[Wuxia] The Legend of Condor Heroes: The World's People [Complete] - 6

Chapter Forty-Seven: Swordsmanship Reaching Divine Levels? Yang Guo seems to have mastered it this way.

"Big Brother, is this even called a sword?" Guo Fu asked timidly.

"Hehe, watch." I channeled my strength into the sword and swung it at the boulder. "Pfft!" The sword and stone collided, producing
a sound like striking broken leather. I felt as if I were cutting tofu, effortlessly shaving off a corner of the boulder.

San Niang and Guo Fu were both dumbfounded. Guo Fu tapped the stone and asked, "Is there something wrong with this stone?"

"This is the meaning of 'a heavy sword has no edge, great skill has no merit,' one force can overcome ten techniques," I sighed.

"Oh, so the highest level of martial arts is to overcome skill with force?" San Niang asked after a moment's thought.

"The paths are different, yet all can lead to divine levels. There are three thousand great paths, each one leading to enlightenment. Whether it's strength, skill, or speed,
mastering them to the extreme is enough to dominate for a hundred years. As for who is stronger and who is weaker? I don't know. Hehe..." I scratched my head and laughed.

San Niang and Guo Fu nodded, seemingly understanding.

"There's another one here; perhaps this is the most powerful." Guo Fu rushed to take the sword from the stone slab, but her hand grasped only air; the wooden
sword was already rotten.

"After forty, one is no longer bound by material things; grass, trees, bamboo, and stones can all be swords. From then on, one refines one's skills, gradually progressing to
the realm where no sword is better than having a sword. Senior Dugu reached the state of sword heart clarity at forty, unswayed by external things. He was truly a genius unparalleled in the martial arts world for centuries; I
am no for him," I sighed. I knew that without the advantage of foresight and three years of diligent practice, I would never have achieved
what I have today. But to create a martial art, to pioneer a new field of martial arts, was even more impossible. I've always believed
that Yang Guo's Ecstasy Palm in the original story was merely a far-fetched act, an attempt to prove himself , but in reality, just copying others. How could someone with a weak foundation create a systematic and unparalleled martial art? I prefer to build a solid foundation step by step. As the saying goes, standing on the shoulders of giants allows you to fly higher. "You see, true masters reach a state of being unconstrained by external things, moving freely and effortlessly. Just like your grandfather, all these years he's only had a jade flute by his side. That's a level of mastery!" I sighed longingly. "Is my grandfather as powerful as this Senior Dugu?" Guo Fu asked. "Hehe, once you reach that level, the difference is beyond our comprehension. But if your grandfather wasn't powerful, how could he be revered as a legend in the martial arts world, the 'Eastern Heretic' among the Five Greats?" Seeing Guo Fu's disappointment at my words, I quickly comforted her. "That's right. Even my father, who is called a great hero, speaks of my grandfather with utmost respect. It's a pity that my grandfather has rarely come to see us these past years. In fact, my eldest brother and third aunt have never even met him." Guo Fu sighed. I thought to myself, "That's all because of your unlucky old man! Your grandfather gets an epileptic seizure whenever he sees him, like he's avoiding a plague. He's so fond of you that he's even hostile to you, ignoring your mother completely. It'd be a miracle if he even came to see you!" But Old Huang , you have character, I support you! There was nothing more to see on the lonely peak of the Sword Tomb, so I lowered the two of them down, then carried the Xuan Tie Sword down the mountain myself. The three of us searched the Military Book Gorge again, and sure enough, we found a parchment scroll containing the complete manual of the Dugu Nine Swords among the "books." "I've searched high and low without finding it, and now it's right here!" I grinned from ear to ear, thinking, "This is a windfall!" The reason I searched for this sword manual was ultimately to give it to my mother-in-law. Lately, Huang Rong has been either worrying about Da Wu and Xiao Wu's studies or busy preparing for military supplies and the workshop business, which has reduced communication between us. I quite miss the days when we studied late into the night, with her adding fragrance to my sleeves . If we had this treasure… Guo Damu definitely wouldn't be interested. And what martial art would be more suitable for Huang Rong, with her exceptional comprehension and remarkable memory, than the Dugu Nine Swords? Then, under the guise of learning swordsmanship, the two of us would practice back and forth, inseparable, and accidentally sparks would fly... Oh ho ho… I chuckled lewdly to myself. “Big brother, we’re here. Hey, what mischief are you thinking about? You’re laughing so scary.” Guo Fu turned around and asked, seeing my startling laugh . “No, no, I was just weaving our dreams of wandering the martial world together, upholding justice.” I quickly replied. “Hmph.” Guo Fu’s eyes flashed with a “good thing you reacted quickly, or you’d be in trouble” meaning. She snorted, turned, and skipped away. “Wipe your drool…” Third Sister smiled and handed me a handkerchief. Ugh, no wonder this little girl was upset; she was too engrossed in her daydreams… When we returned to the cave, the Divine Eagle was already waiting inside , bringing gifts—four Cangshan Iron-Headed Snakes. Seeing that we had brought back Dugu Qiubai's sword, the Divine Eagle cackled a few times, then deftly used its sharp beak to peck out three snake gallbladders, handing one to each of us. It then took the gallbladder from the smaller snake and swallowed it. “Big Brother? It's not telling us to learn from it, is it?” Guo Fu asked, frowning at the pungent smell of the snake gallbladder in her hand. I laughed, “Don't underestimate this stuff. Snake gallbladders are very nourishing, invigorating, and strengthening. Brother Eagle's excellent physique is all thanks to it; let's not waste its good intentions. Swallow it, but don't bite it open; it's very bitter.” The Divine Eagle chirped proudly a few times, seemingly indicating that I knew its value. I didn't stand on ceremony either, swallowing one snake gallbladder first and finding a place to regulate my internal energy. When I woke up, I found that Guo Fu and San Niang were still practicing their internal energy. "Brother Eagle, thank you so much," I said, patting the eagle's wing . "Caw caw," the eagle nodded and snorted twice, indicating that I didn't need to be so polite. I could clearly feel that my internal energy had increased a lot. Now, even if I encountered Qiu Chuji, I was confident that he could . If I learned the remaining three moves of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and the Nine Swords of Dugu... then I would definitely be invincible in close combat. If I learned a long-range weapon like the Finger Flicking Divine Skill... I had already fallen into endless fantasies. The eagle pulled me to the table, where I saw four more dead snakes. "Brother Eagle, no need, eating too many won't have any effect . We can use them tomorrow." I immediately stopped him. The eagle didn't go against my wishes. Knowing that I didn't want them, it didn't peck open the snakes' necks to take their gallbladders. "This skin is not bad. I'll make a leather bag for everyone when we get back." I said with a grin, taking out a machete and studying it for a long time, but I was afraid my cutting skills were not good enough and I would damage the skin. The eagle seemed to understand my meaning. It stepped on the dead snake's tail with one claw, used its beak to peck at the hole in the snake's neck, and with a forceful pull, the snake's skin came off in one go. I gave it a thumbs up and praised, "Great skill!" The eagle happily followed the same method and peeled off the remaining three skins.

"What are you two playing?" Third Sister woke up, got off the stone bed, and walked over to ask.

"Hehe, it's a secret for now. I'll give you a surprise when we get back." I wrapped the snakeskin and turned to say. "How are you
feeling ? Tired?" I asked with concern.

"After taking that snake gall, I really feel much lighter and stronger. I used to
get aches and pains in my back and legs on rainy days, but they're much better now." Third Sister's internal energy cultivation wasn't high, so she could only sense that her physique had improved a lot,
but she didn't know that she had gained several years' worth of internal energy for no reason.

"Big brother, this snake gall is so effective. Wow, there's more! I want more. If I eat a hundred or eighty, Fu'er will have unparalleled martial arts skills."
Guo Fu heard me talking to Third Sister and jumped up, laughing happily.

"Greedy. There are probably only a few dozen snakes in total, and it's taken at least twenty years for a snake to grow this big
." I explained, glancing at the Divine Eagle. The Divine Eagle nodded, indicating that it was reliable. "Besides, this snake is poisonous.
Eating one or half a snake a year is fine, but eating too many is harmful."

"Oh, I see. You made us all excited for nothing." Guo Fu pouted, somewhat displeased.

"Hehe, alright, it's getting late. This trip has been very successful. Flash floods could break out in the mountains at any time, so let's
hurry back so Uncle Guo and Master Guo won't worry." I looked at the sky; it was getting late, probably around 3 PM. But summer
days are long, and if we hurry, we can still reach the cave we came from this morning.

"Okay!" Guo Fu clapped her hands and laughed. Third Sister didn't speak, but I could see the weariness in her eyes, and I thought I really shouldn't have
dragged them into this ordeal.

The Divine Eagle tugged at my sleeve, not letting me leave.

"Brother Eagle, if your health allows, let's go together." I thought the Divine Eagle was afraid of being lonely and didn't want us to leave.

The Divine Eagle still wouldn't let go, croaking loudly.

"You want me to go out with you?" I remembered the story after I got the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword and followed the Divine Eagle out.

"Brother, what does the eagle mean?" Guo Fu asked, tugging at my sleeve.

"It wants to test my skills." I patted Guo Fu, signaling her not to worry. The eagle walked to the open space outside the cave, and as soon as I
came out, it swept its wings at me without warning.

"Brother, be careful!" Guo Fu said, wanting to draw her sword to help.

"Don't be reckless, it means no harm." I stopped Guo Fu, dodging the eagle's sweeping attack myself, and picked up a
three-foot- long wooden stick from the ground. "Brother Eagle, please enlighten me." I assumed a fighting stance, waiting for the eagle to attack.

This eagle truly possessed immense strength with a single swing of its arms. I was nearly blown off balance by the gust of wind it unleashed while dodging
. I dared not confront it head-on, only leaping and shrinking back, fighting it from its side. But
the Divine Eagle was no pushover. Although it was too heavy to fly, its leaping ability far surpassed that of ordinary people. It could soar
more than , its claws like two peerless, deadly weapons reaching for me. I twisted and leaped backward again, using the "Golden Goose Returns" move to dodge its two
enormous claws. The Divine Eagle, however, was still relentless, its sharp beak snarling, determined to force me into a direct confrontation.

I cursed inwardly: "You're really trying to kill me!" With no way to dodge in mid-air, I had no choice but to raise my wooden sword to meet the Divine Eagle's
beak. "Crack!" The wooden stick couldn't withstand the force and broke in half.

The Divine Eagle stopped attacking and gestured for me to use the Xuan Tie sword. I didn't hold back. Knowing I couldn't hurt the Divine Eagle yet, I
raised my sword and attacked first. However, the Xuan Tie sword was too heavy. Even though my strength had increased significantly, my wrist strength still couldn't keep up. I couldn't use any of the moves from the Yang Family Spear and
Sword techniques, or when I thrust, the moves were all weak and powerless, easily deflected by the Divine Eagle.

"Big brother, go for it!" Guo Fu cheered me on from the side.

"Alright!" I had already fought the Divine Condor for more than ten rounds. I laughed, discarded my sword, and charged forward with my palm. "Brother Condor, take my
Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms !" I leaped high into the air and attacked the Divine Condor with seventy percent of my power in the Flying Dragon Palm. The Divine Condor raised its arm to block,
and with a "bang," I was sent flying ten feet away.

"Goodness, what strength! I'll have to go all out." I attacked again, this time I learned my lesson and immediately used the full
power of the "Regretful Dragon Palm." I didn't know Guo Jing's Ambidextrous Technique, but I had
mastered and practiced it to the point of complete control.

"Bang!" Man and Condor clashed again, this time the Divine Condor was sent flying three feet away.

"Big brother, you fought well!" Guo Fu clapped and laughed, and Third Sister beside her also smiled secretly.

"Caw caw," the Divine Condor seemed to be protesting that I couldn't use my palm and had to use my sword. I laughed, "You can peck me with your beak and claws,
can't I use a different technique?" The eagle, having no other choice, charged again. I dodged, then turned and
attacked its flank from the side with a move called "Dragon Appears in the Field." The eagle raised its beak to peck, and I quickly withdrew my hand, but it was too late to avoid it. In a moment of inspiration, I
changed my hand to a leg, executing a move called "Dragon Sweeps its Tail," my right leg whipping out like a whip, deftly deflecting the eagle's beak. "
Good grief , you're really stingy. I told you to use your beak, and you actually did. No more, no more!" I laughed and waved my hand,
indicating I wouldn't fight anymore.

The eagle cawed a few times, then jumped up and flapped its wings a couple of times, gesturing for me to follow it. I knew it wanted to drag me down the mountain torrent to
practice swordsmanship. I also wanted to witness this training method that pushed human limits, so I excitedly followed. "Fu-mei,
it looks like we'll be staying here tonight. You two should get ready and prepare some food," I said, turning around.

"Oh, big brother, where are you going?" Guo Fu asked, running over excitedly.

"Big brother isn't a god, how could I possibly guess? Don't worry, I'll tell you when we get back, okay?"
I said, patting Guo Fu's shoulder.

"Okay, be careful." Guo Fu knew the eagle wouldn't harm me, but seeing its repeated fierce attacks still made her
heart pound with fear, so she couldn't help but warn me.

"Okay, listen to me, go back quickly. Oh, and one more thing, think twice before drawing your sword in the future. Even Senior Dugu regretted it for life because he accidentally injured a righteous person; I don't want you to bear the same burden." I couldn't help but advise her
, remembering Guo Fu's impulsive temper . "Okay, Fu'er will definitely control herself more in the future and not lose her temper so easily," Guo Fu nodded in agreement. I followed the eagle south for about two miles. Fortunately, both of us were fast, and we reached the riverbank in no time. "You want me to practice my swordsmanship in the river?" I asked, surprised. Wasn't it supposed to be a flash flood? This raging river, especially during the flood season when the water level is high, stretches endlessly, with no end in sight. If I went down and couldn't get back up, I'd truly die without even knowing how.

"Quack, quack." The eagle flapped its wings, seemingly urging me to jump into the water.

I hesitated for a long time, thinking: Now I'm used to a life of luxury, I have a lover, a career, and that makes me more hesitant. Is this still
the same ruthless man, the one known as the alpha wolf? Damn it, I'll fight to the death! I'll fight you to the death. If I
back down at the first sign of trouble, I'll be a coward for life.

I untangled my inner knot, took off my long robe without hesitation, and plunged into the raging river. I had
learned the Turtle Breathing Technique long ago to have a chance to infiltrate the Tomb of the Living Dead. At this moment, I used a powerful downward pull, relying on the weight of my heavy sword
to sink to the bottom of the river in one breath. I steadied myself, feeling the buoyancy of the water and the effect of the oncoming waves on the sword. I
thrust out one sword after another, searching for the best point of contact with the water flow. Because this is the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, the raging floodwaters often
carry large amounts of mud, sand, and rocks, brushing past me. I understand the principles behind this, so I avoid many detours. When
a rock is about to hit me, I thrust it straight at it, deflecting the oncoming stone. But it's easier said than done. I held my breath
underwater for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, then felt suffocated and surfaced for air.

"Caw, croak," the eagle saw me surface and flapped its wings, signaling me to continue. I smiled wryly, thinking, "You're a really strict instructor,
even more ruthless than our previous drill sergeants." I submerged again and continued thrusting. At this moment, I gradually grasped
the true meaning of "a heavy sword has no edge, great skill has no effect." The enemy may change in a thousand ways, but I will respond to all changes with unchanging principles. In the complete Yang Family Spear manual, the move "Phoenix Nodding" requires
three spear flourishes, intended to confuse the enemy. But I think Qiu Chuji made this move too flashy. So I
modified the three spear flourishes into one feint and two real strikes, or two feints and one real strike, or even a clean and crisp three-point attack, making it
even more unpredictable for the enemy.

Wielding a heavy sword, I didn't need to
perform any flourishes; that would not only require too much wrist strength but also disperse my power. The Yang family spear fundamentals I had practiced for so many years—"point, thrust, gather, pierce, block, swing, sweep"—were much more useful. Having understood
the evolution of these seven basic techniques, I practiced my modified Yang family spear and sword techniques one by one in the water,
performing them , and my movements improved significantly. However, I still encountered the old problem: the resistance from the oncoming currents in the water was too great.
I often felt that drawing the sword was easy, but the transition to sheathing it was the most difficult part. This time, I
gritted my teeth persevered for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. When I surfaced for air, I suddenly felt darkness above my head.
With a "whoosh," I was startled and dove into the water. Damn it, you idiot, are you going to crack my skull open? Can't you let me catch my breath?

Despite my cursing, I knew I'd been slacking off; otherwise, I could have easily stayed underwater for the time it takes to drink three cups of tea. But
I was still annoyed. All that spiking and splashing was pointless. I needed to experience the difference between water and airflow on land
. In water, buoyancy makes it easier, but the resistance of the water flow is also greater than
the resistance . Thinking about water and airflow, a sudden realization dawned on me. Meditate! Carefully feel the direction of the water flow. Water has no fixed shape;
you must move with the current. But how? I held my breath underwater for the time it takes to drink three cups of tea, but couldn't figure it out.
To achieve this, I even ignored the sharp rocks hitting me until I felt dizzy and couldn't help but slowly
rise to the surface.

This time, the eagle didn't bother me; it reached out its claws and grabbed me.

I looked absolutely miserable. I was soaked to the bone, with over
a dozen cuts on my face, neck, and arms from the rocks, some so deep they were bleeding. Adding to the cuts from saving that stinky bird yesterday, I
was truly in a terrible state.

