Chapter 81

Feng Yi looked at Li Mochou, seeing weariness in her brows and eyes, and secretly thought: "The prouder a woman, the less she can bear a blow."

But it's indeed true that not obtaining what one seeks is life's greatest suffering; a woman like her, beautiful, highly skilled, and extremely proud, has gotten nothing she wanted in this life, which is truly cruel! Perhaps this is heaven's retribution for her wanton slaughter of the innocent!

Feng Yi, thinking of this, said softly: "Even if I do not intervene, your obstinacy will not change; your junior martial sister is not like that, and you running over there eagerly may only invite a harder blow."

Li Mochou lifted her head and gazed blankly at the sky, sighing long: "She may truly be stronger than I." After a hesitation, she added: "But I want to see her, so I can put this matter to rest and accept my fate."

Feng Yi looked at Yang Guo and said: "She is gravely wounded, yet she insists on seeing Xiao Longnv."

Yang Guo then understood why Li Mochou was in such poor state; though surprised, he relaxed, nodded and said: "Whether you see her or not is not up to me, but I can report it for you." He then set off.

He also knew that Li Mochou was his master's uncle; Xiao Longnv had said that the name "Ancient Tomb Sect" came into existence only after Li Mochou wandered the jianghu; before that, the Ancient Tomb Sect had no name, because Lin Chaoying and her maidservant had not given it one.

Feng Yi, Li Mochou, and Hong Lingbo also followed.

Feng Yi knew that Yang Guo appeared confident but was actually inferior, thus developing a character that alternated between magnanimous grandeur and petty spite.

All these contradictions and entanglements are related to his background.

Yang Guo constantly imagined his father as a great hero, unable to get the truth from his mother, and suspected that Guo Jing and his associates had killed him; adding to that, after his mother's death he endured contempt while trying to make a living, and his experiences on Peach Blossom Island and in the Quanzhen Sect shaped this character.

As a result, he caused many troubles, namely becoming crippled at Guo Fu's hands; Guo Fu certainly erred, but it was also due to his character.

Seeing that he could today step forward for himself in a righteous deed, I thus take this opportunity to lay everything bare before him.

This benefits him personally and also reduces trouble for the great hero Guo Jing, who guards the realm and pacifies the people.

Guo Jing is already exhausted, daily dealing with enemies, plus his nephew constantly plotting to stab him in the back; for such a hero who serves country and people without reservation, Feng Yi is willing to do what he can.

Of course, Yang Guo invited himself; if he could get to see the unworldly Xiao Longnv even once, this trip would not be in vain.

After all, she could make the decades-long quiet-practice cultivators Zhen Zhibing and Gongsun Zhi lower their defenses one after another; just how beautiful she must be, Feng Yi remains extremely curious.

This is killing two birds with one stone! Several people went up the mountain path; Yang Guo recalled what had just happened, feeling very puzzled, glanced back at Li Mochou, and could not help asking: "Brother Feng, how did you bully Li Mochou?"

"I didn't bully her." Feng Yi fell silent for a moment: "It's just that my martial arts are slightly superior to hers."

Yang Guo stared, then disbelieved, and chuckled: "That female demon, when she was little, broke into my home and killed people, vicious to the extreme; seeing her like this now truly feels satisfying."

Yang Guo had suffered from the ice soul silver needles as a child; although he tried to keep his voice low, Li Mochou still heard it.

Li Mochou suddenly realized, and sneered: "So it's you, this slippery-tongued brat!"

Yang Guo chuckled: "Great beauty, you finally remembered me!"

Upon hearing the appellation "great beauty", Li Mochou instantly recalled the day he had embraced her waist, and fury surged; she gritted her teeth and shouted: "Yang Guo, do you know Western Poison Ouyang Feng?"

"You know him?" Yang Guo wondered, utterly perplexed: "He is my adoptive father; what business do you have with him?"

Li Mochou snorted, about to speak, when she suddenly saw Feng Yi turn his head and cast a glance at her, intentional or not.

That glance was like ice water poured over her head; Li Mochou shuddered, feeling a great suffocation in her chest: "This kid is so young, how can he have such immense killing intent? It seems he has killed more people than I have!"

