Chapter 28: Don

You’re the one who’s limp!

Huang Rong seethed inwardly—she knew better than anyone whether Guo Jing was hard or not.

Her Jing-gege was the greatest under heaven; Huang Rong could not bear any criticism. Gu Qing’s sinister ambitions made her smile faintly as she asked, “Can you defeat Guo Jing?”

Guo Jing has trained for years in the Nine Yin Manual; even a Fifth Rank master would not dare claim victory over him. How old is Gu Qing, after all?

Empty boasts!

“I guarantee I’ll win!”

Gu Qing smiled and replied firmly.

If there’s one regret in The Return of the Condor Heroes, it’s that Guo Jing and Huang Rong ultimately died when the city fell, without a peaceful end.

…It’s also because Guo Jing’s mind is too rigid.

Gu Qing believes that if he were the martial arts alliance leader, he could at least ensure Guo Jing and Huang Rong meet a peaceful end.

“Then I’ll wait and see.”

Huang Rong swept her sleeve and left, her figure swaying gracefully, drawing several glances from Gu Qing.

Inside the Lu family estate, courtyards linked one after another. After walking a stretch, Huang Rong arrived at an open ground where Guo Jing was testing Yang Guo’s martial arts. On that open ground, Guo Jing’s movements were natural, upright, and solemn, as solid as Mount Tai, while Yang Guo moved with light grace—every step and gesture surprised Huang Rong greatly.

Since childhood, Yang Guo had been quick-witted; now, watching his martial arts, Huang Rong saw he was far superior to the Wu brothers.

Facing Guo Jing, Yang Guo could not press an attack, but after several evasions, traces of the Nine Yin Manual were evident.

After a round of testing, Guo Jing finally stopped, turned his gaze to Huang Rong, and said excitedly, “Rong’er, Long Nü teaches her disciples well—Guo has truly become accomplished.”

Huang Rong already knew Yang Guo had saved Guo Fu, and her view of him had softened considerably; now, seeing Gu Qing’s insolence, she found Yang Guo more agreeable than ever. She stepped forward and said, “We must also thank you, Uncle, for teaching Yang Guo the Nine Yin Manual.”

Huang Rong believed that during Guo Jing’s journey with Yang Guo to Mount Zhongnan, he had taught him the Nine Yin Manual.

“I never taught him.”

Guo Jing said, his gaze fixed on Yang Guo. Yang Guo then briefly described the Nine Yin Manual he had found beneath the Ancient Tomb. Hearing the manual’s contents, Guo Jing realized Yang Guo had not learned it fully, and said to him, “Since you’re so destined to the Nine Yin Manual, I shall…”

“Guo’er, go play with Fu’er. I need to speak with your Uncle Guo.”

Huang Rong interrupted Guo Jing, sending Yang Guo away first.

Hearing this, Yang Guo knew his Auntie was treating him differently again. He turned and left—he was too clever not to understand her intent: she would not teach him any Nine Yin secrets. This angered him deeply, but when he saw Guo Fu and the Wu brothers ahead, he calmed down.

Guo Fu was Guo Jing’s daughter; the Wu brothers were his disciples. If they were like this, why should he beg Guo Jing for anything?

With that thought settled, Yang Guo smiled and spoke to Guo Fu.

Yang Guo, Guo Fu, and the Wu brothers had been childhood playmates. Even after their reconciliation, they still felt somewhat distant. But Guo Fu, grateful for Yang Guo’s rescue, was unusually warm toward him; the Wu brothers could only trail behind, watching Guo Fu laugh uncontrollably. The personality once corrected by Gu Qing’s slap was slowly twisting again.

“Fu-mei, haven’t you always wanted to learn the One Yang Finger? I can teach you!”

Wu Xiuwen stepped forward to Guo Fu, offering himself eagerly.

The Southern Emperor Duan family and Guo Jing’s circle were closely linked; Wu Xiuwen had no fear of the One Yang Finger being passed on.

“Hmph, I won’t learn it.”

Guo Fu snorted and said, “My mother said no man and woman should practice point-strike arts together.”

The affair between Zhou Botong, Ying Gu, and the Southern Emperor was the one Guo Jing and Huang Rong knew best. It all began with point-strike techniques—point, point, and before long, they were entangled.

So when Huang Rong learned Guo Fu wanted the Wu brothers to teach her the One Yang Finger, she sternly warned her, fearing this fool would cause some scandal.

“My mother said touching and grabbing like that is utterly improper.”

Guo Fu grumbled.

Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen were rebuffed. Yang Guo watched from the side, unable to suppress a laugh.

“Yang Guo, you’ve been on Mount Zhongnan all this time—have you ever drunk alcohol?”

Wu Dunru knew he couldn’t match Yang Guo in martial arts, so he tried to regain face from another angle.

This was Dasheng Pass, the Lu family estate—many martial artists gathered here. Yang Guo had already reconciled with Guo Jing and felt no resentment. Seeing the Wu brothers’ resentment, he stood up and said, “Then let’s have a drinking contest?”

The Wu brothers exchanged glances and rose.

Yang Guo and the Wu brothers engaged in a fierce drinking duel. Using his internal energy, Yang Guo overpowered their alcohol, knocking them both to the ground. He laughed heartily and headed toward his quarters.

At Yang Guo’s request, his quarters were adjacent to those of Gu Qing and Long Nü.

It was to guard against Gu Qing targeting Long Nü.

As he walked here, he reached Gu Qing’s courtyard and heard soft voices inside. Curious, he peered over and saw, in the winter night, Gu Qing dressed thinly, Long Nü standing silently—both were discussing point-strike techniques!

Long Nü had even been pinned!

“…”

In that instant, Yang Guo wanted to vomit up every drop of alcohol in his stomach.

He’s been robbed!

“Auntie, what are you doing?”

Yang Guo forced back his nausea and stepped into Gu Qing’s courtyard.

“He wants to surpass your Uncle Guo—I thought it unlikely, so I’m observing his martial progress.”

Long Nü’s voice was cold and clear.

From Mount Zhongnan to Dasheng Pass, Long Nü had grown familiar with Gu Qing. She admitted that among the younger generation, Gu Qing was among the best—but to catch up to Guo Jing, he still needed years of cultivation. Observing Gu Qing was also her way of examining his weaknesses from the perspective of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra.

“Then why are you practicing point-strike?”

Yang Guo felt the alcohol rush to his head, his eyes reddening.

“It’s like this.”

Gu Qing said beside her, “Just now, Long Nü and I were discussing martial arts—from Quanzhen fist techniques to the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, then to the Nine Yin Manual. I discovered she didn’t know Reverse Nine Yin—especially the Reverse Nine Yin point-strike technique. Once applied to a person, if they try to break free using the Nine Yin Manual, they only become more locked in. So I taught it to your Auntie.”

Gu Qing spoke with great enthusiasm: “Long Nü has never been good at resisting point-strikes, but now, with Reverse Nine Yin, she can shift her meridians and avoid most point-strike techniques.”

Long Nü nodded in agreement.

Back on Mount Zhongnan, she had nearly been caught by this technique. Tonight, when the Nine Yin Manual was mentioned, Gu Qing revealed Reverse Nine Yin—and in teaching it, Long Nü gained much insight.

Just now, with her meridians pinned by Reverse Nine Yin, she used the Nine Yin’s unblocking method and Reverse Nine Yin’s technique to break free.

“Vom…”

Yang Guo had wanted to speak, but the alcohol surged—he vomited.

He taught Gu Qing Reverse Nine Yin, not so he could use it to pin Long Nü!

Yang Guo couldn’t take it anymore.

(End of Chapter)