"Brother, what happened to you?" By the time the eagle carried me back to the cave, I was already fast asleep. Guo Fu, seeing
the numerous wounds on my face and body, assumed they were from the eagle and immediately yelled, "You're ungrateful! I almost
lost my life saving you, and you still torment me like this! Don't you have a conscience? I should have known better than to save you..."

"Sister Fu, don't misunderstand Brother Eagle. He was teaching me superior martial arts. I'm a bit overwhelmed, my brain's full of water...
" Damn it, I really was out of my mind! I was so exhausted I felt like my body was falling apart. It

was already dark when we entered the cave; this whole ordeal had taken almost two hours. Guo Fu sobbed as
she bandaged my wounds. Third Sister didn't say anything, but I knew she was even more distressed, unable to express it to herself. I
felt incredibly guilty towards her.

The Condor took out two snake galls and handed them to me. I whispered my thanks, swallowed the two galls, and without thinking much,
drifted off to sleep… When I woke up in the middle of the night, I found Guo Fu and Third Sister sitting on the floor beside the stone bed,
asleep . My heart ached; afraid they'd catch a chill, I quickly got up and gently carried them to bed.

“Guo’er, you're awake?” I had just put Third Sister down when the slight touch startled her, who was already a light sleeper.
Seeing it was me, she relaxed.

“You two are so silly! How could you fall asleep sitting on the floor? It's cold! What if you catch a chill?” I complained.

“There was no other way; there's only one bed,” Third Sister smiled, happier than anything else to see her man regain his spirits
. "Look at all these injuries you've gotten yourself into..." Third Sister gently stroked the scrapes on my face, her eyes brimming with tears as she sobbed.
But she knew I couldn't give up this rare opportunity, so she suppressed her grief and didn't try to persuade me to stop this grueling training.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault for making you worry. I'm fine, these are just minor scrapes, they shouldn't leave scars
," I said, holding Third Sister's hand that was stroking my face.

"Don't do that, what if Fu'er wakes up?" Third Sister said softly, worried.

"The girl is sleeping soundly, even thunder wouldn't wake her," I laughed.

"Alright, stop fooling around, do you have to practice tomorrow morning?" Third Sister asked with concern.

I smiled, "Okay, you two rest well. I just woke up and can't sleep anymore, so I'll keep watch for you. Sleep soundly."
I kissed Third Sister on the forehead.

"You should also rest a little, otherwise you won't have any energy tomorrow."

"Okay, I know what I'm doing." I took my long robe and covered Third Sister and Guo Fu with it, smiling as I spoke. "Go to sleep."

Third Sister was sleepy and soon fell asleep. I walked quietly to the cave entrance, carefully
feeling . "Birds soar in the sky, fish swim in the water, what are their characteristics? With the wind and against the wind, with the current and against the current,
the key point is that they are all broken at one point, so as to achieve the greatest kinetic energy with the least energy, which is the so-called streamlined design."
Reducing wind resistance should be the focus of Xuan Tie Sword practice. But is it really that simple? I kept swinging
the Xuan Tie Sword , slashing and thrusting. Practicing swordsmanship underwater helped me become familiar with the sword's properties, but the most important thing was to improve
my arm strength through continuous practice so that I could achieve perfect coordination between intention and form, and wield the sword freely. I discovered that the recoil force when retracting the sword in the air was many times greater than in
the water , putting a greater burden on my arms. I suddenly remembered what Guo Jing said when he taught me the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms:
"Use seven parts force, leave three parts unused; water overflows when full, and rigidity breaks when straight; a dragon soaring to the heavens will eventually regret its arrogance." "These three sentences.

I pondered for a moment and attacked again, finding that I had held back three-tenths of my strength. However, the Xuan Tie Sword wielded more smoothly in my hands,
even subtly resonating with the 'swipe' and 'sweep' techniques of the Yang Family Spear. Having grasped the essence, I continued practicing, hoping
to solidify this inspiration... The next morning, when Guo Fu and San Niang woke up, I was already being dragged
off to practice swordsmanship by the Divine Condor.

On the way, I realized I was going the wrong way; it seemed like I needed a specific spot, which would make the difficulty much lower, right? Haha, I didn't expect this silly condor
to be so considerate.

However, when I was thrown into the raging torrent of the stream, I realized I was terribly wrong. mlgbd" This silly bird thought
the riverbank was too wide, and since I was slacking off, it couldn't stop me, so it dragged me to this tributary with a faster current, which was easier for it to control.
The hydrological environment of this stream was completely different from that of the mighty Yangtze River. I used a powerful downward strike to stand firmly on a boulder at the bottom of the river,
without my head being submerged by the flood, while the flash flood, carrying even more rocks, poured down. I was unarmored at this moment, but with yesterday's
experience and a night of practice, I wasn't too panicked. I immediately used my own understanding, thrusting and parrying with ease, striking and counterattacking
with fluidity. Without the threat of being submerged, I practiced for the entire morning until the sun was high in the sky. I cleaved a
millstone-sized boulder in two with my sword, using the momentum to leap onto the bank. "Brother Eagle, let me catch my breath..." Seeing the eagle pouncing to peck at
me, I quickly raised my hands in surrender, saying, "I'm still breathing, but my stomach can't take it. Shouldn't we go back and find something to eat?" "
I was actually worried about the safety of Third Sister and Guo Fu, and I was afraid they'd get bored in the stone chamber, so I wanted to go back and check on them.

When the Divine Eagle and I returned to the cave entrance, we saw Guo Fu practicing swordsmanship with Third Sister. 'Third Sister, look! I could never coordinate my movements and swordsmanship in this move, Yue Nu
Huan Sha , but now I can actually do it!' Guo Fu clapped her hands and exclaimed happily.

'Hmm, that's really good, but Fu'er, in battle, you need to be adaptable, so you must master your swordsmanship
. That's the first step. Only when your mind and hand are in sync, and your hand and sword are in perfect harmony, can you defeat your enemy.' This was the first time Third Sister
had sparred , and she noticed that Guo Fu's swordsmanship was very methodical, like practicing a routine, so she said seriously.

'Is that so? I've never fought anyone before, and Father has never told me about this.'

'That's because your father, my Uncle Guo, is like this Xuan Tie sword—powerful and heavy. I'm always the one who takes the initiative to attack.
This is called overwhelming force with sheer strength. '" "But the Yue Maiden Sword Technique is different. It emphasizes technique; if you just rely on brute force
, you'll fall into a lower level." I said with a smile as I emerged from the woods.

"Big brother, you're back! Oh dear, why aren't you wearing a shirt!" Guo Fu threw down her wooden stick and skipped over,
wanting to take my hand, but then recoiled at my disheveled appearance.

"I was soaking in the flash flood all morning, I'm completely soaked, how could I wear an outer garment?"

Guo Fu then noticed the sand and rotten leaves stuck in my hair, and the many cuts from sharp stones on my bare upper body
. "Big brother, let's not practice anymore. Look, I just applied medicine to you last night, and now it's all..." Guo Fu,
no longer caring about propriety, stepped forward and hugged my waist.

"Big brother has grasped the knack now. If Fu'er is worried, would you like to come and watch big brother practice this afternoon?"

"Okay, okay." Guo Fu quickly agreed.

"Are you hungry?" "Come on, the food is all ready." Third Sister stood not far from the cave entrance, calling everyone to eat. "How's the training
going ?"

"Hmm, the progress is like lightning!" I laughed.

"You're really not modest. I'll go see for myself later and see how fast you're progressing." Third Sister chuckled... I
led the two women and the Divine Eagle back to the mountain stream. I wanted to show off my skills, so I used all my abilities to stir up the water, and
a whirlpool gradually formed in the water. My movements weren't fast, but each time my strength was about to wane, I mustered my strength again to support the whirlpool to continue expanding,
until the whirlpool expanded to a radius of ten feet around me, and the rocks and fallen trees could no longer get close to me.
Compared to rolling around in the mountain torrent three days ago, it was like heaven and earth.

"Great, great, Big Brother is awesome!" "Guo Fu clapped and cheered.

I was secretly delighted by my tremendous increase in arm strength, and at the same time, I thought to myself that this understanding should be no weaker than my Xuan Tie Sword Technique in
the original story , right? However, I was forced into this ravine back then, while my enemy who had severed my arm
was cheering me on from the side. What a difference in treatment! I guess I'm just lucky. I got excited, jumped ashore, put the Xuan Tie Sword
aside, and said, "Give me a wooden stick. I want to try what it's like without the Xuan Tie Sword."

"Don't be too reckless." Although Third Sister said that, she still handed me the wooden stick.

"Don't worry, I won't be reckless." I chuckled and jumped back into the ravine. The current seemed weaker than in the morning,
but still reached my chest. I thrust my sword at a sizable rock coming towards me, and with a snap,
the wooden stick in my hand broke in two.

Somewhat embarrassed, I hopped ashore and saw the eagle croaking, as if laughing at me. Guo Fu and San Niang were also biting
their lips , but the amusement in their eyes didn't escape my notice.

"Alright, laugh if you want. This is just the first experiment; it's difficult, so of course I have to be allowed to fail once or
twice." I took the other stick from Guo Fu, using it as an excuse to save face.

"Alright, we all know that, but this is the last one. If it breaks again, we won't be able to play anymore." "Third Sister said with a smile.

I jumped back into the water with a black line on my face, thinking: Seven parts solid, three parts feint, a balance of strength and gentleness. I was so carried away just now
that forgot the most crucial point. I understood the meaning of 'no edge' from the heavy sword, and this morning I also
understood the word 'skill' from the heavy sword, and through practice, I verified my idea. If the heavy sword can do it, then shouldn't the even more agile wooden sword be able
to do it even more easily? The key is to use skill to overcome clumsiness, to overcome strength with weakness, and to overcome excess with deficiency. I didn't expect that Senior Dugu's swordsmanship would also
be in harmony with the Heavenly Way of the Nine Yin Manual."

This time I was smarter. Instead of using the stick to pry the rocks open head-on, I used a more subtle approach,
gradually moving them aside and keeping myself busy. As I got used to the stick's resilience, I was delighted to discover that by channeling my inner strength
into it, even when chopping rocks head-on, I could neutralize the impact waves, preventing the stick from
breaking . The two women and the eagle on the rocks were dumbfounded, as if I were holding
a blunt weapon similar in texture to a black iron sword, not a wooden stick. Even sharp swords and steel blades would break and chip when struck like this,
let alone a wooden stick.

I laughed to the sky and leaped out of the ravine. The floodwaters had receded; without the rain, this
trip to the Sword Tomb would likely be over.

"It's so dark now. It seems we can't set off today." I realized I had been in the water for over three
hours , and night was falling.

"Big brother, you've become so strong!" Guo Fu looked at me with sparkling eyes, like little stars twinkling in them.

"Guo'er, even Third Sister has never seen such amazing swordsmanship. It seems your internal strength has improved a lot too."

"Actually, I'm still far from it. As for internal strength, it's all thanks to Brother Condor's snake gall. But the biggest gain this time is that it gave Guo'er
a new understanding of how to use internal strength." I remembered the process of striking the wooden sword, from making a sound to being silent, and then from being silent to making a sound again
. I realized that finding the resonance frequency of the wooden sword was just the beginning.

"Let's go home tomorrow. Brother Condor, will you come with us?" I asked loudly.

"Caw caw..." The Condor hesitated, neither nodding nor shaking its head.

"There's lots and lots of delicious food, and I'll find you lots and lots of female Condors to keep you company." I tempted it with food and beauty.

"Big brother, you're so naughty. You're not allowed to have designs on our Condor." Guo Fu laughed and scolded.

"Caw caw," the Condor nodded, I didn't know if it was the food that made it nod or the beauty that moved it.

"Haha..." The three of them couldn't help but laugh at its "pathetic" appearance.

That night, after Guo Fu fell asleep, San Niang and I secretly went to the river to look at the stars. "Mmm, so comfortable... If only I could
live like this forever, so carefree." I said lazily, lying on the boulder with my hands behind my head. I suddenly realized that
Xiangyang City was too oppressive for me, because I had too many missions on my shoulders. I had to live behind a mask at all times,
playing a role that everyone would be satisfied with.

"Heaven has bestowed a great responsibility upon you, you can't run away. Even Ru Yin has the awareness of following her husband wherever he goes, let alone you. If
you really didn't care about those things, I'm afraid you would be driven crazy." San Niang said softly, leaning into my arms.

"Hehe, you understand me best! There's no way around it, I'm born with a life of worrying about the country and its people. I don't know how
long , and I don't know when we can truly live this kind of leisurely and carefree life." I sighed softly, holding San Niang.

“Mmm… Husband…” Third Sister called softly.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, my darling?” I kissed Third Sister’s forehead and asked.

“My period hasn’t come yet this month. According to the calendar, it should be in the next couple of days,” Third Sister said shyly.

“So, you’re really pregnant?” I sat up abruptly and asked excitedly.

“It’s not confirmed yet, keep your voice down,” Third Sister said coquettishly.

“Crack, crack…” A sound came from the nearby woods.

“Who’s there?” My heart skipped a beat, and I turned around and shouted.

“Fu’er?” Third Sister asked worriedly, clutching my sleeve anxiously.

“No way?” My mind was in turmoil. When this young lady got angry, only I could control her, but
this time it was me who was angry… I didn’t dare delay and pulled Third Sister back. When we got back to the cave, we found Guo Fu still
lying on the stone bed. But I couldn’t be happy, because I noticed that Guo Fu’s little boots were covered in fresh mud, and her
breathing was a little rapid. Obviously, she wasn’t really asleep.

"Fu-mei, get up. I know you're not asleep." I knew the day of reckoning had finally come, but I felt
strangely calm.

Guo Fu pretended not to hear me and continued to feign sleep.

"Get up, I have something to say to you." I said, reaching out to pull Guo Fu up.

"Guo'er, don't do this." Third Sister stopped my rashness.

"I don't need you to pretend to be a good person..." Guo Fu opened her eyes and said bitterly, "I saw it, I saw everything!
You ... I... I hate you!"

"Fu-mei, listen to me. Since we've come to this point, let's sit down and talk things out openly, okay?"
I pulled Guo Fu up, and the three of us sat down at the stone table.

Guo Fu shook her hand, broke free from me, and sat down angrily, tears welling in her eyes.

I knew she was angry, so I said softly, "Listen to what your elder brother said, do you remember? Three years ago, I
was about your age. Actually, from then on, I fell in love with Third Sister... As for helping her with the drugs, it was actually a
selfish thing on my part. I hoped... I hoped she would remember me, even if it cost me her life."

Guo Fu naturally remembered my impassioned declaration that year, and from then on,
my image was etched in her heart. That's why, all these years, thinking about that incident would make her suspicious of Third Sister, and now her guess had finally been confirmed
.

"I guess, if you put yourself in my shoes, if I were the one poisoned, Fu'er would do the same to me, am I right?"
I asked softly, seeing that she was a little distracted.

"Who said I would care about you? I don't care about you..." Guo Fu spat, still angry.

"Really? I'm telling the truth, not lying, not saying anything out of anger. If you're still angry with me after I ask you three questions,
elder brother, you can do whatever you want with me." I said seriously.

“Yes, if it were you, brother, Fu’er would…”

“It’s like me three years ago. If I loved you this deeply, would you have left me?”

“I… how can this be the same? She’s Da Wu and Xiao Wu’s mother, she’s a married woman, you…” Guo Fu pointed at me
and Third Sister, unable to speak.

Third Sister’s face turned deathly pale. Yes, what right did she have to compete with her for a husband? Her son was her lover’s
junior brother . And now, she might be pregnant with my child.

“Third Sister’s relationship with Wu Santong, and how Da Wu and Xiao Wu treated her, do I need to explain? I respect and love her,
and I haven’t… It’s just that day, Wu Santong died suddenly, and Third Sister was greatly shocked, so we…”

“I was so foolish. Mother always hinted at it, but I always believed you, believed you all.” Guo Fu said with tears in her eyes.

"Since you already know, why did you keep quiet?" I asked.

Guo Fu shook her head, biting her lower lip with tears in her eyes, refusing to speak. I was helpless; this was the first time I'd encountered such a situation. I'd
said everything I needed to say, and now I could only leave the rest to fate.

"Guo'er, go out. Let me talk to Fu'er," Third Sister said to me.

I glanced at the two women, sighed, and grabbed the Xuan Tie Sword and Qing Ming Sword before leaving the cave. I didn't want Guo Fu to throw a tantrum and draw
her sword against Third Sister.

"Brother Eagle, am I a despicable person?" I saw the Divine Eagle standing outside the cave and couldn't help but pour out my
heart .

"Caw caw..." The Divine Eagle seemed not to understand what I was saying, or at least I didn't understand its answer. Alas,
even a bird with spiritual powers is still a bird. Senior Dugu was all alone, so naturally he wouldn't train it on topics related to emotions.

Watching the Divine Eagle scurry back to sleep, I leaned against the mountain wall, feeling somewhat lost and uneasy, wondering what the two women
had discussed inside the cave. The voice was too soft for me to hear, and I didn't dare to listen anyway, so I chose to escape... "Guo'er
, come in." Lost in thought, I don't know how much time had passed when Third Sister's voice came from inside the cave.

For the first time in so many years, I felt the same unease I had when I went to see the results of the college entrance exam in my past life. This feeling of unease was
something I hadn't even experienced when I took the imperial examinations.

"Alright, Fu'er has calmed down, you should comfort her," Third Sister said, pulling my hand.

I was completely bewildered, thinking, how come your words work so easily? I couldn't help but ask, "Fu'er, are you a little calmer
?"

