[Wuxia] The Legend of Condor Heroes: The World's Ruler [Complete] - 17

Chapter Seventy-Two: Stealing Nanyang, Cleaning Up the Battlefield. I am called Heaven Three Feet High;
I gather demons to protect my family. A general falls in Xiangyang City.

Three days have passed, and Uncle Guo is still unconscious. Seeing him grow weaker day by day, Huang Yaoshi is still helpless. The whole
family is gathered in the ward, but no one can think of a solution.

"It's already the third day..." Ke Zhen'e sighed in the ward.

"Brother Jing's pulse is still relatively stable, but if this continues..." Rong'er dared not think, she held the child
and secretly wiped away her tears, saying, "He hasn't even seen the child..." Rong'er still considered Po Lu and Xuan'er as
a debt to be repaid to the Guo family, and I naturally did not have much objection, after all, these two children were destined to be born.

"Let me go to Nanyang, maybe I can find the antidote. If I wait two more days, it will be too late when they return north."
I said.

Fu Mei held her newborn sister, hesitant to speak. She was conflicted. She was afraid I would be in danger, but she also wanted to save her father.
And I had never disappointed anyone when I said I would do something, so she held onto a sliver of hope.

"Count the old blind man in too." Ke Zhen'e slammed his steel cane down, assuming a fighting stance.

"This..." Rong'er ignored him, but she knew he was telling the truth. If she hesitated any longer, Guo Jing's life would be in danger.

"I'll go with you." Seeing his most prized disciple in this state, Hong Qigong had to overcome his
laziness and said to me.

"Qigong, I should go by myself. Going alone will help me avoid the enemy's notice. It would be best if I could outsmart them. If I can't handle it,
I can come back for reinforcements." I advised.

"I want to go with my brother! I don't trust you to go alone." Fu Mei still said worriedly.

"Don't be silly. You're all about to become mothers. I'll have to take care of you if anyone goes." Seeing that San Niang, Chu
Qing, Wu Shuang were all eager to go, I quickly dissuaded them.

“Miss Long’s lightness skill is superb, and her martial arts are excellent. Why don’t you ask her to accompany you?” My pretty master’s wife suddenly said
this , and the elders all nodded in agreement. Although my darlings didn’t look too good, for my safety’s sake,
they all had to admit that Little Dragon Girl was the best choice.

“Let’s forget it. She became famous at the Heroes’ Gathering. At least the Golden Wheel Monk and Yin Kexi were impressed by her
.” I shook my head and denied it. But before I could finish speaking, three human skin masks were handed to me… Little Dragon
Girl disguised ourselves as an inconspicuous country couple and easily blended into Nanyang City. I originally wanted to bring
Manman, that clever girl, but there was no mask that would fit her, and I was worried that she would be too bold and cause trouble, so I gave up the idea.

“Let’s settle down first. We can ask around at the inn.” I said, turning around. Little Dragon Girl nodded without
saying much, which showed her honest and simple nature as a country girl.

I chuckled inwardly, wondering what she would be like in middle age. Seeing
the strange glint in my eyes, she gently asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing," I replied, turning to lead the way, thinking: You can tell I'm smiling even with a mask on. We first found a quiet place
to change, then found an inn near the city center and booked two adjacent superior rooms.

"Waiter, I have something to ask you," I said, stopping him as I asked the waiter to bring the food to our room. "Nanyang City seems quite lively these
past few days Has some important figure arrived?"

"Ah, sir, you're absolutely right..." he whispered mysteriously, leaning closer. "It's Kublai Khan, the second
prince . He's come from the south with a large army!"

I thought to myself that this waiter was quite clever, speaking flawlessly and offending no one. I secretly slipped a small
silver and whispered, "Where is he staying now?"

The shopkeeper looked at me with surprise, pointed south, and I nodded, signaling him to speak without worry. "So you're
a chivalrous hero from the south! You should know that the Mongols suffered a great loss in Xiangyang. Kublai Khan fled back in disarray
. I heard from my brothers in the yamen that he hasn't left yet; he's probably going to mobilize troops for another southern campaign. As for
where he's staying, that's not something we servants would know. However, the largest mansion in Nanyang is the
large residence of the Li family in the west of the city. Perhaps you could go there and inquire." I nodded and slipped him another silver ingot. The shopkeeper
thanked me profusely and left.

I thought to myself, Kublai Khan is indeed unwilling to accept defeat and plans to make a comeback. I couldn't help but ponder. Although the morale of the soldiers and civilians in
Xiangyang was high, in my opinion, the
best military strategy was to minimize casualties and subdue the enemy without fighting. If it were thirty years ago, I could rely on the fortifications of Xiangyang and use a grinding strategy to wear down the Mongol cavalry's
strength . I was confident that I could recover all the lost territories south of the Great Wall within ten years. But times have changed. The Mongols have
occupied the former Jin, Western Xia, Tibet, and various Persian tribes in the Western Regions. They could easily assemble a
ragtag army of 300,000 men. Even a multitude of ants can kill an elephant. I admit I can't afford a war of attrition. So, I have a new
mission … "Is it troublesome?" Xiaolongnu asked with concern, seeing my furrowed brow.

I looked up at her, a smile creeping onto my face, and couldn't help but tease her, "I've noticed you
've been talking a lot more lately."

"Hmph…" Xiaolongnu lowered her head to eat, ignoring me completely.

In the dead of night, when no one was around, Xiaolongnu and I donned masks and changed into night clothes, heading straight for
the home . We quietly climbed over the wall and saw three shifts of guards patrolling, the security was exceptionally tight. I thought to myself: it seems we've found the
right place. I already had a general idea of what kind of nameless poison Uncle Guo had been poisoned with. If we're talking about the nameless poisons of the Western Regions, what could be
more terrifying than the "Seven Insects Seven Flowers Ointment" of the Vajra Sect? It was obvious that the old scoundrel, the head monk, hadn't left yet. The fact that such a crippled
man was still clinging to Kublai Khan's side meant he still had some value, which further convinced me that he was behind it all.
However, faced with such a large mansion, I was at a loss. I wanted to capture a servant for questioning, but after guarding for half an hour, we
hadn't seen a single servant pass by. The people coming and going were all guards and young servants who attended to the emperor in the army.

"That rascal is quite careful; he chased away all the servants and maids inside and outside the Li family. Looks like we're in for a busy night."
People say that beauty is best appreciated under the moonlight, and the hazy moonlight bathing the serene Little Dragon Girl in a unique charm, further enhanced by her well-tailored attire.
Wearing a tight-fitting, short-sleeved night outfit, I couldn't help but secretly fantasize about the curves of Xiaolongnu's body beneath.

She clearly didn't see through my lewd thoughts, simply nodding to indicate which way to go.

I saw it was getting late; although it was almost the full moon and the moonlight was bright, for the two of us infiltrators, avoiding the visible and hidden
sentries was still a piece of cake. Finally, we reached the backyard. I observed the layout of the courtyard; the main house should belong to Kublai Khan, and the east and
west wings should be guarded by Yin Kexi and the Golden Wheel Monk. In other words, if nothing unexpected happened, the head cook and his apprentice,
along with Darba and others, should be living in the outer second courtyard. Suddenly, an idea struck me, and I said to Xiaolongnu, "Let's go see
what their food is like."

Xiaolongnu didn't understand, but she wasn't good at asking questions. Since I said so, she followed me out again, and after
a little time, we found the kitchen.

I gestured for her to stay still, and then, taking advantage of the absence of anyone in the kitchen, I added seasoning to both their meat and vegetable dishes. Heaven knows if
these fake monks even eat vegetables, but I didn't leave any in the soup or the vegetables. I used a sleeping potion left behind by Ouyang Feng; anything made by the Western Poison
Master bound to be top-notch—colorless, odorless, and highly effective. The amount I just added was enough to knock out several cows. I chuckled to myself, thinking,
"You'd better give me some face and have a midnight snack, otherwise this bottle of good medicine will be wasted, and it would be a disservice to this first time I've
used a sleeping potion in all these years." Little Dragon

Girl and I had just crouched down a short distance away when the food was quickly served. I smiled inwardly, and sure enough,
soon the rooms all fell silent. We jumped down from the eaves and first entered what appeared to be the room of the head cook. I was initially
extra cautious, worried that the old man might detect the sleeping potion, but seeing him sprawled on the table, sleeping like a log, I
relaxed.

The monk with only one hand left and his four disciples were still there, already knocked unconscious by the poison. I felt relieved, thinking that if even
he, an expert in poisons, couldn't detect it, then there shouldn't be any problem. Little Dragon Girl quietly stood guard at the door for me.
I opened the medicine box, which was neatly organized with poisons and antidotes. Fortunately, he still kept the habit of labeling them with Chinese characters, otherwise
this huge box would have been too much for me to carry. Zombie Powder, Netherworld Fire, Meng Po Soup... bottles of medicines with sinister and strange names appeared before my
eyes. I thought to myself that this guy was truly a genius, born into poverty yet self-taught, proficient in both martial arts and poisons. It seemed
that he had some extraordinary encounter after escaping Shaolin. Hmm, found it, Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment, this was one of the main purposes of my visit today.
Keep searching... I found the formula for "Seven Insects Seven Flowers Ointment" among a pile of prescriptions, but I was in trouble. I remembered that for this kind of poison,
the antidote also changed depending on the poisonous insects used in the formula or the dosage ratio. What should I do? I caught sight of a medicine bottle and
my heart skipped a beat – “Three Laughs Carefree Powder.” It dawned on me; this old fellow had actually gone to Xingxiu Sea and inherited the family fortune of the Xingxiu
Old Monster Ding Chunqiu. No wonder his poison and medical skills were so formidable. Unfortunately, this old man was sinister and cunning, and I
dared not wake him to ask what was going on. Thinking that time was limited, I decided to capture him first. I picked out two or
three other medicines that caught my eye: the renowned Nine-Turn Spiritual Treasure Pill from the Carefree Sect, the Shaolin Life-Creating Pill, and the Holy Medicine Calming
the Mind Pill for Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Qi. If this bastard didn't cooperate, perhaps the Life-Creating Pill could still give Uncle Guo a glimmer of hope.

We tied him up, tucked him under our arm, and went to the main guest room. We saw that Kublai Khan, the Golden Wheel Monk, and Yin Kexi had all
been subdued. I thought Kublai Khan must have relied too much on the arrogant Golden Wheel Monk, thinking he was invincible with him around. He
never expected to be outmaneuvered and trampled underfoot again.

I tied up the Mongol prince as well. I wanted to search the other two's rooms, but then I thought, "Leave a way out for others, so we can meet
again in the future ." I still had a use for Yin Kexi, and the Golden Wheel Monk was a great man; I didn't want him to die such a pathetic death,
so I spared their lives. I left a letter telling them to behave themselves, and if they wanted revenge, they should go back to their hometowns, cultivate properly, and then
come back to find me… "How do we get out?" Little Dragon Girl
asked curiously, her face strange, seeing me carrying two large bundles and fiddling with the letter with great interest, seemingly in no hurry to leave. She couldn't fathom how I could possibly
slip away with two grown men right under everyone's noses.

"Don't worry, I have a plan." I circled the house, took out a silver ingot, tied a rope to it, and measured it against the corner of the wall
, which further confirmed my suspicions. The house sank in the east and receded in the west; the gentle slope of the pond outside was clearly built by hand with rammed earth. Over
time, gravity had caused it to collapse, indicating there must be a passage beneath the house leading outside. Judging from the earthwork, this
passage at least led to the street outside. It was likely set up in the owner's bedroom for escape in an emergency; after
all, in these chaotic times, such a passage might come in handy someday.

Now that I had a diagnosis, all that remained was to find the entrance as quickly as possible. "Keep an eye on the doorway; I'm looking for the entrance to the secret passage,"
I instructed, and began searching vases, wooden partitions, the head and foot of the bed, under the carpet, and other places where mechanisms might be hidden.

"Whoosh!" The ground sank, revealing several steps. I called out, "Let's go!" and scooped up Kublai Khan and the cook,
Toutuo jumping inside. I lit a torch in the passage with a tinderbox, and after Xiaolongnu followed, I found the mechanism to
close the floor panel before continuing to lead the way.

The passage descended, but surprisingly, it widened as we went. After walking for more than ten minutes, we entered a natural cave. "
It seems to be a very long passage. If I'm not mistaken, it leads directly to the outside of the city." I took out my compass and checked it.
We were heading southwest, and if nothing unexpected happened, this passage should lead to the river. As I spoke, I turned to look at
Xiaolongnu , who was following behind me, suppressing a smile. Feeling utterly bewildered, I asked, "What are you laughing about
? Is something wrong with me?"

Xiaolongnu couldn't hold back her laughter any longer and said, "Nothing, it's just that you look too funny right now."

I looked around. On my left hip was the battle sword I'd snatched from Yin Kexi; on my right shoulder was the Golden Wheel Monk's golden and silver
double wheels ; and on my left shoulder were two large bags of jewels, medicine, and gold bricks. I was also carrying two people in my hands. I certainly looked a bit greedy.
My face flushed, and I said, "I can't help it. I have a whole family to support. Without these, where would you get the money for food, clothes, and cosmetics?"
I deliberately tried to be charming, but my eyes were secretly fixed on the rouge on her lips, really wanting to taste it to see if it was sweet.

"You..." Little Dragon Girl was no longer the silly girl who had just crawled out of her grave. Hearing me shamelessly and deliberately flirting with her, she blushed with embarrassment
but couldn't retaliate. After all, she was eating and wearing my clothes.

Seeing her embarrassed and annoyed, I quickly changed the subject, saying, "But thrift is a good thing, isn't it? Otherwise, leaving these medicines to them, saving
one life, would just create another enemy for us; these gold and silver jewels, they can bribe officials in the south to buy lots of weapons,
taking them would weaken their threat, I think that makes sense, don't you think?" Just kidding, I used to be known for my
ruthless cleanup tactics... Okay, okay, I admit it wasn't a compliment, it just shows how good I was at squeezing money.
However , Little Dragon Girl is the easiest to fool; as soon as I finished speaking, she tilted her head and started thinking about what I said. Seeing that she wasn't saying anything, I
continued walking ahead, with her silently following behind me.

After walking about a mile, she suddenly said, "You're probably right... but I just don't understand why people
fight and kill each . They're both human, we're both human, strangers to each other, yet we hate each other."

I fell silent, thinking: indeed, the purer the soul, the more likely it is to uncover the essence of the problem. The allure of power, the
ambition of one person to possess the world—why can it cause so many complete strangers to kill each other without hesitation? This
philosophical beyond my ability to answer, so I could only respond with silence.

This cave must be an underground passage formed by the impact of a river, but since it was the dry season, it should be
safe . Soon we saw a small wooden boat stranded by the path, further confirming my guess. After traveling several more miles, a bright and open space appeared before
us . Pushing aside the weeds at the cave entrance, we saw a bright, clear moon in the sky and a vast, unnamed
river flowing before us… The moon hung high, and the river surged eastward. Feuds, wars, and years of chaos had changed everything, but this mighty
river remained unchanged throughout the ages. I couldn't help but murmur, “How calm the waters are, how lofty the mountains and islands stand! Trees grow in abundance, and grasses
flourish . The autumn wind is bleak, and the waves surge. The sun and moon seem to rise from within it, and the starry sky seems to emerge from within it…”

I turned and smiled, only to see Little Dragon Girl looking at me with a somewhat bewildered yet curious expression… What a pity, if it were Rong'er, she would surely understand my
feelings right now. Although the scene of her standing by the water's edge amidst the shimmering autumn waters was beautiful, I still shook my head slightly
and said , "Miss Long, let's go. Perhaps the enemy is already on their way."

At dawn, we returned to Xiangyang City. Rong'er
was overjoyed to see that I had caught two large fish, especially Kublai Khan, whom I had captured. I smiled and told her the information I had gathered. The enemy was now hesitant to act rashly, as Kublai Khan's status
was different from Khodu's; he was the eldest son of Tolui Khan, the current Great Khan of the Mongols, ?gedei Khan's direct nephew. It seemed unlikely that the Mongols would easily
start another war; at most, they would send representatives to negotiate peace.

