Chinese idiom meaning to hit the dice). However, doctors mainly cheat
, primarily by adding something to the side of the dice to differentiate their weight, or by
switching the dice after a few rounds when no one is looking, or by adding or removing weights, and then using special techniques to control
the dice 's rotation. So doctors also train hard."

He laughed, "Actually, the technique we need to learn is not much different in principle from the doctor's technique; it's about
controlling the dice's rotation. " "We don't need to add anything to the dice. Instead, whenever you get a die
, you must immediately determine its weight and know the characteristics of each facet. You must calculate its relationship
with . It's through these tiny differences that you control the speed of its rotation and the number that appears. This is a very subtle
skill, which is why I want everyone to practice with dice to strengthen your One-Finger Divine Skill. Once you've mastered this technique, when you
use One-Finger Divine Skill in the future, wherever you want to point, your finger force will reach there, and you will never point in the wrong place."
He then laughed and said, "Once you've mastered this skill, when you go on long journeys in the future, you
wo ."

The women all laughed, finding it very amusing.

Yang Guo continued, "I used to use my right hand, but then I lost it, so I practiced diligently with my left. Now I have my right hand back
, but my strength isn't enough. I'll have to train it back eventually. If any of you are truly skilled, try to
master both hands; that would be truly impressive."

A sense of ambition arose in the hearts of all the women. Azi immediately exclaimed, "Big brother, I'm the best at this!
If I can go home for the New Year next year, I'll definitely win all the golden hairpins from you and my sister!"

Everyone laughed loudly. Azi's face was flushed, and she looked determined to learn it.

Yang Guo said, "This isn't something that can be achieved overnight. We'll start by practicing with one die.
Once you can control one, we'll practice with two at a time. It gets progressively harder, not easier. Be prepared; if you practice until..."
"Six dice, and you can eat your way around the world." He chuckled. "I bet some people will give up halfway."

The women, hearing Yang Guo's somewhat disdainful tone, couldn't help but snort. Even Xiaolongnu was provoked, saying
, "Hmph, just because of what you said, we absolutely have to practice until we're good! Don't you all agree?"

The women all said yes in a sweet voice, then looked at Yang Guo, indicating that they were determined to master the dice.

Yang Guo couldn't help but laugh. He said, "Alright, alright, but let me make this clear first: at first, you'll find it
very fun, but when you can't master it, you'll be disappointed and bored. If you can't overcome this hurdle, you won't be able to
practice ."

The women were all in high spirits and didn't listen to his words, clamoring for him to reveal the trick, all eager to
start practicing.

Yang Guo laughed heartily. He asked Azi, Chunlan, and Qiuju to go to the kitchen and get another set of dice, and also to give each of
them a large bowl.

The three women skipped and hopped away, returning in the blink of an eye with their things, showing how
eager they were.

Yang Guo then explained the characteristics of the dice and the techniques for using them, demonstrating and illustrating in detail. He also explained the
skillful and the coordination between the arms, wrists, fingers, and the bowl's surface, constantly
demonstrating and explaining. Next, he began with Xiaolongnu, practicing one by one, correcting any shortcomings.
Once all the women had completed their trials and gained a general understanding, they practiced individually, with Yang Guo
providing guidance when needed. For a time, some sat on chairs, some on the ground, each holding a large bowl, practicing
diligently. Finally, only Yang Guo remained, sitting leisurely in a chair, drinking and eating, a satisfied
smile .

After a little over an hour, Zhao Hua couldn't hold back any longer. Looking disappointed, she ran to Yang Guo and
complained, "Brother, it's so annoying! Not a single die will obey! How am I supposed to get to six?"

The other women, who were diligently practicing, all gathered around Yang Guo, their faces showing
embarrassment at the first sign of trouble.

Yang Guo smiled and said, "Although this is a simple skill, it's not easy to master. I've already stated that
. But don't worry, everyone. You didn't practice for nothing. At least you've mastered the technique of throwing the dice.
Now, just add some finesse, and you'll be almost there." He asked A Zi to raise her right hand, fingers spread.
Pointing to explained to everyone how to use the fingers and palm, and
the key to controlling the direction of the dice's rotation by closely and precisely applying internal force. Because this method was extremely subtle and difficult to understand, Yang Guo
explained it in great detail and practically. The women began to grasp its meaning and gradually felt
that it was related to the direction of the finger force of the One Yin Finger. They listened even more attentively and asked many questions, which Yang Guo patiently answered one by one,
demonstrating repeatedly until the women were satisfied. Then they each picked up their bowls and went back to practice diligently.

About half an hour later, Yuan Mingming was heard laughing to herself. Everyone turned to look and saw her
holding a die in her slender hand, rolling it ten times in the bowl, each time getting a large red dot. Then she rolled it ten more times,
this time getting a large red four dots every time. She laughed happily, and the women were incredibly envious,
offering .

Soon after, Xiaolongnu and the other women all successfully rolled the die, each overjoyed and gaining
confidence.

Yang Guo was also very happy for everyone. He invited them to sit back down and continue their New Year's Eve dinner, and said with a smile, "Women
's hands are indeed more dexterous than men's. When I practiced playing the first die, it took me a whole year, but you all mastered it in just over an hour . That's
truly remarkable."

Zhao Ying was a little skeptical. She giggled and said, "Is Young Master just trying to encourage us?"

Yang Guo smiled and said, "No, I'm serious. But there are some differences. I figured it out on my own
, accumulating experience bit by bit, so it naturally took longer."

All the women showed expressions of admiration.

Yang Guo continued to laugh, "It's hard to find a master for learning martial arts; it's even harder to find one for learning gambling skills. There's never been
a sect that openly teaches gambling skills, so if you really want to learn gambling skills, you won't find one even with a lantern!"

All the women giggled and found it extremely amusing.

The women's comprehension was indeed exceptional. By the fourth watch, each of them had mastered the skill of rolling three dice simultaneously
without fail women's dexterity was undoubtedly superior to men's, comprehension was still the most crucial factor. Furthermore, their
One Yin Finger technique already possessed profound skill, which complemented their practice. Despite their fatigue, they wanted to continue practicing
. Yang Guo laughed and said, "There's no need to rush. Reaching this level of skill is already quite remarkable. Your One
Yin Finger technique can now be controlled at will, and you no longer need to worry about making mistakes. It's already the fourth watch. Let's each wash up,
practice some exercises to recover our strength, and prepare what we need to take with us when we go out
. At the fifth watch, after we have offered sacrifices to heaven, earth, and our ancestors, we can leave while there are fewer people outside."

The women were all overjoyed and readily obeyed Yang Guo's instructions, happily going off to make their own preparations.

Yuan Mingming accompanied Yang Guo as he bathed. She said, "Brother, before we leave, should we pay
our respects to Brother-in-law Yan and Senior Sister Qin, and tell them we'll be back before the sixth day of the new year?"

Yang Guo replied, "I've thought of that too. Later, I'll ask Yingmei and Huamei to visit their homes for a New Year's greeting. Also,
I'll ask them to take the martial arts manual you promised to pass on to the two tyrants and those ladies and young ladies. They
'll definitely visit their homes for a New Year's greeting in the next few days."

The two bathed and were affectionate for a while, but they didn't consummate their marriage. According to folk custom, one shouldn't
have sexual relations on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Wangwu Mountain, according to legend, is where the Yellow Emperor sought enlightenment and cultivated his spiritual practice. It is located southwest of Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province, bordering Yuanqu
County to the west and Jiyuan County, Henan Province to the south. The mountain has three peaks, shaped like a house, hence its name.

