The Return of the Condor Heroes

On the boat, Guo Jing quietly practiced his martial arts, and within a few days, his injuries had mostly healed. The couple discussed how they hadn’t seen Ouyang Feng for more than ten years, yet not only had he not aged, his martial arts skills seemed even more formidable than before. Had that palm strike hit Guo Jing’s vital chest area, it would have taken much more than ten days or half a month to recover. They also talked about their master, Hong Qigong, worrying about his whereabouts and whether his injuries had recurred. Huang Rong, though residing on Peach Blossom Island, still held the title of leader of the Beggar Clan, with Lu Youjiao handling clan affairs in her name. She had initially planned to meet with the clan elders to discuss clan matters and to inquire about her father and Hong Qigong’s current situation, but given Guo Jing’s injuries, they decided to return to the island first.

Later, they talked about Yang Guo. Guo Jing said, “I’ve always had a wish, and you naturally know it. Today, by good fortune, we found Guo’er, and my wish can now be fulfilled.” Years ago, Guo Jing’s father, Guo Xiaotian, and Yang Guo’s grandfather, Yang Tiexin, had sworn brotherhood, and their wives were pregnant at the same time. They agreed that if they both had sons, they would become sworn brothers; if they both had daughters, they would become sworn sisters; if one had a son and the other a daughter, they would marry each other. Later, each family had a son, and Guo Jing and Yang Guo’s father, Yang Kang, became sworn brothers. However, Yang Kang was led astray and ultimately died tragically at the Iron Spear Temple in Jiaxing. Guo Jing often felt guilty about this matter. Now that he brought it up, Huang Rong already knew his thoughts and shook her head, saying, “I don’t agree.”

Guo Jing was taken aback and asked, “Why?” Huang Rong replied, “How can we marry Fu’er to this boy?” Guo Jing said, “Although his father was not righteous, the Guo and Yang families have been good friends for generations. I think Guo’er is handsome and clever; if he stays with us, he will surely become successful in the future.” Huang Rong said, “I’m afraid he’s too clever.” Guo Jing said, “Aren’t you very clever too? What’s wrong with that?” Huang Rong laughed, “But I like you, my foolish brother.” Guo Jing laughed and said, “When Fu’er grows up, she might not like a foolish boy like you. Besides, it’s hard to find another fool like me in the world.” Huang Rong teased him by touching his face and said, “So proud of yourself? Don’t you feel embarrassed?”

After some banter, Guo Jing brought up the main topic again, saying, “My father left only this one wish. Uncle Yang Tiexin also entrusted it to me on his deathbed. But I haven’t done much for Brother Yang Kang and Sister Mu Nian. If I don’t treat Guo’er as my own, how can I face my father and Uncle Yang? I’ve often thought of bringing Sister Mu to live with us so that she and her son could have a good life, but I was afraid you’d mind. Unexpectedly, she passed away so early.” He sighed deeply, feeling sorrowful. Huang Rong laughed, “Are you so reluctant to let go? You’re the one with ulterior motives and yet blame me for being suspicious. How shameless!” Guo Jing was flustered, his face turning red, and said, “I…I don’t have any ulterior motives!” Huang Rong raised her head and said, “What? You’re angry now? Want to hit me?” Guo Jing smiled and said, “Do you think I dare not?” He reached out and hugged his wife, rendering her unable to move. Huang Rong shouted, “Help, help! Murder!” Guo Jing laughed, kissed her on the face, and let her go. Huang Rong softly said, “Fortunately, both children are still young, so there’s no rush. If Guo’er turns out to be a good person in the future, you can do as you wish.”

Guo Jing stood up, bowed deeply, and said solemnly, “Thank you for agreeing, I am deeply grateful.” Huang Rong also responded seriously, “I didn’t agree. I said we should see if the boy turns out well in the future.” Guo Jing had just straightened up from his bow and was taken aback by her words. He quickly said, “Brother Yang Kang grew up in the Jin Kingdom’s palace and that’s why he went astray. Guo’er will live on our island, so he definitely won’t go bad. Besides, you gave him his name back then. His name is Yang Guo, courtesy name Gaizhi, which means if he makes mistakes, he can correct them. Don’t worry.” Huang Rong laughed, “How can a name matter? Your name is Guo Jing (meaning ‘peaceful’), but were you ever peaceful? You were always jumping around like a big monkey since you were little.” Guo Jing was left speechless. Huang Rong laughed and changed the subject, no longer discussing the matter.

