Chapter 24: Heading to Dasheng Pass

“Rampage across the Northern Desert!”

“Linked Sword!”

“Night Talk by the Western Window!”

Yang Guo, furious, brandished his sword and unleashed both the Quanzhen Swordplay and the Jade Maiden Swordplay, each strike flowing and sharp, relentlessly piercing toward Gu Qing.

Gu Qing stood amid the snow, his body swaying left, turning right, letting Yang Guo’s long sword thrust wildly—yet his footwork barely moved. After mastering the Primordial Qi Technique, his strength had grown further; now he felt his internal Qi fused into one, his control over his body reaching an unimaginable level. Facing Yang Guo’s strikes, he often evaded them with the tiniest steps and most improbable twists of his body.

After cultivating the Primordial Qi Technique, Gu Qing’s strength underwent a refinement, fundamentally different from before.

In martial arts, he had grown ever more subtle.

“Shshshsh…”

After sixty-plus thrusts, Yang Guo sensed Gu Qing’s growth, angrily hurled his sword aside, and snarled: “You wait! I’m going straight to Chongyang Palace to tell Qiu Chuji—you want to marry Huang Yaoshi’s disciple!”

Yang Guo had thought it over and concluded that Xiaolongnu’s anger this time stemmed from Gu Qing’s tattling.

So he must retaliate!

Telling Qiu Chuji was a fair exchange.

“Mm-hmm!”

Gu Qing nodded and smiled: “If you’d told Qiu Chuji this yesterday, I might’ve been in trouble. But now—it’s too late. I’ve broken away from the sect.”

As long as I run fast enough, the Quanzhen Sect’s rules can’t catch me.

“… ”

Yang Guo fell silent, pointing at Gu Qing, searching for an opening—but for now, he couldn’t find one.

After all, Gu Qing had killed Tartars, trained the Wu brothers, revealed his origins—everything he’d done was above reproach.

Should he go to Qiu Chuji and claim Gu Qing had learned Ouyang Feng’s Toad Skill?

“You wait! At the martial contest for a bride, I’ll go all out!”

Yang Guo growled.

“Have you ever seen me go all out?”

Gu Qing said gravely.

At the martial contest for a bride, Gu Qing would unleash his full strength and utterly crush Yang Guo!

Yang Guo pointed at Gu Qing twice and said: “We’ll see.” He had already begun preparing fully for the martial contest for a bride.

Gu Qing smiled and turned toward the house behind them, where smoke curled from the chimney; the window was open, and Xiaolongnu stood there, having witnessed every moment of the clash.

Gu Qing stepped forward, gazing at Xiaolongnu’s flawless beauty, like a celestial being, and said: “Your disciple is holding a martial contest for a bride. Won’t you, as her master, come along and enjoy the spectacle?”

If Xiaolongnu was there, the martial contest for a bride would truly be lively.

Xiaolongnu fixed her gaze on Gu Qing and spoke softly: “You asked me whether I want you. I can answer you now… no.”

Xiaolongnu had seen everything, and now she gave her reply.

“… ”

Gu Qing froze, suddenly embarrassed.

He had invited Xiaolongnu with a lighthearted intent—but her words made it sound like a clumsy courtship.

“Hahahaha!”

Yang Guo burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Seeing Gu Qing flustered, he couldn’t hold back.

“You’ve helped me greatly, and I’ve never had the chance to thank you.”

Xiaolongnu spoke again: “I’ve prepared some food. Would you like to eat with me?”

Her voice was emotionless, her words utterly unexpected… I always thought you heartless and ungrateful.

Gu Qing hesitated, then stepped into Xiaolongnu’s room. His eyes swept the interior: sparse furnishings—a wooden bed, a table and chairs, some kitchenware, nothing more.

Yang Guo, seeing this, hurried in after him. Seeing Xiaolongnu made no move to stop him, he eagerly fetched the dishes and arranged them on the table.

Gu Qing stared at the crystal fish slices before him.

Crystal fish slices were popular at the time: take a carp, preferably with many scales, wash it clean the day before to remove mucus, then the next day, boil it whole in clean water over low heat until the broth turns white; remove the fish, peel off the scales, place the flesh back in the pot, sprinkle with spices, and season with vinegar.

“What’s wrong?”

Yang Guo, accustomed to this, picked up his bowl and began eating.

“So it’s always been your aunt who cooks.”

Gu Qing said, surprised.

Gu Qing had sneaked into the Ancient Tomb before, spied on Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu—but never observed how they ate. Now, seeing Xiaolongnu serve the food, he felt as if a celestial maiden had descended, and viewed her in a new light.

!

“Of course.”

Yang Guo said: “My aunt knows many things.” As he spoke, he stole glances at Xiaolongnu, watching her sit apart, expressionless, quietly eating her meal—making him sigh inwardly.

He harbored feelings for Xiaolongnu, but she had always seemed untouchable, and after two bouts of anger, he dared not move a muscle.

“What a pity!”

After finishing the crystal fish slices, Gu Qing said: “I’ve sneaked into the Ancient Tomb so many times—always stealing manuals—yet never stole anything from your kitchen.”

Gu Qing was praising Xiaolongnu’s cooking.

This made Xiaolongnu, mid-bite, choke slightly…

Yang Guo turned his head, staring at Gu Qing, wondering how thick his face must be to say such a thing without blinking.

After eating, Yang Guo quickly gathered the bowls and chopsticks and went outside to wash them.

“This time, I’ll go down the mountain with you.”

Xiaolongnu suddenly said.

Gu Qing turned to look at Xiaolongnu… because Yang Guo was holding the martial contest for a bride?

But Xiaolongnu joining the spectacle suited Gu Qing perfectly—he nodded in welcome and said: “After we go down the mountain, we’ll head first to Dasheng Pass, where there’s a Heroes’ Gathering. After that, we’ll find Huang Yaoshi for the martial contest for a bride.”

Gu Qing laid out his recent plans.

One reason he could sway Quanzhen Sect into splitting was to speak with Guo Jing and Huang Rong at the Heroes’ Gathering at Dasheng Pass.

Xiaolongnu nodded slightly, packed a simple set of clothes into a bundle, and, as Yang Guo finished washing the dishes, slung the bundle over her shoulder—leaving Yang Guo stunned.

“Aunt, where are you going?”

Yang Guo asked in shock.

While washing the dishes, Yang Guo had decided—he wouldn’t go down the mountain. He’d stay here, faithfully keeping Xiaolongnu company until her anger passed, and the martial contest for a bride? Whether he joined or not didn’t matter anymore.

“Your aunt is going down the mountain with me.”

Gu Qing, delighted by the commotion, told Yang Guo.

With you?

Yang Guo’s eyes darted between the two… if you two go down the mountain, what about me?

Changed a lot, posted late

(End of Chapter)