Chapter 78: I Was Originally a Commoner of Zhebei

Above the sky, two eagles circled.

When Gu Qing neared Huaixi, under Master Yideng’s guidance, he met Guo Jing, who was also going to see Yang Guo; two years had passed, and Guo Jing and Huang Rong remained as they were, though their children Guo Polu and Guo Xiang could now run about on their own.

Guo Jing saw Gu Qing and felt complex emotions—Chinggis Khan had spent decades waging war to unite the Mongol tribes, yet Gu Qing, in just one year, had shattered that system, nearly severing the roots of Tore, Guo Jing’s sworn brother.

But this indeed crushed Mongolia’s ambition to invade southward, and Gu Qing had rendered great service to the people.

After they met, Gu Qing, seeing Guo Xiang’s lively charm, picked her up and pinched her cheeks; Guo Xiang’s eyes, dark as polished lacquer, scanned them all, prompting Xiaolongnu and Cheng Ying to step forward and take her into their arms to play with her.

They had been married two years, enjoying marital bliss, and had not yet considered children; now, playing with Guo Xiang was purely instinctive.

Children are quite fun.

“Two years ago, when Master Qiu Chuji handed us the Shaolin roster, he mentioned that at a banquet, Great Hero Gu Qing said he would burn down Karakorum. Master Changchun took it as a joke, but Great Hero Gu Qing actually did it.”

Huang Rong said with a smile.

Guo Jing had long carried a burden on his shoulders; Huang Rong had let it be. Now that Gu Qing had lifted it, both could lay down their arms and retire to a quiet life.

Once, Qiu Chuji had forced Guo Jing to marry Mu Nianci, which Huang Rong had never forgiven, calling him “Ox-Nose.” Now, Huang Rong sincerely called him Master Changchun, for Gu Qing, under Qiu Chuji’s sect, allowed her to shed the title “Female Zhuge” and simply be Huang Rong.

“I always keep my word.”

Gu Qing was quite proud of his achievement in slaughtering the steppe’s khan.

As they spoke, Gu Qing held Guo Xiang, and all headed toward Yang Guo’s location, not entering the city—already, a large force had come out; Yang Guo, pale-faced and lipless of color, dismounted hurriedly before Gu Qing and Guo Jing and bowed to them.

“Guo’er, how did you end up like this?”

Guo Jing, seeing Yang Guo’s condition, immediately reached to feel his pulse.

“Both qi and blood are depleted.”

Gu Qing looked at Yang Guo and couldn’t help laughing.

Huang Rong stared in astonishment at Yang Guo, then at Guo Fu; seeing Guo Fu’s radiant spirit and Yang Guo’s withered qi and blood, she pulled Guo Fu close and demanded an explanation.

Young people must practice restraint.

Guo Fu, listening to Huang Rong, blushed with shame and anger, crying: “He sneaked out with someone, met Li Mochou, and got slapped without cause—what’s that got to do with me?”

Yang Guo stood beside them, deeply embarrassed.

Li Mochou had passed through the area, heard Lu Wushuang was nearby, and secretly observed—only to see Yang Guo entangled with many women, and she launched a surprise attack with her Crimson Serpent Palm, leaving Yang Guo in constant recovery.

“Where is Li Mochou?”

Xiaolongnu asked; since parting with Li Mochou in Luoyang, Xiaolongnu had heard nothing of her for two years. Now, with Yang Guo’s many followers, Li Mochou’s ambush would surely draw elite hunters.

“She has taken in many little girls nearby.”

Guo Fu said: “Lu Wushuang came looking for her with a group, but Li Mochou didn’t fight—she just scolded them off the mountain. We saw how pitiful her adopted children were, so we let her off once.”

Guo Fu added that Li Mochou’s adopted girls all bore the “Guardian Sand,” and every year Li Mochou inspected them; only those with the mark could learn advanced arts, while those without were punished, and marriage required absolute fidelity.

Emei…

Hearing Li Mochou’s practices, Gu Qing immediately thought of Emei from the Yi Tian; Guo Xiang, raised in a complete family with both parents alive, and with Guo Jing and Huang Rong unlikely to die suddenly, would probably never found Emei—but Li Mochou’s system was nearly identical.

This is also a traditional Ancient Tomb sect.

Under Gu Qing’s influence, only Li Mochou and Hong Lingbo in the entire Ancient Tomb sect still upheld tradition.