The three old fellows, Hong Qigong, Huang Yaoshi, and the Old Urchin, took the prescription and went off to interrogate the cook, Toutuo. My wives and concubines
were still unaware that I had returned, so only Rong'er and I were left in the room...
The person I had been thinking about day and night was right in front of me, but I knew she was not in the mood, so I obediently sat down at the desk. Feeling bored, I
picked up a wolf-hair brush, prepared the ink, and began to write.

"Practicing calligraphy? Why are you being so well-behaved today?" Rong'er, carrying Xuan'er, came over, curiously watching what I was writing.
She smiled and read aloud: "The fairy maiden Miaoshe, with the grace of the goddess Luo. The water is clear and still, the deep pool flows quietly. The jade is warm and lustrous,
pure and flawless. Bright eyes and a gentle smile, eyebrows like a crescent moon. The brocade is beautiful, the spring sunshine is radiant. The bright moon is on the sea, the misty waves stretch for thousands of miles. Lingering in the moon palace of Guanghan, plucking
laurels, Qi Yuan, the Nine Heavens Maidens scattering flowers.

The fairy pool is joyful, a hundred flowers compete in beauty. Dew ripples, blue kites roam. Going back to the source, soaring straight up. Swallows and cranes on the red steps, only able to reach the music and
dance . Elegant songs and banquets, the Milky Way is dazzling. The primordial chaos is in harmony, is this not joy? Life..." Time flies, life is fleeting and aimless. I am filled with melancholy and restless,
searching . Like a mayfly in the vast ocean, a grain of millet in a granary. Spring flowers bloom, summer dust settles. Lazy spring and autumn, harsh winter and summer. The universe cycles, three
lifetimes pass. Holding your hand, we arrive at the same destination despite different paths. Just this thought, is it joyful…? She looked on with a mixture of shyness and delight, but couldn't help but chide me, “
What, you spent the whole night watching the moonlight with Miss Long, and you've developed so many feelings?”

I grinned and said, “If I were watching the stars and moon with her, I could only write poems like ‘Therefore, Liu Xia Ji, three times served as Lu Shi Shi.’
This one is certainly not for her.” I blew on the ink to dry it and handed it to Rong'er. Rong'er happily
took it, and seeing no one around, secretly kissed me, saying she would find a place to keep it safe.

Just then, Fu Mei and San Niang, who had stayed at the mansion the previous night, learned of my return and rushed over immediately. "Big brother, are you
alright ?" The two women checked me over as soon as they entered, stretching my arms and legs. Seeing I was unharmed, they asked, "How are you? Do you have the antidote?"

I smiled and nodded, indicating they shouldn't worry. Although I had told my father-in-law and grandfather about the dangers inside (a drop of sweat),
I couldn't tell Fu Mei. It wouldn't help; it would only make her worry unnecessarily. Besides, I had a last resort—the Life-Creating Pill,
said to be able to seize the very essence of heaven and earth. There were only three of those precious pills, so
it was best to save them for a more critical moment unless absolutely necessary.

I worked for almost a day and a night, then returned to my room and cuddled Wu Shuang for a good night's sleep. This girl, since becoming pregnant,
sleeps until noon every day; today was a lucky day for me.

When I woke up, the three old men who had been interrogated had obtained the poison's formula and were busy preparing
the antidote. I was somewhat surprised. I thought that while Qi Gong was upright and honest, and knew some techniques like the "Dislocating Tendons and Bones Hand," he probably
wasn't very good at extracting confessions. Huang Yaoshi, though skilled, was no match for a tough nut like the Head Monk, so his "Bone-Piercing Needles" and "
Ten Thousand Ants Devouring the Heart" techniques were probably just for show. I had planned to continue interrogating him after waking up, but I didn't expect him to confess so easily.

"That was all thanks to my methods!" the Old Urchin laughed smugly. "They argued and fought, but that one wouldn't look
or say a word. In the end, I had to personally intervene!"

It took me a while to understand. He had used the story from "Hail the Judge" that I had told him: first, release insects,
then rats, then snakes to catch the rats. This whole ordeal finally pried open the Head Monk's mouth. As for the old bald man's
final fate... I don't know if he was put in the Beggars' Sect's trophy museum as a specimen or sent back to Shaolin Temple to meditate
.

Uncle Guo's poison wounds healed quickly, and by the third day he was able to slowly get out of bed. However, his internal injuries still needed proper care.
As for whether that thing could still be used, that was not something I could inquire about. Even Rong'er couldn't say for sure, since he was still recovering from his injuries
... After curing Guo Jing and capturing Kublai Khan, Huang Yaoshi, seeing that the situation was settled, quietly passed away the next day without leaving a single word.
Hong Qigong continued his investigation into the Demonic Sect, which had delayed him for many days. He was also preparing to set off. Ke Zhen'e decided to
go with Hong Qigong, hoping to contribute his efforts. The Old Urchin had his eye on Hundred Flowers Valley near the Valley of Heartbreak and also took Ying Gu with him. In a single day, Xiangyang
City became much quieter. Only my wives and concubines remained in Xiangyang, as the next round of negotiations with the Mongols
required Rong'er and my presence. The affairs of Xinye could be handled by my subordinates, while the affairs of the Guo family would rely more on them.

The imperial decree of commendation had not yet arrived, but instead, a reprimand was delivered. At this time, Shi Miyuan had already claimed illness and resigned. The newly appointed
Ding Daquan was obsequious to the north but arrogant towards us, distorting a glorious victory into a claim that could
disrupt border peace, recklessly start a war, and cause widespread suffering.

However, I was prepared. Through the channel of the Celestial Master Zhang Keda, I submitted the battle report to Emperor Lizong of Song. Although he was weak, he
was not entirely incompetent. He issued an imperial edict affirming the significance of the victory at Xiangyang, but the responsibility for attacking Xinye and provoking war was undeniable.
Merit demerit canceled each other out, with neither reward nor punishment, effectively giving both us and Ding Daquan a fifty-fifty slap. His actions thoroughly dampened
the enthusiasm of the soldiers and civilians in Xiangyang, Fancheng, and Xinye, and further strengthened my determination to establish my own territories.

The struggle over Kublai Khan was even more intense. The Mongol side sent a special envoy to negotiate. The chief envoy was the Mongol wise minister Borju, and
the deputy envoy was my old acquaintance, Yelü Jin, the eldest son of Yelü Chucai. The Lin'an side sent a delegation led by two treacherous officials, Jia Sidao, a scholar of the Baowenge Pavilion,
and Chen Yizhong, a court official, to negotiate peace.

Furthermore, ?gedei Khan of the Golden Horde ordered his general, Ariq B?ke, Kublai Khan's younger brother, to personally lead 50,000 elite cavalry and
100,000 infantry to Nanyang to put pressure on Xiangyang. Suddenly, war clouds gathered over the nine prefectures of Jingchu, as if the second
great war between the Song and Mongol dynasties was about to begin.

"You're so carefree, aren't you? I didn't expect my blunder to bring such trouble upon Ariq B?ke," Kublai Khan
said me in the prison cell. I placed a piece on the board and couldn't help but probe.

"Brother Yang captured the young king to prevent another war, isn't it? I suspect this war is unlikely to break
out ," Kublai Khan replied, placing a piece on the board as well. Although he was wary of the firearms I possessed, he also saw
my concerns. If peace wasn't negotiated, the Mongol allied forces would press in, and a fight to the death would be difficult.

I must admit, Kublai Khan was the most learned, magnanimous, and resolute Mongol I had ever met.
His ability to analyze things so thoroughly and speak so eloquently even at this point truly impressed me. It's a pity he fell into my hands. Otherwise, according to the original
script, after ?gedei's death, his empress would have supported Yugui in his struggle for the Khanate against M?ngke. M?ngke would have succeeded but died shortly after, leaving Kublai without
an heir. Kublai, whose prestige was at its zenith, could have easily ousted Ariq B?ke, whom M?ngke had chosen on his deathbed.
Now , however, his life bears an indelible stain of humiliation—the humiliation of being defeated and captured by the weak southerners. This is exactly
the effect I wanted. Even if history isn't corrected, and a decade or so later he develops the ambition to challenge Ariq B?ke for the Khanate, this stain
won't allow him to succeed. The longer and more intense the battle, the better, and the more people involved, the better. I will drive you step
by step towards the Mongolian steppe, and even further west. What I need to do now is like releasing a hawk—not only must I not dampen his
spirits, but I must also release him at the right time and in the right place. I originally wanted to control him with the Soul-Capturing Technique, but who
can guarantee that there aren't masters of this skill among the shamans of the grasslands, the Tibetan border, and the esoteric sects of the Western Regions?
I won't do anything that won't achieve the desired effect and will only arouse suspicion.

"Perhaps you're right, but personally, I wouldn't mind cutting off your head. My second brother, Meng Gong, was
harmed terribly by you..." Thinking of Meng Gong, my heart felt heavy. He was seriously injured and hiding in a small mountain village to recover. He was only sent back to
Xiangyang yesterday, but he had also gone through a near-death experience, with as many as thirteen contusions and fractures on his body. Fortunately, I stole the sacred medicine
Black Jade Bone-Mending Ointment, which can reconnect tendons and bones, and quickly took it out to apply it to him. He's wrapped up like a rice dumpling now, looking even more miserable than Guo Jing. His return
proved Xiao Wu's innocence. I saw that Third Sister still cared about her son, so I used my connections to release him. However, he was too ashamed to face
his master, so he only hurriedly greeted his master's wife before rushing back to Xichuan.

The game of chess had reached the middle stage, and although the outcome was still uncertain, I had no desire to waste any more time with Kublai Khan.
I turned and left the small courtyard where he was being held, heading straight for the house on Chuping Street.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I was delighted to find only Rong'er waiting for me. It had been half a year since we'd been alone together, and today I
finally had a chance to have a private conversation.

I pulled her tightly into my arms. So much had happened these past few days, and there were so many things I wanted to say, yet
I hadn't had the chance to express them. Now, I didn't even know where to begin. "Rong'er, I missed you so much!"

Rong'er was slightly startled, not expecting me to say such a thing. "Silly girl...we're together every day!"

"How can it be the same? So many people are around every day, and so many things have happened in just a few days. But seeing that
you and your child are safe and sound, I can finally rest easy." I thought about how I had become a father again, and my heart felt even calmer,
as if everything I had done was worthwhile.

She knew that I had been tired these past few days, and so had she. So she closed her eyes slightly and buried her head in my
arms , gently saying to me, "Thank you, Guo'er, thank you for everything you've done for me and for Brother Jing."

I regained some strength and pulled her onto the bed, lightly pecking at her nose and smiling, "Do we need to thank each other so
formally ?" Rong'er just smiled sweetly and didn't say anything more, only holding me even tighter.

I reached out to undo her bodice, but she blushed and gently stopped me, saying, "Not today... there, and...
my ."

I smiled and said, "No, my darling is always the most beautiful. I'm not thinking about anything else, I just want to see
how bad your injury is." With that, I firmly removed her hand. Rong'er didn't stop me, but shyly
closed and turned her head to the side.

I lifted her bodice and saw that her lower abdomen was covered with stretch marks. These glaring and grotesque lines appeared
on my beloved's body, and all I could see was pity. I couldn't help but kiss each line, hoping to use my love
to erase these unpleasant marks. Rong'er sensed my heartache and stroked my hair, saying, "It's good that you still
care me. These marks will probably fade in three to five months." Seeing that I didn't mind her slightly
wrinkled abdomen and the marks on her belly, Rong'er smiled with relief.

"Even so, my darling, you've suffered so much, carrying two children all at once. It must have been incredibly tough, right?" I sat
up, covered Rong'er with the blanket, and lay down beside her, pulling her into my arms as I asked.

Thinking of our precious babies, Rong'er couldn't help but smile sweetly,
feeling . "You're such a darling little devil, hmm~ now you've become a big rascal, so mischievous! Rong'er is
almost driven crazy by you three!" Rong'er recalled our wild days and couldn't help but chuckle, her face
flushing . But then she blushed and nestled deeper into my arms.

"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing her sudden silence.

"Hmm~ nothing, my breasts are a little swollen, I have too much milk..." Rong'er shook her head.

"Really? Let me check on you, baby." I was overjoyed. How could I miss such a wonderful opportunity? I helped Rong'er untie
her bodice , and a pair of full, round breasts were revealed before my eyes. The deep red areolas were quite swollen, and some
white milk was already seeping from the nipples.

Afraid of hurting Rong'er, I restrained my impulse and bent down to take one nipple into my mouth, gently squeezing the breast. The faint
sweetness, the faint fragrance, and the faint fishy smell—I truly fell in love with this sensation. I mischievously took a mouthful,
then leaned in front of Rong'er. She parted her cherry lips slightly and we shared a deep kiss. I transferred the milk from my mouth into hers. "Rong'er,
now you understand what it means to take your own milk, right? And it's huge

, no less!" "Ugh, I won't give you any more. I need to save some of my milk for the children. Don't drink it all." Rong'er tugged at her clothes,
hiding her breasts, and threw herself against my chest, drawing circles as she said, "I'm angry. I was just thinking, did you
bully Third Sister like this before? Will you bully Fu'er and Chu Qing like this in the future...? These days, I
haven't been able to sleep at night, and I often go to sleep with tears in my eyes. I want to stay in your arms forever." Rong'er lost her mother's love at a young age, and
after marriage, Guo Jing was a blockhead who didn't know how to be considerate and caring, so she never received the most heartfelt care and love.
This continued until my arrival. Although my methods weren't drastic, but rather subtle yet meticulous,
the effect was thousands of times stronger than shouting "I love you" or "I like you" at the top of my lungs whenever she noticed. This
is why she was able to abandon all constraints and wholeheartedly fall into this whirlpool of infatuation with me, unable to
extricate herself. Having completely broken free of the established path, I shouldn't try to control her, even if it meant
exchanging . When I embarked on this forbidden, illicit love, I was prepared for this. Every time I held her in my arms, this
resolve deepened.

"Silly Rong'er..." I didn't explain much, just softly called her nickname.

"Mmm~" she responded softly, languidly yet alluringly wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Everyone says there are beauties in the world who can topple kingdoms and cities, but your beauty is enough to captivate all living beings. I want you to witness that I
will conquer an empire for you, drive the Mongol barbarians out of the Great Wall—all for you!" I murmured
softly, inhaling the delicate fragrance of Rong'er's hair.

She truly hadn't expected me to make such a declaration, but her surprise quickly turned to calm: "I don't want you to conquer any
empire, I don't care how high your official position is, even becoming emperor isn't my concern. Rong'er just wants our family to be peaceful and happy. As the
saying goes , swords and spears have no eyes, and the smoke of battle outside the battlefield kills without shedding blood. I don't want you to fall into that trap."

"I know, your ideal is simply to live a happy life, to travel and explore, to
fight , to stand up for those who are bullied and fight against bad guys—isn't that a simple ideal?" I said, stroking her beautiful hair.

"Sigh... There really isn't anyone in this world who understands me better than you." She closed her eyes slightly, wrapped her arms tightly around
me, and asked, "Why? Why do you understand me so well? Why do you love me so much... I'm just an ordinary woman...
"

"I love you, so I've been constantly observing, collecting and organizing everything about you. Every word you've said, I
remember in my heart... Otherwise, how could I have become a top scholar?" I said, gently kissing her lips.

"Hehe... You're so cheeky." Rong'er's response was simply to meet my advances with her lips and tongue, uttering
only , listening attentively to what I had to say.

"I love your intelligence, I love your gentleness. You're good to me, you cherish and love me wholeheartedly, and of course, I
cherish and love you wholeheartedly in return..." I said with a smile.

“That’s different. I used to be very wary of you, but I only treated
you well . And as you grew up and became more sensible, I gradually fell hopelessly in love with you…” Rong’er
retorted softly, still not understanding why my love was so intense.

“Hehe, isn’t it precisely through deepening our understanding that we became so deeply dependent on each other?
Does it really matter who took the first step?” I couldn’t help but kiss her earlobe and said, “And I won’t allow you to say
who you’re taking care of. I just consider us the most perfect couple in the world.” I said shamelessly.