---

The journey to Peach Blossom Island passed without incident. Guo Fu was overjoyed to suddenly have three playmates her own age.

After taking the antidote Huang Rong gave him, Yang Guo was completely cured of the remaining poison. Although he and Guo Fu had some initial conflicts, as children do, they soon forgot about it after a few days. During this time, the four of them occupied themselves by catching crickets and watching them fight for fun.

One day, Yang Guo came out of the house to catch more crickets. He crossed Tan Zhi Pavilion, passed the Two Forgetfulness Peaks, and had just rounded Clear Whistle Pavilion when he heard laughter coming from behind the mountain. He quickly ran over and saw Guo Fu and the Wu brothers flipping stones and pulling grass, also trying to catch crickets. Wu Dunru was holding a small bamboo tube, and Guo Fu had a clay pot.

Wu Xiuwen lifted a stone, and with a rustling sound, a large cricket jumped out. Wu Xiuwen pounced and caught it with both hands, shouting joyfully. Guo Fu cried out, “Give it to me! Give it to me!” Wu Xiuwen picked up the cricket and said, “Alright, here you go.” He opened the clay pot, and placed the cricket inside. The cricket had a large head, strong legs, and a thick waist; it looked very impressive. Wu Xiuwen said, “This cricket must be an undefeated general. Yang Gege, none of your crickets can beat it.”

Yang Guo, unwilling to concede, took a few bamboo tubes out of his pocket and picked the fiercest one to fight the general. After a few rounds, the large cricket opened its jaws and bit Yang Guo’s cricket in half, flinging it out of the pot. It then fluttered its wings and chirped triumphantly. Guo Fu clapped and cheered, “Mine won!” Yang Guo said, “Don’t be so sure, there’s more.” But the next three crickets he sent in all lost, the last one being bitten in half by the large cricket.

Feeling humiliated, Yang Guo said, “I’m not playing anymore!” and turned to leave. Suddenly, he heard three chirps from the grass behind him, indicating another cricket, but the sound was rather strange. Wu Dunru said, “There’s another one.” He opened the grass and suddenly jumped back, exclaiming, “Snake! Snake!” Yang Guo turned around and saw a colorful poisonous snake coiled in the grass, its head raised and tongue flicking. He picked up a stone and threw it, hitting the snake’s head. The snake twisted a few times and then died. Near where the snake had coiled, there was a small, ugly black cricket that began to chirp.

Guo Fu laughed and said, “Yang Gege, are you going to catch this little black devil?” Hearing the mockery in her tone, Yang Guo felt his pride swell and said, “Fine, I’ll catch it!” He caught the black cricket. Guo Fu laughed, “Do you want to pit this little black devil against my undefeated general?” Angrily, Yang Guo said, “Fine, let’s fight. The little black devil won’t be bullied!” He put the black cricket into Guo Fu’s clay pot.

Surprisingly, the large cricket seemed scared of the small black cricket and kept retreating. Guo Fu and the Wu brothers shouted encouragements to the large cricket. The small black cricket leaped forward, but the large cricket, avoiding the fight, tried to jump out of the pot. The small black cricket leaped and bit the large cricket’s tail in mid-air, bringing it down. The large cricket shuddered and died. This was because some crickets live with poisonous creatures. Those that live with scorpions are called “scorpion crickets”, those with centipedes are called “centipede crickets”, and those with poisonous snakes are called “snake crickets”. They are imbued with the poison of their companions, making them unbeatable by ordinary crickets. The small black cricket Yang Guo had caught was indeed a snake cricket.

Seeing her undefeated general die in one battle, Guo Fu was displeased. She then said, “Yang Gege, give me your little black devil.” Yang Guo replied, “Giving it to you is no big deal, but why did you call it a little black devil?” Guo Fu pouted and said angrily, “Fine, if you won’t give it to me, who cares?” She tipped the clay pot over, dumping the black cricket onto the ground, and stomped on it, killing it instantly. Yang Guo was both shocked and furious, his face turning red with anger. Unable to control himself, he slapped her hard across the face.

Guo Fu was stunned, unsure whether to cry. Wu Xiuwen shouted, “You hit her!” and punched Yang Guo in the chest. Having received martial arts training from his parents, Wu Xiuwen’s punch was quite strong. Furious, Yang Guo retaliated with a punch of his own, but Wu Xiuwen dodged. Yang Guo chased him, and Wu Dunru tripped him, making him fall. Wu Xiuwen jumped on top of him, and the brothers pinned him down, raining punches on him.