Yang Guo and his group traveled from Luoyang through Mengjin, crossed the river, and then leisurely headed towards Wangwu. They weren't in a hurry,
chatting and laughing , extremely happy. After passing Mengjin, they saw no pedestrians on the road. They had entered
the mountains, where there was no one else to be seen. In the mountains, snowflakes fell intermittently, and light rain drizzled, with clouds and mist swirling around, creating a scene like a
fairyland. Everyone felt refreshed. Their destination was the Heavenly Altar atop Wangwu Mountain, and they also wanted to see if any immortals were there.

Azi said somewhat nervously, "Sister Long, what if we really encounter an immortal, and she wants you to become one too?
What ?"

Little Dragon Girl was in a good mood and said with a smile, "Didn't we talk about this yesterday?
You can't become an immortal just because someone tells you to; you have to cultivate yourself."

Azi said "Oh," and said with some relief, "Sister can't become one!"

Little Dragon Girl smiled brightly and said repeatedly, "Okay, okay, sister can't bear to!"

It was almost noon, and they had determined the direction of Wangding Peak. They stopped following the road and instead flew through the air among the mountains and tree branches
. If someone looked up at this moment, they would really think they were seeing immortals.

The women's silvery laughter spread across the sky. Everyone was in a good mood and exerted their strength to the limit. This was
the first time they had given their all since they had closed their doors to practice the Qi-integrating fighting technique. Although Azi's strength was slightly less, her lightness
skill was already not far behind the other women, and she was becoming more and more at ease. Her happy shouts were the
loudest .

Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu moved nimbly among the women, partly to protect them, and partly to offer pointers on the techniques
of using lightness skills. As a result, the women's lightness skills improved considerably along the way.

The group stopped to rest at a stream. Yang Guo looked around, pointing to the upstream and downstream flow of the stream, and said, "This
seemingly small stream is one of the sources of the Ji River. The Ji River flows into the Yellow River, and the Yellow River flows into the sea; all rivers converge
in this way. So we cannot underestimate this little stream." Surrounded by mountains, the stream was surprisingly
unfrozen.

The group admired it for a while, scooped up some water to taste, and found it refreshing and delicious. They then ate some of
the food they had brought with them and decided to continue upstream.

They strolled along the path, pointing and commenting, for about the time it takes to eat a meal. Despite the heavy snow blocking the mountains,
the beautiful scenery of the majestic peaks and cliffs remained undiminished. Just then, Yang Guo suddenly sensed an unusual aura in the valley ahead.
He raised his hand slightly to signal everyone to be on their guard. He sprang up, perched on a tree branch, and peered ahead. Sure enough,
about a mile away, on the flat ground at the end of the stream, two people were engaged in a palm-fighting contest. The two possessed considerable internal strength,
causing the air currents to surge. On either side stood more than ten men and women, but all remained silent.

As Yang Guo leaped onto the high branch to observe, the women also climbed up the tree. In Yang Guo's opinion,
it was best not to provoke such a brawl. He was about to call the women away when Zhao Ying suddenly said, "Strange, those women look like
disciples of our Hundred Flowers Palace, but they are too far away to see clearly."

Zhao Hua added, "Sister is right, three of them are from the Hundred Flowers Palace, and their weapons are all flutes
."

Upon hearing this, Yang Guo focused his gaze and indeed, among the crowd on the right, there were three young women with long flutes tucked into their waistbands,
similar to the flutes that Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua had used before.

He beckoned the women to leap down from the branches, and after a moment's thought, asked Xiaolongnu, "Long'er, among these people are Yingmei
and Huamei's fellow disciples. We can't stand idly by. What do you think we should do?"

Although Yang Guo was seeking Xiaolongnu's opinion, she was very discerning. She smiled slightly and said, "
I'll listen to you."

"In that case, let's go openly and honestly. Let's all listen to Yingmei and Huamei's opinions," Yang Guo said
, looking at Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua.

Concerned about their fellow disciples, Zhao Ying was somewhat anxious. Hearing Yang Guo's words, she gratefully said, "Thank you, young master
. I will definitely clarify the truth first and won't blindly protect my fellow disciples."

"That would be best, of course, but many things aren't so clear-cut
. Sometimes, even twisted logic needs to be argued," Yang Guo

said with a smile. The women all laughed at Yang Guo's words. So, led by Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua, they slowly made their way into the valley
.

When they were about half a mile away, both groups turned to look. The two fighters continued their fierce battle. When they were about twenty
feet , the three women cried out, "Sister Ying! Sister Hua!" Their cries were joyful, as if
they had suddenly encountered saviors in their helplessness, and they rushed towards the group. The two fighters stopped when they saw this
and looked at Yang Guo and the others.

Yang Guo and the women exchanged glances, guessing that the three disciples of the Hundred Flowers Palace must be in trouble.

Zhao Ying walked a few more feet and then stopped to wait for the three women. Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua, being the daughters of the palace master, held a relatively privileged position within
the Hundred Flowers Palace . They were neither listed among the Hundred Flowers nor ranked by seniority. Although they were fellow
disciples of the current generation of Hundred Flowers members with the "Yan" character in their names, strictly speaking, they weren't considered fellow disciples. However, due to their similar ages, they
affectionately ." These three women were all a year or two younger than Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua, roughly the same age as Chunlan, Qiuju, and Azi.
The one who rushed forward was named Zhang Yanhui; the other two were twin sisters, the elder named Wang Yanting and the younger
Wang Yanyu . All three were exceptionally beautiful.

Zhang Yanhui embraced Zhao Ying, weeping bitterly, while the other two chattered incessantly with Zhao Hua
. Yang Guo and the others stood a little further away, allowing them to confide in each other.

After listening for a while, they finally understood the reason behind their conversation.

The two factions that were fighting were Pengjia Village in the Taihang Mountains and Xingyi School in the Zhongtiao Mountains. They had agreed
to fight on Wangwu Mountain, which lies between the two mountains. They certainly knew how to choose a location, especially at noon on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Zhang Yanhui and the Wang sisters had studied martial arts together at Baihua Palace and had a very good relationship. That summer, they both turned
seventeen and, according to the rules of Baihua Palace, left the palace to practice martial arts. Several months later, they arrived at Longmen. Although the Wang sisters were orphans,
they knew that they had a distant relative in Longmen before they entered Baihua Palace at the age of seven or eight. After arriving in Longmen, the two girls inquired in many ways and found this
relative . This relative was their mother's cousin, Zeng Mingdong. At this time, Zeng Mingdong was only about fifty years old. He came from
the Xingyi School of Zhongtiao Mountain and was a master of internal martial arts. Suddenly, two beautiful young girls appeared. It turned out that they were their cousins who had died many years ago. Overjoyed at the prospect of her sister's daughter , Zhang Yanhui
was naturally pampered and cared for at home. At this time, Zheng Ziji, son of Zheng Huai'en, the head of the Xingyi School , came to visit. Zheng Ziji was immediately captivated by Zhang Yanhui's beauty, and Zhang Yanhui was equally smitten. Such mutual attraction was natural, and others were happy for it; Zeng Mingdong and the Wang sisters were also inclined to play matchmaker. However, due to his strict upbringing, Zheng Ziji dared not express his love directly to Zhang Yanhui, let alone propose marriage. This situation remained unchanged until Zheng Ziji left to home, leaving Zhang Yanhui heartbroken and secretly shedding tears. 　　More than a month later, having received no further news of Zheng Ziji, Zhang Yanhui sadly bid farewell to Zeng Mingdong and the Wang sisters, venturing alone into the martial world. Despite everyone's pleas to persuade her to stay, Zhang Yanhui's mind was made up, and she departed.