“Giggle…so vain…mmm~” We kissed again.

After a long while, our lips parted, and we both couldn’t help but breathe heavily, as if the air in our lungs had been drained, and I felt
dizzy. Rong’er was even more exhausted beside me, collapsing into my arms, her fragrant shoulders heaving as she gasped for breath.

"Your fragrance is so intoxicating. Every time I smell the delicate scent of your hair, I lose all sense of place." I took
a deep breath and said, "Back then, 'Tingzhi Orchid' was actually designed specifically for you."

"It's not as exaggerated as you make it out to be..." Rong'er appeared shy and pleased, but inwardly she recalled the many times I had inadvertently
shown such infatuation, and she believed me even more, her smile becoming even more radiant. "Then if you only treat me well now, won't you be
neglecting everyone else..."

"I admit I am biased. You have always been my top priority... However, I will keep it within limits...
" Seeing her worry for me, I knew she was right. If San Niang and Chu Qing used to account for ten points in my heart, now they might
only account for five. Fu'er, Ying'er, Wushuang, and Rushi combined might account for five points. But Rong'er's position in my heart has never
wavered. As long as it involves her, everything else must give way. Only then did I realize that I was not
a man with boundless ambition, and that my heart could no longer accommodate Xiaolongnu, Yuan Jiejie, Xie Wanqin, or even Lingbo
and Xiaolv.

Seeing me lost in thought, Rong'er couldn't help but ask, "Hey, where did you go? Were you thinking about Miss Long?
What did you two do the night before last?" She giggled as she asked.

"You're always causing trouble. Would you only be happy if I actually did something?" I hadn't expected her to use Little Dragon Girl as a tool
to test me. That naughty girl… "Hehe… 'The beauty of the fairy maiden of Miaogu, the grace of the goddess of the Luo River…'
Was this poem really written for me?" Rong'er asked, wrinkling her little nose.

"If it wasn't for you, who else deserves it?" I lovingly smoothed her hair as I said, "
Back then we escaped from the Li family's tunnel, traveled through the cave, and went straight out of the city to the Baihe River. Seeing the bright moonlight and
the flowing river, I thought how wonderful it would be if you were by my side. Suddenly, inspiration struck, reminding me of Lu
You 's line: 'A masterpiece is born of nature, a stroke of genius by chance.' I now wholeheartedly agree." "Rong'er listened to me
recount . Her literary talent was already high, and seeing me speak with such enthusiasm, she wore a serene smile—so
peaceful, so pure. This side of her belonged entirely to me. Because of that smile, I could overcome any
hardship or danger. With her guidance, I could conquer anything… Before dark, Rong'er and I returned to the Guo
family compound. I first checked on Uncle Guo's injuries. He had recovered quickly after waking up and was chatting with Fu Mei and
playing with the two little ones, clearly in a good mood. My wives were also busy, cooking and taking care of the children, all enjoying themselves immensely.

"You're back?" Third Aunt saw me looking at her at the kitchen door and turned around with a smile. "Fourth Brother sent a letter, saying he'll arrive in a few days.
I suppose he's here to take General Meng back." She took out a letter and handed it to me.

I took the letter and said, "Second Brother's injuries are so severe; he definitely shouldn't move. This kid just wants to come back and relax for a few days."

“You brothers haven’t gotten together for years, isn’t this a rare opportunity?” Third Sister said while clearing the dishes .
Hearing

her say that, I realized it was true; since we parted two years ago, the four of us hadn’t had a single get-together.
Two years had flown by, and now even the youngest, Yu Jie, was already the Transport Commissioner of Eastern Sichuan.

“Yin’er, did you see Xiao Wu off today?” I asked.

“No… I didn’t dare go see that child.” Third Sister was conflicted. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about Xiao Wu, but her position was too
awkward; it was simply inconvenient for her to see her youngest son. “I had Xiao Lü send him two hundred taels of silver in your name. You won’t
blame me, will you?” Third Sister asked cautiously, looking at me.

“Silly boy, how could I blame you? It’s me who’s sorry, my precious Yin’er.” "These past few days, Third Sister
has been unable to eat or sleep properly because of Xiao Wu and Da Wu's situation. She often hides away and weeps in secret. I know all this, otherwise I wouldn't have been
so proactive in getting Xiao Wu out of prison." "Yin'er... following me without any official status, do you regret it?"

"Silly boy, I love you, not for that empty title." Third Sister's smile was somewhat forced. She knew I loved her deeply,
but that passion was slowly fading as we grew older. With Rong'er's arrival and
the birth , Third Sister felt even more pressure... I saw it all and guessed her thoughts. I hugged her and said, "You
're not as happy as before. I know it's all my fault. I can't be by your side every day like before, clinging to you every day.
You feel lonely, you feel neglected, right?"

Third Sister bit her lip and shook her head, but the tears welling in her eyes betrayed her feelings.

"I've realized it myself. Please give me a chance to change." "Like before, we can talk about anything, instead
of keeping everything bottled up inside, okay?" I asked, staring into her eyes.

"The problem isn't you. Yin'er just... just feels her heart is getting old. You're so energetic, I'm afraid one
day I won't be able to keep up with you..." Tears finally fell from her eyes as she sobbed.

I was silent. Before, I always discussed things with Third Sister. Since I became close to Rong'er, I've spent more
time communicating with her. Sometimes I feel that this is true understanding, but I've gradually neglected the feelings of Third Sister, and even Chu Qing
and the others. "Don't be silly, how can you say such discouraging things? I'll always be by your side. We'll
walk together until you can't walk anymore, and then I'll carry you..." I said, gently kissing the beauty's forehead.

Third Sister's worry turned to joy. Her face was still wet with tears, but she smiled and said, "You said it yourself. When the time comes, you'll have to carry us all. Let's see how you
manage."

"This... I'll take a big carriage that can fit all of us."

"Then you'll have to pull the carriage for us!" "Third Sister giggled.

"No problem, I'm willing to walk with you for a lifetime..."

Three days later, Yu Jie returned to Xiangyang City, which he had been away from for a long time. Before he even disembarked, he waved and
shouted to his elder brother and me waiting for him on the riverbank, "Elder Brother! Third Brother!"

We waved back. Seeing his excited look, I guessed that he must have some good news. After he jumped off the boat, I
went up to him and hugged him. We had lived together for a year, so our relationship was naturally very good. However,
the intensity of our love made my wives grimace and look at us sideways.

"Hello, Elder Brother! Hello, Sisters-in-law! I'm back again." In the end, he was still a young man. More than half a year in the officialdom had completely
worn away his childishness. Perhaps it was because he could show his truest self in front of me and my many beautiful wives. His two
guards, Zhang Yimang and Chen Qingzhi, also disembarked and nodded to us.

"Where is Lingbo?" "Now, Fu Mei is four months pregnant, and her belly is quite big. I was supporting her from the side
and couldn't help say, 'Slow down, my dear... I told you and Wu Shuang to wait at home, but you insisted on coming along to join the fun.'

'I missed Ling Bo! And you did the same, hugging and cuddling him as soon as you saw him, and we haven't even said anything yet,' Fu
Mei retorted.

'That's right, we haven't even said anything to you two yet,' Wu Shuang chimed in from the side.

'Ahem...' Lao Si and I coughed awkwardly together and fell silent.

At this moment, the long-absent Ling Bo also got off the boat. Seeing so many of us on the pier, she hesitated for a moment before walking
over. 'Master, Big Brother.'" She gave us a casual bow, then curiously chatted with Fu Mei and Wu
Shuang , her eyes occasionally flashing with envy, while her gaze sometimes drifted towards Lao Si. Chu Qing and I exchanged a glance,
finding it amusing; it seemed the two of them were gradually developing a tacit understanding.

Boss Mo arranged for everyone to stay at the mansion, and we had lunch together. During the meal, the fourth brother, blushing, said to me,
"Third brother, actually, besides picking up second brother, I have another important matter to attend to this time."

I smiled but didn't answer, listening quietly to what he was going to say. Chu Qing, on the other hand, was more considerate. Seeing her disciple also blushing, she couldn't help but
nudge me. I had no choice but to say, "Well, just say it. As your older brother, I'll definitely
agree

've come to propose marriage. I ask you and second sister-in-law to arrange for third sister to marry me," Yu Jie said, his face red but his tone clear
.

Everyone present was the same age as him, and they couldn't help but burst into strange laughter.

I had already guessed his thoughts, but as a leader advocating for women's rights and democracy, I naturally couldn't ignore my sister's
opinion. "Sister, my fourth brother has already expressed his opinion, what's yours?"

Lingbo, being shy, blushed and lowered her head, whispering, "I have no objection, it's up to you, brother."

I smiled, knowing she had made up her mind, so I didn't press them further and nodded, saying, "I see your
sincerity , and I actually discussed this matter with him half a year ago. I believe he made this request after careful consideration
. Now, my virtuous brother, I ask you, have you decided to marry my sister Hong Lingbo, to love and care for her for the rest of your life,
and to never abandon her, whether she is injured or sick?"

"Yes, I've decided. No matter what, I will never abandon her and will love her for life." Yu Jie stood up
and answered loudly, causing my beloved wife and Chen Qingzhi to applaud, and even Lingbo's face was filled with sweet
affection.

"Alright, since that's the case, as Lingbo's sworn brother, and with her master also present, Chuqing and I agree to your request."
I smiled slightly, stood up, raised my glass, and clinked it against his. "Everyone, raise your glasses and wish them happiness." Everyone raised their
glasses , offering their blessings to the newlyweds.

In the afternoon, we went to see my second brother, who was still lying in bed seriously injured, and informed him of the good news.

Meng Gong laughed and scolded, "So that's why you came so eagerly. Turns out you weren't here to see me, but to arrange a marriage
..."

"Second brother, that's not very kind of you. I mainly decided to arrange this marriage ahead of schedule to bring you good luck, and
you don't even thank me." Yu Jie said shamelessly, in a very good mood.

"Get as far away from me as your thoughts can take you!" They had all picked up this phrase of mine. Amidst everyone's
laughter , Zhang Yimang chuckled, "Brother Meng, you asked me to protect Xiao Yu back then, and now that he has a bodyguard, you probably
think I'm in your way. Why don't I follow you around for a while, so you won't encounter this kind of danger again?"

"Yes, Brother Zhang's martial arts are superb. These past two years, I've had a smooth journey thanks to his righteous help,"
Yu Jie chimed in, praising Zhang Yimang highly.

Meng Gong nodded in agreement. Seeing that he wasn't in good spirits, everyone withdrew to avoid disturbing his rest.

At my suggestion, Yu Jie returned to Xinye with us. I also ingeniously
held an engagement ceremony for him and Lingbo in my own courtyard. Zhang Yimang, finding it fascinating, immediately proposed to Chen Qingzhi, giving us
two engagement scenes in one day. A group of relatives and friends were invited to witness the ceremony. As the officiant, I delivered a moving speech with my storytelling skills,
which actually brought many of my friends who had come for the spectacle to tears. This unique engagement ceremony quickly became a popular
event in Xinye City. Shi Songzhi, who should have been impeaching me for violating etiquette, was the one who fueled the trend the most
, asking every acquaintance, "Is anyone in your family getting married? Have you seen Yang Gaizhi's reformed engagement ceremony?"

Two more months passed quickly in the uneventful days, and both sides' peace delegations had arrived in Xiangyang City. Fourth Brother had already taken charge of protecting
Second Brother back to Shu, otherwise, Jia Sidao's impeachment would have been enough to get him into serious trouble. We made a six-month agreement that Fourth Brother and Lingbo's
wedding would be held in the mountain city, and they invited us to attend. I nodded in agreement and saw them off on the riverboat.

The first thing Jia Sidao did upon arriving in Xiangyang was to disband the Heroic Allied Forces of Dasheng Pass. In his words, these men were
bandits and robbers, utterly unfit for service. To maintain order and law in Xiangyang, he sent them all back to their hometowns.

I, too, returned to Xinye, disgruntled. To avoid suspicion, I did not receive Yelü Jin, who was visiting. After all, negotiations were not
within my jurisdiction, and I didn't want to be accused of treason. Jia Sidao wouldn't let me testify, so I spent my days
at home with my wives, taking good care of the heavily pregnant women who were three or four months away from giving birth, while feigning illness to the outside world. Otherwise, I would
chat and play music with my beloved Rong'er on Chuping Street, and if the mood struck, we'd have sex—a very carefree life.
However, despite my intensive care, San Niang, Chu Qing, and Ying'er still showed no signs of pregnancy, simply because I didn't want them all
to be heavily pregnant and without anyone to care for me.

With the help of various medicines and my repeated cultivation of internal energy, Rong'er's health recovered extremely quickly. When
we were together, the communication between our spirits and bodies deeply intoxicated us, and the most direct form of communication was undoubtedly
the connection between our bodies. My "Overlord Spear" was immersed in that warm spring water, and I could even feel that, under such circumstances, we
could understand each other's thoughts without words. I remember Eileen Chang saying, "
The highest realm of love is when both parties are willing but do not express it, because at this time, both are fully enjoying the fiery feelings when their eyes meet, and fully enjoying
the thrilling sensation when their fingers touch..." And we seemed to have reached this realm without any deliberate effort. I wonder if this is
a level above others?

"It's amazing, I really did it!" Rong'er was overjoyed, and her proud expression couldn't help but show on her face. Because I
thought to myself, she's amazing. Even after practicing with San Niang, Chu Qing, and me for so long, we're only at the late
stage and with San Niang, we can only occasionally reach a higher level. Ru Shi is far from that, only
reaching the entry level of "transforming qi into essence." Reaching the level of "empty circulation of dual spirits" is truly the starting point of "cultivating both body and spirit,"
yet Rong'er, with the highest comprehension, has achieved it first. Firstly, her comprehension is exceptionally high, making her the best partner for cultivating both body and spirit. Secondly
, there's no barrier between our hearts, which is why we've achieved such miraculous results. Thirdly, recently, during our lovemaking, we can better understand each other's thoughts
through physical and verbal communication. When this hazy, elusive feeling becomes a habit,
we've also broken through to a very high level of dual cultivation.

“From now on, you won’t be able to hide anything from me anymore. Whenever we’re together, Rong’er will always know what you’re
thinking .” Rong’er said as her little tongue lightly licked my nipple under my slow thrusts.

“I didn’t hide anything from you anyway, and I certainly won’t!”

“Could it be that you’re too loose down there after giving birth to Xuan’er and Po Lu, so you can’t enjoy yourself to your heart’s content?” Rong’er
couldn’t help but guess when she saw that I wasn’t very interested.

I could clearly feel her thoughts, and the suction of the Dragon Pearl gradually increased. My Dragon Spear was being sucked more and more pleasurably by her,
and I couldn’t help but speed up my thrusts.

Now Rong’er was gradually mastering the movement pattern of the Dragon Pearl, and a mischievous thought arose. She couldn’t help but twist her waist and
grind in a clockwise direction. I was actually a little overwhelmed by this multiplied pleasure, so I simply stopped holding back and thrust in and out with all my might,
not giving Rong’er a chance to unwind from my offensive. My penis plunged into Rong'er's uterus, the coronal sulcus wedged against her cervix with repeated thrusts
. Our joined bodies churned with fluid, becoming a vast, swampy mess. Rong'er gripped the edge of the bed, biting
the corner of the blanket tightly, emitting soft, nasal moans. Her alluring appearance only fueled my burning desire.
I thrust forcefully over three hundred times, then roared, my powerful, turbid stream gushing deep into her womb. The surging fluid, hot as it was, made Rong'er cry out in
surprise . Her limbs clung tightly to my shoulders and back, her glands gushing forth spurts of vaginal fluid, further churning the spring waters.
Her cervix, like an octopus's sucker, gripped my glans tightly, refusing to release it. Spring waters gushed from her vagina, a torrent of
lustful rain, yet it could not shake my massive ship, now anchored in its harbor.

Rong'er lay limply on the bed, letting out a soft moan: "Mmm~ I'm dying...you've killed me again..."