Thinking this, she dared not speak further, when she saw Feng Yi suddenly grab Yang Guo's right wrist and dash toward a distant hill.

Yang Guo had his pulse point seized by Feng Yi, losing all ability to resist; furious, he was about to rebuke him when he heard Feng Yi say: "We'll ask later."

Yang Guo was also extremely quick-witted, knowing what Feng Yi wanted to say and not wanting Li Mochou and the others to hear, so he offered no resistance.

Li Mochou, injured, could not expend internal energy for long; Hong Lingbo needed to attend to her. Although they wanted to follow, they could only watch Feng Yi and Yang Guo quickly disappear from sight.

Yang Guo's lightness skill was inherently high; he lacked only internal strength. With Feng Yi's support, the two moved without touching the ground, their wide sleeves fluttering like two green geese, flying over rocks, surmounting high ridges, and even leaping over trees several zhang tall in a single bound.

The two ran out of the Golden Lotus Pavilion in one breath; the place was flat and deserted, whereupon Feng Yi loosened Yang Guo's wrist, walked slowly, and suddenly asked: "Brother Yang, I hear you address Guo Jing as 'Uncle Guo', and how did you come to join the Quanzhen and then the Ancient Tomb Sect? Could you tell me?" Yang Guo was about to ask what Feng Yi wanted to say, but this sudden question disrupted his thoughts.

Yang Guo pondered, then said: "My Uncle Guo and my father were sworn brothers; my father died early, and I lived with my mother. When I was eleven, she fell gravely ill."

I buried her in Jiaxing, and thereafter lived there, enduring endless contempt and insults. Later I met Uncle Guo, who took me to Peach Blossom Island; I fought with his female disciple, provoked someone, could not stay, and he sent me to the Quanzhen Sect.

Yet when he went up the mountain, he beat the hundreds of Daoists of Chongyang Palace to the point they could not lift a finger in defense; the elders Ma, Liu, Qiu, Wang and the other true persons did not mind, but could outsiders possibly bear no grudge?

They dare not offend Uncle Guo, so they take out their anger on me, this little child; how could they then pass on martial arts to me? Thanks to Grandma Sun of the Ancient Tomb Sect saving me, I was able to become a disciple of that sect.

Feng Yi heard his few light words, and attributed the entire cause of his own expulsion from the Quanzhen Sect to Guo Jing, thinking: "Guo Jing is also truly wronged; he went up the mountain because Yang Guo claimed he had killed Yang Kang, and in anger he struck the stone tablet—a signal used by heretics and evil cults for contact—leading the Quanzhen Daoists to mistake him for a lecher; now even his nephew bears a grudge against him. Alas, it is indeed hard to be a good person!"

"I see." Feng Yi reflected and said: "Since your father and Guo Jing are sworn brothers, could your father be……" He paused: "Yang Kang!"

Yang Guo immediately rejoiced: "Yes, my late father's given name was just the single character Kang; Brother Feng, have you heard of him?"

"What?" Feng Yi's face darkened: "Your father really is Yang Kang?"

Yang Guo said: "Brother Feng, do you know my father?"

"More than just knowing!" Feng Yi snorted coldly: "That name is like thunder to the ears!"

Yang Guo, hearing his successive sarcasm, already sensed something amiss; his eyes flashed sharply, and he sternly demanded: "What do you mean? How dare you disrespect my father?"

"How so?" Feng Yi said lightly: "Your father also has another name, Wanyan Kang, which is the imperial surname of the Jin dynasty; should I show him respect?"

"Wanyan Kang?" Yang Guo struggled to stay calm: "How does my father also come to be called Wanyan Kang? Do you know what happened to him? Was he killed by my Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo?" His voice was very depressed.

Yang Guo thought of his mother; whenever he asked about his father's cause of death, her expression would become peculiar and she would avoid answering. He also felt that although Guo Jing treated him very kindly, Huang Rong seemed somewhat wary, and even at his young age he sensed there must be some hidden circumstance.

The last time he went to Chongyang Palace and asked whether Guo Jing's father had been killed by Guo Jing and Huang Rong, it instead provoked Guo Jing into thunderous rage, increasing his suspicions; he has continually suspected that the two are his father's killers.