Unexpectedly, after returning home, Zheng Ziji mentioned to his father, Zheng Huaien, that he had met Zhang Yanhui at his martial uncle Zeng Mingdong's house,
expressing his admiration and desire to marry her, and asking his father for his opinion. Zheng Huaien, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, was greatly surprised upon hearing this. He hurriedly asked
his son if he had expressed such feelings when he met Zhang. Zheng Ziji, bewildered, stammered, "Without
Father's consent, I dared not make such a statement."

Zheng Huaien was furious, saying, "My son, how could you be so reckless? You must know that although there are many women in the world,
good women are rare and hard to find. This young lady is not only in love with you, but also so virtuous and beautiful; she is
a perfect match for my son. How could I, as her father, disagree? Since you haven't left a single word, and Zhang has no one else in her heart, she will surely be
taken away by someone else. The only way now is for you to hurry forward..." "I'll go to Junior Brother Zeng's house to propose marriage; hopefully, it's not too late."

Zheng Ziji also realized the seriousness of the situation. The father and son hurriedly
made preparations and, together with several senior uncles and skilled fellow disciples, rushed to Longmen. When they arrived at Zeng Mingdong's house, they learned that Zhang Yanhui had already left alone for more than two months. Zheng
Ziji was filled with regret and felt very sorry for Zhang Yanhui. In a short time, he lost a lot of weight. Zheng Huaien was very
concerned for his son, and Zeng Mingdong and the Wang sisters also praised Zhang Yanhui highly and sent people everywhere to search for her, thinking that as a
single woman, she would not have gone too far. But another month passed in the blink of an eye, and there was still no trace of Zhang Yanhui.

After leaving the Zeng family, Zhang Yanhui had nowhere to go and inadvertently headed towards the Zhongtiao Mountains, showing that
she still couldn't forget Zheng Ziji. However, not far past Yangshao, she encountered Mongol troops mobilizing and blocked her way, so she turned
north. On the way, she met Peng Changzhi, the young chieftain of Pengjia Village in the Taihang Mountains. Peng Changzhi was immediately captivated by Zhang Yanhui's beauty and showered her
with attention and flattery. In her disappointment, Zhang Yanhui slowly began to accept Peng Changzhi's affections,
but deep down, she still couldn't forget Zheng Ziji, who had first entered her heart. The two spent nearly a month together. As the New Year
approached, Peng Changzhi had to rush home for the holiday and invited Zhang Yanhui to go with him. However, Zhang Yanhui refused
to go to the home of a man she had only known for a short time and had no official status. She was also increasingly agitated and didn't know what to do.
Before leaving, she only told Peng Changzhi that she would return to the Zeng family in Longmen for the New Year.

Zhang Yanhui returned to the Zeng family listlessly, much to everyone's delight. However, she avoided seeing Zheng Ziji, leading
everyone to believe something was amiss
. The Wang sisters, through a combination of coaxing and deception, finally managed to extract information from her, leaving everyone stunned.

On his way home, Peng Changzhi unexpectedly encountered his father, Peng Gaoping, and recounted his encounter with Zhang Yanhui.
Peng Gaoping, a seasoned veteran, immediately recognized that the woman might have someone else in her heart.
He promptly led his entourage to the Zeng family in Longmen to propose marriage. The Taihang and Zhongtiao families finally met formally, neither side willing to yield. Zhang Yanhui
remained silent, unsure how to handle the situation.

Zeng Mingdong was in the most difficult position, torn between his master's sect and his old friend. No amount of persuasion could dissuade him, ultimately
leading to a martial arts contest for marriage. To avoid attracting attention, they agreed to meet on New Year's Day at the source of the Wangwu River in the valley
. After Yang Guo and the others understood the cause and effect, they were dumbfounded. This could not be resolved by force, nor could it be solved
by words alone.

Zhao Ying, however, was confident. She gently wiped away Zhang Yanhui's tears, patted her softly, and said gently, "
Sister understands, I will take care of things for you." She led Zhang Yanhui and the Wang sisters to meet Yang Guo, Xiaolongnu,
and the other women. The three women hadn't noticed anyone else before, but now that they met in person, they were speechless.
Looking Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua, they were completely different from when they were at the Hundred Flowers Palace more than two years ago; they were practically
celestial beings. Zhang Yanhui asked blankly, "Sister Ying, you've already become immortals?"

Zhao Ying chuckled and said, "We came to Wangwu to seek immortality and the Dao!"

Everyone was very warm towards the three women. The flowers of Baihua Palace were indeed extraordinary, and Zhang Yanhui was especially beautiful.
No wonder the young masters of Taihang and Zhongtiao fell in love with her at first sight and were willing to go to great lengths to win her over.

Yang Guo smiled and said, "We certainly have no right to interfere in this matter, but Sister Ying and Sister Hua are different. This is
a matter of our sect, and it is necessary to inquire about it. We must always strive for a satisfactory outcome and take into account the wishes of Sister Zhang. We must not let this joyous occasion
turn a disaster. You two stay here to handle it, and we will meet at the top of Wangwu Peak!"

Everyone agreed. Yang Guo and the others bid farewell to the three women and headed back the way they came. The three women had only seen them turn around and take
a few steps when, in a flash, they were gone.

Zhang Yanhui and the Wang sisters had not seen Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua for more than two years, and suddenly they felt that they didn't recognize them
. Wang Yanting said timidly, "Sister Hua, after Master returned to the palace, she sent us out. Master said that you and
Sister Ying married that Young Master Mu together. Master was very happy. She said that Young Master Mu
's martial arts are unparalleled. Your martial arts seem to have improved a lot as well, and you've become more and more beautiful. I almost don't recognize you."

Zhao Hua was very happy and laughed, "Didn't you recognize me from afar?"

"Yes, but when I got closer, it really was..." Wang Yanyu also chimed in shyly.

Zhao Ying hugged Zhang Yanhui, comforting her constantly, and whispered, "Tell your sister honestly
who you truly love. You can't be fickle. Your sister will make the decision for you, so don't worry."

Zhang Yanhui blushed and said shyly, "Young Master Peng is very good to me. I can't bear to hurt his feelings..."

Zhao Ying said "Oh," and asked, "So you truly love Young Master Zheng?" Zhang

Yanhui was too shy to raise her head. Zhao Ying stared at her and asked again before she nodded gently.

"Alright, that's settled then. Let's go and make this happy occasion happen." Zhao Ying, arm in arm with Zhang Yanhui, then beckoned Zhao Hua and
the others towards the valley.

Dozens of people from three families had gathered in the valley. Seeing Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua arrive with three women, they all rushed forward to greet them.
Although Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua were not yet twenty, they were as beautiful as celestial beings, possessing an elegant demeanor that commanded respect. If
it weren't for the simple bag they carried on their shoulders, one would truly mistake them for immortals from Wangwu Mountain. Everyone
was filled with awe .

Zhao Ying stopped three zhang in front of the group, gave a slight bow, and said sweetly, "Greetings, seniors and brothers
. My sister and I are surnamed Zhao, and we are the senior sisters of Yanhui, Yanting, and Yanyu. I have already inquired about today's matter with my
three sisters. I am truly sorry, everyone. I apologize in advance." She then bowed again.

Everyone returned the bow. Zheng Huaien strode forward first, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said loudly, "Miss Zhao has come at
just the right time. Please, Miss Zhao, judge this matter." This Zheng Huaien had a square forehead and a dignified appearance, befitting the head of a sect.

Not to be outdone, Peng Gaoping stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "Miss Zhao is a

celestial being; this old man will listen to your judgment." Both men were fiercely protective of their sons, and seeing that Zhang Yanhui's fellow disciples were all celestial beauties,
they were even more determined to secure this marriage. They glared at each other, pouting, ignoring one another, each more eager than if they were choosing their own wives
.