Rong'er was so beautiful. We kissed, our genitals tightly intertwined, her penis like a little
mouth sucking on my precious weapon... The delicate body in my arms finally calmed down from the trembling afterglow of the climax. I slowly
withdrew the source of the trouble from Rong'er's body. The semen in her temporarily unable-to-close cervix flowed out with a large amount of vaginal fluid, soaking a large area
of the bed .

Rong'er's chest was already soaked, her glistening breasts so captivating. I couldn't help but lower my head and suckle
her smooth, plump nipple like an innocent child.

"Hehe...yes...you're such a good child..." I gently stroked my forehead as she nibbled at her nipple, letting her suckle her
sweet milk. "Mmm...you're driving me crazy...you naughty devil..."

I took a big gulp and fed it to Rong'er. She needed to replenish her water, and even though it was homemade, Rong'er still
spat her own milk. I took Rong'er's soft moans as the highest praise, and I nestled
between her breasts, murmuring with infinite affection, "How can I stop loving you? Loving you for one lifetime isn't enough...?"

"If there's an afterlife, Rong'er will definitely repay your kindness by repaying your kindness." Rong'er said, tears welling in her eyes, moved by my
words .

"Don't wait until the next life to hold hands, don't say our fate in this life isn't enough. We still have plenty of good times to spend together in this life
." I pulled Rong'er into my arms, gently comforting her, "Even in the next life, I'll repay you by repaying your kindness."

"Giggle...you're so annoying, can't you say something nice to coax me?" Rong'er giggled, amused by my words.

"Rong'er, you look so beautiful when you smile!" I gazed at her radiant smile, unable to resist praising her sincerely.

Seeing him watching every smile and gesture so intently, Rong'er sighed, "Ah, your father and I fought
so many battles back then, and now, a decade later, I've fallen for you, you philandering devil. It's karma, really. After all
, I'm old enough to be your mother."

"Then shouldn't I call you 'Mother'?" I playfully kissed Rong'er's nipple. "Mother, I want to nurse."

"You're so annoying! Don't call me that… I'm so embarrassed!" Rong'er blushed deeply, but her lower body was already wet again.

"A teacher for a day is a mother for life, right? If I don't call you 'Mother,' what should I call you?" Noticing Rong'er's discomfort, knowing
she was aroused again, I lifted her hips, parted her long legs, and thrust inside her.

"Mmm~ Good son, you're so filial to your mother! Ah... oh, oh, harder, mmm~ Good son, you're so capable, mmm, you've hit
the pearl, you're making your mother feel so good..." Rong'er saw me moaning happily, and she herself was actually enjoying it, so she
went along with it and let me do as I pleased, her lewd words coming one after another. I felt my flower path tightening, but it was because Rong'er had unintentionally used her
still-not-yet-perfect technique.

I was afraid that her body hadn't recovered, and I had just been so reckless, and I was afraid that her body couldn't take it, so I only used five shallow
thrusts and one deep one, slowly and patiently. Even so, my darling, who was extremely aroused, climaxed again after nearly a thousand thrusts from me.

Rong'er lay in my arms and asked, "I want to ask you something, but don't be angry, Rong'er is just curious."
The beauty, still in the afterglow of her climax, asked lazily.

"Hmm, go ahead."

"Have you ever fantasized about doing this with Sister Mu?" Rong'er said with a chuckle.

"No, I don't remember much about Mother." I thought for a moment and said, actually I didn't remember her at all, but how could I possibly
recall her?

"Then why do you insist on calling her Mother... I thought you missed your mother." Rong'er said shyly.

"Hehe... Next time I go to Mother's grave, I'll have to report back properly that I found her another beautiful daughter-in-law."

"Hmm~ You're trying to take advantage of her again..." Rong'er pounced on me in embarrassment and annoyance, her little fists landing lightly on me,
but it made me feel really good. She really does have a bit of a rascal streak.

We joked around for a while, and she got up and finished dressing in front of the mirror. I couldn't help but hug her from behind and said, "Okay,
you're already beautiful and charming. If you dress up any more, I'm afraid Jia Sidao will snatch your treasure back and present it to the Emperor."

"Hehe... What will you do if that happens?" Rong'er turned around and smiled at me.

"Then I'll turn on him! I'll beat him up!" I said seriously with a smile. Seemingly contradictory, but it was precisely my truest
reaction: "What's an emperor? I'd risk my life to bring him down."

Seeing my seriousness, Rong'er couldn't help but pat my face and tease, "Who's like you, treating an old woman like a treasure?
But it's not for nothing that your mother loves you so much, is it, my good son?"

"Where am I old? Let's take a good look. Look, those two crow's feet are gone, and the wrinkle
at is gone too. Look at this skin, so smooth and supple, it looks just like my little sister..." Yue
The more I felt my appetite surge, the more I couldn't resist pushing Rong'er down onto the table again, lifting her skirt, and thrusting my "
domineering .

"Mmm~ be gentle... you're being naughty again." Although Rong'er turned her head and scolded me playfully, she still cooperated by thrusting
her hips.

I could clearly hear her inner thoughts saying, "You say you're not a child, but you get so impulsive when you get excited. Even my brother Jing didn't have this kind of drive
back then ..." I couldn't help but gently pinch Rong'er's beautiful oval face, passionately kissing her deeply,
while my lower body continued to thrust vigorously without letting up. Rong'er was fucked by me on the dining table for more than twenty minutes. At first, she supported herself
on the table, using her waist and hips to push against me, but later, after being brought to orgasm again and again, her legs trembled and she could no longer
exert any strength, her body long since lying on the table for me to pluck. I couldn't help but mischievously reach out and "smack"
landed on my beautiful master's plump, upturned buttocks.

"Mmm~ I'm not coming anymore, you're bullying me again." Rong'er's phoenix eyes were hazy, her soft breaths were heavy, and her occasional slight anger and coquettishness
were truly captivating. "Smack!" Her buttocks were attacked again, her vulva clenched tightly, and a wave of pleasure
washed , making me feel like I was being electrocuted. I was so overwhelmed by pleasure that I couldn't control myself anymore, and my ejaculation came in a torrent. After I ejaculated,
I turned Rong'er over. Her legs were wet, and she slumped weakly against the table. Her lower body was also covered in mud.
Her body was slightly convulsing after the intense orgasm. We kissed each other to calm our burning desire.

"You said you weren't such an impulsive big kid, aren't you afraid that Rong'er will get pregnant with your child again?" Rong'er lay on the table,
carefully tidying my sweat-dampened hair as she laughed.

"Then it depends on whether my darling wants to or not."

"Hmm~ Not now, if I get pregnant, you'll neglect me."

"Because of our relationship, I actually want to stay by your side every day after you get pregnant..." That's the truth, and I'm
helpless.

"Alright, I won't make things difficult for you. Rong'er is already the happiest person in the world, and I won't be so ungrateful." A fleeting look of disappointment crossed
Rong'er's eyes, but she smiled happily. At that moment, I wished I had a camera
to capture this touching moment forever.

My infatuation was accurately conveyed to Rong'er through my eyes. Rong'er smiled and stroked my face,
murmuring , "Why do you always look at Rong'er so adoringly? Why does this expression always touch Rong'er's heart?
Rong'er has never told you, but Rong'er also loves your handsome face, is infatuated with it. Will you think Rong'er is shallow...
?"

I listened to Rong'er's heartfelt confession with a smile, and whispered in her ear, "A scholar dies for his confidant, a woman adorns herself for her lover.
Isn't it all for you that I try my best to show my best side? Now I can only pray that the people won't
suffer in our hands... You are a beauty that could topple kingdoms, and I can only accompany you to be a scourge to the country and its people. That's how we're a perfect match." I
teased .

"Hehe... If you're drunk, I'm drunk too. I'm afraid if anyone else hears us, they'll be so disgusted they'll vomit up after their three meals
." Rong'er giggled.

"Our sweet nothings, the intimate whispers between husband and wife, even if they heard them, they could only envy us. What are we afraid of?"

Endless sweet nothings, boundless tenderness—beautiful moments always pass too quickly. Before we knew it, dusk had fallen again. If
we didn't return soon, many would worry. After tidying ourselves up and smoothing out the folds of our robes and skirts, we finally
emerged from Chuping Street.

We had left just past noon and were heading back to the Guo residence when we suddenly heard government officials
clearing the way . Looking up, we saw the prefect's sedan chair leading the way. "Rong'er, it's Lord Zhao's sedan chair. Should we
eavesdrop on their negotiations?"

Rong'er didn't hold an official position, but a few days ago she had been invited to the Xiangyang peace talks. We both knew this was a case of treacherous intentions, like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—
it was all for naught. This was the origin of my earlier joke that Jia Sidao was there to kidnap her. Rong'er declined the invitation, saying she needed postpartum care
. Hearing what I said today, and wanting to know the progress of the peace talks, he nodded and asked, "Why are there four sedan chairs? Prefect Zhao,
Commander Lü, and Jia Sidao? Is the last one Chen Yizhong?"

I shook my head and said, "I don't know, let's go see and find out." We quietly followed behind them into the largest restaurant
in the south of the city Baihe Restaurant. Baihe Restaurant stood alone by the river, seven stories high, and was one of the famous sights of Xiangyang City. Baihe's
aquatic products were its signature dishes, making it a good place for entertaining guests.

We watched them go up to the private room on the top floor; they had booked the entire floor. Two constables
guarded , suggesting a close relationship between Lü Wende and Jia Sidao. We peered down the stairs from our private room on the sixth floor, watching the sumptuous feast
being served upstairs. After a long morning, I was getting hungry just watching. I chuckled and said, "I bet Lü Wende is
trying to curry favor with Jia Sidao now that Old Shi is out of power, hoping to get in touch with Ding Daquan."

"Yeah, we don't care who he's backing, but if he tries anything, we can't let him get away with it. Let's go check it out first."
Rong'er patted my shoulder, signaling me to follow.

"Hey! Are we just going to force our way through?" I muttered under my breath.

"You take the left, I'll take the right," Rong'er whispered.

"Who goes there!" A guard shouted at us, sword in hand.

"Have you seen anyone else?" A glint flashed in my eyes, and I used my Soul Transfer Technique, simultaneously patting his right arm with my left hand
.

"N-no!"

"Keep a good patrol, don't let anyone disturb the lords!"

"Yes!" we both answered in unison.

We passed the checkpoint smoothly, and Rong'er laughed, "Not bad, you're even faster than me, and you said your Soul Transfer Technique isn't as good as mine."

"My master taught me well, otherwise I wouldn't have embarrassed you," I replied with a smile.

"You're such a smooth talker, you're the kind of person who teaches their apprentice but not their master," Rong'er said playfully, pinching my waist.

"Hehe..." I thought to myself, so be it if the master is gone, I've gained a precious wife and two good children, it's all worth it.

We hid in a cubicle where a few people were talking, listening intently to their conversation. "So what does Prime Minister Ding mean?" I recognized
the speaker as Lü Wende.

"Prime Minister Ding means to seek stability. If the Mongols only want us to return Xinye City to them,
safely send Prince Kublai Khan back, and demand an annual tribute of three million strings of cash, fifty thousand bolts of silk, and ten thousand catties of tea, the Prime Minister said that all these conditions..."
" We can agree. After all, it was your Xiangyang that attacked their city first, which is why Kublai Khan's army came. If this stalemate
continues , it won't benefit anyone." A very unfamiliar voice rang out; I guessed it was the treacherous Jia Sidao.

Rong'er's eyes flashed with anger. Jiangbei is our foundation, and Xinye City is a bridgehead we've painstakingly built. Now we have ample
food and supplies , a strong city, and sufficient troops, yet they're willing to hand it over with just a casual remark.

I squeezed her soft hand, signaling her not to pay attention to this nonsense, and continued listening: "Then can't we also negotiate
a lower price, try to bargain with them?" Lü Wende asked.

"Old Lü, how could you be so confused? I already communicated with the Mongols before I came; this is their bottom line." "
Jia Sidao is only in his early thirties, yet he acts so arrogantly and presumptuously towards a mere regional commander like Lü Wende. If it were me, I would have slapped him
to his face .

But then I heard Lü Wende say, 'Then let's do as Scholar Jia says.'

Jia Sidao continued smugly, 'Old Lü, I'm not trying to criticize you, but how could you bring this Mongol prince back?
They're fighting amongst themselves, and now look what's happened—they've attracted Ariq B?ke. The brothers have always been at odds. If we're not careful, and
he finds a reason to attack us, then we'll really be going to perish along with Xiangyang City.'

Rong'er and I couldn't help but sneer at this cowardly traitor. What a scoundrel! To be so afraid of death.
No wonder the Song dynasty's last bit of fortune was ruined by these treacherous officials.

'Actually, that's not the case. We have Hero Guo, Heroine Huang, and Young Hero Yang in Xiangyang City…'

Lü Wende was interrupted by Jia Sidao before he could finish: 'Wait a minute, are you talking about those bandits from the Green Forest?'" "

We were even angrier when we heard that. This scoundrel is a real liar, spewing filth from his mouth. Everything he says is twisted.

" "Sir, you are mistaken. Young Hero Yang is a fifth-rank patrol inspector appointed by the imperial court, and Xinye City in Jiangbei is his territory. To ask
him to hand it over like this seems..." Lü Wende said.

"Is it that bewitching emperor, spreading heresies and disrupting the government, offering up his so-called ten strategies for consolidating the country, Yang Guo and Yang Gaizhi?" Jia Sidao asked.

"Brother, you ask about Gaizhi? That person is my brother Yang Guo." I realized that Shi Songzhi was also involved.

Rong'er leaned closer and asked, "Why does he call you brother?" I said, "Back in Lin'an, he kept staring at Sister Fu,
trying to get close to me and insist on becoming sworn brothers. I ignored him, but he kept calling me that." Rong'er nodded, not pressing further, and
continued listening to their conversation.

"Old Master Shi is kind and tolerant, which is why he tolerates this clown's arrogant and reckless words in court. Master Ding said he will immediately
request the Emperor to draft an edict to punish him for falsely reporting military achievements. Xinye City will then be no problem. I've read all the military reports you submitted:
10,000 men defeating 90,000 Mongol troops, killing 20,000 cavalry and capturing over 10,000—who would believe such a ridiculous joke
? Master Ding has already reduced the number of reports requesting credit, and he'll use that as proof. If you don't comply, hmph..." He gradually began
to threaten Lü Wende, his meaning clear: if you don't cooperate, he'll dismiss you too.

I was furious. It turned out that the farce of military achievements in the last battle was orchestrated by Ding Daquan and Jia Sidao. I got up,
ready to break through the wall and beat them up, but Rong'er grabbed me and whispered in my ear, "Don't rush. Let them
finish , then we can deal with them." "I thought it made sense, so I sat down again to listen to what they had to say.

" "But sir, Lord Zhao and Lord Shi both witnessed this great battle. We still have over ten thousand prisoners here,
ready to be presented to Lin'an. How can you accuse us of falsely reporting our military achievements?" Lü Wende said hastily, his voice trembling with anger.

"You insolent wretch! How dare you, a military officer, speak to me like that!" Jia Sidao slammed his fist on the table, rising abruptly. He and
Lü Wende were both third-rank officials, but in the Song Dynasty, civil officials were valued more than military ones, and the general's rank was practically meaningless. Although they were of the same rank,
Jia Sidao's status was clearly higher than Lü Wende's.

"This humble official dares not!" "Lu Wende was by nature timid, and given Jia Sidao's powerful backing,
he quickly apologized when Jia Sidao slammed his fist on the table and glared at him.

'You don't need to say anything more. Go back and get on with it. Make sure that Guo Jing family leaves. And I just chased
away those bandits, and now a bunch of beggars have arrived. I see them patrolling the streets every day—what kind of behavior is this!' He slammed his fist on the table again. '
Well , Zhao Yu, there's nothing for you here. Go back to your office and handle your official business.' Jia Sidao waved his hand, dismissing Prefect Zhao.