Feng Yi fixed his gaze on Yang Guo for a while, then smiled: "Some things, what you think may not necessarily be correct."

He understood that Yang Guo's martial arts study in the Ancient Tomb Sect also used Guo Jing and Huang Rong as a benchmark; this certainly stems from admiration for Guo Jing's martial arts, but subconsciously he regards Guo Jing as an enemy.

For in the original storyline, when Yang Guo saw Guo Jing at Dasheng Pass, his first reaction to the embrace was not joy at reuniting with his uncle, but to protect himself with internal energy, fearing Guo Jing might harm him.

Feng Yi pondered: "Never mind; today we have fate, this mountain road is long, chatting about these martial-arts anecdotes to while away the time is also a good thing."

He paused slightly, fixed his gaze on Yang Guo, and his expression turned solemn: "Whether you believe these matters or not is up to you; you may take them as one-sided accounts or as stories, but you must absolutely not listen partially and believe partially."

"I understand." Yang Guo said: "Regardless of whether your words are true or false, I should also go verify them; I cannot simply believe them."

Feng Yi thought: "This Yang Guo still has this mindset; after wandering the jianghu for two days, he will become extremist beyond remedy."

Feng Yi knew that in the original plot, Yang Guo, while liked by many, was also condemned by many, because in order to assassinate Guo Jing he did not hesitate to exploit Guo Jing's goodwill toward him, and even colluded with the Mongols, all of which he put into action.

Although he finally came to his conscience, in truth a patriotic scholar, Feng Mofeng, died.

He had originally been working as a blacksmith in the Mongol camp, repeatedly assassinating generals and succeeding several times, but in the end, because he saved Guo Jing and Yang Guo, he met an untimely death.

The most laughable part is that Yang Guo's understanding actually came from what the foolish girl said.

Even if it was the foolish girl who said it, it is clear enough: Yang Kang himself went to strike his aunt, who had poisonous needles on her body, and thus he died.

Besides, Cheng Ying urged him from the side, saying he could take revenge but must first verify the facts and not rush; he gave a verbal assent, yet he was merely preoccupied with holding his sister, and in his heart he had already taken the Guo couple as enemies, especially loathing Guo Jing, without having conducted any investigation.

Feng Yi pondered for a moment, then said: 'Your father's affair is too tangled; I will tell you everything I know.'

Yang Guo nodded, and Feng Yi said: 'Your father could become sworn brothers with Guo the Great Hero because your grandfather Yang Tiexin and Guo the Great Hero's father Guo Xiaotian were originally sworn brothers; that year, Daoist Qiu passed through Niujia Village, was called over by the Yang and Guo pair, and the three became friends.'

The wives of Guo and Yang were already pregnant at the time, and Daoist Qiu gave them the names Guo Jing and Yang Kang, which could be used regardless of gender!

Yang Guo remained silent, only hearing Feng Yi continue: 'Because Daoist Qiu killed a Han collaborator who had defected to the Jin, later some Jin people came in pursuit; Daoist Qiu's martial arts were superb, and he slew them all.'

Unexpectedly, one of them was still not dead, and your grandmother, being naturally compassionate, rescued him.

But this person was actually the Jin prince Wanyan Honglie, who fell in love with your grandmother at first sight, and thus ordered a Song commander, Duan Tiande, to exterminate the Guo and Yang families, sparing only your grandmother; in that battle Guo Xiaotian died miserably, and Yang Tiexin fell off a cliff.

At that time, Daoist Qiu happened to learn of this, and he pursued the Guo and Yang wives all the way, fighting the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan along the road.

They made an eighteen-year pact: he would go look for Yang Kang and his mother, while the other side sought Guo Jing and his mother!

Guo Jing's mother, after many twists, ended up in Mongolia, while Yang Kang's mother was rescued by Wanyan Honglie under the guise of a savior, taken back to Zhongdu, where she gave birth to a child named Wanyan Kang.

Later, Daoist Qiu and the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan both found the two families, each taking Guo Jing and Yang Kang as disciples; however, Daoist Qiu and Yang Kang's mother, for various reasons, never told Yang Kang his background, and many years passed. That year, a multitude of martial heroes gathered in Zhongdu, and Yang Tiexin brought his daughter Mu Nianci……

'Ah!' Yang Guo blurted out: 'Mu… wasn't my grandfather supposed to have fallen off the cliff? How does he have a daughter?'