Zhao Ying chuckled inwardly. She glanced around the crowd and saw two handsome young men glaring
at each other. With a slight smile, and without any apparent movement, she appeared before them in the blink of an eye.
The two young men, who were glaring at each other, were startled by the sudden appearance of a woman as beautiful as a celestial being. Upon closer inspection,
they realized it was Miss Zhao. Overwhelmed by her unparalleled beauty, they were at a loss for what to do.

Zhao Ying carefully examined the two men and thought they were both exceptionally handsome young men. She secretly felt
happy and turned to the two elders with a smile, saying, "Both of you are outstanding individuals
. It is truly a blessing that my junior sister Yan Hui is favored by both of you."

Zheng Huaien and Peng Gaoping's martial arts skills were already among the top in the world. Although Zhao Ying had not yet revealed her martial arts skills,
their lightness skill just now was something they had never seen before, and they couldn't help but change color in surprise.

Zhao Ying straightened her expression and addressed the crowd, "Among my fellow disciples today, I am the eldest, and
I will make the decision regarding Junior Sister Yan Hui. What are your opinions, friends and relatives?"

Zeng Mingdong was in a dilemma, but now two senior sisters with three daughters had appeared, and Zhao Ying had taken on the responsibility, so he
was naturally overjoyed . He strode forward and said to Zhao Ying, "Miss Zhao, I am Zeng Mingdong, the uncle of the three sisters Yan Ting
. I trouble you to make the decision."

"Thank you, Uncle, and thank you for taking care of the three junior sisters," Zhao Ying said.

Zeng Mingdong repeatedly said he didn't deserve it.

Seeing that everyone was looking at her without expressing any opinion, Zhao Ying smiled slightly and said, "Although this is
a matter of my sect, my husband just instructed me to handle this happy occasion smoothly and not to harm the harmony.
I think that although a martial arts contest to choose a husband is a wonderful thing, a strong martial arts master is not necessarily a good husband, and a weak martial arts master is not
necessarily incapable of improvement. Both gentlemen are outstanding individuals, and their future achievements cannot be determined today."

Hearing this, the people from the Zheng and Peng families felt very satisfied and proud, and they also had confidence in her handling of the matter
, so they all looked at her eagerly.

Zhao Ying said, "This is my first time meeting everyone here, and I will not show any favoritism. I have already devised another method
, but once I have made my decision, neither the Zheng family, the Peng family, nor Junior Sister Yan Hui can raise any further objections."

The crowd looked at each other, unsure of what to do. These people had all weathered many storms, but
they had never encountered anything like this, a matter of personal feelings, or even something resembling a forced marriage. But now, they had no choice but to listen to Zhao Ying's
decision, so they all nodded slightly.

Zhao Ying looked to her right and saw two large, protruding rocks about three zhang away. With a flick of her right sleeve, without
any noticeable wind, she silently flattened the two rocks, leaving everyone dumbfounded. Zhao Ying smiled slightly at Peng Changzhi, who
stood dumbfounded to her right, and said, "Young Master Peng, please come with me." With that, she lightly stepped forward with her
right foot and was already beside two large rocks. Peng Changzhi, as if waking from a dream, hurried over. Zhao Ying pointed to another
large rock and said, "Young Master Peng, please sit."

Peng Changzhi sat down blankly, but dared not look Zhao Ying in the eye, placing his hands flat on his knees as if listening to an elder's
instruction .

Zhao Ying smiled and asked, "How old are you, Young Master?"

Peng Changzhi stammered, "I just turned twenty this year, born in December."

Zhao Ying then inquired in detail about his birth date and how he met Zhang Yanhui, discovering that he
was indeed deeply in love with her. She frowned slightly, thinking that if she didn't handle things properly, she might ruin such a good
young man . She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Young Master Peng, please extend your right hand so I can take your pulse."

After a few words, Peng Changzhi was completely awestruck by this ethereal young woman. He felt that not only was her
martial arts unparalleled and her knowledge vast, but her heartfelt concern deeply moved him. Her elegant demeanor
and compassionate heart made him feel that he would give his life for her, even unto death. He obediently
extended his right hand, rolled up his sleeve, and his body trembled slightly.

Zhao Ying extended three fingers and placed them on Peng Changzhi's wrist pulse, closed her eyes in deep thought for a long time, then asked him to switch to his left hand, also
taking his pulse with three fingers for a long time. She straightened her clothes and looked at Peng Changzhi seriously, saying, "Young Master Peng, are you willing to listen to
everything I have to say?"

Peng Changzhi's heart tightened, and he straightened up, saying, "I am willing to listen to your instructions, Miss."

Zhao Ying said, "Very well, I have three things to tell you. The first is that although you are deeply in love with my junior sister Yan Hui, she is not a suitable match for you." 　　Upon hearing this, Peng Changzhi's face changed color abruptly, and he almost stood up immediately, but seeing Zhao Ying's dignified and beautiful face, he couldn't help but immediately regain his composure, sit up straight, and listen attentively
to what she had to say. 　　Zhao Ying was satisfied with his attitude and continued, "Young Master Peng, although I made this judgment , I myself am not entirely convinced. But you must know that everything in this world is inseparable from fate. My junior sister 's marriage should not be with you. You don't need to be anxious or lose heart because of this, ruining your bright future. According to the pulse I just took, you are a virtuous and self-disciplined young man, still a virgin. This shows that not only is your family of good character, but you yourself are also eager to improve yourself. Such young men are rare in this world. If you and my junior sister are truly destined for each other, how could I bear to part with such a good brother-in-law?" 　　Although Peng Changzhi was disappointed, hearing Zhao Ying's praise made him blush, and he said shyly, "Thank you for your praise, Miss. I..." 　　Zhao Ying continued, "The second thing I want to tell you is that although my junior sister Zhang and you are not destined for each other, I still feel sorry for a fine young man like you. During the first month of the lunar year, you can go to Luoyang and find a scholar surnamed Yan. He is a well-known grain merchant in Luoyang, and you can find him with a little inquiry. He is the husband of my senior sister Qin. Recently, a group of sisters in his family have invited senior sister Qin to teach them . Among them are several fine young ladies, all of whom are disciples of prestigious families. Although I have never met any of them, I have a premonition that one of them should be your match. If you trust me, you can try your luck." 　　Peng Changzhi was now completely convinced by Zhao Ying. Upon hearing this, he stood up and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, young lady. I will certainly follow your instructions. After informing my father, I will go to Luoyang to pay my respects to Scholar Yan and his wife."

Zhao Ying said, "Alright, young master, please sit down. You must remember my words: do not force what is not meant to be, and do not easily abandon what is meant to be."

Peng Changzhi respectfully replied, "Yes." At this moment, the gloom in his heart had gradually dissipated, and he respected Zhao Ying even more, as if he were
a celestial being.

Zhao Ying continued, "The third thing I want to tell you is that although your Peng family is a martial arts family, judging from your physique, your
martial arts skills should be more than this. It is probably because your teachers could not bear to see you suffer that they did not strictly supervise you, thus wasting your good
body. Fortunately, you have kept yourself pure and have not yet become a virgin. If you hurry up now, there is still a chance. Otherwise, it will be difficult to become a
top master."

Peng Changzhi blushed and dared not speak, but the hope in his expression was overflowing. He knew that
since Zhao Ying said this, he was obviously going to give him some pointers on martial arts.

Zhao Ying smiled and said, "Apart from my husband, I have never had such a long talk with a young man. This shows
how much I value you. Let's leave things as they are today. I will not speak with that Young Master Zheng anymore.
Go and say goodbye to my Junior Sister Zhang. Don't forget, although we are not destined to be together, we can still be friends. You can congratulate
Young Master Zheng don't lose your composure and be looked down upon."

Peng Changzhi respectfully agreed.