Although Yang Guo was a year or two older, he couldn’t fight off both of them. The Wu brothers had advanced martial arts training, while Yang Guo only knew some basics taught by Mu Nianci. He bit his lip and endured the beating without making a sound. Wu Dunru said, “Beg for mercy and we’ll let you go.” Yang Guo spat back, “Bullshit!” Wu Xiuwen hit him twice more. Guo Fu, happy to see the brothers avenging her, stopped crying and watched gleefully.

The Wu brothers, knowing they’d be scolded if Guo Jing and Huang Rong saw visible injuries on Yang Guo’s face, focused their punches on his body. Guo Fu, despite being somewhat frightened by the severity of the beating, felt satisfied when she touched her sore cheek, and shouted, “Hit him harder!”

Yang Guo lay on the ground, listening to Guo Fu’s cruel words, thinking, “This girl is so vicious. I will avenge this one day.” His back, waist, and buttocks hurt immensely. The Wu brothers’ punches were strong, and even adults would find them hard to bear. If Yang Guo hadn’t trained a bit in internal energy, he’d have fainted already. As he endured, he suddenly felt something cold and slippery under his left hand—it was the dead snake. He grabbed it and swung it at the brothers.

Seeing the colorful dead snake, the Wu brothers cried out in fear. Yang Guo seized the opportunity to punch Wu Dunru in the nose, drawing blood. He got up and ran. The Wu brothers, enraged, chased after him. Guo Fu, eager for more drama, yelled, “Catch him! Catch him!” as she followed.

Yang Guo ran, and when he looked back, he saw Wu Dunru’s bloody face and knew that if caught, the beating would be even worse. He ran towards the base of Sword Testing Peak and climbed. Wu Dunru, though hurt, was even angrier at the sight of his own blood and chased after him. Guo Fu stopped halfway up, watching from below. Yang Guo climbed higher, but soon found himself at a cliff with no way forward. He thought, “I’d rather jump and die than be caught and beaten.” He turned and shouted, “One more step and I’ll jump!”

Wu Dunru hesitated, and Wu Xiuwen called out, “Jump then! We’re not afraid of you! But you won’t dare!” He took a few more steps. In a fury, Yang Guo was about to leap when he noticed a large rock precariously balanced on some smaller stones beside him. In his anger, he didn’t consider the consequences and moved the smaller stones. The large rock teetered and then fell, rolling down towards the mountain slope.

Seeing the rock fall, the Wu brothers turned pale and quickly dodged. The rock crashed past them, smashing plants and rolling into the sea. Wu Dunru, in a panic, lost his footing and slipped. Wu Xiuwen caught him, but they tumbled down the slope, stopping only when a large tree broke their fall.

From her house, Huang Rong heard the commotion and rushed out. Reaching the base of Sword Testing Peak, she saw her daughter hiding in the grass, too scared to cry, and the Wu brothers, battered and bloody. She picked up Guo Fu and asked, “What happened?” Guo Fu, finally feeling safe, burst into tears and recounted how Yang Guo had hit her, how the Wu brothers had defended her, and how Yang Guo had tried to kill them with a large rock. She left out her own fault in killing the cricket and the brothers beating Yang Guo. Huang Rong listened in silence, seeing her daughter’s swollen cheek and feeling a deep sympathy for her.

At this moment, Guo Jing also rushed out. Seeing the disheveled state of the Wu brothers, he inquired about the cause and became quite angry. Fearing something might have happened to Yang Guo, he hurriedly ran up the mountain, searching all around but finding no trace of him. He raised his voice and shouted, “Guo’er, Guo’er!” His calls echoed for miles, but there was no response and Yang Guo did not appear. After waiting for a while and growing increasingly worried, Guo Jing descended the mountain and rowed a small boat around the island to search, but by nightfall, Yang Guo was still nowhere to be found.