He knew Mu Nianci was his mother, yet these entanglements were never mentioned by his mother, so he had no idea that his mother and grandfather were related in this way.

Feng Yi said: 'Yang Tiexin didn't die from the fall; he was rescued. Later, Mu Nianci's household suffered a plague, so he took her in, and the father and daughter traveled south and north, seeking the descendants of Guo and Yang.'

That year they finally found Yang Kang and his mother with great difficulty, but Yang Kang refused to acknowledge this father, believing himself to be Wanyan Kang, and he had a very unpleasant quarrel with Daoist Qiu and the others.

'That's not right to say,' Yang Guo said: 'He never knew his own background; finding it hard to accept at once—isn't that only human nature?'

Feng Yi shook his head and said: 'At that time he refused to recognize his father, but Wanyan Honglie's troops surrounded Daoists Qiu, Ma, and Wang, as well as Mu Nianci and them.'

Daoist Wang was severely wounded, Daoist Ma was also struck by a poison needle; they wanted to protect the Yang Tiexin couple but could not break out of the encirclement, so Yang Tiexin immediately committed suicide to avoid dragging them down, and his wife Bao Xiruo followed him in death.

Actually, your thinking is understandable to everyone; people also felt that Wanyan Kang had never seen his father, so it was hard to force him.

Yang Guo's eyes grew dim, his voice low: 'No one has ever told me these things!'

'Later, Wanyan Kang continued as a Jin prince, ordered to come to Song, where he was captured by Lu Yingong, chief of the Taihu bandits; fortunately Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and Mu Nianci were present and saved his life.'

It was also a fortunate coincidence that he encountered Duan Tiande, the commander who had brought ruin to the Guo and Yang families, and from him learned the whole story.

Wanyan Kang immediately killed him, declaring solemnly that he could no longer acknowledge a traitor as his father, and that from now on he would call himself Yang Kang.

That day Guo Jing and Yang Kang became sworn brothers at Guiyun Villa, with many witnesses, including the Six Freaks of Jiangnan, Lu Yingong and his son, and some household retainers, etc.

Who would have thought that Yang Kang, after declaring his resolve, would soon waver and again become a Jin prince.

Being a prince was bad enough, but while in the Lin'an imperial palace, taking advantage of Ouyang Feng and Guo Jing exchanging palms, he used the token of his sworn brotherhood with Guo Jing to stab Guo Jing in the waist!

'What?' Yang Guo exclaimed in great surprise, looking at Feng Yi; although he knew Guo Jing was still alive, he faintly felt something ominous.

Feng Yi said: 'Had Guo Jing not already been practicing the Nine Yin True Classic then, he would have died. Later, with Huang Rong's help, he nursed his wounds for seven days and seven nights; during that period the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, Huang Yaoshi, Ouyang Feng, Ouyang Ke, Yang Kang, and Mu Nianci appeared in succession.'

It ended with Ouyang Feng killing Tan Chuduan and Mei Chaofeng, and Yang Kang killing Ouyang Feng's son Ouyang Ke!

Yang Guo said wistfully: 'You mean Yang Kang killed Ouyang Feng's son?'

He still remembers when Ouyang Feng acknowledged him as his son, saying: 'This child of yours is very clever, learns at once, even more agile than my own biological son back then. Ah, my child!' At that time his eyes were moist, he stroked his own head, sighing faintly—a scene vivid in his memory.

But his son turned out to be someone his own father had killed! Feng Yi sighed and said: 'His killing of Ouyang Ke is in itself correct, because Ouyang Ke had harbored ill intentions toward Mu Nianci.'

Of course, Yang Kang had also wanted to become Ouyang Feng's disciple, because Ouyang Feng said his martial arts were a single line of transmission.

Later Yang Kang again took the Dog Beating Staff and ran to the Beggars' Sect to stir up trouble, nearly costing Guo Jing and Huang Rong their lives.

After his plot was thwarted, he went with Ouyang Feng to Peach Blossom Island and killed five of the Six Freaks of Jiangnan, leaving only the blind Ke Zhen'e, in order to frame Huang Yaoshi.