Zhao Ying continued, "After you arrive in Luoyang, I will ask my husband to find a way to teach you a method to strengthen your internal energy. If your
marriage is indeed in Luoyang, your achievements in this life will be limitless."

Peng Changzhi was overjoyed and respectfully said, "Thank you, Miss. But may I ask for your husband's name?"

Zhao Ying smiled and said, "My husband is not a martial artist. It is of no use to you to know. Go now!"

Peng Changzhi stood up and respectfully bowed to Zhao Ying as a disciple, then strode back into the crowd.

Everyone watched Zhao Ying and Peng Changzhi's conversation intently. Although they couldn't hear what they were saying,
they saw Peng Changzhi's emotions shift between worry and joy. Later, they saw him extend his hand for Zhao Ying to take his pulse.
No one could guess how this was related to today's events. Peng Changzhi's demeanor grew increasingly respectful, and finally, he even performed the disciple's salute, which was
completely unexpected.

Peng Changzhi walked up to Zhang Yanhui and first bowed to Zhao Hua, saying, "Greetings, Miss Zhao."

Zhao Hua was startled and quickly replied, "You flatter me,

Young Master Peng, you are too kind." Peng Changzhi then spoke generously and warmly to Zhang Yanhui, "Sister Yanhui, I congratulate you and Brother Zheng on your marriage
. I hope that our families can maintain frequent exchanges and become lifelong friends."

Zhang Yanhui was both happy and sad. Although this was the ending she had hoped for, a strange
sense of loss welled up in her heart. Overwhelmed with mixed feelings, she could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face. She choked back tears, saying,
"Thank you so much, Young Master Peng, for your kindness to my younger sister..."

Peng Changzhi sighed, feeling an indescribable sadness in his heart. He composed himself, bowed to Zhang Yanhui
, and then walked to Zheng Ziji, saying loudly, "Brother Zheng, I have been very rude. You met Sister Yanhui first, and I was
so ungrateful. I have offended you greatly, and I hope you will forgive me."

While Peng Changzhi was talking with Zhao Ying, Zheng Ziji had been uneasy, his mind racing with countless thoughts. But
the final outcome was truly unexpected. He didn't know what Zhao Ying had said to him that made Peng Changzhi
willingly give up his pursuit of Zhang Yanhui, but he was already satisfied with such a satisfactory ending. Hearing Peng Changzhi's
apology, he felt embarrassed and hurriedly said, "I dare not, I dare not. I am truly ashamed of what you say, Brother Peng."

The happiest person at this moment was Zeng Mingdong. He hadn't expected things to turn out so well. He laughed heartily:
"Excellent, excellent! Miss Zhao is truly a remarkable person, handling this joyous occasion so well."

Although Peng Gaoping didn't know what Zhao Ying and his son had discussed, seeing his son's respectful attitude towards Zhao Ying, he knew his son
wouldn't suffer any loss. Therefore, he also clasped his hands in greeting to Zheng Huai'en, saying, "Sect Leader Zheng, I never imagined we would
almost come to blows over our children's affairs. I am truly ashamed. Please forgive us, Sect Leader and all the brothers."

Zheng Huai'en said with emotion, "Chief Peng, it is I who am truly ashamed! Look at us, at our age,
yet we still... " "How could they be so narrow-minded? This young Miss Zhao, so young, not only possesses unparalleled martial arts skills, but also
an ethereal . She handles matters with such grace and poise. Seeing how sincerely Young Master Ling admires her, how can we not feel ashamed
? Those who came with Miss Zhao and her sister were all like immortals. Such extraordinary
figures exist in this world! We have truly been living in a well for far too long."

Peng Gaoping was also deeply moved. The two felt a sudden sense of kinship, embracing and clenching their fists, and introducing their respective
families. The storm had finally dissipated.

Zhao Ying arrived gracefully, and everyone treated her with utmost respect, greeting her warmly. Zhao Ying was overjoyed. She
said to Zheng Ziji, "Young Master Zheng, I entrust my junior sister Zhang to you. You must cherish her. Congratulations! As for when
you two will get married, you should listen to Junior Sister Yanhui. She has her own way of judging what my sect has taught her, and it will be beneficial to you."

Zheng Ziji respectfully replied, "Thank you, Miss Zhao. I will definitely remember your instructions and dare not disobey."

Zhao Ying nodded and then said to everyone, "This happy occasion has come to a perfect end. Thank you all for
your trust in me, seniors and brothers. I have finally lived up to your expectations, and I can also give my husband an explanation. We will take our leave now
. Until we meet again!"

Everyone was reluctant to part, and the three Baihua sisters were even more tearful. Zhao Ying laughed, "Silly girl, we'll have plenty of opportunities to meet
. You've both completed your training; how can you still rely on each other like this? Don't make a fool of yourself." With that, she
took Zhao Hua's hand, gave a slight bow to the crowd, and turned to walk back the way they came. After a few steps, they
suddenly vanished.

Dozens of people from the three families had respectfully seen Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua off. Under the bright midday sun, their sudden disappearance was
astounding. If it weren't for the undeniable facts and the fact that they were Zhang Yanhui's fellow disciples, everyone would have thought they
had encountered immortals on Mount Wangwu.

Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua repeatedly leaped into the air, trying to catch up with Yang Guo and the others. The two ascended to a small, protruding plateau.
As they looked around, they suddenly heard Azi's voice calling from the opposite mountain: "Sister Ying, Sister Hua, we're here!
Come quickly !"

The two smiled at each other, joined hands, and activated their combined internal energy techniques. Their true energy merged into one, and they
soared through the air for fifty or sixty zhang (approximately 25-30 meters), gracefully arriving at the opposite mountain. The people there, some sitting and some standing, clapped and cheered. Azi exclaimed joyfully, "
Sister Ying, Sister Hua, you're amazing! You're like fairies descended from heaven!"

Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua landed gracefully, beaming with joy. Seeing their smiling faces, everyone knew that they had handled that thorny
matter very well, and they were all happy for them. Xiaolongnu laughed, "With the two sisters involved, success is sure to be achieved
. Congratulations!"

Zhao Ying smiled happily and said, "I dare not fail your instructions, young master. Fortunately, these people had no prior grudges, so with a little effort
, the matter was resolved perfectly. Those two young gentlemen are both promising young men. I've left a way out, intending to arrange a marriage between Miss
Sun Xiaohong and Young Master Peng."

Everyone found this amusing. Chunlan, having taught Sun Xiaohong a set of palm techniques, felt a special bond with her as a master and disciple, and was particularly
concerned about her. She hurriedly asked, "Sister Ying, you've never met Miss Sun, so why did you think of arranging a marriage for her?"

Zhao Ying laughed incessantly. She found a large rock, swept away the snowflakes and moss with her sleeve, and was about to
sit down when she glanced down unintentionally. A hundred feet below, she saw the same valley flatland she had just been in. At that moment, a group of small black dots
were moving, presumably the group of people descending the mountain in single file. Under the white snow, the path was clearly visible, indicating that they had taken
a shortcut . She was deeply moved, knowing that everyone had chosen this place because they could see the development below and provide support at any time. She
exclaimed, "Brother, you really care about your sister..."

Little Dragon Girl smiled and said, "Of course, Guo'er carefully selected this place. He wouldn't want his good
wife to suffer even the slightest harm."

Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua were both touched. Zhao Hua went to pester Yang Guo, who laughed heartily. Everyone was very happy.

Zhao Ying recounted in detail what had just happened, and then said, "The young master of Pengjia Village, Peng Changzhi, is indeed a
rare excellent young man, but my junior sister Zhang is not fond of him, which is unavoidable. I was just thinking that if this matter is handled
improperly, it might ruin a good young man. While I was pondering this, a thought suddenly occurred to me, and I remembered what
Sister , and I also thought of Miss Sun Xiaohong. It's really strange,
I've never met Miss Sun, but I thought of her. So I asked him to go to Luoyang to visit Brother-in-law Yan during the first month of the lunar year
, and to say that his marriage might be decided here."