"Hmph, only because Third Sister is so good to me, I won't acknowledge that vixen Liu," Guo Fu said angrily.

"Well... I'm sorry, I really did ruin her reputation, and I have to take responsibility. If you can't accept that, then when
I go back , I'll ask Uncle Guo to rescind the engagement and persuade me to take back my decision. As for the blame, I'll bear it all myself." I sighed inwardly, not
expecting things to escalate to such an irreconcilable point. But I couldn't just throw Ru Shi away; that would be too unkind.

"You only think about your vixen, but why don't you think about me? Besides... you've kissed her, you've hugged her, if you don't marry
her , who else can she marry? You actually said you don't want her because of her?" Guo Fu cried bitterly.

"Fu-mei, don't cry. I didn't say I don't want you. Yes, you're the wife, she's the concubine. In our family, apart from Third Sister who's your equal,
everyone else listens to you. You're the boss! Okay?" I quickly tried to persuade her.

"Get out of here! There can't be any other options! You're going to drive me crazy!" Guo Fu cried even harder.

"Yes, yes, that's all, just the three of you. Are you satisfied now?" I said with a forced smile. Third Sister, sensing that
Guo Fu had forgiven me, chuckled to herself.

"Hmph, you're the worst! You always prepared three portions of good things before, I should have realized it by now. I've been fooled by you
for so many years..." Although Guo Fu still harbored resentment, her anger had subsided, though she still pinched me twice with lingering resentment.

I thought to myself, "You were just a little girl a few years ago, and now you're only a little beauty. If it weren't for your father's eagerness to give
you to me, and your devoted love for me, I would have seriously considered whether I wanted you." However, now that the crisis was over, a weight had been lifted from my
heart .

Guo Fu, not caring that Third Sister was right, threw herself into my arms and murmured, "The Princess Consort was right. I need to make you
feel indebted to me, so that my brother will always be good to Fu'er."

I couldn't help but smile. I hadn't expected Xie Wanqin to help me so much at this crucial moment. "Alright, you've had enough fun.
Come on, lie down on the bed. We have a long journey ahead tomorrow." Without another word, I picked up Guo Fu and gently placed her on the stone bed.

"Hehe, stop fooling around..." I tried to hug Third Sister again, but she nimbly dodged me. She climbed onto the bed herself and
lay down next to Guo Fu.

"Hehe..." Since there was no need to avoid suspicion anymore, and the bed was big enough, I extinguished the candle and jumped onto the bed as well, flanking Guo Fu with Third Sister
on either side .

"Third Sister~" Guo Fu called out in the darkness.

"Hmm?"

"You two... that day... will result in a baby, right?" In the darkness, Guo Fu seemed less shy and moved closer
to .

"This... you're still young. I can only tell you in a few years, after we're married, brother. You can't know now." I had a bit of a headache. Guo Fu was still such a curious child. But this kind of sex education was still too stimulating
for a fifteen-year-old . But I never expected Guo Fu to say something even more infuriating: "People don't care, I've seen Father and Mother being intimate before ..." "Pfft..." Third Sister couldn't help but burst out laughing. I asked curiously, "Did your parents do it in front of you?" That's a really heavy taste! I never thought my mother-in-law had such a thing... "Hehe, I was just peeping. The Princess said I'm old enough to understand things." Guo Fu giggled in the darkness. I secretly cursed. Could it be that I saved Xie Wanqin, who was supposed to die, and then she came to the Guo family and turned her little fiancée into a little lecher? I can't let Fu Mei hang out with her anymore. Listening to her constantly referring to the Princess and Aunt Xie, I'm afraid that if things continue like this, in a few years my own hat won't turn green. "Third Aunt, tell Fu'er, why are you carrying a baby in your belly?" Guo Fu turned . "Hmm... you're still too young now, you can only do it when you're older..." In the darkness, Third Aunt's lips curved into a captivating shape. I never expected to arouse this young lady's "sexual interest." I'm afraid I'll have a headache for the next two years. "Hmm~ I don't want to! You guys are so annoying, you didn't tell me. Fu'er isn't a child anymore..." Guo Fu protested . "Only children throw tantrums, and you still say you're not a child." I flicked her nose and laughed. "Hmph..." Guo Fu had nothing to say and sulked. "Fu'er, let's discuss this, okay? When we get back, don't tell anyone about Guo'er and me, otherwise your brother will be disgraced, and I won't have the face to live anymore." Third Aunt solemnly instructed. "Yes, I understand. I promise I won't say a word. But what about my mother? She seems to already know, and so does the Princess Consort ..." Guo Fu sighed. "They won't say anything." I knew in my heart that Huang Rong had long suspected something, but she hadn't yet found concrete evidence;

After all, she was the daughter of the Eastern Heretic. Although she was skilled at disciplining her husband, she couldn't keep an eye on him day and night. Moreover, Guo Jing
was incredibly stupid, while she was cunning as a devil, and Fu'er was deeply in love with her. She couldn't just swallow her anger; did she want
everyone end up glaring at each other and parting on bad terms? As for Xie Wanqin, that scheming woman, if she hadn't figured things out and
deliberately tried to please me, why would she have gone through all that trouble to give little Guo Fu a puberty lesson?

Finally, the storm had passed, and I felt like all the problems were solved, which made me feel particularly relieved. In the darkness, I held Guo Fu
tightly in my arms, while my right hand wandered over the pretty girl, lingering on Third Sister's body.

Third Sister was also in a good mood and reached out to hug me, sandwiching Guo Fu between us.

Actually, this is quite nice... Guo Fu smiled and drifted off to sleep. In her hazy state, her arms tightly embraced my
neck ; such an embrace was very warm... The next day, the three of us and the eagle embarked on our journey home. Before leaving, I didn't forget to steal
a few snake gallbladders from an earthenware jar. By evening, we had returned to Hejia Village. I
threw a dead snake, about the thickness of a bowl and ten feet long, that I had previously selected from the pile of dead snakes, in front of the villagers. The entire village was overjoyed, and that night they
held a celebration for us. The eagle, however, inadvertently became the star of the gathering. The villagers surrounded it, chattering amongst themselves.
Some said it was my mount; others said it was the Great Roc King revealing its true form, coming to earth to help me subdue the demon; and some even went so far as
to say it was the reincarnation of a phoenix. However, the eagle surprisingly accepted all the villagers' toasts,
drinking , which greatly surprised Guo Fu, San Niang, and me.

That night, unable to contain my urge to drink, I waited until Guo Fu was asleep and then dragged San Niang to the riverbank for a tryst. We heard rustling in the bushes, and occasionally the cries of
eagles , leaving us quite puzzled. When we woke up in the morning,
we found two more white eagles in our party—the same two Guo Jing kept. I secretly asked Guo Fu, and learned that both eagles were female,
a pair of sisters. It seemed the old eagle, in its drunken stupor, had managed to kill two birds with one arrow… Ha! It truly makes one sigh
at the . Now, the eagles are quite impressive; their gleaming iron feathers shimmer in the sunlight,
hundreds of times better than the bald, skinless birds described in the original story. It seems Guo Jing and Huang Rong, seeing we hadn't returned for a long time and the ten-day deadline approaching, released the eagles
to deliver a message. As for whether the two eagles offered themselves willingly last night, or were forced by the eagle's drunken lewdness, that remains unknown. What
's certain is that the eagle has already taken them both; the evidence is the pile of white and yellow feathers on the ground… I mentally
berated the eagle: "I said I'd find you pretty girls, but you didn't have to rush things! Were you too thirsty in the mountains?"
But I still walked over and patted the eagle on the shoulder, saying, "Brother Eagle, brilliant! You're still got it."

After bidding farewell to the villagers, we continued our leisurely journey, enjoying the scenery. While the two women and I were deeply in love and enjoying ourselves, the three
eagles were also inseparable. Truly, he's an old demon who's lived for over a hundred years; he's got a real knack for picking up girls. I couldn't help but
marvel at the eagle's womanizing skills.

It took us two days to travel before we finally returned to Xiangyang. I first escorted Third Sister back to Chuping Street. The eldest young lady finally
met Liu Rushi. Although their first meeting was somewhat awkward, with Liu Rushi's skillful mediation and Third Sister's efforts, Guo
Fu accepted her as her sister.

Guo Fu and I didn't linger. The two eagles had already returned to the manor to report, and Guo Jing and Huang Rong were likely already waiting at the gate. I promised
the two reluctant girls I would visit them later, and Guo Fu, along with the eagles, immediately set off home.

Back at the Guo manor, Guo Jing and Huang Rong were indeed already waiting at the gate. "You brat, you silly girl, you finally know how to come back?"
Huang Rong said with a laugh. However, seeing her daughter's undisguised exhaustion, she knew she was tired from her journey and readily took her sword.

Guo Jing, on the other hand, looked at me warily, then at Guo Fu, as if afraid I had stolen my daughter's heart. I'm a bit of
a blockhead. Although I'd love for my daughter to marry me, I always felt that premarital relations were against propriety. My
apprentice, it seems, inherited this from my father; he often uses sweet words to deceive his daughter, so I'm quite uneasy.

Huang Rong pinched my arm, giving me a reassuring signal. She observed that her daughter's figure was still intact, her eyebrows and feet still closed, indicating that she
was still a virgin, and signaled to her that her brother Jing shouldn't worry.

I watched them exchanging knowing glances and speaking in riddles, and in my mind, I couldn't help but scrutinize them both. I'm a man of integrity and uprightness; how could I
lay a hand on a fifteen-year-old girl? You two beasts… But despite my inner curses, I still
recounted everything that had happened in the past ten days. Of course, I couldn't talk about my romantic entanglements with Third Sister and Guo Fu. Apart from that,
I vividly described rescuing the Divine Condor, the snake gall increasing my power, discovering the Sword Tomb, finding the sword manual, and even practicing swordsmanship during the flood.

"Nonsense! How can human strength contend with the power of nature? If it weren't for the fact that your master and I have been busy recruiting soldiers these past few days
and couldn't get away, we would have dragged you all back and given you a good scolding." Guo Jing
slammed his fist on the table and shouted when he heard me practicing swordsmanship in the Yangtze River and mountain torrents.

I was unconvinced, but I knew that Guo Jing was only trying to help me, so I couldn't really get angry with him. I
turned my head away and avoided eye contact.

Huang Rong smiled as she watched Guo Jing fuming and shook her head, saying, "Talk is cheap. Why don't you spar with your
Uncle and let us see just how high the Sword Demon's skills really are? Speaking of which, Brother Jing, perhaps you haven't met
a good opponent in many years..."

Before Huang Rong could finish speaking, the Divine Condor standing to the side objected, barking arrogantly at me twice, as if telling me
to teach someone who dared to disrespect the Sword Demon a lesson.

I followed Guo Jing to the front yard with a grin, placed the Xuan Tie Sword against the weapon rack, and casually picked up a wooden sword. Guo Jing gestured for me
to attack first. Knowing that Guo Jing's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms had reached perfection, I didn't hesitate
to

thrust my sword forward, immediately using the Yang Family Spear and Sword Technique's Jade Phoenix Three Nods, delivering three consecutive strikes to Guo Jing's three vital points on the chest. Guo Jing used five-tenths of his power in his left hand to strike the wooden sword with a "Regretful
Dragon " move, fully expecting to shatter it with a single blow. However, I was prepared. With a flick of my wrist, I neutralized

the force of the palm strike and followed up with a sweeping attack, swinging the wooden sword towards Guo Jing's waist. Guo Jing shouted, "Good!" I couldn't tell if he was praising the cleverness of my flick of the sword that had broken my force or
the ingenuity of my change of move to evade the enemy. Guo Jing was, after all, a master. Although my reaction was somewhat slow, my body possessed a beast-like
sense of touch. Before my move was fully executed, I used the Big Dipper footwork, turning around and unleashing a "Dragon Tail Sweep."

With a smile, I used the back of my sword to deflect Guo Jing's shoe, deftly dodging his powerful kick.

Huang Rong, watching from the sidelines, let out a surprised exclamation, seemingly noticing a striking
resemblance . Guo Fu, meanwhile, clapped and cheered.

Guo Jing, still smiling, was now taking things seriously, seeing his disciple as a worthy opponent.
I drew a circle with my left hand, unleashing the "Regretful Dragon" move, while my right hand used the "Empty House" move from the Empty Fist.

"Crack!" My wooden sword finally succumbed to the combined attack of hard and soft techniques, breaking in two. I knew this was because
my internal energy hadn't yet reached a level of effortless mastery. I clasped my hands in a salute, acknowledging my understanding.

"Hmm, Guo'er, your understanding of internal energy is truly remarkable, forcing me to use my ambidextrous fighting technique. I am
very pleased," Guo Jing said, patting my shoulder.

"Big Brother hasn't even used the Xuan Tie Sword yet, otherwise Father, you wouldn't have won so easily," Guo Fu protested on my behalf. "

Sigh, my daughter is so outgoing, she even encourages outsiders to beat her own father," Huang Rong sighed. But thinking back, she realized she had made her brother Jing do something similar
when , and she couldn't help but smile.

"Oh? So Guo'er has other moves? Uncle Guo is quite curious, let's practice some more." Guo Jing's
interest was piqued. His disciple had improved so much in just five days of practice, and I couldn't help but eagerly challenge him.

"Uncle Guo, this Xuan Tie sword may look like a piece of stubborn iron, but it's actually incredibly sharp. I'm afraid I might accidentally break it." I drew
the Xuan Tie sword and gently swung it at the stone lock, which silently split in two. Guo Jing and Huang Rong were astonished.

Guo Jing took the Xuan Tie sword and examined it closely: "This sword is so heavy! It truly belongs to a master. The power of a single strike is astounding."
Guo Jing couldn't help but admit he had misjudged it. "Mother, this 'Qing Ming' sword is also the treasure of the great swordsman Dugu. It was a gift from my elder brother." Guo Fu presented the Qing Ming sword to her mother

like a precious treasure . Huang Rong smiled as she took the sword, about to examine it closely, when she heard several "whoosh" sounds beside her ear and immediately became alert. The hidden weapons were aimed directly at Guo Jing, who raised his Xuan Tie sword to block them. However, three more hidden weapons pierced the air, targeting my Fengfu, Shentang, and Qimen acupoints. Their accuracy in identifying acupoints was at the level of a top-tier master. Guo Jing wasn't skilled in swordsmanship; after only five moves, a hidden weapon struck his wrist, and the Xuan Tie sword fell from his hand to the ground. "Brother Jing, are you alright?" Huang Rong noticed a pebble on the ground and excitedly exclaimed, "Father, is that you?" " Whoosh!" Huang Yaoshi not only didn't appear but continued his attack. I rolled on the ground, grabbed my Xuan Tie sword , and easily deflected the pebble attack. Then, another series of whoosh sounds rang out in the air; this time, five more came in quick succession. I used a move like a sealing barrier to block the first three, then swept my sword horizontally, deflecting two pebbles heading towards my waist. "Swoosh swoosh swoosh..." Before I could even feel smug, seven more pebbles appeared in the air, this time attacking me indiscriminately . Damn it, this is unfair! Just now it was one or two, and now it's seven at once... I unleashed seven sword strikes in quick succession, the Xuan Tie sword's aura shattering all the pebbles. "Whoosh..." Another pebble hurtled through the air, but the sound was a deafening whoosh. "Guo'er, dodge quickly! You can't handle this!" Huang Rong knew her father was truly enraged and wouldn't show mercy, fearing I 'd be injured. I seized the opportunity, and in a split second, lightly tapped the pebble with the back of my sword. The pebble was deflected to the ground and, with a hiss , burrowed into the soil. Holy crap, is Huang Yaoshi trying to kill me? Truly, this is incredibly strange. "Whoosh, whoosh..." The Finger Flicking Divine Skill was no joke. Though I couldn't see him, Huang Yaoshi flicked three times in quick succession, and in an instant, three deadly streaks of blue light flashed before my eyes. "Clang!" I deflected two pebbles, but they were too fast; I couldn't deflect the third and could only raise my sword to block. However, the pebbles exploded like miniature bombs, the fragments tearing my clothes in several places like stray bullets. I was slightly angry, thinking, "You've gone too far!" and shouted, "An eye for an eye! Take this!" "Guo'er, don't!" "Don't be so presumptuous!" Huang Rong and Guo Jing shouted together to stop me. But I didn't hesitate; with a move called "Flying Dragon from Beyond the Heavens," I hurled my sword. The black iron sword streaked across the sky like a meteor. With a "boom," the Guo family's courtyard wall collapsed, and two figures leaped out from the ruins. "Haha... That was exhilarating! Are you me?" The newcomer, wielding the black iron sword, landed before them. "Indeed, young man. Are you Island Master Huang?" I asked, neither humble nor arrogant. I carefully examined the newcomer. He wore a flowing blue robe, his face elegant and serene, yet his brows held an air of unyielding pride . Though his hair and beard were white, it only accentuated his otherworldly air, making him seem like a celestial being from a painting. Behind me followed an ugly woman with a deathly face. No need to guess, it was undoubtedly Lu Wushuang in a mask. "Guo'er, don't be foolish! This is your grandmaster, quickly pay your respects. Father-in-law..." Guo Jing shouted. Huang Yaoshi waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities. This child is quite interesting. He actually withstood my full-power Finger Flicking Divine Skill and even dared to draw his knife against me. He's far more capable than you, his master." I've never thought much of this son-in-law. He deliberately embarrassed me just now to torment me and vent his anger at not being able to return home for over a decade. These words made Guo Jing look rather awkward, and he sheepishly retreated to the side. "Father!" Although she missed her father dearly, Huang Rong scolded him angrily . "Guo'er is also my disciple, so don't make things difficult for Jing-ge." Huang Yaoshi waved his hand, signaling me to stop being coquettish, and continued to scrutinize me with interest. "Disciple greets Grandmaster." I knelt down respectfully and bowed deeply. "Sigh, even a blockhead can produce a block of wood, wasting such a fine gem." Huang Yaoshi was cynical and never cared about etiquette, so he didn't mind when I used a knife against him. But when I knelt down and kowtowed to him, he scolded me for having weak knees, and also complained that his daughter had become too pedantic over the years. "I respect Grandmaster not because of your high status or age. It is because I respect your unparalleled martial arts and profound knowledge, and thus I cannot help but feel a sense of admiration. Therefore, you truly deserve this humble kneeling." I flattered him loudly. "Oh? What brings you to this? Stand up and speak." Huang Yaoshi smiled, accepting the flattery, but asked with interest. I stood up with a grin and said, "Grandmaster's martial arts prowess goes without saying; everyone in the martial world admires him. But you are also well-versed in astrology, astronomy, divination, the Five Elements, numerology, and all schools of thought. Even Zhuge Liang, the Marquis of Wu, lacked your courage, and Guan Yu, the God of War, lacked your..."