Yang Guo, having pushed the large stone and seen the Wu brothers rolling down the slope, spotted Huang Rong coming out and knew he would be severely punished. He hid in a crevice between the rocks, not daring to respond even when he heard Guo Jing calling for him. Hungry and unmoving in his hiding place, he watched as the evening turned to night and the sea grew dark. After some time, with the stars twinkling in the sky and the cold wind blowing, he felt a chill. He emerged from the crevice and looked down towards the houses, where he could see the light from the windows. He imagined Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Ke Zhen’e, Guo Fu, and the Wu brothers sitting around a table filled with chicken, duck, and fish, and couldn’t help but swallow his saliva. However, thinking about how they must be talking about and scolding him behind his back, he felt extremely angry. Standing on the cliff in the sea breeze, he thought sadly of his deceased parents and the mistreatment he had suffered. At that moment, he felt that except for his adoptive father, everyone else was cold and indifferent to him, and his heart was filled with loneliness and resentment.

In fact, Guo Jing was too worried to eat. Huang Rong, seeing her husband’s anxiety, knew he wouldn’t listen to her advice, so she didn’t eat either and sat with him in silence. The next morning, before dawn, they set out again to search for Yang Guo.

Having been hungry for half a day and a night, Yang Guo could no longer bear it the next morning. He quietly descended the mountain, caught a few frogs by the creek, skinned them, and gathered some dry leaves to roast and eat them. During his time wandering outside, he often had to use this method to stave off hunger. Fearing that Guo Jing and Huang Rong might see the smoke, he hid in a cave to light a fire. As soon as the frog legs were roasted, he extinguished the fire and started eating voraciously. Hearing Guo Jing calling “Guo’er, Guo’er,” he thought, “If you want to catch me and beat me, I won’t come out.”

That night, he slept in the cave. After lying in a daze for a while, he suddenly saw Ouyang Feng walk into the cave and say, “Child, I will teach you martial arts so you can defeat those two Wu brats.” Overjoyed, Yang Guo followed him out of the cave and saw him crouch down, making a gurgling sound and pushing his palms forward. Yang Guo imitated him, finding his punches and kicks to be perfectly executed. Suddenly, Ouyang Feng swung a fist at him. Unable to dodge in time, Yang Guo took a hit to the head, causing intense pain. He screamed and jumped up, only to feel another sharp pain on his head, realizing he had been dreaming. He touched his head, feeling a painful bump, and sighed, thinking, “By now, Father must have recovered from his injuries and come out from under the bell. When will he come to take me away and really teach me martial arts, so I won’t have to suffer here anymore?” He walked out of the cave and gazed at the sparse stars hanging above the trees. Remembering Ouyang Feng’s martial arts teachings in his dream, he tried to recall them but couldn’t. He crouched down, made the gurgling sound, and attempted to apply the Toad Stance techniques Ouyang Feng had taught him in Jiaxing, but he couldn’t make it work.

Standing alone on the cliff, staring at the vast sea, he felt even more isolated. Suddenly, he heard a distant long howl coming from the sea, calling out, “Guo’er, Guo’er.” Without thinking, he ran down the mountain, shouting, “I’m here! I’m here!” He ran to the beach, and Guo Jing, spotting him from afar, was overjoyed. He rowed the boat closer, jumped onto the shore, and the two ran toward each other. Guo Jing grabbed Yang Guo and hugged him tightly, saying, “Let’s go back and eat.” His voice choked with emotion. Back at the house, Huang Rong prepared food for Guo Jing and Yang Guo. They ate in silence, and no one mentioned the events of the past.

---

The next morning, Guo Jing called Yang Guo, the Wu brothers, and Guo Fu to the main hall. He also invited Ke Zhen’e and said to him, “Master, I would like to ask for your blessing to take on four disciples.” Ke Zhen’e was delighted and replied, “That would be wonderful. Congratulations!” Guo Jing continued, “More than ten years ago, before Guo’er’s mother passed away, he had already bowed to me as his master. Today, we will make it official. First, bow to the Grandmaster.” He instructed Yang Guo and the Wu brothers to bow to Ke Zhen’e and then to the spirit tablets of the Jiangnan Seven Freaks, including Zhu Cong. Finally, they performed the formal disciple ceremony for him and Huang Rong. Guo Fu asked with a smile, “Mother, do I need to bow too?” Huang Rong replied, “Of course you do.” Guo Fu giggled and bowed to the three as well. When Yang Guo was a baby in Changxing, he had bowed to Guo Jing under his mother’s orders. Guo Jing and Huang Rong had not mentioned it again when they met him in Jiaxing, and Yang Guo, being very young at the time, had long forgotten.