The women found it more and more interesting as they listened, and Yuan Mingming giggled and said, "If this comes true, Sister Ying, if you're not a goddess,
you'll be a demigod."

Everyone laughed heartily. Little Dragon Girl, however, said seriously, "In my opinion, there's an 80% chance this will succeed.
When Guo'er and I met Master Shengyin in Xiangyang, she was a respected senior and highly accomplished woman. Her disciples must be of excellent character and talent.
In particular, Mingmei, Chunlan, and Qiuju all adore this Miss Sun, which shows she is indeed a good girl.
This Young Master Peng listened to Yingmei's advice and was able to let go, which is truly commendable and shows the behavior of a great man.
The two are well-matched in terms of talent and appearance, so I think there's a great chance of success."

Chunlan was very concerned and said, "Little Dragon Girl's analysis makes a lot of sense. What Yingmei said to that Young Master Peng, '
Don't force things if there's no fate, and don't easily give up if there is,' is also full of Zen wisdom. If we give it our all at the right time
, the chances of this marriage succeeding will increase even more."

The women also expressed their opinions and talked excitedly.

Azi said, "Since everyone likes this Miss Sun so much, and she likes me, I'll really teach her
a set of kung fu..." She emphasized the words "Miss Sun" loudly, even laughing out loud, clearly very proud.
But then she suddenly paused, ran to Yang Guo, and said coquettishly, "Big brother, what kung fu do I have
to teach her?"

Everyone laughed. Yang Guo took her arm and kissed her, saying, "Azi, didn't your sister Ying just say, 'Don't
force what isn't meant to be, and don't easily abandon what is?' Your sister Chunlan didn't deliberately teach Miss Sun kung fu that day; it
was fate. Miss Sun is Master Shengyin's disciple; you can't just snatch someone else's disciple away, can you?"

Azi seemed to understand, nodded vigorously, and said, "Big brother, I understand. We should always let things take their natural course and
not force things."

Yang Guo was very happy, kissed her again, and said, "That's it."

Everyone was very happy, their mood improved, and they all enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Wangwu Mountain.

Yang Guo suddenly asked Zhao Ying, "Yingmei, did you bring any medicinal herbs with you today?"

Zhao Ying was startled and quickly replied, "I have medicine for injuries and antidotes. Why do you suddenly ask, sir?"

Yang Guo nodded and said, "I initially sensed a fishy smell in the mountains, and now it's growing stronger.
Wangwu Mountain has been a sacred mountain since ancient times, without a doubt. But for there to be poisonous creatures within, especially in this harsh winter
, is truly unbelievable. There must be something fishy going on. We must discuss how to deal with this."

The women were all shocked, but none of them could smell any fishy odor in the air. However, they all trusted Yang Guo implicitly,
knowing that something strange must be happening in the mountains. Xiaolongnu asked, "Guo'er, what kind of poison is this?" "What is it?"

Yang Guo hesitated. He said, "I still can't guess. It doesn't seem to be a tiger or leopard, nor a giant snake. This poisonous creature is still far from
us , yet its foul stench can still be smelled. This shows that this poisonous creature is extraordinary."

The women all looked at him in alarm. Yang Guo continued, "Don't panic, everyone. Although this thing is poisonous, it
may not necessarily harm people. Moreover, its appearance in this sacred mountain must have another reason. According to the principle of mutual generation and restraint among all things, where there is
a poisonous creature, there must be a supernatural being among them. I'm just wondering if we should get involved in this matter."

The women were also hesitant. If it were a matter of self-preservation, it would be best to avoid it. However, they all felt that this
seemed a bit inappropriate, but they couldn't quite put their finger on why.

Yuan Mingming said, "Young master, in my opinion, we should find out what kind of poison this is,
whether it , or whether it poses a danger to the tourists coming up the mountain, before deciding how to deal with it. I think
we are blessed with unparalleled martial arts skills, so we should make some contribution to the common people."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Yang Guo also said, "Mingmei's words make a lot of sense. Let's decide on this: first find out
what kind of poison it is, but don't provoke it. Most poisons won't attack people as long as you don't provoke them."

Yang Guo carefully measured the wind direction and confirmed that the fishy smell was coming from the northeast. He asked Zhao Ying to take out the antidote pills,
mix them with stream water to make mud, and apply it under everyone's noses to prevent the fishy smell from being overwhelming. Yang Guo himself was not afraid of the potent poison and wanted to track the source of the fishy wind
, so he did not apply the antidote pills.

The group carefully considered all possible scenarios and contingency plans. After repeated discussions
to ensure no detail was overlooked, they straightened their clothes and tightened their belts. Everyone was extremely cautious.
"Alright," Yang Guo thought for a moment and said, "None of us brought any weapons, so it's better to carry a wooden stick
just in case ."

The women all agreed. The mountain was covered with ancient, century-old coiled dragon pines, also known as white-barked pines or ginkgo pines,
but with dark brown bark. They were shaped like umbrellas, bloomed in April, and their edible berries were a specialty of the area.
The branches of the coiled dragon pines were long and slender, but over a hundred years old, they were incredibly flexible. Some used their lightness skills to leap onto the high branches,
selecting branches and peeling the bark, while others chose a branch and tapped it with their inner finger. In a short while, everyone had a suitable
weapon. Ah Zi, remembering her old bamboo stick, couldn't help but feel nostalgic. She clung to Xiao Longnv, saying, "Sister,
that bamboo stick I used before was so good! Even a knife couldn't cut it!"

Xiao Longnv laughed, "This stick made of coiled dragon pine is also very good. Ordinary knives can't cut it either,
and it's even tougher than bamboo. I once heard the great hero Guo Jing say that the matriarch of the Yang family, She Taijun, used
the coiled dragon to angrily beat the tyrannical ruler!"

Ah Zi was overjoyed to hear this, realizing that the coiled dragon wood had such a prestigious history. She began to cherish it,
saying, "Really? Then I'll keep it safe. If that little rascal misbehaves in the future..." "I'll use this stick to spank his
little bottom."

Everyone laughed so hard they bent over. Zhao Hua laughed until he was breathless, saying, "You're already thinking about spanking the little devil's
bottom ! You're thinking too far ahead!"

A'Zi blushed and protested, "Children need to be taught how to behave!"

Yuan Mingming also laughed, "Even if he's naughty, would you really be willing to use this big wooden stick to spank him?"

A'Zi grinned and said, "Of course I'm just teasing him. I wouldn't do that!"

Xiao Longnv laughed, "The more you talk, the more it sounds real. Maybe A'Zi will be the last to get married, but she'll
have a baby before us!"

The women all seemed a little disappointed and unconsciously looked at Yang Guo. Yang Guo laughed, "Why are you looking at me? How
did you get thinking about children from the Dragon Staff? Your minds work faster than the wind."

The women all protested, their expressions full of tenderness and affection.

Yang Guo, holding the Panlong Wood in his left hand, pointed to a huge rock in the distance. With a loud crash, the rock shattered into pieces
, startling all the women. Yang Guo himself was somewhat surprised, saying, "I never expected that the One-Yang Finger could have such great
power ."

Upon hearing this, the women all imitated Yang Guo, trying their hand at the One-Yin Finger. Sure enough, the power was greatly increased, and they
were all overjoyed.

Xiaolongnu said, "Perhaps this is also the will of Heaven, allowing the One-Yang Finger and One-Yin Finger to display such great power. If
it is used to expel poison, then it is doomed. Let's be alert and take a good look at
what kind of poison is hidden in this immortal mountain!"