"Your wisdom is truly remarkable. I, a mere youth, have no chance to meet two sages, yet I am able to pay homage to such extraordinary figures. How could I not be overjoyed?" I myself never expected
to utter such disgusting words, yet they flowed so naturally and effortlessly, without the slightest hint of affectation. Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and
Guo Fu could hardly believe that this glib-tongued brat was the same composed and calm person who never stooped to currying favor with the powerful. Even
Lu Wushuang stared wide-eyed, smiling behind her mask as she watched my performance.

"Haha, how could I, an old man, compare to sages? The rumors circulating in the martial world are merely exaggerations." Huang Yaoshi's smile deepened. He was
cynical, but that didn't mean he disliked flattery, especially since most of what I said was true. His
title was renowned throughout the martial world, but it was also associated with a fearsome reputation. People avoided him like the plague; who would dare to be so
reckless as to flatter him? Perhaps a very few were bold enough, but Huang Yaoshi would have considered them malicious and killed or crippled them with a single blow
. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so bored as to take Lu Wushuang as his last disciple. And to flatter Huang Yaoshi to the point of feeling so elated, I'm afraid I'm the only one in the world who can make him feel so
flattered .

"I have read your commentaries and annotations, and I know that you are not truly indifferent to etiquette,
but rather indignant at the modern people's misinterpretation of the true meaning of etiquette. In my opinion, in ancient times, the world was governed by the Way; during the time of the Three Sovereigns, the world was governed by
virtue; and during the Xia and Shang dynasties, the world was governed by benevolence and righteousness." The Eastern and Western Zhou dynasties governed the country through rites, while subsequent dynasties gradually evolved to
govern through law. The Great Way was lost, the people were lowly while the ruler was noble, and the principles of morality were no longer followed…” I launched into a long, spittle-flecked
citation of Dr. Yi Zhongtian’s theories on morality, benevolence, righteousness, rites, law, and military strategy, completely captivating Huang Yaoshi and his wife. Guo Jing, however, sat dumbfounded to the side
. His six masters were mostly from humble backgrounds, so he hadn’t received much formal education from a young age; later, he had a beggar master who naturally
didn’t teach him to read or write. Although he learned some things from Huang Rong, his ramblings about the Heavenly Way, Earthly Way, Human Way, and Ghostly Way
had completely swayed him.

“I never expected you to have such understanding at such a young age. My mantle has a worthy successor.” "Huang Yaoshi always regretted that his
knowledge couldn't be passed down to the world. His disciples were either dead or scattered, but his youngest disciple was
talented in martial arts, diligent, and single-mindedly devoted to avenging his family, but he didn't dabble in anything else. I just happen to like his temperament, and I'm
quite interested in this kid.

My flattery of Huang Yaoshi is also for my own important matter: making glass. Damn it, not making 'glass,'
but trying to find out if Huang Yaoshi knows anything about glassmaking techniques." The two of them went off to chat, leaving everyone in the room dumbfounded.

"Junior sister, please excuse your antics. Let them be. I'll settle you in first, then we'll talk," Huang Rong
said, pulling Wushuang's hand.

"Thank you, senior sister," Lu Wushuang nodded slightly and followed Huang Rong into the inner hall.

"Father, why is this Miss Lu so mysterious? Has Grandpa made her a little silly?" "Guo Fu followed behind her father,
chuckling.

"Don't gossip behind your elders' backs. Also, you should call her 'Master Aunt,' not 'Miss Lu.' No respect for elders!" Guo Jing scolded.

"I won't call her that. She's a year younger than me." Guo Fu made a face and ran away.

"Hey... someone, go and build the wall." Guo Jing sat helplessly in the hall and ordered his servants.

Chapter 48 Sister Fu, this time it really wasn't my fault.

I got some good news from Huang Yaoshi. He really knows how to make glass. I couldn't wait to start
production and realize my plan to get rich, but then I remembered the scroll I had in my pocket. "Master, I have
something good here. I think you'll be interested."

"You little rascal, what are you hiding? Let me see it." Huang Yaoshi saw my mysterious smile and his curiosity was piqued
. He asked.

"This treasure is practically made for you." "If you study the sword techniques in this manual, even if Chongyang Zhenren
were alive , he wouldn't be your match." I smiled and handed him the manual of the Dugu Nine Swords.

"Then this old man will have to study it a bit..." Huang Yaoshi calmly accepted the manual with a smile, but soon his smile
froze, and his expression became increasingly serious. "Gui Mei moves towards Wu Wang, Wu Wang moves towards Tong Ren, Tong Ren moves towards Da You. Jia turns to Bing, Bing turns to Geng,
Geng turns to Gui..." He was an expert in the I Ching, so he naturally had a deep understanding of the sixty-four hexagrams and their positions. A three-dimensional image immediately appeared in his mind, and he
began deduce them.

At first, I smiled as I watched Huang Yaoshi chanting, but the more I watched, the more something seemed wrong. The old man had already taken out his jade flute and
was practicing the scroll with great absorption. "Master, come and see! Grandmaster is acting strangely..." I called
Huang Yaoshi didn't respond. I was so scared that I rushed to find Huang Rong. If anything happened to the old man, I couldn't bear the consequences.

"Father, what's wrong?" Upon hearing the news, Huang Rong was terrified and rushed over with Wushuang. Seeing Huang Yaoshi still intently wielding
his jade flute and chanting incantations, she was almost in tears. "What did you say to my father? How did it turn out like this?"

"I found Senior Dugu's sword manual. Seeing that it contained divination positions, I wanted my master to explain it to me, and that's
how this happened," I said, spreading my hands to show my innocence.

"Rong'er, your father is fine. Boy, where did you get this sword manual?" Huang Yaoshi asked with a smile.

"This is the sword technique of the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai, discovered a hundred years ago along with the Xuan Tie Sword," I quickly replied. "

It was him? What a Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai! What a Dugu Nine Swords! Hahaha… It's a pity Wang Chongyang is dead, and the Old
Urchin is nowhere to be found, otherwise, I would really want to test my sword against him," Huang Yaoshi laughed.

"Father, is this sword technique really that amazing?" "Huang Rong asked in surprise.

"Is that really so? This swordsmanship is exquisite. Senior Dugu has summarized, categorized, and concluded all the laws of human movement,
and recorded the methods to break them one by one. Therefore, no matter how you make a move, there is a pattern to follow in his eyes, so he can anticipate the enemy's moves and
be invincible. The Nine Yin Manual is a collection of Taoist scriptures, but the Dugu Nine Swords have even more methods to break through qi. The Great
Vajra Fist and the Nine Yin Divine Claw are even less significant." Huang Yaoshi laughed heartily. He had two regrets and
two . The two regrets were obvious: the loss of his wife at a young age and his daughter's marriage. The two heartaches were: the Nine Yin Manual
and his defeat by Zhou Botong. Therefore, even though his daughter had learned the Nine Yin Manual, he disdained to inquire about it, spending the past ten years exploring the path of
martial arts in solitude. He never expected that I would open a path to enlightenment for him today.

Huang Rong also felt very guilty. She knew her father was extremely proud; even if she offered it to him, he wouldn't learn the Nine Yin Manual.
The true scripture. So he could only watch helplessly as he gradually fell behind Zhou Botong, Ouyang Feng, and even Qigong and Master Yideng, causing his
personality to become increasingly withdrawn. Now, seeing her father so happy, she couldn't help but feel secretly grateful to me. "Guo'er, thank you." Huang Rong
hugged me tightly, tears

streaming down her face, and thanked me softly. I was overjoyed. This was the first time Huang Rong and I had been intimate. I felt my lower body getting hard,
so I quickly and gently pushed Huang Rong away, saying, "Hehe, Master, it was just a coincidence. I thought this technique
was most suitable for Master, and I was going to ask her to teach me. How about this, Master, you stay here. With a grandmaster like you teaching
everyone, the effect will surely be better."

Huang Rong instantly understood my idea and gratefully squeezed my hand.

"Alright, I'll do it for your sake, kid. Wushuang, you're going to suffer this time. Master told you to read more books, but
now you're not included in the peerless sword technique." Huang Yaoshi said to Lu Wushuang.

"Yes, Master, I know I was wrong." Lu Wushuang bowed slightly, but there was little regret in her words.

"I just advised you to read more books. It's not too late to start now..." Huang Laoxie really
didn't know what to do with his little disciple.

"Yes, Master." Wushuang replied calmly.

"Sister Wushuang, do you still remember me? The one who fought Li Mochou with you back then. I remember you used to cry
and . How come you've become a little blockhead now?" I walked closer and teased.

"Of course I remember you..." Unexpectedly, Wushuang made such a confession. "You're the one who called that
female demon 'Great Beauty.' It's strange why she didn't kill you back then." One sentence almost made me faint with anger. "Master,
if you have nothing else, I'm going to practice my skills."

"Hmm, go ahead." Huang Laoxie waved his hand, indicating that she could do as she pleased.

"Father, what's wrong with this junior sister..." Huang Rong was seeing Lu Wushuang for the first time. She had only heard snippets of conversation from
Ke Zhen'e and his daughter about this unseen junior sister, but she hadn't expected her to have such a strange temper.

"Alas, the family suffered a great misfortune, a rather pitiful child. Father doesn't know how to take care of people, which has led to her developing such an aloof personality
. Guo'er, spend more time with her when you have time." Originally, Huang Yaoshi still harbored some resentment towards me for being Yang Kang's son, but now it seemed his
daughter had forgiven me, so her attitude towards me had improved considerably.

Huh? Ordered to woo a girl? I turned to look at Huang Rong, waiting for her instructions.

Huang Rong blushed, thinking, "Why are you so guilty? It's not like I'm asking you to marry her." "Just do as Grandmaster

says." "Okay," I replied. "I also want to go check on the camp. I wonder if these guys have been
slacking off ?"

"Don't worry, Chen Zhenyuan sends me the training records every day," Huang Rong smiled.

I didn't want to disturb the father and daughter's bonding time, so I took Guo Fu and the Condor out. Seriously? Me, facing that
deadpan face? I haven't even tried to win over a top-tier ice queen like Little Dragon Girl yet, and this guy's face is as black as a coal mine. I'll leave
that to other sacrifices; I already have plenty of women.

"The company commander's back!" Just in time for the afternoon tactical break, a cadet saw me and excitedly
called out.

"What's up? Is there something shady going on inside?" I noticed his strange smile and couldn't help but
tease him.

"Company commander, you're joking. Of course not," the cadet said sheepishly, running off.

"Company commander, you're back," Chen Zhenyuan said, coming out.

"Yes, I heard from my master that you've been training well lately?"

"You flatter me, sir!" Chen Zhenyuan replied calmly, his words already displaying the composure of a general.

"Alright, I've brought in a strict coach today. You all line up and take it down within the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, or the canteen won't
be open , and the training load will double starting tomorrow." I smiled slyly and turned to instruct, "Brother Eagle, if you win, I'll give you an extra dish
—how about a roast pig?"

The Divine Eagle glanced at me, patted its chest, and guaranteed, "Just watch it." The Divine Eagle soared into the air, its iron wings flapping, and a section of the camp's wall
collapsed with a crash.

"Let us fight this monster? Can we even do it? Look how high it jumps!" The team members muttered, lacking any confidence.

"Form ranks!" Chen Zhenyuan waved his command flag, and the team members immediately split into four groups, rushing towards the Divine Eagle.

"Hmm, the assembly speed is not bad, and the combined attack is starting to look promising. Wu Qing is indeed ruthless, and Fang Hua
is not bad either... Sister Fu, look, Da Wu and Xiao Wu are over there." I pointed out the team members' strengths and weaknesses to Chen Zhenyuan and strategist He Qingshan
while chatting with Guo Fu.

"Yeah, I see. They've improved a lot, and they seem to have grown taller recently," Guo Fu said with a smile, leaning against me.

"Yeah, that's all thanks to me training them." Before leaving, I
tossed a booklet I had compiled based on the training manual from my previous life to Chen Zhenyuan. It seemed he was following through quite well.

Without any suspense, the Divine Eagle won decisively. All fifty team members were like bulls, lying on the ground, groaning
and

unable to get up. "Company Commander, where did you find this strange bird? There's no way you can beat it." "Yeah, boss, you're
asking ."

"Hehe, in a head-on fight, I'm no match for it either. Use your brains more in future battles. I only told you to find a way to take
it down, not to defeat it. A bunch of idiots. We agreed the mess hall won't be serving food tonight." I announced with a sly grin.

"No! Company Commander! You said you can't beat it, let alone us!" The team members lying on the ground
wailed .

"However, seeing how hard you train, I'll treat you all to Lao Sanwei tonight, it's on me."

"Long live the company commander!"

"Alright, everyone get ready, we'll assemble at 5 PM." I gave the order.

"Yes, sir!"

"Da Wu, Xiao Wu, have a drink with the brothers tonight and then come back with me. Master Huang is here, and Uncle Guo wants you to pay your
respects ." I instructed them separately.

Da Wu and Xiao Wu nodded, indicating they understood, and walked away without saying much.

"Have the armor all arrived?" I asked He Qingshan, turning back.

"Yes, two hundred sets of equipment have been fully equipped."

"Good. I've already explained how to use the equipment. Starting tomorrow, take out fifty sets specifically for
training. You're in charge of the daily inventory check."

"Yes, sir." He Qingshan was in charge of the accounts, and he handled all the equipment. After I gave the instructions, he turned around and went to investigate.

"Very good, Old Chen. Tomorrow at the beginning of Mao hour (5-7 AM), take the team to the west gate of the city. I will meet you there with Da Wu and Xiao Wu
to complete the adaptive wilderness survival training."

"Yes." Chen Zhenyuan finished reporting, but remained standing still, seemingly hesitant to say something more.

"Is there anything else?" I noticed his unnatural expression and knew he had something else to say.

"Well... I shouldn't have said anything, but Da Wu and Xiao Wu have been going out drinking a lot these days, and when they come back to camp, they act crazy and
say particularly offensive things..." Chen Zhenyuan looked outside to make sure no one was watching, then lowered his voice.

I suppressed my anger and asked, "What did they say?"

"Well... damn it... those two little bastards were talking about you and the young lady, and about the gang leader... and their mothers...
I've never seen such cowardly sons of bitches, but it's not easy to ask the gang leader to decide this..." Chen Zhenyuan said hesitantly.

"Alright, I've basically guessed it." I nodded and realized why my
men were smiling so strangely when I first came in. Judging from Chen Zhenyuan's strange expression, they were probably making fun of Guo Fu, San Niang, and even Huang Rong. Could it be
that these two bastards noticed that I was with San Niang? On second thought, it probably wasn't. It was just that these two grandsons were having
a good time, and they liked to talk nonsense when they were drunk. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dragged Huang Rong into it.

Seeing my usually impassive face turn from black to green, Chen Zhenyuan knew I was truly enraged this time. He
said , "Company Commander, you know most of us brothers are from beggar backgrounds. A few of them like to drink and cause trouble around Da Wu and Xiao Wu. I
issued a gag order the next day and gave those lads twenty lashes. However, I seem to still vaguely hear them talking about
it . If you leave Xiangyang now, I'm worried it will reach the ears of the gang leader and Master Guo sooner or later..."

"Alright, you did the right thing. Don't worry about Da Wu and Xiao Wu's matter. I'll have a good talk with them." I
said to Chen Zhenyuan with a gloomy face. After

instructing Chen Zhenyuan to keep quiet, I went out and pulled Guo Fu towards Chuping Street.

"Young Master, you're back. Hello, Young Madam..." Liu Rushi greeted Guo Fu timidly and respectfully.

"Pfft, Sister Liu, there's no need to be so polite. We're not strangers anymore. Just call me Fu'er..." Guo Fu
was still shy and found it awkward to be called Young Madam. Besides, one can't hit a smiling face, and she really couldn't
put on a stern face and act tough with her.

"This... isn't quite right." Liu Rushi glanced at me.

"Ahem, to outsiders, Fu'er is my betrothed wife... but at home, we're all equals, regardless of seniority."
I hugged one of them and said.

"Dream on, we're all senior, you're the youngest." Guo Fu was still angry and pinched me hard.

"Hehe... I'll still call you Sister Fu'er." Liu Rushi was the most tactful, and with just a few words, she made Guo Fu open her heart and treat
her as one of her own.