Yang Guo's heart pounded, his whole body trembled, his mind a tangled mess; he couldn't help recalling what his foster father had once told him—that he had killed several of Ke Zhen'e's brothers, though he couldn't recall exactly how many—and he quavered: 'What happened then…?'

Feng Yi glanced at him and said: 'Guo Jing believed his masters had been killed by Huang Yaoshi, thus he nearly fell out with Huang Rong and joined the Seven Masters of Quanzhen in a great battle against Huang Yaoshi; each had once been at death's door, but fortune favored them.'

However, Ouyang Feng and Yang Kang, leading a large force, sought to kill Guo Jing, Qiu Chuji, and the others; because Yang Kang kept telling Ouyang Feng that Ouyang Ke had died at their hands, the few were outnumbered, and they only escaped thanks to the thick fog, while Huang Rong was in the Iron Spear Temple……

'The Iron Spear Temple?' Yang Guo said gloomily: 'Is that the Iron Spear Temple in Jiaxing?'

His heart gave a sudden lurch, he faintly guessed the truth, yet it was too cruel; Yang Guo only felt his legs go weak and a fine layer of cold sweat break out on his back.

'Not bad!' Feng Yi said: 'In the Iron Spear Temple, Huang Rong, in the presence of Ouyang Feng and Yang Guo, deduced the truth of the Five Freaks' deaths and revealed how Ouyang Ke was slain; Yang Kang wanted to silence him, striking Huang Rong with a palm.'

But Huang Rong wore the Soft Hedgehog Armor from Peach Blossom Island, and the spot he struck had also been struck once by Guo Jing's fourth master, Nan Xiren.

And Nan Xiren's tongue had once been bitten by Ouyang Feng's poisonous snake; hey, Ouyang Feng is called the Western Poison, and that name is no empty boast—the poison transmits on contact with blood, endless, and Yang Kang was instantly poisoned.

Ouyang Feng had originally intended to kill him, to avenge his son, wanting him to taste the snake venom's pain, so he naturally did not rescue him; others lacked both the ability and the courage, and Yang Kang ultimately died of poison in the Iron Spear Temple.

Yang Guo felt as if struck by a heavy blow, his face turned pale, his chest suffocated and unable to speak; he truly had not imagined that his biological father could be so wicked, repeatedly resorting to poisonous tactics against his sworn brother Guo Jing.

Recalling all the events since I met Guo Jing and his wife, I secretly thought that Huang Rong's constant vigilance and caution toward me, and all the past misunderstandings and awkwardness, all stem from this cause.

But if there is no father, where does my body come from?

Yang Guo sighed, gazing at the thin white crescent moon in the eastern sky, and said bitterly: "My Uncle Guo and the others never told me this; why are you saying it?"

Feng Yi glanced at him, speaking with deep meaning: "Your father's deeds are known to many in the martial world today; you can go to the Beggars' Sect, the Quanzhen Sect, or even the martial world, find some elders, or go to Central Capital, Auspicious Prosperity Mist and Rain Tower and ask the nearby residents—it's not hard to find out."

Even the details of his death have been witnessed by many people, who are likely still alive, so this is not a secret at all.

The reason your Uncle Guo didn't tell you is simply because you are young; he fears that bearing a heavy psychological burden would hinder your growth—this is just a father's love! If it were anyone else, killing you would be only human nature, let alone considering your feelings.

The Seven Heroes of Jiangnan raised Guo Jing with kindness, spent their lives wandering the martial world as heroes, yet were killed.

If your Aunt Guo were twenty years younger, you would have already died an obscure death.

After all, the two most important people in her life were her father and her lover; but because of Yang Kang, they both nearly died, and at that time she was even called the 'little demon girl'.

Yang Guo had never considered this point; hearing this, he said solemnly: "Brother Feng is right—I was mistaken about Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo, and it's no wonder Elder Ke flew into such a rage that day."

Feng Yi nodded and said: "Indeed, Elder Ke truly deserves the title of great hero."

Several of his brothers died at the hands of your father and Ouyang Feng, yet you still took Ouyang Feng as your adoptive father; for him to restrain himself from killing you, given his nature of repaying evil with evil, is truly difficult.