Everyone agreed, and led by Yang Guo, they all gathered their breath and headed northeast towards the source of the foul wind
.

They searched for more than an hour, and the foul wind grew stronger and stronger. All the women could smell it, and although they had applied antidote pills to their noses
, they still felt nauseous. After walking for the time it takes to eat a meal, Yang Guo sensed something unusual ahead. He waved to the women,
signaling them to be vigilant; the poisonous creature was already ahead. The women, alerted, checked their belongings, gripped
their Dragon-Slaying Staffs, exchanged glances, and immediately activated their Combined Attack Technique, following Yang Guo slowly forward.

Crossing a small hill, Yang Guo surveyed the surroundings and found the area completely bare, a large plateau in a
mountain valley . Deep within the valley was a dark, deep cave. Springs flowed from both sides of the cave,
collecting in a natural pool in the center. The pool then flowed downhill. Although the temperature was extremely low, the pool water
was not frozen. At the cave entrance, facing the pool, lay a pile of dark, murky objects, emanating a strong, fishy stench
.

A thought struck Yang Guo: Could this be the legendary Black Dragon Cave and Taiyi Pool? But Black Dragon Cave and
Taiyi Pool were places where the Yellow Emperor sought enlightenment and cultivated immortality. How could poisonous creatures be lurking there? He looked around more closely and found that
the paths leading up the mountain were all destroyed, and had been destroyed for a long time. Ordinary people could not possibly climb up, and even highly skilled
martial exceptional lightness skills, would find it difficult to ascend. In recent decades, due to war and chaos, the local government
and the residents at the foot of the mountain were unable to repair them, resulting in them becoming a haven for poisonous creatures.

Yang Guo pondered further. Since the mountain paths were destroyed, making it difficult for tourists and residents to reach the place, even if poisonous creatures were lurking
there, they would be harmless to humans. Whether it was necessary to remove them was a matter of considerable consideration. Moreover, he had always believed that there must be a reason for the appearance of poisonous creatures in this
sacred mountain . If the reason was not understood, rashly removing the poisonous creatures
might cause another disaster. Furthermore, although the poisonous creatures were lying still on the ground and their shapes were not visible,
their size indicated that they were not small. How did they get to this mountain, and where did they come from? After much deliberation, he decided that caution was paramount
. He beckoned to the women and retreated back to the hill, where he shared his thoughts with them.

The women all frowned, not understanding the reasoning behind his actions, but they all felt that Yang Guo's concerns were valid. Rashly venturing into
this unknown poison might indeed bring disaster. For a moment, they all fell silent in contemplation.

Yang Guo continued, "Judging from the terrain and location here, I suspect this is very likely the legendary Black
Dragon Cave and Taiyi Pool. Taiyi Pool is the source of the Ji River, where the Great Luo Golden Immortal Taiyi Zhenren drew water from heaven to wash his hands.
In Taoist legends, this place is very sacred, and it's also where the Yellow Emperor sought the Tao and cultivated immortality. But what I don't understand
is, the Yellow Emperor was an incarnation of a yellow dragon, so how could this cave be called Black Dragon Cave?"

Yuan Mingming said, "Young Master, that should make sense
. The Yellow Emperor was a yellow dragon, so it's possible he came to Black Dragon Cave to seek the Tao from the black dragon."

The women all wanted to laugh; this was simply too mythical, but the situation before them was indeed mythical—
the poisonous creature was a living fact.

Azi suddenly blurted out, "Could that poisonous creature be the Black Dragon?"

Everyone found it even more unbelievable. Even if there really was a Black Dragon, it should be a divine creature, something from thousands of years ago, and
how could it be a poisonous creature?

Zhao Hua glared at her and said, "The Black Dragon has long since attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven. How could it have become a foul-smelling poisonous creature?"
She started telling myths too.

A'Zi retorted, unconvinced, "Maybe it's a little devil born of the Black Dragon!"

Everyone was about to burst out laughing again, but Yang Guo said, "What A'Zi said makes some sense. Dragons have nine sons, each different
. If the Black Dragon left offspring thousands of years ago, it's hard to say it wouldn't be this poisonous creature before us."

Everyone was even more astonished and dumbfounded.

Ah Zi, hearing Yang Guo echo her words, was quite pleased with herself. She swayed her head and recited, "The dragon is the chief of all scaled creatures, capable of
being hidden or visible, small or large, short or long. It ascends to the heavens at the spring equinox and dives into the abyss at the autumn equinox."

Little Dragon Girl asked, "Ah Zi, where did you hear that?" Little Dragon Girl was only proficient in the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra; she hadn't read
many other ancient books, and so had everyone else. Ah Zi, however, had received a very good education in the Prince's mansion from a young age and had read quite a few books.

"That's what the Shuowen Jiezi says. Also, the dragon has nine sons, none of whom became dragons. Each has their own preferences: the first is Pulao, who
loves to roar; the second is Bian, who loves to litigate; the third is Yazi, who loves to kill; the fourth is Bixi, who loves to carry heavy loads
; the fifth is Chiwen, who loves to gaze; the sixth is Taotie, who loves to eat; the seventh is Baxia, who loves to water; the eighth is Jinni, who loves to smoke and fire; and the ninth is Jiaotu, who loves
to close off." Azi read and laughed, finding it very amusing. Yang Guo, however, listened very carefully. He asked Azi to read it again
, and although Azi found it strange, she read it slowly and clearly.

Yang Guo looked at everyone and asked, "What are your thoughts?"

Yuan Mingming thought for a moment and said, "Young Master, if your earlier guess is correct, the poisonous creature in front of the cave is very
likely one of the nine dragon sons. In my opinion, the most likely one is the sixth, the Taotie. Seeing it guarding the Taiyi
Pool, could there be something it likes to eat in the pool?"

Everyone thought Yuan Mingming's words made a lot of sense. Zhao Hua said, "Sister Ming, why don't you think it's that bloodthirsty
Yazi?"

"It shouldn't be," Yuan Mingming said earnestly. "The dragon has nine sons, each with their own preferences, but they are still dragons. Dragons are sentient beings.
I think they already knew we were here. If it were a bloodthirsty monster like Yazi,
it would have already attacked us. It wouldn't sitting still like this, with only the greedy Taotie guarding its food and ignoring everything else."
Everyone stared wide-eyed, bewildered, unsure
whether believe it or not. Even Yuan Mingming herself didn't believe it.

They looked at each other, then chuckled, before turning to Yang Guo for the final decision.

Yang Guo said, "For now, we must go closer and investigate. First, we need to figure out what the poisonous creature is, and then see
what else is in the pool."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Yang Guo repeatedly warned them not to act rashly unless attacked by a poisonous creature
. After everything was properly arranged, the group formed a fan shape around Yang Guo, encircling the Taiyi Pool and the poisonous creature
. At either end of the fan were the most powerful of the women, Xiaolongnu and Yuan Mingming; Azi was to Yang Guo's left; Qiuju and
Chunlan to his right; and Zhao Ying and Zhao Hua to the east and west. The encirclement gradually tightened. Yang Guo first looked towards the Taiyi Pool.
Although the water was clear, it was a deep black due to its great depth. About five or six zhang (approximately 10-15 meters) from the edge of the pool near the Black Dragon Cave,
a giant object resembling a lotus flower with blood-red leaves was in full bloom .