"Alright, alright, listen to your wife, go with... go with the official... is that alright?" I let her do whatever she wanted, relying on my thick skin,
and still had to put on a smiling face to comfort her.

"Are you staying for dinner tonight?" Third Sister asked.

"No, Island Master Huang, who is Fu'er's maternal grandfather, is here, and we're going to have a small gathering with the brothers in the camp, so we
can't join you, Rushi." I said apologetically.

"Hmm, it's alright, I'm fine with Sister Yin by my side." Thinking about her current clandestine status, Liu Rushi's expression
dimmed slightly.

"Actually, it's easy. We can go back together and just say I invited Sister Liu, that's all." Guo Fu
said with a smile.

"Is that alright?" Liu Rushi asked timidly, glancing at me furtively.

"Hmph, you dare to do it but not admit it, since it's already..." Guo Fu gave me a look of utter disdain.

"Sister, how about we skip today? It's not appropriate for me to attend your family banquet..." Liu Rushi, sensing my hesitation,
said obediently.

"Fu'er, I just remembered, there's something I haven't told you yet." I suddenly said.

"You're hiding something from me?" Guo Fu said unhappily.

"It's nothing major, I'm thinking of going to the capital in two or three months to prepare for the imperial examinations, and also to make some connections with knowledgeable people, so I want to go
a year early. So I was thinking of us going together, nominally just the two of us, with a few servants and maids,
but actually, it'll be all of us..." I said, drawing a circle around the group.

"So you didn't know, you were planning to keep it from me until we got to the capital, right?" Guo Fu asked.

"Hmm..."

"Then let's go. I find Xiangyang too stifling." Guo Fu smiled and said. "Just for this? So
you don't want Ru Shi to come home with you?"

"What do you think?"

"Mother asked me today, and I told her that Third Sister accompanied us into the mountains. If she doesn't come back with us, it will only make Mother
suspicious. It's better if we all go back together. Once we get to know each other better, Father and Mother won't object anymore. What do you think, Brother?"
Guo Fu pulled me and asked.

"It feels like I've given myself away." I said awkwardly, touching my nose, but actually I couldn't figure out
what Guo Fu was thinking. "But what Fu'er said makes sense. Let's go together then."

I led the three women back to the Guo residence. Guo Jing was out, and Huang Yaoshi and his daughter were studying the sword manual. Perhaps Huang Yaoshi felt
he had neglected his daughter for over a decade and wanted to take this opportunity to mend their relationship. Huang Rong shared the same mindset, so one
taught diligently, and the other learned earnestly.

Guo Fu also clamored to learn, dragging San Niang along to attend the lessons. Liu Rushi and Xie Wanqin were old friends, so Liu Rushi was taken
to pay respects to the Princess Consort, leaving me to guard the icy Lu Wushuang. "Why don't you go listen?" I
asked, seeing Lu Wushuang sitting bored on the steps.

"I don't understand," Wushuang replied. "And you?"

"Me neither," I laughed.

"Liar, a top scholar who doesn't understand the Book of Changes?" Wushuang suddenly said.

"Looks like you're paying attention to me quite a bit," I said, showing my two front teeth.

"You—I haven't been paying attention to you. It's just that Master often praises you for being smart, so I've heard it so many times that I know it too," Wushuang rarely
spoke so much at once.

"Sister Wushuang, aren't you hot wearing that mask?" I teased.

"Who's your sister? By seniority, I'm your aunt. By the way, did you really see Senior Brother Feng? My master actually came to Xiangyang
for that reason ."

"Yes, too bad I have to leave again." I clearly saw the smile in Wu's eyes, thinking that she wasn't truly cold after all…
…Speaking of Feng Mofeng, I couldn't help but think of Lu Wushuang's injured right leg. "Little sister, is your leg healed?" I
smiled , and suddenly the image of that slightly dark-skinned girl from three years ago became vivid in my mind

. "Yes, Master set my bones again and taught me the Whirlwind Sweeping Leaves Leg technique. It's fine now." Lu Wushuang seemed to
see through my eyes the lazy boy who used to call her "little wife." Her face under the mask flushed slightly, and she turned her head,
saying, "You should learn that sword technique. Master says it's the most outstanding sword technique in the martial arts world for hundreds of years."

"No need, my swordsmanship is pretty good now," I said with a smile.

"Shameless…"

"Hehe, what skills have you learned from your grandmaster?" I asked.

"I'm mediocre. In the past three years, I've only learned the Jade Flute Sword Technique and the Falling Flower Divine Sword Palm from Master. I don't know when I
'll be able to kill that female demon Li Mochou and avenge my parents," Lu Wushuang said bitterly.

"That day will come eventually. By the way, any news about your cousin?" I suddenly remembered that gentle, kind
, and tender girl.

"What? You miss her?" Lu Wushuang teased.

"Yeah, since you're my... good friends." I suddenly remembered that I had promised Guo Fu I wouldn't be so flirtatious, so
I changed my mind.

"Good friends?" Lu Wushuang stood up and said, "I should go back to my room to practice. Excuse me."

"Okay, let's talk again." I stood up and dusted myself off.

"I went to see my cousin, and she misses you a lot..." Lu Wushuang left with a cryptic remark.

"Also? Could it be that this girl also..." I chuckled mischievously to myself. Guo Fu, this time it really wasn't my fault.

Chapter 49 Glass, glass, you are so beautiful;
Lin'an, Lin'an, I will go eventually.

"Guo'er, what are you doing here?" Just as I was about to leave, my master came out, preparing to cook some of her
father's favorite dishes. She saw me squatting there alone, grinning lewdly.

"Ah? It's nothing. I just talked to Miss Lu about things that have happened over the years." I clapped my hands and said. Hearing that Master was going to
cook herself, I volunteered to help.

"Hmph, you child, you're good at everything, except for..." She poked my head hard with her finger. "Don't think
I don't know about your affair with Third Sister... and that Liu Rushi, you even dared to bring her home..."

After being poked by Master several times, I quickly begged for mercy: "Master, since you already know, I can't hide it from you anymore, but
I really don't know what to do..."

"Alas, since ancient times, love has only brought regret. You just haven't learned your Uncle Guo's devotion, just like your father... Alas,
who told Fu'er to be so devoted to you, this silly child... You mustn't bully her." Huang Rong wanted to poke me hard with her orchid-like acupuncture point
technique.

"Don't worry, Fu'er and I grew up together, I will never let her
down. I also promise that I will never be promiscuous again, and there will be no next time."

"I hope you will keep your word. Alas, if you're not going to turn back, why not forget? Since we are not destined to be together, why make vows? Today's events are
like water without a trace. Tomorrow, we will be strangers. I'm afraid that even if you, the great talent Yang, want to be heartless, many women will still pursue you relentlessly."
Huang Rong sighed.

"Hmm? How do you know this poem?" I suddenly remembered that this was the sentence I replied to Xie Wanqin that day.
How did my mother-in-law know it?

"I'm afraid this little poem has already spread to Lin'an. It's a bit like a line from the Book of Songs. When did you write it?"
Huang Rong asked with a smile.

"Hmm... I just happened to find it, I just happened to find it..." I wasn't lying. I did remember it while playing a game.

"By the way, my father asked me to give it to you." Huang Rong took out a piece of paper from her sleeve.

I took a look: Quartz, borax, baking soda, sodium sulfate, lime, bauxite, and their proportions, how to heat
and fire them , and even the techniques for sealing and demolding were all listed in detail. "Excellent! This is the method for making glass bottles."
With this, our high-end perfume profits could increase by at least four hundred strings of cash.

"That's wonderful! Will it really be that much?" Huang Rong was overjoyed. If so, selling one bottle of perfume would
be enough to equip two infantrymen, four archers, or one cavalryman.

"Hmm, maybe I overestimated a little, but increasing profits by two hundred strings of cash is definitely more than enough," I
said excitedly.

"That's still a lot, Guo'er. What's going on in your little head? You're truly our lucky charm
..." Huang Rong laughed.

"Actually, these are just some ideas. Aren't you handling all the specific preparations and production? It's just that these formulas are too confidential
, so I had to trouble you to manage them," I said somewhat apologetically.

Huang Rong sighed softly, "Master has become accustomed to managing things these past years, having poured so much effort into this place. When she wanted to turn back
, she found herself unable to extricate herself. Perhaps initially only your Uncle Guo was stubborn enough to want to remain in Xiangyang, but
in recent years, Master has gradually come to regard this place as home… However, as your mother, I don't want you and Fu'er to be confined to this
sorrowful city . If you can fly high, then fly high. Do you understand what Master means?"

"Yes, actually, I've also been thinking of going to Lin'an in a few days. Perhaps I can meet some insightful people and loyal ministers in the court.
I wonder…" I said.

"When?"

"Half a year, perhaps…"

"With everyone?" Huang Rong smiled.

"Yes…" I knew who "everyone" referred to, and nodded in response. "Yes

…" Huang Rong didn't speak again, only lowered her head in response, and continued chopping vegetables. "

Yes," what did that mean? Did it mean she agreed? Or did it mean she understood? Or perhaps, she understood the meaning behind my words? But
Huang Rong didn't speak further, so I didn't press her further.

"Guo'er, thank you for everything you've done for your master," Huang Rong suddenly said.

"It's nothing, it's what I should do."

"I was talking about that sword technique. You know your master doesn't have much patience for martial arts, but this sword technique seems tailor-made for me.
Perhaps by the time you return from Lin'an, your Uncle Guo will no longer be a match for me." Huang Rong smiled brightly, full of
confidence .

"Actually, I learned from merchants in the Western Regions that the Mongol western front has slowed down, and their Great Khan ?gedei is
already old and frail. Yelü Chucai has been suppressed to the point of near collapse by the military faction, while the Empress's conservative faction is unwilling to relinquish power
. The internal strife within the Mongol Golden Horde will inevitably intensify. Therefore, to divert attention from this internal conflict, they will definitely attack the Song territory within three years, led by..."
"It must be either Güyük, son of ?gedei Khan, or M?ngke, son of Tolui, who are the most capable contenders for the Khanate. Our
region, along with Sichuan and Chongqing, has become the front line. That's why I'm eager to hone my martial arts skills so I can contribute more to you and Uncle Guo..." I
explained the history I knew, combined with an analysis of the current situation, to Huang Rong.

Huang Rong was deeply moved, looking at this seventeen-year-old boy with even greater bewilderment. "I never expected you to have such a thorough
grasp . Your master boasts of unparalleled wisdom, yet I'm far inferior to you," Huang Rong exclaimed in admiration.

"You are a pragmatist, I am a dreamer. In the end, what I've said is all just speculation," I said humbly.

"No, what you said is reasonable and well-founded, and you even
accurately . If I hadn't watched you grow up, I would even doubt whether you were a Mongol," Huang Rong laughed.

I suddenly leaned close to Huang Rong's ear and said, "Master, there's one more thing." "I smelled the fragrance from Huang Rong's hair and couldn't help but feel a little
tipsy..." It was Zhiyu Yanran. "I chuckled softly.

"Go away, coming to your master to take advantage of you. I'll hit you like this again next time," Huang Rong scolded, but didn't push me away.

"I couldn't help myself... By the way, I heard that Mongolia has hired the Golden Wheel Dharma King of the Tibetan Golden Wheel Temple as their national
protector. This old monk's Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill is said to have the strength of ten dragons and ten elephants, but I don't know if it's true." I
revealed the Golden Wheel Dharma King to Huang Rong in advance, even if it didn't alert them, it would let them know that such a person existed.

"Golden Wheel Dharma King? A person from Tibet? I did meet a Lingzhi Master, but he was nothing special." Sure enough, it didn't
attract much attention from Huang Rong.

"That's not true. In the Central Plains, we have extraordinary people like my grandmaster, and even those like Grandmaster Qiu... slightly less so. Since
they dare to call themselves national teachers, they must have real talent and learning." "Qiu Chuji is, after all, my grandmaster. I can't just
call him a cripple to please Huang Rong. I still respect the elderly.

" "Well, the Mongols admire bravery the most, and now their territory is vast, and many talented people emerge. This old monk has
stood out , so he must have some strength. Master will send someone to investigate." "Huang Rong listened attentively and finally assured me. Hearing her say that,
I finally felt relieved.

"Master, master your swordsmanship. In the most crucial moment, only you can save yourself..." I said earnestly.

"Hmm, Master...you child, you're lecturing your master now! I think you're asking for a beating..." Huang Rong playfully tickled me, a little
embarrassed and angry.

"I won't, I won't..."

After a while of playful banter, I came out of the kitchen. I suddenly realized that the feeling between my master and me
had subtly changed. The occasional lewd thoughts I used to have were gradually disappearing, replaced by a warmth,
like truly treating one's closest relative, a friend with whom one could confide anything.

"I didn't expect the talented Yang to have such a tender side. It's a pity the recipient isn't our Guo Fu.
Aren't you paying a little too much attention to my senior sister...?" Lu Wushuang's voice drifted over, and I sensed a hint of sarcasm in her words.

"What business is it of yours if a breeze ripples a pool of spring water?" "I said leisurely.

"You..." Lu Wushuang angrily turned and left.

"Is Wushuang paying a little more attention to me?" I laughed behind her.

"Get lost..." Lu Wushuang's angry voice came from afar.

At dinner, Da Wu and Xiao Wu returned with the Divine Condor. "Mother, you're back." Da Wu and Xiao Wu came over to greet us and then stepped
aside .

Liu Rushi was a little surprised and took a moment to whisper to Third Sister, "Sister, is this your son?"

Third Sister nodded somewhat awkwardly and said, "I'll tell you more when we get home."

Liu Rushi nodded, observed for a while, and seemed to understand something... After dinner, I told Da Wu and Xiao Wu that we were going to Sanweizhai to
meet up with the brothers. Guo Fu also clamored to go and went with us. I was also full and only went to show my face
. After sending Da Wu and Xiao Wu back to the barracks, Guo Fu and I took the Divine Condor and walked back, just to take a walk.

"Sister Fu, did you learn anything from swordsmanship today?" "I asked.

"The 'Gui Mei' leads to 'Wu Wang,' and 'Wu Wang' leads to 'Da Guo.' Ugh, so annoying, I don't understand what it means at all." Guo Fu waved her hand in front of her
, as if trying to banish the jumbled words from her mind.

"Hehe, everyone has their own unique skills. My Uncle Guo learned
the Ambidextrous Technique of Master Zhou Botong because he was simple-minded. And your grandfather and master are both skilled in calculation, so they are particularly interested in this art of calculation."
I laughed.

"What about Fu'er? I can't learn the Ambidextrous Technique that Father taught me. As for arithmetic, I'm not good at it either. Is Fu'er
very stupid?" Guo Fu said somewhat discouragedly.

"Didn't your elder brother say that everyone has their own path? It just depends on whether it can be discovered. Fu'er, what you lack most
is self-confidence, which sometimes makes you impatient. Because you always see people like Master or me who can
achieve things in one go , but you have to practice for a long time without getting the hang of it. Is what your elder brother said right?" "I asked gently, trying to guide her.

"Yes, sometimes Fu'er really envies Big Brother. Just like you, you comprehended
the Xuan Tie Sword ." Guo Fu nodded.

"Actually, Big Brother is also afraid that his foundation is not solid enough. It's not like you're done once you've mastered it. Haven't you seen when Big Brother has ever neglected his training these
past few years ?" I asked. "Take these three days for example. Excluding sleep time, I practiced for two
hours on the first day, more on the second day, six hours, and on the third day, three hours..."

"You were doing something naughty with Third Sister at night, and I caught you..." Guo Fu pinched me hard while scolding me.

"You brat..." I thought to myself, I'm done for. I've been caught red-handed by this girl. I can't deny it now. I pretended not
to hear and continued, "Actually, even if it's just two days, Big Brother would meditate for an hour every night after you fell asleep." “

Brother, Fu’er understands. As long as you put in the effort, you will always reap the rewards, right?” Guo Fu asked.

“Yes, actually, the Yue Maiden Sword technique you learned is an extremely superior swordsmanship. It is said that in the late Spring and Autumn Period…” Based on my
memory, I adapted the story of the Yue Maiden Sword and told it to Guo Fu vividly.

“What happened to A Qing afterward? Did she go to find Fan Li and Xi Shi?” Guo Fu couldn’t help but ask after hearing this poignant story.

“That’s unknown, it’s not recorded in the books…” I sighed. At this moment, Guo Fu secretly made up her mind that she must
carry forward the Yue Maiden Sword technique and restore its former glory.

That night, I escorted San Niang and Liu Rushi back to Chuping Street. San Niang told me somewhat dejectedly that her letter had finally arrived.
She must have been working hard these past few days, which caused her to arrive a few days late.

I didn't want to become a father so soon either, after all, there were still many things waiting for me to do in Xiangyang, so I comforted her
with and promised to fulfill her wish at the appropriate time. Only then did Third Sister smile.

Chapter Fifty: The Moon is Hazy, the Charming Princess Expresses Her Feelings

Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye. Everything is proceeding in an orderly manner.
The expansion of the perfume production line and the production of glassware have brought substantial benefits, promoting the overall development of commerce and handicrafts in Xiangyang. With more
taxes paid by merchants, Xiangyang Prefecture can allocate more funds to build city defenses and strengthen military forces, including 70% of the profits from the perfume workshop that Mo San and I donated
free of charge . For this reason, Prefect Zhao and Commander Lü Wende published several signed
articles in the Xiangyang Times, praising the selfless dedication of the big merchants, led by Mo San, to Xiangyang City. This was the effect I wanted. I didn't want to
be too prominent at this time, since the prevailing trend favored agriculture over commerce, and I didn't want my name to be associated with merchants. So
I gave all the limelight to Mo San.