Yang Guo stared for a moment and asked: "You seem to have long known that Ouyang Feng is my adoptive father?"

"What a coincidence!" Feng Yi sighed: "Ouyang Feng has been searching for you, his son, all along—from Peach Blossom Island to Mount Zhongnan; today I even fought him in the daytime, and I heard him say this."

Mixing truth and falsehood, even though Yang Guo is exceptionally clever, he couldn't grasp it for a moment: "He also came to Mount Zhongnan?"

Feng Yi hummed: "Although others are crazy, they still remember your son, and this is also why I tell you of your father's death, because Li Mochou and Xiao Longnv's master was also killed by Ouyang Feng; she wants to expose this in front of you and your master."

"What?" Yang Guo's heart pounded wildly; thinking his master had fled on foot, after only a few steps he suddenly staggered and fell to the ground. He lay there, anguished unto death.

Suddenly hearing Feng Yi sigh: "Your relationship, aside from fate's tricks, I can't think of any way to describe it."

He reached out and patted his shoulder, saying: "In this life one can make many choices, but parents are not chosen."

And your various experiences, your adoptive father and master also had no choice, so you should pull yourself together, don't let a few words disturb your resolve—didn't your master teach you this?

These few words were like ambrosia poured on the crown.

Yang Guo startled awake, thinking: "Yes, after all, it's just his one-sided account; he might have some ulterior motive, spouting nonsense for all I know! I could ask Auntie, I could ask Uncle Guo, I could ask Daoist Qiu..." Upon thinking this, his nose soured and eyes heated, nearly shedding tears; he suddenly understood why Qiu Chuji, upon first seeing him, had spoken sternly to warn him. This was fear that he would follow his father.

Moreover, those Quanzhen sect people aren't friendly toward me either—could it also be because of my father?

Yang Guo, extremely clever, knew eighty percent of what Feng Yi said was true, yet he struggled to cheer himself, rose and forced a smile: "What Elder Feng says is correct; besides, father is father, I am I…… I……"

Speaking, his eye sockets finally heated and tears streamed down.

He had always longed to know his father's deeds, imagining many heroic feats in his heart—otherwise how could he have sworn brotherhood with Guo the Great Hero, renowned under heaven? Yet he never expected such an outcome! Feng Yi nodded slightly: "Not bad. Though the old saying goes: dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, a rat's son will dig holes—this is indeed unfair, but it's human nature."

But Uncle Guo treats you without any prejudice, taking you as his own son; this is extremely rare.

You should learn this; imagine swapping places with him—could you be as he is? In life one must never be extreme, otherwise you'll end up like Li Mochou today, agonized at the slightest setback.

Yang Guo's spirit lifted at hearing, he fell silent a moment, then said: "Elder Feng, I have a doubt; I don't know if I should ask?"

Feng Yi gave a faint smile: "We've said so much; what's there not to ask?"

Yang Guo said: "What exactly is Li Mochou's relation to you? I see she treats you unusually."

Feng Yi gave a dry laugh: "Don't be afraid; she has lost seventy to eighty percent of her power, the venomous snake has lost its fangs, she just wants to act coquettish with the person most important to her—namely, to vent anger at your grandmaster."

After a pause, he added: "As for my relation with her, I wanted to obtain something from her, so some unpleasant things happened; she hasn't given it to me yet, so I can only indulge her a bit."

Yang Guo nodded, about to speak, when suddenly Li Mochou's voice came from below the ridge: "Feng Yi, what did you tell him? Are you trying to avoid me?"

Feng Yi ignored her, when suddenly a long whistle came from the mountaintop, vigorous and powerful, able to pierce stone and split clouds, lingering without end.

"Ouyang Feng!"

Li Mochou flashed over, involuntarily crying out; Yang Guo's heart startled, and he immediately sprinted up the mountain.

Feng Yi also felt a hint of unease, about to follow, when he heard Li Mochou call: "Take me with you!"

Feng Yi turned his head and saw Hong Lingbo's breathing even, yet hers was rough; she was truly exhausted.

This mountain road is far; waiting for her to climb on her own would be troublesome, so he reached out, grabbed her hand, and shouted: "Go!"