As Yang Guo and the others slowly approached, they could now see it very clearly. The lotus-shaped object had nine petals, each
with clearly visible veins, within which a fluid resembling blood could be faintly seen flowing. At
the center of the nine petals, a giant, dark green egg was being nurtured, its surface covered with fine spikes. The egg was trembling slightly,
making the whole scene extremely eerie. As Yang Guo pondered, he suddenly realized something was amiss. He had initially assumed the foul odor
originated from the poisonous creature, but now he felt the smell came from the giant egg, not from
the creature lying motionless in front of the cave. A chill ran down his spine. If the smell wasn't from the poisonous creature, then it couldn't be poisonous either. He
gestured for the women to stop and carefully observed the creature. It remained motionless on the ground,
its entire body jet black, its back high and swollen, resembling a water buffalo but covered in scales. It was as large as three water buffaloes, with antlers like a deer
, a long nose with large nostrils, a wide mouth with whiskers, and its belly on the ground with two claws protruding from the front. The rear was not visible; it appeared to have a tail, but it was already deep inside
the cave. Yang Guo thought, could this truly be a dragon? If it really was a dragon, whatever kind, it certainly wouldn't be
poisonous. He circled around the left side of the pool and continued to slowly approach the object, gathering all his true energy. He
then used the Mind-Observation Technique to directly target the object's head. As soon as he unleashed his power, the object suddenly turned its head, and its previously closed eyes abruptly opened,
startling . Those two eyes were like two lanterns, their sharp light like lightning, shooting directly at Yang Guo. Yang Guo also stared intently,
not blinking. After about half a cup of tea's time, Yang Guo suddenly vaguely sensed the words coming from the object: "What brings you here,
fellow ?"

Yang Guo was overjoyed and immediately transmitted their intentions to the object with his mind. However, after waiting for a long time, there was no response
. He was a little puzzled. Then he thought that perhaps the distance between them was too far, or that it wasn't direct enough. So he transmitted
his intention to approach the object again, indicating that he had no hostile intentions, while looking directly into the object's eyes. Although the creature's eyes were bright
, its expression showed no ferocity, which reassured Yang Guo. He sensed that the creature agreed to his approach
, so he gradually drew closer. By this time, he had passed the large lotus-shaped object and was even more certain that the fishy smell was
emanating from the giant egg, not from a poisonous creature as he had initially assumed.

Yang Guo raised the coiled dragon wood in his hand high and gently touched the creature's head. Instantly, they felt a connection between their thoughts.
The creature asked, "Where do you come from, fellow Daoist?" Yang Guo reiterated his purpose, explaining that he had sensed a fishy smell from the foot of the mountain
and feared that a poisonous creature might be lurking there, harming the people. Therefore, he had come to investigate.

The other said, "This thing is about to mature."

Yang Guo asked, "What is this thing?"

The other replied, "The thing in the pool is formed from the accumulated foul air of heaven and earth since Pangu. It has no name. Once
it matures and bursts, the foul air will flow downstream, and wherever the river passes, plagues will rage, lasting for a hundred years,
and half the life force of the world will be lost."

Yang Guo nodded and then sensed, "Who are you? Why are you here? And where did you come from?"

The thing said, "All things are subject to birth and death. I came because of this thing, and I will leave because of this thing. I am harmless to the common people and
have nothing to do ."

Yang Guo nodded again and continued to sense, "Is that thing a living thing? Why not remove it before it matures?"

"No, the foul air of heaven and earth must have a channel to escape. If there is no outlet, the heavens and the earth will collapse. If the thing is removed before
it matures , the foul air will not be completely expelled, which will affect the earth's veins, and the surrounding mountains will sink."

"When will this thing mature?"

"At the spring equinox this year, when heaven and earth unite in harmony, I will perish along with this thing. Fellow Daoist, do not worry."

Yang Guo, feeling reluctant, said, "So you are the guardian deity of heaven and earth. I am truly disrespectful. Can you remain in the mortal realm?"

The creature said, "Fellow Daoist, although your skill is profound, your Dao heart is not firm, which hinders your cultivation. You
have not yet ."

Yang Guo said, "I am not a Daoist, so it is fine if I cannot comprehend it."

The creature was clearly somewhat surprised, but it did not respond further.

Yang Guo then said, "You mean you don't want us to get involved in this matter, and want us to let nature take its course?"

The creature replied, "Indeed, the cycle of life and death of all things is predetermined, and cannot be shaken by any external force. Fellow Daoist, please go."

Yang Guo nodded, somewhat reluctant to leave, and was about to put away the coiled dragon wood on the creature's head when he suddenly
sensed something : "There is a demon on this mountain who has long coveted this filthy thing. Although he ultimately failed, perhaps it was Heaven's will that allowed you to eliminate him
."

Yang Guo was startled and asked, "What is a demon?"

"Why do you ask such a question, Fellow Daoist? Where there are immortals, there are demons."

Yang Guo was startled again and asked, "Are there really immortals in the world?"

"Why are you so foolish, Fellow Daoist? The difference between immortals and humans is only a fine line. If you weren't so persistent and unable to see through it, wouldn't you have already become an immortal
?"

This time, Yang Guo was truly astonished and lowered his head in deep thought for a long time.

The creature said again, "Fellow Daoist, please depart. Your worldly ties are not yet severed; there is no need to force it."

Yang Guo, startled, said, "Yes. Can we meet again?"

The creature ceased to respond. Yang Guo waited for a long time before sighing, putting away the Panlong Wood, and beckoning the women over . He
said to them, "This is the guardian deity of heaven and earth; you have all met him."

The women, in harmony with Yang Guo's mind-reading technique, clearly sensed his communication with the creature. They all straightened
their robes and respectfully bowed to the creature. The creature's eyes shone brightly as it stared at the women, then slowly
lowered eyelids and returned to its original prostrate position.

Yang Guo bowed to the creature again, then he and the women moved closer to the pond to examine the nine blood-red leaves and
the giant egg that was developing. The dark green egg was still trembling slightly in a rhythmic manner. Ah Zi pinched her nose and held her breath, saying, "Big
brother , it's so scary!"

Yang Guo was about to answer when he suddenly felt an unprecedentedly strong killing intent coming towards him. He and the women all shouted and attacked Chi Dong
together . There was a deafening roar, and snowflakes flew everywhere, but there was no trace of anyone. However,
everyone sensed something moving rapidly in front of and behind them, waiting for an opportunity to attack, with killing intent permeating the air. Yang Guo closed his eyes and focused his mind,
relying entirely on his Mind-Reading Technique. He knew this creature must be the demon the guardian had referred to, but it was invisible and its
speed utterly unbelievable. Yang Guo accelerated his internal energy circulation while strengthening the combined energy of the women, using
their essence, energy, and spirit to lock onto the rapidly moving demon. He then began to prepare an attack. As soon as he did, the demon became agitated. Yuan Mingming, positioned in
the Kun position, let out a delicate shout and struck out with a palm. Everyone felt the air around them surge and their blood boil, but
the demon only let out a muffled groan, clearly injured. Although it was Yuan Mingming who struck, it combined the strength of eight people. Even
a demon of extraordinary power couldn't withstand it. Instantly, the killing intent vanished, and Yang Guo sensed that the demon had fled eastward with
lightning speed.

The group immediately regulated their breathing and looked at each other. They saw that all the women's faces were deathly pale. None of them had ever encountered such a sinister scene
before they felt that the other party was simply a ghost.

Yang Guo, still shaken, was relieved that no one was injured. He stood for a moment, then sat cross-legged on the ground,
concentrating thoughts. The women, not daring to disturb him, surrounded him protectively.

While practicing his martial arts on the ground, Yang Guo had tried to communicate with the guardian spirit, but to no avail.
He only sensed a peaceful message, which reassured him. He then considered whether to eliminate the demon and how.
After a short while, he rose, having made up his mind. He called the women, and they walked around the pond. They then went to
observe , finding it extremely deep. The guardian spirit had remained
motionless in its original posture throughout their battle with the demon. Yang Guo and the others, not wanting to disturb it further, did not enter the cave. They bowed to the guardian spirit and took their leave.

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