Chapter 47: Yang Guo Has Matured

Gu Qing and Xiaolongnu returned to the main hall and sat for a moment; Guo Jing and Huang Rong arrived together, and upon seeing Gu Qing, warmly greeted him, discussing Gu Qing’s assassination of Kublai Khan. Guo Jing could not help but recall the past, saying: “Kublai is the fourth son of Toor, isn’t he?”

Guo Jing had grown up in Mongolia, but his mother Li Ping clearly understood right from wrong; when Genghis Khan granted him the title of Great King of the Southern Realm, she chose suicide to help Guo Jing make his decision. Though Guo Jing left Mongolia, his childhood memories left deep imprints on his heart.

Huang Rong noticed Guo Jing’s sorrow over Toor, placed her hand on her abdomen, and scolded playfully: “What, are you disappointed I’ve had too few children?”

This pulled Guo Jing’s thoughts back; seeing Huang Rong’s pregnant form, he quickly smiled apologetically, then turned to Gu Qing to share his joy: “Rong’er will give birth in just a few days.”

For ordinary women, childbirth is a gateway to death; nearing the moment, they naturally grow anxious. But for martial women, the danger is greatly reduced—giving birth is a great joy.

Gu Qing looked at Huang Rong’s abdomen; she carried twins, yet her belly was not excessively swollen—likely because her waist had always been so slender.

In the later part of The Condor Heroes, Guo Xiang was a bright light, deeply beloved; by the time of Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, Guo Xiang’s unrequited love for Yang Guo led to a lonely life, evoking sighs.

Gu Qing had no interest in raising her—he merely amused himself with a quiet joke in his mind.

Your wife is about to give birth?

My wife is about to give birth too!

As they spoke, Yang Guo and Guo Fu entered from the back courtyard. Guo Fu spotted Guo Jing and Huang Rong, cried out, and came forward to tell them about Yang Guo’s beating of Da Wu and Xiao Wu.

Guo Jing was greatly shocked. Da Wu and Xiao Wu had been trained for so many years—he never expected them to be strong, but they shouldn’t be this weak!

“Where are Da Wu and Xiao Wu?”

Guo Jing asked.

“They’re quarreling in the back courtyard.”

Guo Fu spoke with a hint of resentment. Normally, Da Wu and Xiao Wu obeyed her blindly; she knew their thoughts well and had been indecisive in how to treat them—until Yang Guo appeared…

A young hero, far superior to Da Wu and Xiao Wu.

Especially now, with his quiet melancholy and distinctive bearing.

Guo Fu’s eyes involuntarily drifted to Yang Guo, watching him bow respectfully to Guo Jing and Huang Rong, his former frivolous demeanor entirely gone.

Huang Rong, perceptive as ever, sensed Guo Fu’s thoughts, but observing Yang Guo now, she saw he carried heavy burdens—he bowed, then sat quietly to one side.

Huang Rong had always feared Yang Guo, wary he might learn of his father’s murder. But upon closer inspection, his eyes held no hatred—only a sorrowful resignation: “I will never love again.”

“What are they quarreling about?”

Huang Rong turned her gaze back to Guo Fu.

“Da Wu blames Xiao Wu for blocking his One Yang Finger with palm techniques; Xiao Wu blames Da Wu for obstructing him from using the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. That’s how they started arguing.”

Guo Fu said.

Huang Rong stared at Guo Fu until her face flushed; she had always called them “Big Brother Wu” and “Little Brother Wu,” but now she didn’t even speak of brothers.

“Unacceptable!”

Guo Jing turned and went to the back courtyard. These two disciples had been defeated two-on-one by a single strike, then bickered among themselves—Guo Jing was furious, and went to reprimand them.

Gu Qing tilted his ear slightly, heard Guo Jing’s stern scolding from the back courtyard, and chuckled.

Huang Rong shook her head; these two disciples were disgraceful, giving others reason to laugh, leaving her embarrassed. She spoke up: “Grandmaster Gu, we must thank you for bringing Master Feng back. My father was delighted to see him.”

Feng Mofeng had already met Huang Yaoshi; now he assisted in forging weapons in Xiangyang.

Huang Rong mentioned this to steer Gu Qing away from the spectacle.

“Is Master Huang still here?”

Gu Qing came back to himself and asked.

“My father has already left.”

Huang Rong said gently: “He returned this time for two reasons: one, to discuss the Nine Yin Manual with Jingge; two, to consult on how to handle Ouyang Feng.”

In The Condor Heroes, Ouyang Feng was mad and erratic; in The Legend of the Condor Heroes, he was a villain who committed countless atrocities—several of Guo Jing’s masters died at his hands, and their blood feud ran deep.

Now Ouyang Feng had gone with Hong Qigong to Huang Yaoshi’s place; the combined power of two of the Five Greats could restrain him—but a decision on his fate still needed to be made.

As Huang Rong spoke, Guo Jing arrived with Da Wu and Xiao Wu, heads bowed.

Yang Guo suddenly raised his head, stepped before Guo Jing, and knelt down with a thud: “Uncle Guo, I beg you to spare Ouyang Feng’s life.”

Guo Jing reached out to help him up, but Yang Guo spoke before he could.

“When I was a child, I wandered the streets, unable to distinguish good from evil, acting recklessly… when you brought me to Peach Blossom Island…”

Yang Guo recounted his childhood: he had played with Ice Bone Silver Needles, ingested poison, and was saved by Ouyang Feng, who taught him martial arts and adopted him as his son. Later, when Ouyang Feng was wounded and Ke Zhen’e pursued him, Yang Guo helped him escape.

Huang Rong had later pieced together these events and suspected Yang Guo’s involvement; hearing of Ouyang Feng’s detoxification, she now understood why, as a child, Yang Guo saw Ouyang Feng as good and them as evil.

“Ouyang Feng committed many evils, but he treated me well. I beg Uncle Guo to spare his life. I swear by the bloodline of General Yang Zaixing: from now on, I will uphold justice, do good deeds, and atone for my ancestors’ sins.”

Yang Guo pointed to his chest, speaking earnestly.

Guo Jing, hearing Yang Guo mention his bloodline, immediately pulled him up. Huang Rong watched him closely—his gaze was pure, his words sincere, with not a trace of deceit. At last, she felt Yang Guo had truly changed inside and out.

He was now a true young hero.

Matured. Yang Guo had matured!

Even Gu Qing found it hard to accept.

Who will I get my fun from now?

Gu Qing’s gaze turned to Da Wu and Xiao Wu.

The two had just been scolded by Guo Jing; now they hung their heads, listening as Yang Guo radiated charisma before them. They glanced up and saw their master, mistress, and Guo Fu all satisfied with Yang Guo’s conduct—soon he would be family. They felt pins pricking their feet, unable to stand still.

“You two.”

Gu Qing asked: “Who gave their all? Who committed the offense? Whose fighting style lacked teamwork? Who showed no humanity?”

Gu Qing’s words helped Da Wu and Xiao Wu reflect.

They had not resolved their dispute earlier, had fought violently, and though Guo Jing had stopped them, neither accepted blame. Gu Qing’s provocation reignited their glare.

“It’s all my brother’s fault!”

Wu Xiuwen, believing Gu Qing was delivering justice, immediately blamed his brother: “Master’s Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms are invincible—he stood there…”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Wu Dunru snapped.

“...”

Huang Rong gently pressed her forehead—these two disciples, compared to Yang Guo, were clearly inferior.

(End of Chapter)