Chapter 61: Heroic Youth Yang Guo

It was nearing noon when Yang Guo arrived at Gu Qing’s courtyard and saw Xiao Longnu and Cheng Ying seated together beneath a flowering tree, seemingly in conversation; they looked up as Yang Guo appeared.

“Auntie.”

Yang Guo bowed respectfully and asked, “Where’s Gu Qing?”

In the past, Yang Guo could not accept Gu Qing being with Xiao Longnu, but after being struck by so many blows lately, his heart had grown wider, and he could now face it calmly.

But he could never bring himself to call him “father-in-law.”

“Still asleep.”

Xiao Longnu glanced toward Gu Qing’s room and said, “He’s exhausted; let him sleep a little longer.”

Where was he exhausted?

Yang Guo dared not dwell on it, dismissing the question automatically: “In half an hour, Huang Yaoshi, Hong Qigong, Uncle Guo, and my foster father will discuss the harmony of yin and yang in internal cultivation—something of great benefit to all martial artists. I came to notify Gu Qing.”

After Gu Qing introduced the concept of yin-yang harmony, Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong had explored it repeatedly and gained much insight; now that the Tartars had withdrawn beyond Xiangyang, conditions were ripe, and they planned to test their theories and advance further.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Ying rose and entered the room. Yang Guo’s gaze followed her, watching as she woke Gu Qing, helped him dress, fetched water for washing, and attended to him with diligent tenderness. When Gu Qing stepped out, Yang Guo saw him composed and dignified, his bearing serene and refined, his attire perfectly suited—he had become a rare paragon among men.

“Let’s go see.”

Gu Qing leapt to Yang Guo’s side, carrying with him a faint, elegant fragrance.

This set of clothes had been perfumed by Cheng Ying.

Yang Guo looked at Gu Qing, then at Xiao Longnu and Cheng Ying—one slender-waisted, skin like snow; the other radiant, graceful, and exquisite—and the more he looked, the more uneasy he felt.

Gu Qing’s life was getting increasingly pleasant.

In the rear courtyard of the Wang residence, Huang Yaoshi, Hong Qigong, and Ouyang Feng were all present; Guo Jing and Huang Rong stood nearby, along with Zhu Ziliu and others. Seeing Gu Qing and Yang Guo arrive, they invited them to sit and began casual conversation.

“Why doesn’t Uncle Guo seem happy?”

Gu Qing asked Yang Guo.

“This morning, the Beggar’s Sect sent word that Kublai was killed in Dengzhou.”

Yang Guo said, “Uncle Guo is mourning Tuire.”

“Who killed him?”

Gu Qing stared, asking.

Yang Guo shook his head. “When he was found, Kublai was hanging from the beam, long dead. The Mongols moved chairs and tables and realized the height didn’t match—he was likely assassinated by a martial arts master.”

Could there be such a mistake?

Gu Qing tilted his head, thinking. Last night, Kublai’s spirit had indeed cried out for help—but the voice was piercingly sharp. Fearing he might be rescued, Gu Qing had cut the knot decisively.

Maybe he’d handled it a bit roughly.

But the man was certainly dead.

“Couldn’t Kublai have stood on the chairs, grabbed the rope with both hands, and jumped up to slip his head into the noose?”

Gu Qing speculated casually.

Yang Guo kept shaking his head. “Who would kill themselves with such effort?”

After chatting a while, Hong Qigong finally spoke of yin-yang harmony.

Within the human body exist yin and yang; internal cultivation energy also has yin and yang. These two forces constantly grow, clash, digest, and transform. When one reaches its peak, the opposite force arrives unnoticed, cycling endlessly.

Based on this theory, Hong Qigong proposed that he and Ouyang Feng push their internal energies to their absolute peaks, oppose each other, transform each other, using their opposing energies to shatter their body’s key thresholds, thereby both ascending to the realm of yin-yang harmony.