Huang Yaoshi also settled down in Xiangyang for the first time ever, studying the Dugu Nine Swords with his daughter. My master and I were preoccupied with miscellaneous tasks and
distracted, which resulted in the Eastern Heretic having an additional successor, namely San Niang. Huang Rong couldn't help but laugh at her father, saying he was becoming more and more like an old rascal,
unable to bear loneliness.

My love life was still full of twists and turns, like walking a tightrope. First, I had two women to satisfy, which
required me to spend a lot of time going from one room to another. Eventually, Young Master Yang got angry and directly carried Liu Rushi to the sturdy
sandalwood bed he had bought, achieving the feat of "flowers blooming together, dragon spears flying together," which also aroused the competitive learning
enthusiasm of San Niang and Rushi. In short, I enjoyed emperor-level treatment and even witnessed many legendary techniques. Fortunately, I
possess a unique advantage: I can greatly satisfy and soothe the bodies and minds of beauties every day. However, regrettably, my
blatant daytime debauchery only earns me Guo Fu's melancholy gaze, Huang Rong's orchid-like acupressure technique, and the disdainful
looks of Xie Wanqin and Lu Wushuang.

Therefore, for the past three months, I have had to atone for my sins by relegating myself to the battalion headquarters to reorganize the Tiger Legion. I
spend almost every day in the barracks, and the rumors and somewhat lax morale have all dissipated under my invisible high-pressure policies. At least
openly, no one dares to challenge me, including Da Wu and Xiao Wu. Under my deliberate training, the Tiger Legion's combat effectiveness has
steadily increased. However, I understand that without seeing bloodshed, this unit cannot truly be considered a genuine Tiger Legion.
The smoke of battle has not yet reached them, thus giving them more opportunities to practice. This unit must remain
deeply to play its strategic role at the most crucial moment of the battle. So even though some began to question whether this
unit , truly possessed combat capabilities, and some members even developed resistance to training, I
suppressed them all with high-pressure tactics and my prestige in Xiangyang. I was waiting for a crucial opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to decide the outcome in one battle.

And now, that opportunity was gradually ripening.

"Brothers, the opportunity we've been searching for has arrived," I began my address in the camp. "This is the moment we've been waiting for
, the moment to prove our capabilities." Using a baiting tactic, after numerous relentless efforts, I successfully used a disguised
merchant caravan to draw out a thousand-strong Mongol cavalry unit and a mixed infantry force of thirty thousand Han and Semu people from Shangyong. The
Shangyong garrison commander had long heard of Xiangyang's rapid development and prosperity over the past year, and with merchant caravans passing through
my defense zone multiple times, this time I finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"The main objective of this exercise is to test your skills and whether they are suitable for real warfare
. It's also to let you prove yourselves to be a truly elite force. If anyone wants to withdraw now, I
will not stop them. Understand?"

"No!" all the team members answered in unison.

"Very good, move out." At my command, fifty-two team members, now clad in black leather armor, followed me and boarded
the warships on the shore.

Two hours later... The Mongol commander of Shangyong City, the centurion Zhahequchulu, returned to Shangyong City cursing and whipping
the Han soldiers along the way. He had gone out full of enthusiasm but returned in disappointment. The news from the Xiangyang caravan turned out to be false. When he
arrived at the ambush site near Hanzhong to the west, he didn't see a soul.

Late that night, the armory and granaries in Shangyong City simultaneously caught fire. Strangely, no officers came out to organize the firefighting.
By the time the Nanyang troops arrived at Fangling Port, the perpetrators had vanished, leaving only embers and billowing
smoke on the ruins. That night, twenty-eight mid-level officers were beheaded in Shangyong City, including eighteen centurions and two chiliarchs.
Seven hundred and sixty-three Mongol soldiers died from trampling and mutiny, while the remaining three thousand five hundred lower-ranking soldiers mutinied and fled to the south bank of the Yangtze River.
The Fangling Port stronghold, painstakingly built by the Mongols to connect Hanzhong and Nanyang and enable them to sail downstream and launch attacks on key towns in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze,
along with one hundred thousand dan of grain, one thousand five hundred warhorses, and a considerable amount of military equipment in Shangyong City, were all wiped out overnight. The Song army's casualties
, however, were only thirteen.

"Excellent!" Guo Jing, reading the battle report statistics at Commander Lü's mansion, couldn't help but beam with delight. "That brat
Guo'er is truly audacious. He didn't even inform us beforehand, so we didn't send troops to meet him. We never expected them to dare to attack
Shangyong. If he hadn't brought back Quchulu's head, I probably still wouldn't believe it's true."

"Truly, heroes emerge from among the young. Back in the day, when the great hero Guo single-handedly held off 50,000 Mongol troops, he was probably
only around years old, wasn't he?" Commander Lü laughed.

"Twenty-three? Oh, I was twenty-three that year, no match for this kid."

"The student surpasses the master. If our Great Song had more such outstanding talents, the day of restoration wouldn't be far off." Lü Wende
sighed.

"Commander, don't praise this child so much. But he's quite astute. After returning, he explained to his subordinates that warfare relies on a
combination of orthodox and unorthodox tactics. If one only resorts to unorthodox methods, it's a risky and unwise move. It's clear he hasn't been blinded by a few victories."
Huang Rong laughed.

"Madam Guo is quite right. I immediately ordered the scout battalion to keep silent. Such a sharp weapon cannot be exposed too early;
it will lose its effectiveness if used too often," Lü Wende said with a smile.

Huang Rong, seeing that the commander-in-chief understood her indirect advice, finally felt relieved: "This child is decisive and efficient.
He mingled with enemy troops along the way, creating chaos in the city. Afterwards, he incited over three thousand people to mutini, claiming that their clans would be implicated in the fall of the city."
"Leaving no trace, the Mongols couldn't deduce who did it. Relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, they organized a swim across
to cut off the enemy's pursuit—truly brilliant..." The three began analyzing the gains and losses of my tactics, and their
practicality on the battlefield.

"Exactly..." Lü Wende exclaimed in admiration.

While the discussion raged in the Marshal's Mansion, I was already lazily lying in my small apartment on Chuping Street. The day before yesterday,
I was busy cleaning up the battlefield, tallying losses, and compiling military merit records until the afternoon of the previous day. There's a first time for everything, and I had to personally establish the rules
. After burying the thirteen heroic comrades, everyone was deeply saddened. After all, we had eaten and trained together for so long, and had known each other
for many years. But that's war; there will always be sacrifices. Even though I've seen countless deaths and separations,
I still feel extremely distressed at times like this. I couldn't help but think of a tragic elegy: "The glint of swords has faded, the
sound of drums and horns has receded. Before my eyes, vivid faces flutter. " The desolate city and ancient road are buried, the beacon-scarred border town lies in ruins.

Time, you cannot take away those familiar names. Who determines rise and fall? Is prosperity and decline without cause? A night of wind and clouds disperses,
changing time and space. Gathering and parting are all predestined, separation and reunion are always matters of the heart. Bear the burdens of life, why care about posthumous judgment?

The Great Wall, with intent, transforms into tears; the Yangtze River, with feeling, rises in song. A few stars twinkle in the sky of history… Heroes exist among men…
galloping across the land… “

Reward all the brothers in the camp and give them three days off to rest. I issued a gag order; no member is allowed to divulge
any details of this mission, or they will be punished according to military law! Through this combat experience, all the members truly realized
the results of their hard training, and none of them had any complaints. They returned to camp to train after only one day. I was happy to slack off, and all the training subjects
and tactical requirements were handed over to Chen Zhenyuan, Li Tianqiang, He Qingshan, and Da Xiaowu.

“If so, give your husband a leg massage. These past three months have really worn me out.” I lay on San Niang’s plump legs, opened my mouth
to take the strawberry Guo Fu offered me, and said with a smile.

“Yes, look how tanned you are, my husband.” "Liu Rushi massaged me while saying with concern.

"Sister Rushi, don't listen to him. Fu'er heard Da Wu say the other day that they had bonfire parties every day in Nanshan recently.
They must have been blackened by the charcoal fire." Guo Fu made a face and laughed.

"Don't blame Da Wu for this. I warned him that if he dared to tattle on me, I would break his legs. I don't think he would dare.
You must have followed me to peep again. Don't think I didn't notice. On the 22nd of last month, you secretly followed me to the south of the city, didn't you?" I realized that
my fiancée had indeed developed a voyeuristic habit. Not to mention that she had seen me and San Niang making love twice, in another parallel
world, she also often hid at the door of my parents' bedroom or in the closet to eavesdrop.

"Fu'er was just worried that you would be corrupted by those rude men, so she followed to see. She just happened to see you finishing hunting and
roasting meat there."

"Alright, Sister Fu, you didn't realize our master was just teasing you. He wouldn't be angry with you, otherwise he would have already used
family discipline . " Liu Rushi had long been familiar with Guo Fu, and now their words were as intimate as if they were sisters.

"By the way, tonight, Father and Mother went to General Lü's mansion for a banquet. I told Mother I was going back to cook for Grandpa.
Why we go back together? If it gets late, we can stay at home, so I can have a good chat with Rushi and Third Sister." Guo Fu
was never as comfortable in her little nest on Chuping Street as she was at home; after all, the Guo mansion was her home.

"Hehe, Ruyin, have you had any insights from learning swordsmanship with Grandpa lately?" I
asked, my hand wandering restlessly over Third Sister's plump buttocks.

"You naughty hand, don't let Fu'er see, she'll be unhappy again." "Third Sister said softly. In front of this little princess,
neither she nor Liu Rushi dared to get too close to me, not for any other reason than that Guo Fu was still young, and if she followed suit, I would be the one
who would suffer . "I don't know, I just feel that I seem to have improved a lot compared to before."

"Hmm, that still means you haven't mastered the basics... otherwise, the word you used would not be improvement, but a leap forward." I thought to myself
, but I didn't say it out loud to discourage Third Sister. "Keep this knife for self-defense." "I handed Third Sister a beautiful dagger,
the very same Kucha short dagger that Ouyang Feng had given me years ago. Kucha steel is the precursor to the famous Damascus steel forging technique of later generations;
it's a rare and powerful weapon. Others may not know, but I know very well. What soldier doesn't love a knife? However, Third Sister still doesn't have
a suitable weapon. To ensure her safety, I had to reluctantly part with it, instructing her to keep the dagger safe.
Third Sister had previously practiced with small weapons like the Judge's Pen, so she particularly cherished this exquisite dagger.

"Now that everything is basically on track, I think it's time to consider setting off for Lin'an,"
I suddenly announced to everyone after dinner.

Huang Yaoshi glanced at me and said, "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I've long hoped you'd suggest going out for
a trip yourself." "

The imperial examination is only a year away. When you get to Lin'an, remember to study hard, because..." Guo Jing stopped mid-sentence, seeing
Huang Yaoshi staring intently at him, and dared not say another word. Huang Rong saw this and sighed inwardly.
How could this once fearless Jing-gege, who followed her to explore the Prince's mansion, storm the palace, smash taverns, and tease the officials, have been worn down without a trace of his former spirit? But she
still went along with me and said, "Guo'er, the imperial examination is a very important matter. You must not be playful and neglect your duties."

"Yes, Guo'er understands." I nodded in agreement.

"When do you plan to set off?" Xie Wanqin asked with concern from the side.

"I'll leave after next year, but I just want to leave quietly. Otherwise, if too many people come to see me off, it will inevitably cause a lot of trouble." "I
have entrusted the Tiger Battalion entirely to Guo Jing. After the battle of Fangling Port in Shangyong, I have recognized Chen Zhenyuan as a capable general who can lead
independently , and I can confidently entrust the Tiger Battalion to him. With Huang Rong watching over him, I don't think there will be any major
trouble. I have also handed over the perfume workshop and glass factory entirely to Mo San, even giving him the production formula. After
more than half a year of observation, Mo San's dedication to his work and his demonstrated patriotism have convinced me that he won't have any ulterior
motives , after all, this is a matter of great importance that will be remembered for generations. Mo San has also gained many benefits from the good reputation, such as being selected as
the chief heir to the Mo family's next head, so I don't think he would risk losing more than he gains. I also gave Mo
San stern warning beforehand, so even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to do anything too outrageous. Anyway, the Mo family is so large and powerful,
even if something happens, they can't escape responsibility."

As for the remaining 10% of my profits, I instructed Mo San to give it all to my master. I also privately told my master to
improve the lives of myself and Guo Jing, since they needed to oversee many things, and good health is the foundation of everything. This filial piety
deeply moved Guo Jing and Huang Zhong.

A timely snowfall heralded a bountiful year for the first year of Chunyou, and the entire city of Xiangyang
was filled with gratitude for the past and anticipation for the new year. A grand banquet was held in the Guo family compound, with the whole family and
servants enjoying themselves. The New Year in Xiangyang, driven by commerce, was bustling with activity. Prefect Zhao specially decreed the cancellation
of the curfew from the first to the third day of the Lunar New Year, as well as on the night of the Lantern Festival, which brought joy to the people. Commander Lü Wende also specially approved double pay to reward the soldiers guarding the border
.

In the first month of the lunar calendar, I accompanied Guo Jing to visit several important military and political officials in Xiangyang, which also served as a farewell. Lü Wende, Zhao Yu, and others also
wrote letters of recommendation, which I delivered to Right Chancellor Shi Miyuan and Privy Councilor Bie Zhijie, respectively. Lü Wende, though kind,
was a follower of the treacherous Chancellor Shi Miyuan, while Privy Councilor Bie was an old friend of the late General Meng. Although I didn't intend to use them,
I accepted them and kept them safe. I

was extremely busy for several days, and only after having a reunion dinner with my brothers at the camp did I finally finish my rounds of visits.
Knowing that time was limited, I tried to spend as much time as possible with Guo Jing and Huang Rong at my residence, occasionally chatting with Huang Yaoshi.
The remaining time was spent with the three women, shopping and sightseeing, soaking up the New Year's joy. I also accompanied Ru Shi back to Zuisheng Tower to visit Mo San and
Ma Xianglan.

On the Lantern Festival, I invited Mo San, Meng Gong, Yu Jie, and others, along with their families, to enjoy a cruise on the Han River to admire the moon and lanterns.

"Brother Gaizhi, the moon is full and the lanterns are bright today. On such a beautiful day, why not sing a song to enhance the enjoyment of the journey?" Mo San shouted,
egging me on .

"Hehe, when it comes to composing poems about the moon and lanterns, the greatest achievements throughout history are undoubtedly Li Bai and Du Fu in poetry, and Su Shi and Xin Qiji in lyrics
. I won't embarrass myself with my old, tired verses." I waved my hand and laughed.

Yu Jie laughed, "If Brother Yang's talent is all just old, tired verses, then I'd only be fit to be among the fish and shrimp at the bottom of this river.
Don't stop me!" He then pretended to jump into the river, which made everyone laugh.

"Alright, since everyone is so kind, and I'm about to embark on a long journey, I'll sing this song in the hope that everyone here will have a bright future." I
smiled and immediately sang a cappella Faye Wong's "When Will the Moon Be Bright Again..." When the song ended, the river fell silent for a moment, while my three
girls were deeply intoxicated, looking happily at their sweethearts. Lu Wushuang and Xie Wanqin sat in the back row, their gazes lingering, their thoughts
unknown .

"Brother Yang is truly talented. This 'Shuidiao Getou' in a different mode certainly adds much to Su Shi's masterpiece. Although the lyrics
and melody are melodious, there is no decadent tone; the singing touches the heart. I, Yu Jie, will certainly remember Brother Yang's kindness," Yu Jie said with a smile and a cupped-hand salute.

"Actually, ever since my virtuous brother Gaizhi sang 'Serving the Country with Utmost Loyalty,' I knew he was deeply versed in music, but I didn't tell
you ..." Mo San laughed, drawing laughter from the others.

I silently smiled at the crowd's joy, but then couldn't help but frown slightly.

"Gaizhi, is something on your mind?" Meng Gong quietly pulled me aside and asked.

“Brother Puyu, I imagine you are aware of my reckless actions at Fangling Port. However, the Mongols are now powerful. Today's
official gazette reports that 50,000 men under M?ngke's command, Gulimoge, have begun to assemble in Hanzhong. I fear the Mongols will launch a major
offensive against Sichuan this year. Although Xiangyang is currently secure, if the western defenses fall, I wonder if we will still be able
to witness …” I lamented.

“Alas, if the court were filled with officials like Gaizhi, so concerned for the country and its people, how could our Great Song not restore order and restore order? It
's just a pity… we are but lowly officials, and have no way to intervene in this matter,” Meng Gong said with a sigh.

“Lord Wenzheng once said: ‘Be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures; when in high office, worry about the people; when in retirement
, worry about the ruler.’ Therefore, I came to Lin'an with a glimmer of hope, but I don't know if my humble opinion will reach the
ears of the Emperor.” However, I firmly believe that as long as China survives, I will live! I recalled that heartfelt declaration.

"Well said, well said, 'As long as China survives, I will live!'" Yu Jie and Mo San, who had somehow gathered around, were
both deeply moved upon hearing my words, "As long as China survives, I will live!"

"It's rare that we brothers are so kindred spirits and share the same ideals.
Why do ?" Yu Jie, the youngest but also the most impetuous, immediately expressed his opinion.

"That would be best." "Haha... as long as the three of you don't mind my background." Meng Gong and Mo San chimed in.

"Brother Mo San is a model of Confucian merchants. Even setting aside your status as a
scholar ." "Meng Gong laughed.