Rong'er and I exchanged a glance, knowing they were plotting something. I couldn't help but ask curiously, 'Zhao Yu's rank and status mean
he can't participate in their secret plans, so it's normal for him to be kicked out. But Lu Wende is clearly not on Jia Sidao's side. Logically,
he shouldn't be colluding with the Demonic Sect, but the situation doesn't seem like it. What's going on?'" Rong'er

nodded. This was also puzzling to her. This Lü Wende was a slippery old fox. Ever since I asked her
to keep an eye on Lü Wende's movements under Shi Miyuan's command to find evidence that he was a member of the Demonic Sect, we couldn't directly prove he was
a member or even a peripheral member. But given his special status, there was no reason for Shi Miyuan not to try to win him over or suppress
him. It was truly strange that Lü Wende had remained standing in Xiangyang City for so many years.

At this moment, Zhao Yu had already bowed and left, leaving only Jia Sidao, Lü Wende, and Shi Songzhi in the next room.
After a few drinks, the atmosphere became more lively. Jia Sidao suddenly asked, "Third brother, is the Lady Huang that Lord Lü mentioned
the same beautiful woman you told me about last time?" "

I chuckled upon hearing this, and squeezed Rong'er's hand, thinking to myself, 'They're talking about you after all.' Rong'er blushed and continued listening to Shi Songzhi
say , 'I only saw her once before, when that boy Yang Guo got married. At that time, she was heavily pregnant, about
to give birth, and I was completely captivated by her. That's why I invited you to come and see her, brother.' Shi Songzhi
laughed.

'Could there really be such a beauty in the world?' Jia Sidao was intrigued by what he said and couldn't help but ask, '
What does that woman look like? A woman at full term is bound to be swollen, so what beauty could she possibly have?'

Rong'er's anger flared up, and she couldn't help but stand up. I chuckled and pulled her into my arms, gently kissing her face, gesturing for
her to continue listening, but my hands were not so honest, and I couldn't help but reach under Rong'er's skirt... 'Brother, you don't know this, but
everyone says women are beautiful, but they don't know that the wonders of a pregnant woman are even more indescribable.'" " My little brother's concubines,
during , their plump, smooth bodies are truly a delicacy..." Shi Songzhi chuckled lewdly.

"Oh? Ziyou, tell us quickly, so we can both have a say," Jia Sidao pressed. Lü Wende also pricked up his ears.
They seemed quite interested in listening.

I leaned in to hear what was going on, but Rong'er pulled my mischievous hand away, pinched me hard, and grabbed my
ear, saying, "Don't listen! These despicable dogs, I'm going to kill them!" Rong'er felt like she was naked,
being judged by the three people next door, and couldn't help but feel ashamed and angry. She was about to

go and fight back. I chuckled and said, "Just listen. If it makes sense, we can try it when we get back. That way, you wo
n't have to be unable to touch your body for almost a year after you get pregnant. Wouldn't that be nice? Anyway, they don't know we're eavesdropping..." I continued to
rub her lower abdomen while persuading her. Rong'er blushed, but inwardly she agreed with me. If what Shi Songzhi said was true—that
intercourse was permissible during pregnancy—then she might as well learn from him… With so many people waiting for Shi Songzhi's "science lecture," he didn't keep them in suspense,
lewdly saying, "Speaking of which, I have a particular hobby: I enjoy playing with pregnant women. If none of my concubines are pregnant,
I often go out hunting, picking wildflowers."

Rong'er and I both deeply despised his despicable character. To seduce other men's wives and then speak of it with such smug satisfaction—what
a beast! I now understood why he abandoned Yuan Jiejie and forced her to perform in a brothel; infertility was likely one of the
reasons. Giving him a cuckold's horns and a couplet was truly the right thing to do.

He continued, “Most people don’t know that after a woman becomes pregnant for four months, the fetus is mostly formed, which is
the period of fetal movement and also a stable period. At this time, intercourse is completely safe. I once slept with a midwife, and she confirmed this.”

So that’s how it is… The four listeners in the two rooms nodded unconsciously, their doubts cleared up.

Shi Songzhi continued, “A pregnant woman’s breasts are smooth and lustrous. When they are large, they are so full they are almost too big to grasp.
Around the seventh or eighth month, milk is secreted, which is sweet, delicious, and a truly delightful drink. Her vagina is also a treasure.
A woman who hasn’t had her period for a long time is naturally anxious and will naturally be more sensual and passionate than usual. The vaginal canal, compressed by the baby
in the womb , is warmer than usual, and is also tighter and wetter, making it very easy to reach the clitoris. It’s truly a delicacy…
” He lewdly laughed, fanning himself.

Rong'er nodded, thinking that what he said actually made some sense. She was pregnant, and although she tried to restrain herself, it only
fueled her desire. Sometimes, she was forced to relieve herself secretly in bed. If an ordinary woman encountered such
a handsome and charming young devil, wouldn't he have easily taken her? She knew he must have committed many sins, and she felt even more contempt for
the evil nature of the demonic sect.

"I see. Brother, I feel like I've wasted these past thirty years. I must try it when I return to Lin'an," Jia Sidao
chuckled.

"And that's not all. Women are usually very careful with the unborn child in their womb, so they're naturally extra cautious. The more a woman's expression is—a mixture of reluctance and fear
—the more it arouses desire, even making one want to explore her flower and stir things up."

Jia Sidao laughed heartily, and Lü Wende also smiled obsequiously. Rong'er spat fiercely and said to me, "Isn't this
murder? This beast!" She hated Shi Songzhi even more in her heart.

Shi Songzhi continued, "And at this time, many women will willingly offer their chrysanthemum buds for
you to enjoy. The pleasures of the inner court are self-evident, aren't they?" The three burst into laughter. Shi Songzhi said, "What a pity! If I had met Madam Guo
three months , I would surely have tasted this woman's delights."

I chuckled, holding Rong'er close. Rong'er, shyly refusing to lift her head in my arms, probably also wondering if
she would have fallen into Shi Songzhi's trap if she hadn't loved me so deeply.

"Third brother, you've always been so attached to this woman. Is she really that beautiful? Old Lü, you're in Xiangyang.
Tell me , is this Madam Guo truly so beautiful? What is her character like? And do you have an affair with her?" Jia Sidao lewdly
asked.

Lu Wende said, "Madam Guo is a first-rate beauty. I'm a rough man and don't know how to describe her, but I
've seen countless people over the decades. Whether it's a noble lady, a girl from a humble family, or even a famous courtesan, none can
compare to her beauty." After Lu Wende finished speaking, seeing Jia Sidao's contemptuous smile and seemingly disbelieving expression, he continued, "Ten years ago
in Lin'an, I met the so-called 'Queen of Courtesans of the Three Provinces,' Miss Lianhua. Our Madam Guo's beauty and talent are certainly comparable to hers."

Jia Sidao was then surprised: "Princess Lianhua's beauty is renowned far and wide. Seven years ago, when she married into the Prime Minister's mansion, I had just arrived in the capital. She
was truly a celestial being, and I still can't forget her. Could there really be a woman in the world who can compare to her?"

Shi Songzhi felt a surge of displeasure, thinking to himself: When you sent your sister to the capital, you were just a bumpkin. I never expected that you would climb
over me now. He laughed and said, "My father once said that my elder brother begged him three times for Lianhua, and that when he passes away, you
can take her home yourself."

"Is that really true?" Jia Sidao asked excitedly, clearly captivated by the woman named Lianhua. He
then smiled and said, "With Old Lu saying so, I'm even more interested in meeting this Madam Guo." The three of them laughed knowingly again
.

"Rong'er, how about we teach them a lesson later, hypnotize them into impotence with a soul-shifting technique?" I asked, pecking
Rong'er's earlobe.

"Hmm, good, preferably the kind where they wet their pants at the sight of a woman." I was even more alarmed upon hearing this, and said with a forced smile, "My darling,
you won't use this method to prank your husband in the future, will you?"

"Hehe... If you dare mess with me, I'll chop you up with one stroke and send you to the palace to become a eunuch." Rong'er wrinkled her little nose and
said to me.

I knew she was joking, so I kissed her and continued listening to their idle chatter.

"This woman is no ordinary woman; I'm afraid you, brother, can't protect her," Shi Songzhi said with a mysterious smile. "My family has
a secret art of observing women. I see that this woman's eyebrows are like crescent moons in autumn; beautiful eyebrows indicate inner beauty, intelligence, and virtuous character. Her bright teeth and clear eyes are truly like spring water. Her vulva
is small but large inside, overflowing with semen. A small penis can only enter without reaching its full potential, while a large penis can enter smoothly and
freely, directly reaching the core of her flower, providing immense pleasure..." Seeing that Jia and Lü were listening intently, he continued to boast, "The woman's eyes are overflowing with..."
A woman with bright, clear eyes, like autumn water, is like spring water surging and waves crashing. The eyes reflect a person's energy and spirit. Eyes that are watery indicate
a woman whose yin energy is greater internally than externally. When a man first enters, he finds it surprisingly tight and pleasant. But once he reaches the inner depths, it's like a boat entering a vast ocean, boundless and unpredictable
. As he goes deeper, the vagina becomes overflowing, but because the opening is small, it doesn't overflow the vulva. At this point,
the man is like a small boat adrift in the current, while the woman, seeing the other shore in sight, will naturally sway her hips, and the man will feel a sense of euphoria.
Like a fairy. The sixth most famous feature in the "Hundred Women's Manual" is called "Spring Water." Rong'er and I were both shocked. We hadn't expected this kid
to have such an ability, able to tell so accurately from a woman's face… Rong'er, blushing, covered her face and squirmed in my arms, saying
, "You're so annoying! Don't let me see this rogue again. It feels like…" She wanted to say it felt like he'd seen her naked, but ultimately, she was too
shy to say it.

I continued listening to Shi Songzhi's comments with curiosity, thinking that I must get my hands on his "Hundred Women's Manual" sometime and study it carefully.

Shi Songzhi continued, "A lower lip wider than the upper lip, with a lustrous and vibrant color, indicates a woman who is affectionate, gentle, and good at serving
her husband . A delicate, melodious, steady, and experienced voice, with a lingering resonance, both strong and gentle, and long, shapely legs with firm, strong thighs—all
signs of a chaste and virtuous woman."

Jia Sidao retorted, "You praise her chastity in every word, what's the point of playing around with her then..."

Shi Songzhi, waving his folding fan, lewdly laughed, "Not entirely. I observe that her nose is high and straight but not fleshy or round, and her nostrils are small,
suggesting a narrow space." Suspicion and jealousy, though upholding monogamy, can easily lead to lust and perverse behavior when things don't go her way. Therefore,
it depends on whether she and that Master Guo are truly in harmony.

Hearing this, my heart stirred. I felt Rong'er trembling slightly in my arms, knowing she was crying. My heart ached, and I couldn't help but pull her
into my embrace, gently comforting her, "Don't listen to his nonsense, it's all just hearsay. Let's go home." I helped her walk
out , and she followed me, somewhat lost and dejected, without saying a word.

In the carriage, Rong'er remained silent the entire way, as if the man had seen through everything, every word piercing her heart, describing her perfectly
. At first, she was angry and embarrassed, but the more she listened, the more she felt he was describing her life's trajectory. She
had married Jing-gege in her youth, and they had been childhood sweethearts, with her always obedient to him. However, she hadn't borne a child for many years,
leading to resentment over her husband taking a concubine. Then, she gradually fell in love with Guo'er and even bore him a son and a daughter.
Wasn't direct proof that she had fallen into a life of debauchery and perverted behavior? Just now, wasn't she being pinned down on the table
by her lover, making him call her "mother" while they were making love...? "Guo'er, is Rong'er really a naturally promiscuous woman? I only
did this with you because I harbored resentment towards Brother Jing...?" Rong'er asked me with tears in her eyes.

I knew that if I just gave her a perfunctory answer, it would probably cause her heartache, so I pulled her into my arms and comforted her, "Do
n't think nonsense. He has always praised your good looks. We are where we are today because of me. You have never taken the initiative
to express anything to me, nor have you been unfaithful to Uncle Guo. It was I who couldn't help but seduce you into making a mistake, and you still respect and love Uncle Guo and me
as always ... right?"

"Mmm..." Rong'er nodded aggrievedly in my arms.

“So my darling will never become a lewd and depraved woman. Even if she is, it will only be in front of me,
as a form of intimacy in bed, which is perfectly acceptable,” I continued to persuade her.

“We have no official relationship, so how can it be acceptable?” Rong’er lightly hit me, but her tone
had already relaxed considerably.

“Young couples are companions in old age. Uncle Guo is a companion, and I am, after all, your loyal little lover. I will
cherish you, love you, and give you the pampering and care a woman deserves. What’s wrong with that?” I grinned,
flashing a dazzling smile, and said to her.

"Hehe... My little lover, still so loyal... But thank you, Guo'er, I feel much better now." Yes
, I still love Brother Jing, but I also need to be cherished and cared for. I have indeed fallen head over heels in love with
him... "Besides, what he said isn't entirely accurate. He can't see that my darling possesses the Dragon Pearl Spring Water Cave, but he doesn't know
where it ranks." I chuckled.

"You're so annoying... still teasing me..." Rong'er gently punched my chest, but lowered her head and whispered,
"It should be much higher than sixth place, right..."

"Haha..." I couldn't help but laugh, and the little storm subsided. Back at the Guo residence, we
told him the first half of what we had overheard today about the possible earth-shattering changes in Xiangyang in the near future. Guo Jing, still recovering from his injuries, couldn't help but
sigh at these turbulent times, his injury being a burden. We quickly reassured him not to worry, but we didn't have a good solution for the moment,
so we decided to deal with things as they came. That night, I bid farewell to my wives and rushed back to Xinye City alone. I summoned
Chen Zhenyuan , Mo San, and a few of my most trusted high-ranking officers to explain the next phase of the battle plan.

"Boss, what's going on? Is this kid up to something?" asked the hot-tempered Niu San.

"It's a long story, but to put it simply, Shi Songzhi is a henchman of the treacherous minister Ding Daquan. I had
a falling out with Ding Daquan back in Lin'an, and now that he's the prime minister, he wants to seize our military power and the city," I said.

"Damn it! What right does this scoundrel have to take our land? Xinye City was built brick by brick by all of us brothers
!" Everyone was furious, even the usually mild-mannered Li Tianqiang couldn't help but curse.

I gestured for everyone to be quiet and continued, "They actually just want to surrender to the Mongols, ceding Xinye City to them
in exchange for a temporary peace. But they need some scapegoats, scapegoats for the war." Damn it, seeking peace through victory? I only
know the late Qing government did such a cowardly thing. Screw it! Now I have men and guns under my command. If things don't work
out, I'll just abandon this mess, march north, seize Guanzhong, and start anew. I can still live a carefree life. "Do you know why they withheld our
military merits?"

"Tell me?" Everyone was puzzled. We had performed unparalleled feats, yet we received no reward and were even reprimanded.
Everyone was incredibly frustrated. Now, hearing that I had inside information, they all perked up their ears.

"Ding Daquan withheld all our battle reports and military registers, accusing us of falsely reporting our military merits. He used this as a pretext to punish us, behead us , cede our land, and even release our prisoners! Do you all think that bastard is a spy for the Mongols?" I asked
loudly . "Kill the spies! Kill the traitors!" "Company commander, lead everyone into the capital! We'll kill the scoundrels and become emperor !" Several rough men were already shouting, clearly thinking being emperor would be incredibly exciting. I frowned and said, "You can't say that. I don't have that ambition, but we can't just let ourselves be bullied to death. Do you all want to protect our Xinye City?" "Yes!" everyone shouted in unison. "Do you want to drive out the northern barbarians and restore the Central Plains!"

“Yes!” I had already given them ideological education lessons, so the eight-character slogan, “Drive out the Tartars and restore the Central Plains,
” was memorized by everyone in the Tiger Legion. Now that our roots were firmly planted in Xinye and Xiangyang, the soldiers and civilians defending the cities could recite
the sixteen-character slogan, “Protect our rivers and mountains, fight for every inch of land. Drive out the Tartars and restore the Central Plains.”

“Li Tianqiang, record this,” I said. “First, list the evidence and expose
the shameless compromises made by Jia Sidao and other treacherous officials in Xiangyang to the fierce Mongols. I have compiled the complete negotiation record here. You will start to turn it into a story and send
the brothers of the scout camp to deliver it by fast horses in three shifts. Find storytellers in teahouses, taverns, and even brothels to comment on this matter. I want
it to reach Lin'an within ten days.”