As they chatted, they entered the city and saw how orderly Yang Guo’s administration had made it; Guo Jing nodded in satisfaction, convinced Yang Guo truly had the bearing of a sovereign, though he still held prejudice against the Ming Cult.

Yang Guo then took Gu Qing and Guo Jing to meet the Ming Cult members; the Left and Right Messengers were Huang Yaoshi’s new disciple and Yelu Qi respectively, and the Four Guardians—all names Guo Jing recognized as long-standing heroes of the Jianghu.

“When Uncle Guo wrote to warn the Ming Cult, it was precisely when we were replacing its personnel…”

Yang Guo explained: bringing the entire Ming Cult under his control owed much to Huang Yaoshi and Ouyang Feng; under Huang Yaoshi’s reorganization, discipline transformed and martial arts soared.

Huang Yaoshi’s grandfather had been a high official of the Song Dynasty; when Yue Fei was persecuted, Huang Yaoshi’s grandfather intervened and was killed by Qin Gui; Huang Yaoshi’s father taught him loyalty to the throne, but Huang Yaoshi refused, determined to kill the emperor and Qin Gui for revenge; later, he smashed the Confucian hall, posted inflammatory posters, and deliberately provoked the court, earning the label “Evil.”

Now, at Yang Guo’s side, Huang Yaoshi had rediscovered his youthful ambition, managing affairs in all directions; Yang Guo’s rapid rise in two years owed much to the West Poison and the East Heretic.

Thus, when Guo Jing worried about the Ming Cult, Huang Yaoshi, reading those earnest admonitions, saw his father’s shadow in his son-in-law, grew impatient, and strictly forbade Yang Guo from replying—or he would leave immediately.

“So that’s how it is.”

Guo Jing, hearing Yang Guo’s full account, said: “Father-in-law is here—I was overthinking… Where is Father-in-law?”

Guo Jing prepared to pay his respects to Huang Yaoshi.

“We’re here.”

Huang Yaoshi and Ouyang Feng arrived together; when they looked at Gu Qing, both assessed him, sensing that Gu Qing and the nearby Xiaolongnu and Cheng Ying radiated a pure, luminous aura unlike their own.

The group gathered, exchanging greetings; Huang Yaoshi saw Cheng Ying was well-off and noted Gu Qing’s glorious achievements, feeling his wisdom had chosen the right husband for his disciple; whether Guo Fu had chosen rightly, he was still considering.

Seeing all eyes on him, Yang Guo began reporting the current situation, his advantages, and future governance plans.

“Uncle, should I rise in rebellion?”

After his report, Yang Guo asked Gu Qing’s opinion.

Youth didn’t appreciate Uncle’s worth, secretly resenting him.

Now, Yang Guo was mature, and calling him “Uncle” came naturally.

All turned to Gu Qing; his martial strength was greatest, his prestige highest—whether to rebel rested entirely on his decision.

“How can a nation be governed alongside court vermin?”

Gu Qing agreed outright: “Rebel immediately! I’ve already written your imperial edict!”

Hearing Gu Qing’s approval, Yang Guo exhaled deeply—he now had an 80% chance of the throne.

Guo Jing surveyed the group, seeing everyone supported rebellion, and said to Yang Guo: “Uncle Guo doesn’t oppose your rebellion, but you must consider the common people. If you can emulate Emperor Taizu of Zhao and minimize bloodshed, that would be best.”

Guo Jing knew the Song Dynasty was rotten to its core; he defended Xiangyang to protect the people, not the officials. Now that Yang Guo would rebel, killing was inevitable—and that was Guo Jing’s concern.

“Don’t worry…”

Gu Qing prepared to go to Lin’an.

“Myself and Brother Feng will go to Lin’an.”

Huang Yaoshi immediately stopped him: “Gu Qing, your deeds are worthy of history and have earned you an extraordinary reputation in the Jianghu. You may not care for your name, but we won’t let it be tarnished—stay out of this.”

Two of the Five Greats entering Lin’an could control the court, then issue an edict ordering Yang Guo to lead troops into the capital, seize power, and accept abdication.

As Huang Yaoshi spoke, excitement gleamed in his brow—his youthful dream of storming the court was finally coming true.

The Condor Heroes has nothing more to write—next chapter will be Lu Xiaofeng Legend.

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(End of Chapter)