Guo Jing solemnly said, “From today on, the four of you are brothers and sisters.” Guo Fu interrupted, “No, we’re brothers and sister.” Guo Jing gave her a stern look and said, “Let your father finish speaking. No more interruptions.” He paused and continued, “From now on, you four must love and care for each other, sharing good fortune and enduring hardships together. If there is any more fighting or quarreling, I will not be lenient.” He glanced at Yang Guo, who thought to himself, “You are naturally biased towards your daughter. I’ll just avoid her in the future.”

Ke Zhen’e then explained the various rules of their sect, such as not bullying the weak or injuring the innocent. The Jiangnan Seven Freaks had different martial arts styles, but Ke Zhen’e couldn’t remember them all, and they were generally similar.

Guo Jing said, “My martial arts knowledge is quite varied. Besides the basics taught by the Jiangnan Seven Freaks, I’ve learned internal skills from the Quanzhen Sect, as well as techniques from Peach Blossom Island and the Beggar Clan. One must not forget one’s roots. Today, I will first teach you the unique skills of Grandmaster Ke.”

As he was about to teach the techniques, Huang Rong noticed Yang Guo looking down with a strange expression, somewhat reminiscent of Yang Kang. She felt a sudden dislike and thought, “Although I didn’t kill his father personally, one could say he died because of me. I must be cautious not to raise a tiger that will bring disaster in the future.” With a subtle plan forming in her mind, she said, “It’s too much for you to teach four children by yourself. Let me teach Guo’er.” Before Guo Jing could respond, Ke Zhen’e clapped his hands and said, “That’s great! You two can compare and see who teaches better.” Guo Jing was also pleased, knowing that his wife was much smarter than him and would certainly teach better. He quickly agreed.

Guo Fu, fearing her father’s strictness, said, “Mother, I want you to teach me too.” Huang Rong laughed and said, “If you keep pestering me, you’ll never learn anything. It’s better if your father teaches you.” Guo Fu glanced at her father, saw him staring at her, and quickly turned away, not daring to speak further.

Huang Rong said to her husband, “Let’s set a rule. You can’t teach Guo’er, and I won’t teach the other three. The four children must not teach each other either, or their skills will get mixed up, which would be harmful rather than beneficial.” Guo Jing agreed, “Of course.” Huang Rong said, “Guo’er, come with me.” Yang Guo, disliking Guo Fu and the Wu brothers, was happy to be separated from them during martial arts training and followed her to the inner hall.

Huang Rong led him into the study, took a book from the shelf, and said, “Your master had seven teachers, known as the Jiangnan Seven Freaks. The Grandmaster is Ke Gonggong, and the second master was the Scholar Zhu Cong. I will first teach you the skills of the second master Zhu.” She opened the book and read aloud, “The Master said: To learn and then practice constantly, is this not a great joy? To have friends come from afar, is this not a great delight?” It turned out to be the “Analects of Confucius.” Yang Guo was puzzled but didn’t dare to ask, so he followed her in reading and recognizing characters.

For several days, Huang Rong only taught him to read, never mentioning martial arts. One day, after reading, Yang Guo wandered alone up the mountain, thinking of Ouyang Feng and missing him deeply. He couldn’t help but perform handstands and spin around, imitating Ouyang Feng. As he practiced according to the principles Ouyang Feng had taught, he felt increasingly fluid and comfortable. He leaped up, let out a “gu” sound, and pushed his palms out. He felt a surge of comfort and joy, breaking into a sweat. He didn’t know that this practice had already improved his internal strength. Ouyang Feng’s martial arts were unique and extremely advanced. Yang Guo was very perceptive, and although he had learned little in Jiaxing, his internal strength had progressed through his practice.

From then on, he recited Confucian texts with Huang Rong each day. In the mornings and evenings, he would practice alone in secluded spots. It wasn’t that he was determined to master martial arts; he just felt an indescribable comfort each time he practiced, and eventually, he couldn’t go without it.

Yang Guo’s secret practice went unnoticed by Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Within three months, Huang Rong had finished teaching him the “Analects of Confucius.” Though she was tired of teaching, she thought, “This boy is as smart as I am. If he turns out like his father and learns martial arts, he could become a major threat in the future. It’s better to teach him literature and instill the teachings of sages. That would benefit both him and others.” With this in mind, she patiently taught him “Mencius” after finishing the “Analects.” Yang Guo memorized the texts quickly but often questioned their teachings, much like Huang Rong’s father. She often thought, “If my father taught him, they would certainly have interesting conversations.”