“Yes!” Li Tianqiang nodded in agreement as he took the manuscript I handed him while recording.

“Second, elder brother, you are responsible for the typesetting of this matter. I want it to be published by tomorrow afternoon!” I handed another copy of the record to Mo San.

"No problem." Mo San was anxious about this matter, knowing he couldn't help with the rest, so he gestured to me and went to get
the newspaper crew to start work that very night.

"San, Zhenyuan and Qingshan, you are responsible for patrolling the city gates and various military facilities to prevent enemy spies from sabotaging them."

"Yes!" "

Lao Niu, you and Ma Guangzuo take good care of the cavalry battalion. If you don't see my command token, don't pay attention to whoever comes to hand over the work. If anyone dares to make any unusual moves,
kill them!"

"Yes!"

"Wu Qing, your firearms battalion is our top priority. I will guard the armory. You are only responsible for training the brothers. I need
a strong army that can be deployed at any time."

"Yes!"

"Shi Yushi is one of their men. Don't reveal a single word to him, and don't disturb him. This man has unparalleled martial arts skills and a
meticulous mind. I have someone specifically watching him." I already had the best candidate in mind. Before leaving, I had already
told Chu Qing and Xiaolongnu to take turns watching Shi Songzhi's residence in Xiangyang Prefecture. If he made any unusual moves, they should immediately report to my master.

"Yes!"

After everyone dispersed, my heart remained heavy. The crisis was mounting, and the fierce counterattacks were escalating wave after wave.
At this crucial moment, the absence of several senior figures made me feel somewhat insecure.

As I stood alone in the government office, lost in thought, a cold arrow suddenly shot towards me. I dodged it with a 'thud,' and
the steel dart embedded itself in the screen behind me. I knew it was merely a warning, so I didn't pursue. I took
the letter from the dart and glanced at it, my heart skipping a beat. I hurriedly found Chen Zhenyuan and gave him instructions, then
rode . The letter read: "Something has happened in Xiangyang, return!"

But who sent me this warning? I had a pretty good idea. Currently, the only forces targeting us are
the Mongols and the Demonic Cult. The Mongols have been repeatedly defeated by us, and even if they wanted to harass us, they likely lacked the strength for a large-scale attack. It seemed
it could only be someone from the Demonic Cult, making the identity of the messenger obvious. What I don't understand is,
why , meaning angelica root) instead of "速归" (sùguī, meaning "return quickly")? Does "当" (dāng) mean "should" or "ought to"? I suddenly remembered the meaning of angelica root: it regulates blood and
is a medicine for women, implying longing for one's husband, hence the name "当归" (dāngguī, meaning "returning home"). The saying "A husband should return home but doesn't, causing his wife to remarry" was widely
known in the Song Dynasty. Could the problem really lie in my own backyard?

When I entered Xiangyang through the north gate, it was already past curfew. Since I was now practically a pillar of Xiangyang, the
gatekeeper easily let me through. I smashed open the gate of the Guo residence in the middle of the night. Rong'er and my wives, seeing me return so late, knew
something serious had happened and were waiting for my explanation.

"Enough with the nonsense, everyone get up and get dressed. The Demonic Sect might launch a large-scale attack tonight!" I ordered,
but then carefully observed the expressions of the women. Cheng Ying's face showed a slight change... This unexpected discovery was both
surprising and reasonable, but I still couldn't help it. I felt a sudden dizziness... "Husband/Guo'er,
what's wrong?" The women rushed to help me when they saw me suddenly faint. I whispered, "It's nothing, maybe I'm a little hungry,
but I can't worry about that now. You all go back to your rooms and get ready. Master, you're in charge of protecting Fu Mei. Third Sister, you look after Ru Shi.
Qing'er go wake up Miss Long, and then you two take Man Man to my master and Uncle Guo's room and protect them nearby."
I gave the orders, and the women, knowing the urgency of the situation, all acted in an orderly manner, leaving only Wu Shuang, Cheng Ying, and me
in the front hall.

"Let's go back inside and talk." I was certain Wushuang was fine, because she had been following Huang Yaoshi for the past few years
and couldn't possibly have any connection with the Demonic Sect. But Cheng Ying… the only explanation was that the entire Huashan Sect was colluding with the Demonic Sect. I
had even suspected Rusheng before, but I never imagined the final answer would be Cheng Ying.

Back inside, I closed the door and separated Wushuang and Cheng Ying. I coldly asked, "Should I call you
He'er, or should I call you the former Holy Maiden of the Holy Light Sect, the current White Cloud Crane King of the Ming Cult?" Through
the intelligence network of Longhu Mountain, I learned that the four Dharma Kings of the Demonic Sect were the Peacock King, the White Cloud Crane King, the Golden Roc Demon King, and the Blue-Eyed Wolf King.
The Demonic its high-ranking members rarely appeared in the martial world. Although several major demons were infamous, only
the Golden Roc Demon King had fallen at the hands of Qi Gong in recent years.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ying felt as if struck by lightning, her legs giving way, and she was about to collapse. Wushuang also sensed something was wrong,
but sisters are of one mind, and she quickly went to help Cheng Ying, despite her large pregnant belly, to sit on the edge of the bed. "Cousin, what happened
? Tell us quickly!" Wushuang asked anxiously.

Cheng Ying kept her head down, shaking her head and sobbing, refusing to speak.

Seeing this, I knew she was in a state of turmoil, so I asked, "What happened? We are husband and wife,
tell us, and we can think of a solution together."

She remained silent, her head bowed, which greatly worried Wushuang and me.

"Is your master a disciple of the Demonic Sect?" I asked.

Cheng Ying still didn't answer.

I panicked, grabbed her by the collar with both hands, and lifted her up.

"What are you doing? Put cousin down quickly!" Wushuang hurriedly grabbed my hand, afraid I would hurt Cheng Ying.

"Kill me, I'm too tired, living is too bitter." Two lines of clear tears streamed down Cheng Ying's face, her eyes filled with
bitterness and despair.

"He'er, look at me, look at me!" I roared.

"What? Are you going to use some kind of soul-shifting technique to force a confession?" Cheng Ying asked calmly.

My heart ached terribly. I gently placed her on the ground, pulled her into my arms, and said, "Silly girl, we are husband and wife, what could possibly happen?"
"What hurdle can't you overcome? Why must you bear all the pressure alone? Tell me, let your husband and your sister share
the burden , okay?" I wasn't worried she would lash out and hurt me. A night of marriage brings a hundred nights of kindness; I believed there were two people she would never want
to hurt: Wushuang and me.

"You won't forgive me..." Cheng Ying cried, sobbing in my arms. "It's alright, it's all in the past. Your husband doesn't blame
you, no matter what." I helped her and Wushuang sit down, gently comforting her. I patted her back lightly
to calm her turbulent breathing.

"The year I went to Mount Hua, my master took me to Mount Kunlun, but my eyes were blindfolded, and I didn't know
where I was..." Cheng Ying whispered. I nodded, signaling her to continue. She continued, "There were eight of us girls,
all around thirteen or fourteen years old, participating in the ceremony to select the Holy Maiden. Later, I and two others were chosen as Holy Maidens..."

I sighed, "One was Sai Mingying, and the other was your second senior sister, Zhou Qi?" "Sect Leader Yue doesn't know his wife's true identity."

"Yes."

The three of us fell silent. Yuan Jiejie was seduced by Shi Songzhi and stripped of her title as Holy Maiden, while Shi Songzhi
rose to become a powerful figure in the Demonic Sect. It's clear that his seduction of Yuan Jiejie was part of the current Demonic Sect leader's scheme. Cheng Ying and I
, by chance, also consummated our relationship in Yueyang, so she too was stripped of her title as Holy Maiden and became the current
White Cloud Crane King of the Demonic Sect. Zhou Qi has feelings for Liu Tianzheng, so it seems the next leader of the Demonic Sect will likely be Sai Mingying.

"In Yueyang… after we consummated our relationship, I was very confused, but I couldn't betray my sect, so I returned to
Mount Hua . I wasn't punished, but I received a mission…" Cheng Ying sobbed.

Now that everything was clear, I couldn't help but ask curiously, "With so many things happening, Wushuang, didn't you notice anything at all?" "

I..." Wushuang, hearing my tone, thought I suspected her. She felt wronged but also realized she had been kept in the dark for so long
and had nothing to say. For a moment, she couldn't find the words to defend herself.

"Don't blame my cousin. I told her I would be punished by my master for half a year and told her not to come see me, but she was worried
and stayed at the foot of the mountain until I returned from the Kunlun Mountain headquarters," Cheng Ying said.

"Sigh..." I sighed, wanting to blame her for keeping it from me, but then I thought that my arrival had changed her
fate ; otherwise, she wouldn't have fallen into the hands of the Demonic Sect. Thinking of this, my heart softened, and I reached out and took her hand.

Ying'er's body stiffened noticeably, thinking I was going to hit her, and she instinctively shrank back. I smiled bitterly, hugged her tightly,
and said, "You've suffered so much over the years. I don't blame you, and I don't care how many secrets you've revealed to me...
I only blame you for one thing: as the closest person to me, you actually kept it from me and Wushuang until now. Did
you intend to keep it from me forever if I hadn't found out today?" “

I…I dare not say, I’m afraid you won’t forgive me,” Ying’er said, tears welling in her eyes.

“That’s true. Originally, there wasn’t much conflict between us. He’er was just a
pawn planted by my side. But with your status, how could you stay by my side all this time without doing anything else?” I asked.

“It was my own request…”

I nodded and said, “It seems you once thought about recruiting me into the sect when the time was right.”

“Hmm…but later, seeing your conflicts with the sect members deepening, I didn’t dare mention it, afraid that you would
harbor resentment towards me if you knew.”

“I…this humble concubine has never betrayed my husband.” Ying’er became so emotional that she knelt down at my feet.
Wushuang quickly went to help her up, but she shook her head, crying, refusing to get up.

“Get up, what are you doing? I said I don’t blame you. He’er, get up.” I picked her up and whispered words
of comfort , but Cheng Ying's high, straight nose, though not fleshy or round, was a true sign of a narrow-minded person. I tried to apply my own observations, but I
was still wary of her. "Tell me what their plans are," I asked.

Ying'er shook her head. "This humble servant doesn't know. Since we returned to Jingxiang, the main headquarters has repeatedly sent people to ask this humble servant for information,
but I've always given them vague excuses. Xiangyang is within the Beggars' Sect's sphere of influence, so the main headquarters can't do anything about it. Therefore, they
didn't send anyone to inform this humble servant about this operation. This humble servant truly knows nothing."

Seeing how frightened she was, constantly referring to herself as a humble servant, I couldn't bear to see her demean herself like this. I took a handkerchief and wiped away her tears,
saying, "Alright, your husband is really not angry with you anymore. Don't be afraid. From now on, you are still my little wife. Our conversation
today , spoken by you, will be heard by us. I believe Sister Liu will also keep your secret, won't she, Sister Liu?" "

Yes, cousin, don't be like this. It breaks my heart to see you like this." Wu Shuang's eyes were also brimming with tears, and I couldn't help but
comfort her a little.

Seeing that the two women's emotions had stabilized a bit, I asked, "For a mission like yours, wouldn't the Demonic Sect headquarters
have placed some kind of restriction on He'er?"

Upon hearing this, Ying'er couldn't help but nod and said, "Poison... an antidote once a year." This year's antidote was already
half a month , so it could be said that she was already prepared to die, but she didn't expect that her identity would still be exposed before then.

"Are you stupid? Why didn't you tell me sooner? Aren't you just courting death by waiting here?" I couldn't help but scold.

"I... sob sob..." Ying'er was frightened by my scolding and cried.

"Don't just blame your cousin, you should think of a way to cure her poison." Wu Shuang couldn't help but persuade me.

I asked, "What kind of poison? The Three Corpse Brain God Pill?"

Ying'er shook her head and said, "It's an immortality elixir specially given to people on field missions."

"Immortal poison? What kind of medicine is that?" "Pills or powder? What does it taste like? Tell me what it feels like
when —is it pain, itching, or a feeling of euphoria or lethargy…" I had never heard of this poison before,
but thankfully it wasn't the most potent and cruel Three Corpse Brain God Pill. Those lurking corpse worms, half-poison and half-gu, couldn't
be controlled by ordinary medicine. I just wondered what kind of medicine this immortality elixir was.

"I don't know either. They put the poison in my food, and I don't even know when I was poisoned.
Besides, I didn't experience any discomfort after receiving the antidote for the first year, so I didn't pay much attention to it," Ying'er
said, recalling the events.

"Then who delivered the antidote in Lin'an?" I asked.

"It was… Pu Kaizong." She knew I had seen the bearded man, so she named him directly.

"When you found out you were poisoned, didn't they try to scare you with some nonsense about your intestines rupturing and blood flowing from all seven orifices?"
I thought to myself. It's probably you who leaked the information about my relationship with the three brothers. But the Demonic Sect could find out about insignificant details through
other channels, so they didn't really care.

"I...actually, I was thinking of just pretending I died of illness..." Ying'er clearly didn't want to be caught in the middle anymore. If
I hadn't noticed in time, perhaps when she was poisoned, we would have just thought she had some incurable, strange disease, while she
had already resigned herself to death.

"Silly girl, even if you were really alright...I would go to the underworld and bring you back. Wushuang, how are you?
Looking at your pulse, are there any signs?" I turned to ask Wushuang.

Wushuang withdrew her fingers from Ying'er's wrist and said softly, "This is a symptom similar to blood loss syndrome. Cousin's
pulse is weak and feeble. I've noticed you've been clutching your heart a lot lately; are you experiencing palpitations or heart pain?"

Ying'er nodded.

Increased blood viscosity can superficially be mistaken for heart disease, angina, or thrombosis, making it difficult to detect the underlying problem without an
autopsy . I looked at my wife, her face still wet with tears, and thought of her life, filled with hardship. Now
that it was confirmed she had indeed been poisoned, how could I bear to let her die like this?

"Then, take it." I took a cherry-red pill from my robes and handed it to Ying'er.

"This is…?" She hesitated, not reaching out to take it.

"What your husband gave you wouldn't harm you, so eat it quickly." Wushuang snatched it and stuffed it into her cousin's mouth.
She was a discerning person; seeing the extraordinary appearance of this medicine, she knew it must be one of my private treasures and quickly urged her cousin to take it.

I watched her swallow before saying, "This is my treasured Life-Creating Pill. It has the power to seize the power of heaven and earth, and can restore life and heal the wounded
. He'er, you've been given a second chance at life. Be careful from now on, I only have two left." Such a precious pill,
even using one would be painful for me, but if we were to go to war with the Demonic Cult now, even if we won, it would be a Pyrrhic victory. I couldn't
risk my wife's life, so I could only use one.

"I... Husband..." Ying'er hadn't expected me to force her to take such a precious medicine. Tears streamed
down her face. She had felt abandoned by the Ming Cult and knew her death was imminent, but even after learning she had been deceived, I still
selflessly gave her such a precious medicine. How could she not be moved to tears?

I hugged her and said, "Silly girl, why are you crying? Your eyes are almost swollen like peaches. From now on, I'll call you Little Cherry."
Behind me, Wushuang chuckled and joined in the fun.

"But, can you forgive me for betraying you? This medicine is so precious..." Ying'er asked hesitantly. She knew that
I had kept quiet about Guo Jing and Meng Gong's injuries, but this time, for my own sake, I had truly given it away.

"As always, I won't forget the past, but this is a one-time exception," I said seriously.

"Mm," Ying'er replied, clearly frightened by my serious expression, her head bowed.

I kissed her forehead, telling her not to dwell on these things, then turned and went out, saying, "I'm going out to check on
things . Liu Mei, stay with He'er and make sure she properly circulates her internal energy to dissolve the medicine so that its effects can be maximized."

"Okay! I know," Wu Shuang replied.