Li Mochou felt a surge of heat rush into her body, straight to the soles of her feet, giving her legs strength. Her proficiency in the Ancient Tomb lightness skill is no less than Feng Yi's; she only lacks internal strength.

Feng Yi, with one hand on a crutch and only one hand free, couldn't attend to Hong Lingbo. Fortunately her lightness skill is also not weak; if Feng Yi doesn't exert full speed, she can still follow.

All of them used Ancient Tomb lightness, stepping on scattered stones, scaling cliffs, soaring like wind; along the way they rose and fell, twisted and straightened, their movements graceful and elegant, as if fluttering among flowers, pursuing without cease.

Feng Yi's Divine Illumination True Qi is pure and unmatched; for relaxing tendons and invigorating blood it is number one in the world. As Li Mochou ran, she felt her viscera at peace and her meridians comfortable.

The night breeze fluttered, they flew swift as a swoop, the fierce wind blew in their faces; Li Mochou's body and mind relaxed, she felt an unprecedented freedom, a wordless joy, and the pain and grievance of many days dissipated greatly.

Unable to help looking at Feng Yi, seeing him lead her for several li without a drop of sweat, breathing even, she thought: "This kid's internal strength is truly profound!"

She attributed it to Feng Yi's deep internal strength, unaware that each practice of the Divine Illumination Skill increases his internal strength by one degree.

At this point Feng Yi's internal strength is already substantial, having reached the state of refined furnace purity; if not for his leg injury not healed, his speed could be even greater and he could run faster! "What internal art is this, so powerful?" Li Mochou still couldn't help asking the doubt she had long kept in her heart.

"Nameless Heart Method." Feng Yi said offhandedly: "But it's surely far stronger than your Jade Maiden Heart Sutra."

Li Mochou stared at him fixedly, seeming somewhat sad, after a while said: "What a fine Nameless Heart Method!"

Feng Yi paid no heed; the group proceeded to the mountainside, where ahead appeared a sheer, steep cliff, dark and towering.

Rounding the cliff, they saw before them a vast forest lit with lights; outside the woods hundreds of people had gathered, forming a large circle.

Torches lit the place as bright as day; faintly sword light flashed, sword qi filled the air, the sounds of palms and fists breaking wind echoed off the cliff walls, a rumbling like thunder—clearly someone was fighting desperately there.

Yang Guo was in the lead, pushing hard with his feet, making several leaps in succession, he rushed forward like a gust of wind and lightning; upon seeing, he stood stunned on the spot.

Inside the circle seven Daoists had their left palms joined, each extending their right swords, currently besieging an old man.

Among the seven, six were elderly and one young; the elders were Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Liu Chuxuan, Hao Datong, Sun Bu'er; the youth was Yin Zhiping.

The seven arranged themselves from Tian Shu to Yao Guang, forming the Big Dipper formation; opposite them stood a burly old man with a full beard, each strand like a halberd—who else but Ouyang Feng? At this Yang Guo's heart felt as if a five-flavor bottle had been overturned, sour, sweet, bitter, salty, pungent—he didn't know what taste it was.

He didn't know how to face this adoptive father.

Because since birth, the outsider who has treated him best is him.

Yet his own father died at his hands.

However his father also killed his son! Fate toys with people, helpless before destiny; upon seeing Ouyang Feng today, Yang Guo's understanding of these eight characters deepened greatly.

Feng Yi, Li Mochou, and Hong Lingbo also squeezed in, seeing Ouyang Feng stand firm as a mountain, slowly lowering his palms to strike; the Quanzhen Daoists held their long swords, their powers united, sword qi crisscrossing.

The sides were separated by about a zhang; palms and swords came and went, making hissing and bursting sounds, palm force and sword qi surging and colliding, each move lethal.

Within several zhang around, a furious gale raged, snapping grass and flying sand; torches ten zhang away flickered dim and bright in the strong wind, and the pine needles at the forest edge trembled as if rain, rustling down.

Feng Yi saw clearly that both sides had reached a point where one careless move meant death or injury.

He had originally wanted to quietly nurse his wounds and enjoy life, but with just a light extension of his hand, he let his surroundings become the center of a vortex—how could this end?

(End of chapter)