The process carried risk, so Huang Yaoshi and Guo Jing would guard them; together, they could restrain Ouyang Feng if he regained consciousness and his ferocity surged.

Though Ouyang Feng was mad, he now sensed the gravity of the matter. After hearing everyone out, he saw Hong Qigong ready and activated his internal energy, clashing palms with Hong Qigong. Under deliberate control, their true qi surged to its limit, then reversed—merging yet dividing, like Taiji: within you is me, within me is you.

With sufficient theoretical grounding and two of the Five Greats in practice, their progress was unprecedentedly smooth. Beneath this Taiji embrace, Ouyang Feng’s mind gradually cleared.

The Reverse Nine Yin flowed effortlessly within both their bodies.

“We’re good brothers now.”

Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng laughed and broke contact. Their internal energy had reached its highest realm—body filled with liquid mercury, circulating endlessly. This refined state connected with all five organs and six viscera; once attained, it nourished life and prolonged health—if carefully cultivated, it naturally extended lifespan.

The problem of aging and declining physical strength in martial arts could now be compensated.

As Gu Qing listened to Hong Qigong’s detailed description of the body’s state, he recalled the narration when Zhang Wuji broke through the Nine Yang: “This is the most difficult and perilous moment in the life of a Daoist cultivator.” Now that Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng had reached this realm, they could truly be called qi cultivators.

Gu Qing glanced at Ouyang Feng—he had just killed Jinlun Fawang and had no desire to see another monster born in this world.

Ouyang Feng’s demeanor was serene. After living his second life, he had shed his former ferocity and approached Yang Guo: “My one thought of goodness, taking you in as a child, allowed me to live again. My son, whatever you desire, Father will grant it all!”

Having lived his second life, Ouyang Feng was deeply content.

If it weren’t for my one thought of goodness, you’d have died on Mount Hua already…

Gu Qing was displeased that Ouyang Feng didn’t thank him.

Yang Guo was a sharp youth who had already envisioned today’s outcome. He knew Ouyang Feng had committed many evils, yet remembered the scenes in Xiangyang where Ouyang Feng had helped him poison others. Hearing Ouyang Feng offer him a wish, he said: “Father, I want you to fight alongside me against the Mongols!”

Only by making Ouyang Feng fight the Mongols could he perhaps atone for some of his sins.

And it would keep Ouyang Feng from opposing the Wu Lin.

“Good!”

Ouyang Feng heard this and immediately agreed without hesitation: “Father will follow you. Whatever way you wish to fight the Mongols, Father will fight them that way.”

Huang Rong frowned slightly—she did not want Ouyang Feng in Xiangyang.

Yang Guo had already planned his destination. He rose and approached Guo Jing: “Uncle Guo, the Mongols are ravaging Huaixi. As the descendant of General Yang Zaixing, I cannot stand idly by. I wish to bid you farewell and raise an army in Huaixi, raising General Yang Zaixing’s banner to rescue the people there.”

Yang Guo also knew it was inappropriate to leave Ouyang Feng in Xiangyang. Since Ouyang Feng insisted on following him, he would take him to the Huaixi battlefield.

This proposal pleased everyone present, and their gazes toward Yang Guo grew distinctly different.

Yang Guo was truly an outstanding young hero.

“Guo’er, your heart moves me deeply.”

Guo Jing, deeply moved by Yang Guo’s awakening, said: “Long ago, I obtained Marshal Yue’s Wumu Manuscript, filled with strategies of troop deployment. Uncle Guo will now teach it to you!”

Yang Guo’s sharp talent and righteous spirit made him pleasing to Guo Jing in every way.

Gu Qing also patted Yang Guo’s shoulder and said: “I have some insights on commanding troops I can pass on to you.”

“What insights?”

Yang Guo turned in surprise—Gu Qing had never commanded troops.

“Insights I’ve heard.”

Gu Qing said: “The content is…”

How to Be a Good Division Commander

(End of Chapter)