"Don't gossip with Fu'er and the others, or she'll try to find fault with me again, complaining that I didn't use good medicine for her father," I
added . "

I know, stop nagging~" Wu Shuang said, making a face at me. I laughed and went out. Behind me, I heard
Wushuang say, "Cousin, don't keep thinking about this. Big Brother said he won't hold it against us, and he won't
tell anyone… By the way, that medicine looks really good, doesn't it taste delicious…"

I went to Uncle Guo and Rong'er's bedroom and saw everyone was ready. Fumei, being especially sensible, took off her soft armor
and let her mother put it on her seriously injured father.

"Fu'er, you're pregnant now, you should protect yourself more," Guo Jing, lying on his sickbed, advised.

"Father, you should wear it. If the enemy comes, you'll definitely be their main target, and you're
so …" Since their marriage, Fu'er has become more considerate than before, and Guo Jing and his wife were filled with relief. Unable to resist
his daughter and wife's repeated persuasion, Uncle Guo got up and put on the soft armor.

My wives and concubines were all wearing leather armor, fully protected. San Niang stood beside Fu Mei and Ru Shi, her
Kucha dagger already tucked into her sleeve; Chu Qing's golden whip swayed, like a coiled dragon poised to pounce and devour its prey; Fu'er handed her Qingming
sword to her mother, while Rong'er, sword in hand, instantly exuded an aura of supreme mastery. Xiao Longnu, with
twin swords at her waist, remained calm and composed, guarding Manman's side.

"How's Chief Lu?" I asked.

"No news yet. I sent Xiao Wu to deliver a message, but he hasn't returned," Rong'er said worriedly.

"You stay home and keep watch; I'll go check." I was still uneasy. If the Demonic Sect launched a full-scale attack tonight, it would be a thunderous
assault on both us and the Beggars' Sect simultaneously, with Lu Youjiao being their primary target.

"Husband, I'll go with you," Cheng Ying and Wu Shuang came out. Entering the master bedroom, Ying'er volunteered.

"Ying'er, your martial arts aren't outstanding, so don't go and join the fun..." Fu Mei, worried about her, kindly advised.

I smiled and said, "It's alright, actually we've always underestimated He'er." Perhaps this was Cheng Ying's
way of showing me her stance.

"Be careful in everything," San Niang whispered.

"Yes, take good care of everyone," I whispered back, not caring that Guo Jing was present, I embraced and kissed each of my wives
before carrying the Xuan Tie Sword, pulling Ying'er and the Divine Condor out of the Guo Mansion gate.

"Put this on, so no one will recognize you." I saw a mask in her hand, knowing it was carefully prepared for her by Wu Shuang,
so I said. At

the Land God Temple in the south of the city, when we arrived, we found Xiao Wu's body at the entrance. He was a servant of the Guo Mansion, and at home
he used to always be following me around, calling me "Young Master" this and "Young Master" that. I never expected to see him lying here today... I closed his unseeing
eyes for him. I sighed softly. Although I didn't blame Ying'er, it was the work of her fellow disciples, and the thought
made me feel conflicted.

Ying'er simply followed quietly behind me, as quiet as ever, but today I felt a particular
aversion . Her silence seemed especially eerie.

"Don't you want to say anything?" I asked.

"You're still blaming me..." she whispered.

"Then do you blame me?" I asked again.

She shook her head and didn't speak again.

"Some hurdles you have to overcome yourself before you can overcome others'. If you don't pull yourself together,
how can you blame me? Don't overthink it, okay, He'er?" I sighed, holding her thin shoulders.

"Yes, I'll try my best to change... Thank you, husband." Her eyes filled with tears again. I had lost count of how
many times I'd made her cry today, and I felt a little embarrassed myself.

"Alright, let's go inside and take a look. The atmosphere is strange, be careful." I wiped away her tears with my sleeve, and we walked hand in hand into
the Earth God Temple.

The Earth God Temple was a mess, with several Beggar Clan disciples lying haphazardly, their fates unknown. I checked them
one by one and found that one disciple was not quite dead yet, but his injuries were too severe to save.

“Young Master Yang…”

“Uncle Qi, who did this?” Among the dead were several low-level disciples I had drunk with, and the old beggar before me was also a
six-level disciple I knew well, whose skill was among the best in the branch. I never expected him to perish here today.

“Demon…head, the leader is…in danger…” He then passed away peacefully.

I laid the remaining disciples side by side in front of the hall, bowed, and thought to myself that I would have to come back later to see them off. Ying’er and I
left the mountain god temple and hurriedly rode back. But I didn’t go straight home. I went to the Five Cities Military Command first because I
guessed that the Demonic Sect must have taken control of the military camp, and I had to seize the token to mobilize troops to protect the Guo family. When we arrived at the yamen, we were shocked to see Lu Youjiao and Lü Wende tied up
in the hall .

Ying’er reminded me from behind, “Be careful, it’s Wolf King Kong Qisha and Left Envoy Cen Guoming. The identities of the other two are unknown.”

I looked coldly at the four enemies blocking the courtyard in front of the yamen, and a murderous intent rose in my heart. Ying'er didn't recognize them, but I knew quite a bit about
these two strange-looking people. One was a Japanese ninja, and the other, with a basket on his head, was a so-called
disciple of a god from the Japanese islands. "Kill!" Without any politeness, I leaped up, unleashing the immense power of my Xuan Tie sword,
slashing at the one with the basket on his head. Ying'er also drew her Gentleman's Sword, a series of fierce sword techniques targeting the ninja.

"It's you bastards stirring up trouble again!" I cleaved the bald thief who raised his staff to block me in two with a single sword strike,
then turned and charged at the so-called ninja. Seeing my domineering attitude, the ninja, though entangled with Ying'er, was so frightened that he feigned an
opening and jumped out of the circle. A puff of white smoke rose, and he was already three zhang away, his movement incredibly fast. But he was fast, and I was even
faster. I knew their tricks. I used to charge into the crossfire, so how could a little smoke from their smoke grenades fool
me? As he activated his smoke grenade, I took a step forward and leaped after him. He stopped abruptly, thinking he
was safe. My Xuan Tie Heavy Sword was already before him. The last thing he saw was the tip of my Xuan Tie Sword.
The Xuan Tie Sword pierced his brain, severing most of his skull. I wonder what he thought in his dying moments.

Two members of the Demonic Sect had already sensed something was wrong and wanted to help, but Ying'er blocked them from behind, using
the sharpness of her Gentleman's Sword to hold them back.

"Gentle Cloud Sword, you are Bai Yunhe!" The Azure-Eyed Wolf King's iron claws had been trimmed by Ying'er's Gentleman's Sword, severing two
spikes . He shouted, calling out to the Left Envoy, Cen Guoming.

"How dare you, Crane King, are you rebelling?" Cen Guoming, wielding an iron shield resembling a thunderbolt,
shouted .

Ying'er didn't answer, but unleashed a sudden attack, buying me time to rescue Lü Wende and Lu Youjiao. The Divine Eagle let out a clear cry, flapping its
iron wings to meet Cen Guoming's iron plaque, relieving most of the pressure on Ying'er.

I flew to the pillar in front of the hall, severing the chains binding the two with two sword strikes, and turned to help Ying'er defend against the enemy. As soon as I turned around,
I felt a warning, sensing a cold light on my body. At the same time, I heard Lü Wende shout, "
Lord . I quickly dodged, my Xuan Tie sword protecting my back. "Snap!" The Xuan Tie sword's incredible magnetism
attracted the assassin's bull-horn dagger.

The assassin was stunned, immediately withdrawing his hand and fleeing, a master assassin who would flee a thousand miles if his attack failed. Unfortunately for him, he encountered
a master among masters. I activated my inner strength, swung the Xuan Tie sword in the air, and
deflected the dagger. "Thud!" The dagger pierced his left shoulder.

I didn't chase after him. I turned around and helped Lü Wende up, tugging at his beard to verify his identity. This gave me a legitimate reason to mess with
him. He didn't dare offend me now, so he could only force a smile and say, "I'm real, I'm real."

I whispered to him, "General, time is of the essence. Quickly gather men for the Guo residence. My master and Uncle Guo are in danger."

Lü Wende knew the gravity of the situation and guessed that these people were the assassins Jia Sidao and Shi Songzhi had hired after he left the banquet. He
hurriedly grabbed his command token and followed behind me.

I turned my head and saw that Ying'er and Shen Diao were still holding on, but we didn't have time to waste on them. I unleashed my
boundless , like the lord of the underworld descending upon the world. Not only did it terrify Cen Guoming and Kong Qisha, but even Ying'er
was seeing this violent side of me for the first time, and she couldn't help but tremble.

Cen Guoming and Kong Qisha, as expected of the notorious villains of the martial world, roused themselves, abandoned Ying'er,
and attacked . With a swift, powerful strike of my right sword, Kong Qisha was forced to dodge. But I wouldn't let him succeed. With a left palm strike
of "Leaping from the Abyss," I deflected Cen Guoming's iron plaque attack, using the force to accelerate my thrust and sever Kong Qisha's right arm.

"Ah!" he screamed, collapsing to the ground clutching his severed arm. I grinned maliciously and stepped forward to finish him off with another sword. "Husband,
no !" Ying'er grabbed my waist. Having spent years with the Demonic Sect, she couldn't bear to see Kong Qisha die and stopped me.

"This little wife isn't ugly at all," Lü Wende thought to himself, observing the scene. He'd heard from the heroes at the gathering that I had
a skilled but ugly wife, who mistook Ying'er for Chu Qing. However, he was always timid, and this wasn't
the time for him to interrupt; he simply watched quietly from the sidelines.

Cen Guoming, also frightened, helped Kong Qisha turn and flee. My murderous intent hadn't subsided, and I was determined to establish my authority; how could I allow him to retreat so easily? I released the Xuan
Tie sword , its heavy hilt slamming into his back, sending him flying three zhang (approximately 10 meters). That blow would likely have cost him most of his life.

I sealed their pressure points, then carried them on horseback. I had the Divine Eagle escort Lü Wende to gather troops. Having witnessed
the Divine Eagle confidently led his horse, pulling the two prisoners along, and then shakily climbed onto the Divine Eagle's back, following my instructions.
Troops were being mobilized from the north of the city. Ying'er and I turned back and hurried towards the Guo residence, but when we arrived, we heard wails filling the courtyard…
Rong'er was fighting five masters alone. She held her Qingming Sword, wielding it without regard for the vital points of her enemies. However,
her opponents were clearly skilled in combined attacks; the five men were adept at offense and defense. When Rong'er attacked one, two would
protect her from the side, while the other two would counterattack, always using a strategy of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao" to neutralize Rong'er's fierce offensive at the most critical moments, constantly
hindering her attacks and creating a stalemate.

Chu Qing's golden dragon whip danced, forming a massive golden shield wall that blocked all the arrows fired by the thirty-odd archers on the left flank
. San Niang, wielding a gleaming small knife, moved with ease through the crowd,
showing no mercy despite her usual kind heart. As I entered, I witnessed her pierce an enemy's carotid artery. Three more experts rushed in
, surrounding her.

Little Dragon Girl was also entangled by several men, unable to support Wushuang, who was heavily pregnant and struggling in the battle. She had been shot in the left arm and could only
rely on the sharpness of her Lady's Sword to fight back with difficulty. Fu'er was protecting Ru Shi, who had been shot in the leg, while Ru Shi was protecting Manman and
the three children. The situation was extremely critical.

I released my Xuan Tie Sword, and with a "thud," it pinned the person in front of Wushuang to the ground.

"Master!" "Protector Peng!" The members of the Demonic Sect, seeing my lightning-fast sword strike pin their
Protector to the ground, dead, were all stunned by my preemptive strike. They stopped fighting and retreated to their own
camp.

"Husband, quickly... quickly save Father!" Fu'er, seeing me return, rushed towards me despite being covered in blood. My heart
skipped a beat, and I hurriedly asked, "What happened? Who's injured?"

Rong'er, also wounded, cried with despair, "Guo'er, your Uncle Guo is dead!"

I was shocked. The servants in the manor had united to resist, but now most were dead or wounded. Lying in
a pool of blood in front of the bedroom was Guo Jing, wearing only his undergarments, riddled with over ten wolf-tooth arrows, long since dead. I felt a surge of hatred,
but looking at them again, I was surprised to find that the leaders were Zhao Yu and Xie Wanqin!

"Good...good! Xie Wanqin, I never expected it to be you!" I gritted my teeth, filled with hatred. I truly couldn't believe that the leaders
were Zhao Yu and Xie Wanqin. However, the two words Ying'er uttered shocked me even more.

"The leader..." Ying'er's surprise far exceeded mine. She had never been to Xiangyang before, and for the past few months, I had completely cut off contact with
Xie Wanqin for helping to force away San Niang. Therefore, Ying'er had never met this Princess of Xiangyang.

She was actually the leader of the Ming Cult? My lover? And she deliberately avoided seeing Ying'er? And I, back then, was so naive as to
let a wolf into the house.

"Actually, I had already thought that one day we would face each other in this situation." Xie Wanqin's words were full of
bitterness, but I saw that the person beside her was her personal maid, Qiu Xiang... I ignored her, and just hugged the wailing
Rong'er and Fu'er, and knelt down in front of Uncle Guo, looking at his eyes, which were still open lifelessly, but he was really gone
... His soft armor was spread out in front of the three children, and he was hit by more than a dozen arrows in his back. I never thought that a generation of Condor Heroes
could not escape the fate of dying by arrows. In the end, I still couldn't save him. And the love triangle between me, Rong'er, and him has
finally come to an end... I remembered his earnest teachings, I remembered his strict but kind voice and smiling face... My tears
still couldn't be stopped and flowed down. I roared, brushed away all the arrows, and took out the last Life Creation Pill from my bosom,
hoping that it could create a miracle for us. But it was all in vain; he really was gone… A pang of regret even stirred within me,
or perhaps deep down I felt he was in my way… But at that moment, even I, a heartless person, shed a few crocodile
tears… “You must all die today, and I will make you regret ever being born.” I picked up
the Lady's Sword that had fallen to the ground and slowly stood up, saying this.

“Husband, don’t be impulsive, there are too many of them,” Chu Qing shouted to me.

I ignored her. “First one!” I raised my sword with one hand, grabbed the hair of an enemy in front of San Niang with the other, and thrust it forward
, the blade slicing through his throat. My sword was pinned to the ground, and my left foot continued to grind against his abdomen, causing blood to gush from the wound in his
throat . The man did not die immediately, crying and kicking for mercy while trying to cover his wound with his hands. Then
came a shrill, agonizing scream as his hands touched the blade of the Lady's Sword and were severed at the wrists.

The events unfolded too suddenly. The members of the Demonic Cult hadn't expected me to initiate an attack so directly, nor had they anticipated my
brazen slaughter of my comrades in front of them. They rushed forward to rescue me. With a single swing of my sword, I sent a massive head flying, landing right
at Xie Wanqin's feet. "Sea King!" The members of the Demonic Cult were all stunned. Even the alien martial artists nearby couldn't help but feel
a sense of shared sorrow. Tie Bu Leng Tiexin was the first to react, rushing forward and shouting, "Kill! Attack side by side! Linglong, protect the leader and get out of here first!" He
had noticed the unusual relationship between Xie Wanqin and me, and worried that

she might soften her stance if she were present, so he gave the order. San Niang and Rong'er couldn't bear to let Wushuang and Manman witness such a violent side of me, and quickly stepped in front of them.
Xiaolongnu had never seen the usually composed me lose control, and couldn't help but turn her head away. Even Chu Qing, once the most
feared female demon in the martial world, felt a chill run down her spine from the overwhelming killing intent emanating from me. Xie Wanqin and
Yuan Jiejie , were also stunned by my ruthless and thunderous methods. How could they believe that this was
the same gentle and refined man they had slept with during the day?

I had no time to care about their feelings. I knew that tonight's bloodshed had only just begun. I said in a low voice, "Go inside.
You don't want to see what's coming..." This was the first time I had killed someone in front of my women, and in such
a horrific way . Ying'er knew she could no longer persuade me, and followed the other sisters, carrying Guo Jing's body away. Only Rong'er and Chu Qing, with their stronger constitutions
, dared to face this cruel killing scene. "Qing'er, take down those thirty archers. I'll tear them apart one by one.
Master, you deal with Leng Tiexin."