"Actually, it was all..." Mo San wanted to clarify that it was all my behind-the-scenes planning, but I stopped him and said, "That's right,
Third Brother, there's no need to be modest anymore."

So the women hurriedly made the arrangements and witnessed the event. The four of us worshipped Heaven and Earth, and then discussed our seniority.
Mo Bieqing was the eldest brother, Meng Gong was the second, I was the third, and Yu Jie was the youngest.

"Then from now on, you should call Third Brother 'Big Brother'," Meng Gong said with a smile.

"That's right, otherwise, if we call him the wrong way, I'm afraid the sisters-in-law won't be happy." "Yu Jie leaned over and teased... Everyone laughed,
but Ma Xianglan blushed deeply and chased after the four monkeys in a huff.

The moon was high in the sky, and everyone dispersed after enjoying themselves.

The next morning, after the New Year holidays, Huang Yaoshi left without disturbing anyone, not even informing Lu Wushuang.
I left a note saying I needed to meditate, and that no one should worry. Huang Rong had already mastered the Dugu Nine Swords and guessed that
her father might leave; however, the sudden loss of family still left her somewhat dejected. Lu Wushuang also took her leave, saying she was going north to Mount Hua
to visit her cousin Cheng Ying. Huang Rong had no reason to stop her, only telling her to be careful on the road and not to rush to seek revenge on Li Mochou.
Lu Wushuang nodded in agreement.

"Sigh, the journey might be tough. You look so thin, like a gust of wind could blow you away. Don't torture yourself too much." "I stopped her in
the corridor and handed her a thousand taels of silver.

'I…' Lu Wushuang finally removed the blue mask from her face, revealing her true appearance to me.

'I hope you remember what I look like…' These were the last words Wushuang spoke to me before she left.

I have to admit, Lu Wushuang was the second most beautiful woman I had ever seen, second only to Huang Rong. She had an oval face, crescent-shaped eyebrows, and
skin as white as snow, likely due to her year-round exposure to the sun behind a mask. What I found most unforgettable were her eyes, seemingly gentle yet always…"
A deep, unyielding sorrow lingered in her eyes. No matter what, this pitiful, beautiful Wushuang was etched into my heart.

Wushuang was gone; tomorrow I too would be setting off with Sanniang and Rushi. Guo Fu cried and pleaded, but couldn't persuade her stubborn father
to let her go. The official announcement was that Sanniang was returning to her hometown in Nanzhao, but in reality, she was traveling with us to Lin'an.
Holding the soft armor in my hand, a warmth filled my heart. I hadn't expected my master to care for me so much,
giving me what was once her most cherished possession. For a moment, I held the armor cap, seemingly trying to find her familiar scent within it.

It was past midnight, yet I couldn't fall asleep. "I won't be able to see her for a while. I wonder
if thinking of me too? She's going on a long journey, and this time it will probably be for a long time..." I murmured to myself. I had been in a good mood
earlier, secretly going to the small and large martial arts rooms to add some seasonings for them. But then I suddenly remembered that I was about to leave Xiangyang, and the
charming, smiling maidservant in me. A feeling of uncertainty welled up inside me, and I couldn't help but feel a little melancholy.

"Giggle giggle..." A sweet laugh came from outside my window. I was startled—I hadn't expected someone to be eavesdropping outside my room.
When I saw that it was Princess Xie Wanqin who came in, I breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Now I finally know who taught Fu'er that voyeuristic habit.
What are you doing in my room so late, Your Highness?" I thought to myself, how come she walks like a cat, without making a sound? You should know that
Xie Wanqin was just a woman with no strength to even kill a chicken. She had no aura at all, and I wasn't constantly
on guard against anyone trying to harm me in my room, so I didn't notice Xie Wanqin eavesdropping outside.

"I don't have that kind of weird habit. It just so happened that I heard you saying you missed someone as soon as I got to the door.
Of course, I would miss you, you silly boy..." Xie Wanqin smiled charmingly and said coquettishly to me.

I chuckled inwardly. I hadn't expected her to be so presumptuous. I might as well tease her a little. "You said you weren't
eavesdropping , but you're not even wearing shoes. Aren't you afraid your feet will get cold?" I said, patting the bed and gesturing for her to put her feet under the covers.

Xie Wanqin didn't stand on ceremony, sitting confidently at the foot of the bed and pressing her delicate white feet against my chest. Intending
to tease her reached out and grasped her small, lotus-like feet. "Look, they're freezing cold. Let me warm them for you."

Xie Wanqin was already aroused, but feigned resentment, scolding, "How can you be so rude?"

"Isn't this what Sister Wanqin wanted? Otherwise, why would you come to my room in the middle of the night?" I said with a smile.

"Maybe… I don't know, but thinking about not seeing you for so long, I…" Xie Wanqin could no longer
maintain her composure and threw herself into my arms, sobbing.

So, she wanted a one-night stand with me! Well, actually, this beauty always gives me a flirtatious wink or a gentle
touch , making me want to taste what a royal woman is like.

"Come to my place, no one will bother you there," Xie Wanqin whispered in my ear, hooking her arm around my neck.

Xie Wanqin's residence was a very secluded courtyard, where servants wouldn't dare disturb her on ordinary days, let alone
at night when no one was around. As soon as I put her on the bed, this alluring woman, with her seductive gaze, quietly and deliberately removed her brocade quilt, revealing a
pair of snow-white breasts that proudly sprang out, but she hesitated to remove the narrow silk underpants covering her plump buttocks... I pounced on Xie Wanqin like a
hungry tiger , kissing her from her lips to her cheeks, then down her neck, kissing her firm breasts. I hadn't expected Princess Xie to
be such a beauty, so incredibly voluptuous, I couldn't help but enjoy her bosom. Occasionally, I would gently suck on her bright
red nipples, teasing Princess Xie until she was weak all over, panting softly.

I explored her from top to bottom, and when my lips and tongue touched Xie Wanqin's flat stomach, I couldn't help but let my tongue roam freely,
eventually sinking into a hollow—the beautiful princess's navel was no exception.

"Ah~, you little devil. You're torturing me to death~!" Xie Wanqin's moans grew louder and louder, her cherry lips
actively seeking a kiss from me, her fragrant tongue willingly entering my mouth to suck and intertwine, the passionate kiss continuing relentlessly. After a long while, Xie Wanqin felt
she could hardly breathe, so she turned her head away from me, breathing slightly heavily, her soft, boneless hands unconsciously
wrapping around the man's broad, firm waist and back. Taking advantage of the moment

, I flipped over and straddled Xie Wanqin. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she arched her hips slowly in rhythm with my movements, allowing
me to pull down her small, form-fitting silk underpants along her long, slender legs. A naked body lay before me
… I brought my nose close to smell her; indeed, she was a royal noblewoman. A lingering scent of jasmine remained on her private parts…
Tsk tsk , so alluring and fragrant. My smile was lewd, my eyes lewd, eliciting a soft moan of protest from the beautiful princess… Princess Xie
lay sprawled on the embroidered bed, and I smiled triumphantly, my large hands continuing their exploration, into the mysterious
garden hidden deep within the dark undergrowth. In the deep shadows, lush grass covered that full, private place. Carefully parting the fragrant grass concealing the entrance to the Peach Blossom Spring,
I saw her slightly parted red lips, like peach petals about to bloom, the two delicate doors slightly ajar, their color a vibrant, luscious red, still trembling slightly…
A wicked thought arose in my mind. I joined two fingers together and probed between Xie Wanqin's plump buttocks and jade thighs. Xie Wanqin's delicate body trembled, then she raised
her chin and let out a soul-stirring, soul-stirring moan. Seeing the beauty in such a seductive state, I couldn't help but wrap my arms around her fragrant shoulders,
pressing our bodies tightly together, and we kissed passionately. The royal noblewoman, her eyes half-closed, opened her
small and released her tongue, passionately entwining it with the man's, sucking it incessantly, as if she wanted to devour all my saliva
… until we were almost breathless, the two separated. Xie Wanqin opened her small mouth, panting, her eyes languid, "Let
me undress you, sir…"

My foreplay was thorough; every inch of the beautiful woman's upper body was cared for by the man's passionate kisses.

"Hehe, didn't expect that, did you, Yang Lang? The prince's woman is just another word for prostitute. Perhaps we have
more to learn than prostitutes, so... fuck me hard!" Xie Wanqin began to pant, her whole body trembling slightly,
her legs straightening and shaking, her calves occasionally flexing and contracting. Her pretty face flushed crimson, her alluring eyes narrowed like silk. She reached out her delicate pink hand and grasped the
scalding, thick shaft of my penis, trembling as she aimed it at her private parts… Then her jade arms wrapped around my neck, and her two long, snow-white
legs hooked around my legs… I panted heavily, my hands already hooking the beautiful princess's long, slender legs beneath me.
I knelt on the bed, panting urgently, “Sister Wanqin, I’m coming.” I thrust my spear forward, reaching the very entrance of her spring… “Ah
…slow, slow…you bad man…you…don’t…don’t be gentle…it hurts…you…be gentle!” Xie Wanqin’s
face turned deathly pale from this deadly thrust. When I tried to pull back a little, Xie Wanqin’s delicate face was already covered in fragrant sweat from the pain, her alluring eyes…
Her face turned pale, and her cherry-like lips trembled uncontrollably.

It was incredibly tight! I had assumed that the flirtatious princess, with her countless lovers, would be quite loose there, but I hadn't expected her to
be as tight as a virgin's. I was experiencing intense pleasure, but seeing the beauty beneath me in pain, I couldn't pretend, and I dared not move again
.

"Wanqin, are you... are you alright?" I had previously thought Xie Wanqin was a promiscuous woman, available to all men. Now, thinking about it, that wasn't the
case . But hadn't she been staying secluded in the Guo residence for the past six months? Thinking of this, my eyes filled
with apology… "My lord, do you think I'm that kind of lowly woman, someone who can be taken advantage of and treated with contempt?"
Xie Wanqin asked, her voice filled with shame and resentment, seemingly venting her frustration at my constant hostility towards her these past few days. "You, you heartless
wretch, why are you treating me like this..." Xie Wanqin suddenly sobbed in my arms, her little fists pounding my
chest... I hadn't expected the usually flirtatious and unrestrained Xie Wanqin to be so aggrieved, as if I were the one who had betrayed her.
Bah! Wasn't it supposed to be a one-night stand?

Xie Wanqin tearfully recounted her past. It turned out that the damned prince had a penchant for sadism and had used every method to torment
Xie Wanqin until he died of a stroke during intercourse three years ago. Xie Wanqin was thus branded with ominous titles like "Queen Bee" and "Black
Widow ." Not only was she ostracized by the royal family, but Zhao Yun, the heir of the Prince of Xiangyang, who had failed to rape her, also considered her a thorn in his side.
This matter even implicated her own family, making her a discarded member of her clan. In desperation, Xie Wanqin could only
seek help from the Guo family, but Huang Rong politely refused. Therefore, they had no choice but to target me, Yang Guo. Although they genuinely intended to use
me, they were also truly impressed by my talent, which is why they gave me "special treatment."

I thought to myself: It's no wonder that you, the
Dowager is a reliable and kind-hearted person, otherwise she might already be lying dead in the street. I realized that I had wronged her.

"Yang Lang, hug me. I... haven't... been so cruel... I can't bear it... it'll be alright in a moment... you
heartless bad man... I'm in so much pain because of you~!" Xie Wanqin's coquettish voice was very alluring,
her soft words and gentle whispers in my ear stirred up a wave of pity in my heart.

Gradually, Xie Wanqin's voluptuous and alluring body adapted to the man's virility. Spring water overflowed from her flower path, and the
unbearable itching sensation gradually rose. She writhed and rubbed against the man's chest... "Baby, are you feeling better?" I used to think
the woman in my arms was promiscuous, but now it seemed she was only devoted to me. I gently wiped the fragrant sweat from her forehead and asked...
Xie Wanqin's jade arms wrapped around my neck, and her long, slender legs intertwined with the man's legs. She said seductively, "My
lord, I'm ready. I hope you will cherish me."

Mature women really know how to seduce men! Just hearing this noblewoman's soft pleas for mercy was incredibly
soothing. I used all the gentle techniques I'd recently employed on Third Sister, our lips met,
and our kisses deepened to a blissful, intoxicating intensity. My hands gently caressed Xie Wanqin's full, rounded breasts; below, I slowly ground her with a nine-shallow-one-deep technique,
eliciting soft moans and a profound sense of ecstasy from the beautiful princess. Soon, Xie Wanqin's eyebrows relaxed, and her long, white legs, wrapped around my back,
pressed forcefully against my muscular buttocks until my heat filled her private parts. Only then did the beautiful woman let out a satisfied
sigh… The beauty swayed her plump, fleshy buttocks, expressing her affection for the young man on top of her with her actions… In the small courtyard,
on the large bed, waves of pleasure surged, intoxicating and soul-stirring. The curtains hung low, and their bodies were intertwined.

"Mmm… Yang Lang… Wan'er likes it so much… This… so beautiful, tell Wan'er, it's real…" Xie Wanqin
moaned, twisting and turning her slender waist, responding to my movements, indulging in unrestrained passion and yielding to my desires.

Hearing Xie Wanqin's wanton moans, I couldn't help but feel even more pity for her. What a lovely, pitiful,
and passionate woman! Knowing she could endure it, I gradually increased the speed of my thrusts. Lying on Xie Wanqin's snow-white, voluptuous body
, my firm buttocks swayed violently up and down. My hands hooked her long, slender legs, hoisting them onto my shoulders, and then I pressed my
entire upper body down, working even harder on Xie Wanqin's body. Xie Wanqin moaned excitedly, her jade-like feet
swaying on my shoulders like lotus buds in the wind with my thrusts. I brushed aside the damp hair on her forehead, revealing
her beautiful face, her eyebrows and eyes like paintings, her cheeks flushed—truly a stunning beauty. My breathing also began to become heavy, yet
I continued to thrust forcefully into the beautiful woman's voluptuous body. Beneath the man, Xie Wanqin moved her full, firm buttocks in rhythm, both
experiencing boundless pleasure, as if they were truly one, a connection of souls.

How many years had it been since she'd been touched by a man? Three years? Five years? Xie Wanqin was dazed.
The handsome gradually overlapped with two familiar faces from her memory. No, the prince was ruthless and violent, unlike this boy who was so
vigorous. That person? Although he possessed a handsome appearance, I had so many women; perhaps I had long forgotten him…
Lost in memories of the past, Xie Wanqin gradually succumbed to my burning passion, her lips parted in murmurs, those obscene
and lewd words coming from the mouth of such a noble woman, only adding to my sense of accomplishment. Xie Wanqin's eyes
were half-closed , her inner excitement and agitation revealed in her rapid moans. She increased the amplitude of her hip swaying, her
round, pert buttocks swaying against the bed like a sieve, the warm curtains creaking in protest under the weight…
…“No, no more!” Waves of pleasure and ecstasy washed over Xie Wanqin. “Yang Lang~ Yang Lang
~” she cried out the name of this lovable yet hateful man, clinging tightly to his perfect male body, feeling his
explosive power and seemingly endless, frenzied thrusts, climbing again and again to the peak of spiritual and sexual fusion.

"Ah, ah, ah...you rascal, I'm going to die! I can't take it anymore, Wan'er's going to lose it again...oh...faster, faster
...mmm, mmm...so hot, so hot...Yang Lang~Yang Lang~" Her tightly closed, sensitive flesh contracted violently. Under my thousands
of relentless thrusts, Xie Wanqin lost count of how many times she had climaxed. This time, I too
was at my limit , and I exploded inside Xie Wanqin's alluring body... As the storm subsided, Xie Wanqin was still breathing heavily, the electric
orgasm still lingering, her whole body trembling slightly. Her eyes were tightly closed, her face flushed, enjoying my kisses on her still
sensitive body, the boundless tenderness making her feel very good.

"Wanqin, did you enjoy it?" The long-deprived woman's sudden burst of passion overnight was so pleasurable it almost made my
bones melt. Just now, when Xie Wanqin reached her peak, her essence was exceptionally abundant. I used my dual cultivation method to absorb and refine it,
feeling immensely benefited. I thought to myself, the royal concubine selection is indeed extraordinary. Worried that Xie Wanqin might be depleted of her yin essence, I transferred my yang essence
into her body, allowing her to recover her strength in a short time. Xie Wanqin was now radiant, her beauty even more radiant than before. Tsk tsk, impressive
skill, so it's from the sun.

"My love, what does 'enjoy' mean?" Xie Wanqin, her wish fulfilled, became shy and nestled in my arms, asking softly.

I chuckled foolishly, completely overjoyed, using the most common catchphrase from a thousand years later. “It’s a local saying from my hometown, ‘爽’
means ‘爽’ (shuǎng), meaning comfortable, so comfortable

it’s like dying and coming back to life.” Xie Wanqin blushed, raised her head, stretched out her jade-like arms, and hugged me tightly, saying, “I’ve never

felt so good before.” My lust was aroused again. Just as I was about to embrace the beauty again, the maid Qiuxiang knocked on the door and reminded me, “Your Highness, it’s almost
dawn . Would you like me to help you get up and change?”