I leaped over Leng Tiexin and stood in front of the door, blocking Xie Wanqin's path. I asked in a low voice, "I already let
you , but why did you come here to seek your own death?"

"Because you are a threat... Your talent seems to have fallen from the sky... I'm sorry..." Xie Wanqin
said softly. The Demonic Sect was paying close attention to me, but even with her, as the sect leader, personally taking action, they couldn't find out the origin of my skills.
To get to the bottom of things, and to let Ying'er and Yuan Jiejie contact me was an even bigger blunder.

"Master, why are you being so polite to him? He killed the Sea King and Li Qizhu!" The Ming Cult members were dissatisfied with Xie Wanqin's weakness and
shouted.

"They won't be lonely. You can keep each other company on your journey to the Yellow Springs." I said sinisterly.

"Ah!" Just then, Tie Buxin was stabbed in the mouth and fell to the ground unwillingly, his eyes wide open in death. Rong'er also had a
resolute look on her face. She absolutely did not want to let anyone leave her courtyard.

"Rong'er!" Two people jumped down from the wall. It was Hong Qigong and Ke Zhen'e. They had received news that the Demonic Cult had mobilized all its forces to come to
Xiangyang . They followed, but they were still a step too late. Seeing the mess in the garden and dozens of enemy people, and Chu Qing still
fighting and stalling with more than thirty archers, they couldn't help but gasp.

I didn't greet them. I just shouted, "Kill!" and rushed into the crowd. Rong'er didn't say a word,
following closely behind me as she charged into the crowd.

"Guo'er, don't be impulsive!" Although Hong Qigong knew my skill was deepening daily, facing over a hundred fists, even
a dozen or so blows would leave him seriously injured. Seeing me disregard my own safety and his good disciple acting so recklessly, and with Guo Jing nowhere to be seen, he
felt a bad premonition, but he still joined the battle with Ke Zhen'e.

I found Ke Zhen'e a burden, simply saying, "Qigong, you and Eunuch Ke rest first. My master and I are enough here!"
As I spoke, the Lady's Sword in my hand flashed with a cold, meteor-like light, ignoring any obstruction or delay. A single strike would inevitably pierce the enemy's brow or throat
—this was the second sword technique I had mastered—the Flowing Wave Sword. Rong'er didn't speak, and similarly, she stabbed her enemies to the brow or
throat. The difference was that mine was so fast that it was impossible to dodge, while her sword always struck first, even after being struck later.

As the blood mist dissipated, Rong'er and I, relying on our superb lightness skills, had already joined forces to kill thirteen people. Zhao Yu was the third to die
by my sword, and now only Xie Wanqin and Yuan Jiejie remained alive.

Xie Wanqin smiled calmly and said, "Kill me."

I walked up to her, my heart filled with unease, but I had no choice. The long sword slowly advanced, about to end
her life.

"Wait!" Rong'er called out to me. "Guo'er, you can't kill her! She's the Princess Consort of Xiangyang, a member of the royal family!"
She grabbed me with tears in her eyes. Although she hated Xie Wanqin to the extreme, she could only grit her teeth and endure it so that our family wouldn't be forced to flee, and
so that Guo Jing wouldn't bear the stigma of treason after his death.

How could I not understand her feelings? Hearing the faint sobbing from inside, I suppressed my murderous intent and then suddenly it surged forth. I said hatefully,
"You have plenty of experts. Keep sending them to their deaths..." I looked at the corpses scattered on the ground, including Zhao Yu and
Qiu Xiang both lying in pools of blood. This made my mood even worse.

Xie Wanqin's face was extremely complex, turning from an excited red to ashen, then to a deathly pale, bloodless ashes, but she couldn't
utter a single word. Yuan Jiejie also glanced at me with a complicated expression, then helped Xie Wanqin slowly walk away.

I watched their departing figures, my Lady's Sword slowly falling, but I told myself that I might
regret my decision today.

I saw that Chu Qing had already captured dozens of archer assassins, their fates unknown, and threw them into the corner. I
sheathed and helped Rong'er into the house. Inside, Seventh Master and Eunuch Ke were already sitting blankly at the table, clearly unwilling to accept this reality.
I knelt down with a thud: "Grandfather, Seventh Grandfather, I... I didn't take good care of Uncle Guo..."

Ke Zhen'e suddenly stood up, walked over and slapped me across the face, then kicked me to the ground. "How could you be
so reckless? Where were you at the most crucial moment?"

"Grandfather, please don't hit my brother!" Fu Mei cried as she stopped Ke Zhen'e, saying, "My brother didn't expect the Demonic Sect to send so
many people. Xiao Wu, whom Mother sent to inform Uncle Lu, hasn't returned yet. Everyone was worried that Uncle Lu was in danger, so my brother went
..."

Fu Mei choked back tears as she recounted how I received the warning, how I rushed back with my subordinates overnight, and how I was worried about Lu Youjiao's safety and
went to reinforce him. What I didn't know was that after I left, Zhao Yu arrived with his men, ostensibly to protect the Guo family's safety
. Rong'er and I were both careless, misunderstanding that Lü Wende was an outer member of the Demonic Sect, but we didn't take any precautions against Zhao Yu.
When the Demonic Cult arrived, they found the severely wounded Lu Youjiao being held captive. Xiaolongnu and Rong'er risked their lives to save him. Zhao Yu, betraying them, fired arrows
at the house, forcing everyone outside. The Demonic Cult then surrounded and attacked, exposing Guo Jing, three pregnant women, and four children to the
arrows his might, removed his soft armor and spread it out to protect the three children.
He then used his body to shield Fumei, Wushuang, and Chuqing from the arrows.
However this moment, the imposter Lu Youjiao suddenly attacked, stabbing Guo Jing in the chest, killing him instantly
. This imposter was none other than Peng Haixin, the Daolu Zhenren who had fought Wushuang and was killed by my Xuan Tie Sword.

"Where is the leader?" Ke Zhen'e suddenly asked.

Rong'er, not wanting to put me in a difficult position, said with difficulty, "I let her go..."

"Crack!" Ke Zhen'e slammed his steel staff on the ground, his voice filled with hatred, "Rong'er, how could you let her go? How can you do this to
Jing'er who died?"

Rong'er cried aggrievedly, "Do you think I wanted this? She was the Princess Consort of Xiangyang, a member of the Emperor's royal family... I can't let Brother Jing
die... and then be branded a traitor."

Qi Gong and Ke Zhen'e remained silent. They hadn't expected things to develop this way; the complexity of the situation far
exceeded their control. Under such circumstances, they couldn't simply act on their grudges and kill that vixen. However,
no one wanted to accept Guo Jing's death.

Chu Qing entered and said, "Lü Wende has arrived." She bound the archers and handed them to Lü Wende, took my Xuan Tie sword, and led
him into the house. Upon learning of Guo Jing's death and witnessing the collapse of Xiangyang's pillar of strength, Lü Wende couldn't help but grieve
, mourning his longtime friend.

The vast power of the Demonic Sect crumbled overnight. In this battle, based on Yingmei's identification, I personally killed
Peng Haixin, the Reversed Shoes Master; Chen Jiangyue, the Peacock King; Mingzhen, the Nine Difficulties Monk; Qin Yushi, the Sea King; Wen Cangshan, the Thick Earth Banner Master;
Zhao Dafa, the Giant Wood Banner Master; Li Guohua, the Flood Banner Master; the two hall masters of the Wind and Thunder Halls; and seven strange masters from the East. Rong'er personally killed
Leng Tiexin, the Iron Constable; Zhuang Jian, the Sharp Gold Banner Master; Zhu Zhuo, the Blazing Fire Banner Master; and the hall masters of the Heaven and Earth Halls. The entire upper echelon of the Demonic Sect was almost completely wiped out.
Now only Ying'er's master, Right Envoy of Light Shen Qingjun, and her two disciples, the true Golden Roc Demon King (
Shi Songzhi, who escaped from my grasp yesterday), and the Left Envoy of Light Cen Guoming and Wolf King Kong Qisha, whom I captured, remain.

I didn't find the six uniquely crafted Sacred Flame Tokens among the pile of corpses; it's most likely that Xie Wanqin carried them
but I missed them. Lu Youjiao was found in the secret room of the prefectural government's back office. He's alive, but suffered severe
internal injuries and needs time to recuperate. Rong'er has no choice but to temporarily assume the position of gang leader.

Can her current distraught state and frail shoulders withstand the current crisis? In the stillness of the night, I quietly pushed open
her door. She wasn't asleep; she was soaking in the bathtub, trying to wash away the bloodstains, but unable to wash away the grief and sorrow…
I picked her up and dried her off. She didn't need to say anything more; she simply leaned against me, tears welling in her eyes, and
fell into a deep sleep.

Three days later, a grand funeral was held for Uncle Guo in Xiangyang City. During the funeral procession,
the mournful cries vast funeral procession. Even Grandmaster Qiu, along with
Uncle Yin and Li Zhichang, came. Before Uncle Guo's coffin, this magnanimous Taoist, who had roamed the martial arts world for decades, couldn't help but shed tears, likely
remembering his two close friends, Guo Xiaotian and Yang Tiexin. They witnessed me kill Cen Guoming and Kong Qisha, and all thirty murderers
involved in the plot to kill Uncle Guo were beheaded on the spot. I specifically invited Jia Sidao and Shi Songzhi to the execution,
but the weak-willed Jia Sidao was terrified, his legs trembling and his face pale. On the same day, the Mongol delegation, for safety reasons, left
Xiangyang, taking with them all the conditions they had offered, and departed satisfied. Also on the same day,
news of Jia Sidao's collusion with the Mongols, his treasonous pursuit of personal gain, his persecution of meritorious officials, and his cruelty to the virtuous hero Guo Jing, centered in Xiangyang, had spread
to a region stretching from Sichuan in the west to Wuchang in the east. I also sent propaganda and a secret memorial to the emperor through the Longhu Mountain channels
to Lin'an. Knowing he was in the eye of the storm, and fearing a mutiny in Xiangyang would put him to death, Jia Sidao and Shi Songzhi fled in
disgrace .

I swore that one day I would go to Lin'an and take the heads of those two traitors, I vowed to myself. But the
renewed flames of war once again crushed the morale of the people and soldiers of Xiangyang. Ariq B?ke's Mongol army of 150,000, together with Kublai Khan's
remnant army of 50,000, once again besieged Xiangyang. All they wanted was me; if they didn't let me out of the city, they would slaughter the entire city…
At this moment, I became even more silent. I realized that perhaps the next moment, I would be abandoned by everyone… Even my
wives had been avoiding me these past few days, terrified by my outburst that day. I repeatedly examined myself, wondering
why I had been losing control of my mind so often lately. Was this what they called inner demons?

Fu'er and Rong'er were relatively understanding and supportive because I had avenged their fathers and husbands, but I wasn't sure
if Fu'er could bear the thought of my affair with her mother… Chu Qing and Wu Shuang were more relaxed about the matter and didn't deliberately blame me,
which reassured me greatly.

Xiaolongnu and Manman began to avoid me, only watching me from afar, hoping to re-evaluate and re-evaluate my personality.

The most intense reactions came from Rushi, who was terrified, and Ying'er, who felt guilty.

Rushi, after being frightened, was now somewhat mentally unstable; she would cry and scream whenever she saw me. Although Rong'er and Wushuang had examined her and
said that her emotions would eventually subside, seeing her like this truly pained me… But at this moment, I had to focus on
the battle. I desperately wanted more time to heal their physical and emotional wounds.

“Guo'er, come back to Zhongnan Mountain with us. Although Chongyang Palace is currently under Mongolian control, your close
relatives from your sect are there. It's safer than this turbulent Xiangyang City, where many are eyeing you covetously,” my grandmaster Qiu Chuji advised.

I felt a surge of warmth in my heart, but still shook my head with a bitter smile. At this crucial moment, it was this kind-hearted
old man who genuinely cared for me; how could I go and cause him trouble? "Let alone the fact that I offended the second prince of Mongolia,
even if Huo Du used this as an excuse to send troops to attack the mountain, Chongyang Palace would be dragged into a heavy disaster." If things go wrong, the Quanzhen Sect
's lineage could be severed, after all, in the true course of history, the foundation of Chongyang Palace was destroyed in this way.

"Master Chongyang once said: 'A hundred years ago, we did not even see the foundation of Chongyang Palace, so why worry about the lineage after our deaths?
Someone inherit our legacy...' Just do what is right. "Qiu Chuji knows that what I am worried about is the decades-long
foundation of Quanzhen; in this respect, he seems more carefree than I am.

"The situation has not yet reached an irreparable state. After all, Xiangyang is the foundation that Uncle Guo and my master painstakingly built, and Guo'er
does not want so easily hand it over to the Mongols." "I still encouraged myself from the bottom of my heart."

Qiu Chuji nodded. Seeing that my mind was made up, he didn't try to persuade me any further. He just sighed and said, "Since you have
such an understanding, then work hard. I remember that the Southern Fourth of the Seven Freaks taught Jing'er a saying: 'If you can't beat them, run.'
Unfortunately, he didn't run away, and Jing'er couldn't escape his fate either. Guo'er, you must remember this. It's golden advice. If things can't be done,
it's not shameful to retreat temporarily to plan a comeback. Don't be impulsive and ruin your life." I nodded in agreement, thinking that this was also
the truth.

"I am old and can no longer handle swords and spears or ride a warhorse. I'll leave Zhiping and Zhichang here to help you fight the enemy. The day of the Sect Leader's
ascension is approaching, and I need to return to Chongyang Palace as soon as possible. You don't need to keep me here." Qiu Chuji instructed Yin and Li, and
then left gracefully.

After seeing Master Qiu off, a deeper sense of unease settled in my heart, as if I had lost my way and couldn't find
the goal I had been holding onto. I pushed open Rong'er's door, unable to resist pouring out my heart to the person I trusted most: "Rong'er, I'm tired
... I feel like I can't go on anymore. Is defying fate really against all reason?" I hid in Rong'er's arms and cried
... Under the immense pressure, I couldn't help but secretly bury my face in her arms and shed tears. Only in front of Rong'er could I
let down my guard and reveal my most vulnerable side.

"Guo'er, you did the right thing. Perhaps you used to like to play tricks, but what's most precious is your
pure heart . And now, you've grown into a man worthy of entrusting one's life to, a pillar of strength. And this tearful
look is not the Guo'er I know..." Rong'er saw my shoulders sobbing and knew I was really crying, but it was the first
time had seen me so heartbroken and tearful, and she couldn't help but say with a hint of teasing.

I gradually wiped away my tears and said, "A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's truly heartbroken." Everything I did couldn't change
the course of history, and things were only getting worse. I was unwilling to accept it… Rong'er saw the deep
grievances in my heart. Knowing that I, young and impetuous, had enjoyed smooth sailing for years without any setbacks, and that this series of
setbacks in Xiangyang might be too much for me to bear, she couldn't help but advise, "When you're successful, you should help others; when you're unsuccessful, you should cultivate your own virtue.
If you can't do that, we can retreat to Peach Blossom Island." She leaned into my arms and spoke softly.

I knew she didn't have any grand ideals of saving the people from suffering; she was just a simple woman. Perhaps… Uncle Guo's death
had greatly affected her and significantly weakened the ties that Xiangyang held for her. "Of course I think so too, but now that Uncle Guo
is gone, if we leave too, the morale of Xiangyang will collapse, and the city will surely crumble. I really can't bear to see millions of people
displaced and suffer such devastation." I suddenly remembered the scene at the Xiangyang Poetry Festival when I made a promise to the people, their
eyes filled with tears , and the crowd cheering. I thought of those familiar faces, my soldiers—could I just leave like this?
I really couldn't do it. Thinking of this, I gradually calmed down.

She guessed that I had made up my mind and looked at me gently, saying, "Since you've made up your mind, Rong'er will naturally
support you. You're really becoming more and more like Brother Jing." Rong'er stroked my face, her eyes filled with maternal
love, yet also glistening with tears. I knew she was thinking of Uncle Guo, who had already passed away.

I then understood that she was using reverse psychology to motivate me, but the thought that we might continue Guo Jing's mission,
trapped and dying in this sorrowful city, deeply pierced Rong'er's heart...

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