“You can leave now,” Xie Wanqin ordered. I glanced at the sky, which was still dark, but I couldn’t bear
to leave those broad and warm arms. “Oh, go ahead. Winter days are short, and the servants will probably be up soon. It wouldn’t be good if they saw us… You…
come back …”

I finished dressing and looked back at her. Her hair was disheveled, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were filled with tears…
Could a night of pleasure really be over like this? I realized that I really couldn’t play games with emotions. Even though my judgment was still intact, I really
couldn’t bear to disappoint the woman I loved. Being sentimental is bitter. Even if many time travelers can play the field, embracing ten or eight women
and saying to the other women, "I love you all, you are all my favorites," it's pure nonsense. Suddenly, I
felt a pang of regret... I slunk away from Xie Wanqin's courtyard without daring to look back

. After lunch, I packed my bags and prepared to set off. Guo Jing and his wife, along with the Divine Condor, saw me off at the door, but I didn't
see Guo Fu and Xie Wanqin. I suppose they were both heartbroken inside, each lost in their own thoughts. The Divine Condor, because of its
conspicuous size, stayed at the Guo residence, but it seemed to be completely captivated by the two eagles, making me inwardly criticize
it for prioritizing romance over friendship.

Guo Jing kept instructing me to intervene if I encountered any injustice on the road. Huang Rong also said, "Be careful in Lin'an,
and don't recklessly or cause trouble." I agreed to everything.

With a sense of guilt in my heart, I jumped into the carriage. Upon arriving at Chuping Street, I found Guo Fu and her maid, Xiao Lü, already waiting
there .

"Ha, when did you arrive?" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Hehe, my mother turns a blind eye to me. I said I was out, so I was out. Who would dare stop me at home?"
Guo Fu chuckled.

I thought it was pretty much what I'd guessed, so the group picked up San Niang and Ru Shi, dismounted, and boarded a boat to travel eastward down the river…

Chapter Fifty-One: Yang Guo Teases Li Mochou Again, the Breast-Grabbing Dragon Claw Hand Reappears in the Martial World.

"Not elated by external gains, nor saddened by personal losses; when in high office, one should worry about the people; when far from the court, one should worry about the ruler. Whether advancing or
retreating, one should worry. When then can one find joy? Surely it must be: to be the first to worry about the world's troubles, and the last to enjoy its pleasures." That day, the boat reached
Baling County and docked for the night. The three women took Xiao Lü ashore to shop, while I, alone and bored on the boat, suddenly felt
a surge of inspiration and went to Yueyang Tower to lament the passing of the ancients. I was drinking alone, reciting the Yueyang Tower Inscription, when I inadvertently heard a clear
bell ring. I looked closely and saw two graceful figures.

"Ladies ahead, please wait!" The donkey wasn't slow either; I chased it all the way to the woods north of the city before catching up with them.
"Fairy Mochou, beautiful lady, have you forgotten who I am?" I shouted, and the veiled nun
stopped .

"Hmph, brat, are you tired of living? Save your words for the King of Hell." With that, she raised her hand to strike.

That signature Taoist robe of yours, who else could it be but Li Mochou? I was embarrassed. Why was she so aggressive? We were
old friends, and I hadn't even said I was going to arrest you, yet you tried to hurt me first. I chuckled and
greeted , "This must be Lingbo, right? Hey, beautiful lady, you're being unfair! You've clearly just hired a maid; look how
stingy you are with her food and clothing."

The young woman was indeed taken aback, her beautiful eyes widening as she asked, "You... I know you? How do you know my
name? Master, this disciple doesn't know him." Hong Lingbo quickly explained, afraid her master would misunderstand.

Li Mochou, hearing me call her "beautiful lady" and seeing my smiling face, suddenly froze, exclaiming, "You're him?"
Realizing she had lost her composure, she said, "Lingbo, please step back. I have something to say to... this young hero."
After her disciple left, Li Mochou breathed a sigh of relief. "Why are you following me?"

I sensed a hint of expectation in Li Mochou's voice. "Hehe, my name is Yang Guo. I haven't seen such a beauty for three years.
I was lying on the boat just now when I saw what looked like you on the dock, so I came out to take a look." I slowly walked towards Li Mochou, and seeing that she had actually
forgotten my name, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"What do you want?" Li Mochou was very alert. With a "whoosh," she reflexively held her horsetail whisk horizontally in front of
her chest. I was stunned, remembering that I had taken advantage of Li Mochou three years ago, and wondered if she had changed in the past three years.

Li Mochou saw that I was staring at her chest, and even a blind person could see the meaning. Remembering that I had touched her there three years ago,
she felt both ashamed and angry: "Shameless little thief, I'll teach you to look!" Li Mochou shouted, and the horsetail whisk in her hand whistled
as she attacked me.

I was intent on toying with Li Mochou, dodging left and right, not in a hurry to retaliate. By this time, I had mastered the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, and with
my immense internal energy, I no longer took Li Mochou seriously, especially since I was carrying the Xuan Tie Sword… Sigh… Looking at
the ample breasts and shapely buttocks peeking out from under Li Mochou's loose Taoist robe, I felt a secret pleasure. But I also hesitated, unsure whether to take her
back to make Lu Wushuang happy, yet I couldn't bear to part with this pitiful, wicked woman; at least she hadn't harmed me back then.
However, just thinking of the murderous look in Lu Wushuang's eyes when she heard the name "Li Mochou" sent chills down my spine.
Wanting to have your cake and eat it too was probably a pipe dream.

Li Mochou was both shocked and furious. Over the past three years, her hatred had gradually faded. Unless someone actively provoked her or spoke
lewdly, she ignored them, focusing solely on cultivating the Crimson Flame Divine Palm. She only occasionally returned home when it was late at night and all was quiet.
Thinking of Lu Zhanyuan, I felt a pang of regret for all the years I'd spent taking my anger out on others and getting my hands stained with blood. Strangely enough, Lu Zhanyuan's image
was fading, but the image of that lazy, wicked boy's smile remained vivid.

Li Mochou, traveling with Hong Lingbo, unexpectedly ran into him on the streets of Baling County. Even more surprising was how much
the former bad boy had changed; in less than three years, he had grown so much… Li Mochou hardened her heart and decided to stop holding back.
She unleashed her palm technique combined with her whisk, immediately employing her signature move, the "All-Penetrating" technique of the Three No's and Three No's Hands.
The whisk swept towards my vital acupoints—the Tanzhong and Dantian points—while the Crimson Flame Divine Palm struck my face.

Damn, this woman was serious. The metallic scent of Li Mochou's palm made me nauseous. "Beautiful lady, why did you
have to practice the 'Shit-Scratching Palm' of all things? It stinks for miles!" I teased, covering my nose, as I gracefully performed a backflip
to dodge Li Mochou's whisk.

"Damn brat, how could I let you get away with this..." Li Mochou pulled out three Ice Soul Silver Needles and shot them at my shoulder, which was
caught .

"Clang, clang, clang." Three sounds, but the silver needles were all absorbed by the Xuan Tie Sword. This was because, although it was called a silver needle, it was made of
three parts silver and seven parts fine steel, and Xuan Tie could absorb steel, thus catching my attack.

I saw it clearly and thought to myself, "At least you have a conscience, you didn't hit my vitals, otherwise I would have killed you with one sword.

" "Consider yourself lucky, kid. Now get out of here, or I won't be polite." Li Mochou shouted, waving her whisk, but she
wondered why she couldn't bear to kill this kid who had provoked her so many times.

"I'm just bored, looking at the scenery, is that a crime?" I chuckled, even winking at Li Mochou.

"You wretched brat, do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?" Li Mochou finally lost her temper, discarding her whisk and unleashing a devastating attack,
striking my throat and eyes.

I knew she had a follow-up attack—a groin kick—but I hadn't learned the pseudo-Nine Yin Manual that reversed meridians, so I couldn't do a handstand. However
, I wondered if Old Man Ouyang's Toad Stance would work. I decided to lie down on the spot, gather my qi in my dantian, and push out with both palms. My
internal energy had reached a state of perfection, while Li Mochou's internal energy was her greatest weakness. She was immediately affected by the gust of wind around me,
her movements momentarily halting. I hadn't expected her internal energy to be so weak. Thinking she was going to kick, I used the Green Dragon Taking Water move, bending my back and pushing out
with both palms to prevent her from kicking my groin, but by sheer coincidence, I bumped into Li Mochou's ample breasts. Wow, that's the feeling
... I didn't expect to make things worse, I actually got to touch you again, it really brings back memories. Huh? This move seems to be called "
Dragon Claw Hand ," right? My devilish claws couldn't help but gently squeeze twice, thinking to myself.

Li Mochou was extremely shocked, stunned for a long time before screaming and slapping me across the face. Not satisfied, she
chased after me to hit me again. "You, you stop right there, I... I'll fight you to the death!"

I was slapped hard and only then remembered to dodge. Li Mochou chased after me but couldn't hit me, cried out, and turned to run away. I took
a moment to catch my breath, realizing I had gone a bit too far, and worried about Li Mochou, I followed her.

Seriously... it's not like it's the first time I've touched you, why such a big reaction?

I chased for a while, and then saw a large, jagged rock blocking my way, seemingly suspended in mid-air. I heard fighting under the rock,
so I quietly climbed up to look down. I saw Li Mochou locked in a chaotic battle with a group of Taoist priests. Although she didn't know the martial arts of
the highest-ranking , her whisk was clearly effective against her enemies. Therefore, I deduced that those Taoist priests were probably
the third generation of the Quanzhen Sect, and one of them, a black-robed Taoist, was likely a high-ranking leader.

After a dozen or so moves, the leader said impatiently, "Junior Brother Yin, Junior Brother Li, form the Big Dipper Formation..."

Holy crap! Yin Zhiping is down there? Is that the old Taoist who slept with Xiaolongnu and gave me a cuckold's horns? If he's the same generation as
Guo Jing , he must be at least forty years old. To rape a teenage girl like that, his mentality must be quite twisted... I
hesitated, wondering if I should kill him first to vent my anger. Hey? That pockmarked guy who shouted looks exactly like
the legendary Zhao Zhijing. I might as well kill him too.

I took out a handkerchief to cover my face, then found a wooden stick of suitable thickness nearby. I leaped to Li Mochou's side and shouted,
"What kind of skill is it to bully the weak with numbers? Girl, I'm here to help you!" Then I shouted at the Taoist priests, "
What kind of skill is it for you grown men to bully a woman! If you know what's good for you, get out of here!"

"This humble Taoist..." Yin Zhiping was about to explain to me that behind me was the infamous Crimson Flame Demon Li Mochou,
but before I could speak,
Zhao Zhijing interrupted, "Junior Brother Yin, why are you wasting your breath on this kid? This kid is hiding his face and must be on the same side as this demon. Let me send you to your death!" The man who seemed to be Zhao Zhijing shouted loudly.

"I'm not on the same side as him. Our feud has nothing to do with him," Li Mochou said.

"Look, this kid must be the female demon's lover, otherwise why would she protect him like this?" Zhao Zhijing
said, and with a move called "Parting Flowers and Willows," he thrust his sword at me.

I sneered inwardly. "You think you can master your pathetic Quanzhen swordsmanship?" I thought. My martial arts were far superior to Zhao Zhijing's, and I was familiar with the Quanzhen
swordsmanship . With a single strike, I blocked the path between Zhao Zhijing's wrist and the spine of his sword, and with a gentle twist, I disarmed him.
Without a word, I struck Zhao Zhijing squarely on the head, knocking him to the ground, cursing, "What did you say?
You think I'm hiding? I'm beating you up, you coward!" Then I proceeded to
brutally beat .

The other five Taoists were shocked, wondering why their senior brother Zhao was acting so strangely today. Little did they know that my thrust, penetrating to the tip of my staff,
had sealed Zhao Zhijing's pressure points, rendering him powerless to retaliate.

The five men rushed to reinforce me, but something even more unbelievable happened. The masked man, like a ghost, flashed
into the crowd. Without any apparent move, I struck so fast that not a single Quanzhen disciple could withstand
a single blow from my staff. They were all beaten black and blue, lying on the ground.

"Who are you? With your skills, you are no nobody in the martial world. Don't you know that behind you
is the infamous 'Red Lotus Fairy,' the female demon Li Mochou?" Only Yin Zhiping stood among the Quanzhen disciples. Knowing
he was outmatched, he still drew his sword and shouted.

"I don't know anything about the Red Lotus Fairy or the White Lotus Fairy. I just can't stand you people bullying the weak with your numbers,
shouting and killing without any mercy. I think you're all fake Taoists. Today, I'm going to teach you fake
Taoists a lesson." I argued and bluffed.

Zhao Zhijing, lying on the ground, roared, "You little lecher, you lust after Li Mochou's beauty! Everyone in the martial world has the right to kill you! But
if don't die today, I'll tear you to pieces!"

Damn it, this old bastard's mind is the most despicable. Although Li Mochou was nearly thirty, she was a genuine virgin
. Having been repeatedly insulted by this scoundrel Zhao Zhijing, she was already consumed by rage.

Li Mochou said hatefully, "You won't live past today!" She was about to strike Zhao Zhijing dead with a palm.

Damn, Li Mochou has gone berserk! Although I spoke harshly, Zhao Zhijing and Yin Zhiping haven't committed any crimes yet. I can't exactly
tell them that I'm killing them because one of them will betray the Quanzhen Sect and the other will go back to rape women, can I?

"Stop!" Yin Zhiping shouted, thrusting his sword at Li Mochou, attempting a diversionary tactic to rescue Zhao Zhijing.

But Li Mochou was blinded by rage, preferring to take a sword herself rather than let Zhao Zhijing die first. Seeing that Yin Zhiping couldn't come to his rescue in time, Zhao Zhijing
had already closed his eyes in despair, awaiting death.

At the critical moment, "slap!" I struck out with a palm, knocking Li Mochou away and deflecting Yin Zhiping's attack. "You guys are such
a nuisance , always wanting to kill, kill..." Before I could finish speaking, I felt a burning sensation in my palm. I looked up and saw that my palm was
blackened.

"Haha, kid, you've been poisoned by the Crimson Flame Palm. Well done, a harlot beating her lover, how interesting!" Zhao Zhijing was
indeed an ungrateful scoundrel. He didn't appreciate that I had just saved his life, but instead resented me for humiliating him and beating him up. He didn't care that
his own life was hanging by a thread, only caring about getting his tongue out.

"Shut up!" Yin Zhiping knew that his side was now in imminent danger. Seeing that this young man didn't seem to be with Li Mochou, he
was afraid that Zhao Zhijing would provoke me into a ferocious rage and kill them all. Although he wasn't afraid of death, he couldn't let his fellow disciples make pointless
sacrifices. "Young brother, thank you for saving my senior brother. This is the Nine-Turn Dragon-Snake Pill from my Quanzhen Sect. It can replenish vital energy and cure
all poisons. Please take it."

"Yin Zhiping, what are you? A spineless coward! I didn't ask you to save me. I'll say it again: as long as I don't die
today , I will definitely get my revenge!" Zhao Zhijing roared, his face flushed with anger.

I waved my hand and politely declined, "Hehe, 'Scratching Shit Palm' is nothing. I won't waste the Daoist's spiritual medicine." I thought to myself:
Yin Zhiping, if it weren't for the inner demon of Little Dragon Girl, you would be a perfect person comparable to Grandmaster Ma Yu. Let's see if
I can help you. I silently circulated my inner energy for a week, and the poison quickly seeped out from my palm. I shook my hand, and my left palm was as smooth as before.

Li Mochou had already taken out the antidote from her medicine pouch, but upon hearing me insult her martial arts again, she angrily put it away,
secretly vowing to make me suffer before begging for her help again before giving me the antidote. However, she was astonished to see that I forced out all the poison in the blink of an
eye … “What is love in this world, that it makes people willing to die for each other!” Why did he save me,
yet repeatedly hurt me… Li Mochou felt a pang of sadness, thinking to herself: Love has ruined my life, why should I
suffer for a man again?

I removed my mask and smiled, “I think there’s been some misunderstanding between us. I didn’t expect you all to be Taoist masters from the Quanzhen Sect. I apologize
for any offense.”

Yin Zhiping and the others were all shocked. They, seven people combined, had been beaten to a pulp by a teenager.
It was truly a disgrace. "Very well said, young hero indeed! May I ask which sect's disciple you are?"

Li Mochou leaped two zhang away in a flash, running off without looking back. She assumed that revealing my identity meant I was handing her over to
the Quanzhen Sect members, so why wouldn't she run?

Yin Zhiping and the others were either injured or crippled; none of them dared to chase after that female demon. Besides, even if they did, they certainly wouldn't catch her.
One of the Chi Lian Fairy's most famous skills was her lightness skill.

"Hehe, I'd better not say anything. Otherwise, you can go and complain to my master, and I'll have to apologize. Ignorance is
no excuse. Farewell, gentlemen! We'll meet again someday!" I smiled, cupped my hands, and
flew away as well. Only the Quanzhen Sect disciples were left standing there, unsure whether to continue the pursuit.

"Senior Brother Yin, what should we do?" Li Zhichang asked.

"Carry Senior Brother Zhao back to the mountain. If Master wishes to punish me, I will bear it all." Yin Zhiping remained silent for a long time before sighing and saying
... On the other side, I chased for about a mile before catching up with Li Mochou. "Hey, beautiful lady, wait for me!" Li

Mochou stopped and shouted, "You lecherous scoundrel, what are you waiting for?"

"Give me the antidote." I said, reaching out my hand.

"Didn't you already cure yourself?" Li Mochou asked, puzzled.

"I'm poisoned by your beauty, and I can't extricate myself." I teased.

"Pfft~!" Li Mochou couldn't help but laugh, and I was captivated by her beauty: "Beautiful... truly a charming and
charming , perfect for a moment of leisurely playfulness."

Hearing my praise, Li Mochou was delighted, but then turned and asked, "What exactly do you want? Why are you following
me?"

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