Several months passed without any mention of martial arts. Yang Guo no longer played with Guo Fu and the Wu brothers, feeling increasingly isolated. Knowing that Guo Jing wouldn’t teach him martial arts, he realized that he couldn’t match the Wu brothers’ skills. Once Guo Jing had trained them for a year or so, any future conflicts could be deadly. He decided that he would escape Peach Blossom Island at the first opportunity.

One afternoon, after reading some “Mencius” with Huang Rong, Yang Guo strolled along the seaside. Watching the waves and envying the free-flying seagulls, he thought about escaping his predicament. Suddenly, he heard the sound of wind in the peach trees. Curious, he crept around the trees and saw Guo Jing teaching the Wu brothers a grappling technique, “Supporting the Beam and Replacing the Pillar.” Guo Jing explained the moves and demonstrated them, instructing the Wu brothers to follow along. Yang Guo quickly grasped the essence of the technique, but the Wu brothers struggled. Guo Jing, knowing the difficulty, patiently repeated his instructions.

Yang Guo sighed and thought, “If Guo Shishu were willing to teach me, I wouldn’t be as clumsy as they are.” Feeling dejected, he returned to his room to sleep. After dinner, he read a few passages but felt bored. He went to the beach and practiced the moves Guo Jing had taught the Wu brothers, but quickly grew tired of it. He thought, “If I secretly learn martial arts, I can become stronger than the Wu brothers and won’t fear them anymore.” He felt a surge of pride and thought, “If Guo Shishu won’t teach me, I won’t stoop to stealing his techniques. I’d rather die than beg for them.” Filled with pride and sorrow, he sat on a rock, listening to the waves, and fell asleep.

The next morning, Yang Guo didn’t eat breakfast or go to the study. He caught some oysters, roasted them, and thought, “I won’t eat their food. I won’t starve.” He eyed the boats, thinking, “I can’t handle the big ship alone, and the small boat won’t take me far. How can I escape?” Frustrated, he hid behind a large rock and practiced Ouyang Feng’s internal techniques.

While practicing, he felt his blood circulating rapidly and his body feeling comfortable. Suddenly, someone shouted behind him. Startled, he fell and became paralyzed. It was Guo Fu and the Wu brothers. The secluded spot was rarely visited, but the layout of Peach Blossom Island’s paths and trees followed the Five Elements, so the children stayed within familiar areas. Seeing him practicing, they couldn’t resist teasing him. Luckily, Yang Guo’s skills were still shallow; otherwise, their shouting could have caused serious harm.

Guo Fu clapped her hands and laughed, “What are you up to here?” Yang Guo, supporting himself on a rock, slowly stood up and glared at her before turning to leave. Wu Xiuwen shouted, “Hey, Guo Shimei asked you something. How can you be so rude and ignore her?” Yang Guo coldly replied, “What business is it of yours?” Wu Dunru, furious, said, “Let’s leave him alone. Don’t provoke a mad dog.” Yang Guo said, “Yes, mad dogs bite anyone they see. I was minding my own business, and three mad dogs came barking.” Wu Dunru shouted, “You called us mad dogs? Are you insulting us?” Yang Guo laughed, “I only insulted dogs, not people.”

Wu Dunru, enraged, lunged forward to punch Yang Guo, but Yang Guo sidestepped the attack. Wu Xiuwen, remembering their master’s admonition that fellow disciples should not fight, realized they might get reprimanded if this escalated. He quickly pulled his brother back and, with a smile, said to Yang Guo, “Brother Yang, you’ve been learning martial arts from Mistress, while we’ve been learning from Master. After these few months, I wonder who has improved more. Let’s have a spar and see. Do you dare?”

Yang Guo, feeling bitter, initially wanted to say, “I haven’t had your luck; Mistress hasn’t taught me any martial arts.” But hearing the contempt in Wu Xiuwen’s “Do you dare?” stung his pride. He stifled his retort and coldly glared at him. Wu Xiuwen continued, “As fellow disciples, let’s spar. Regardless of who wins or loses, we won’t tell Master or Mistress. Even if we get hurt, we’ll say it was an accident. Whoever tattles is a coward and a loser. Brother Yang, do you dare?”

Just as he finished saying “Do you dare?” for the second time, his vision darkened as Yang Guo’s fist landed heavily on his left eye. Wu Xiuwen staggered, almost falling. Wu Dunru, enraged, shouted, “How dare you hit him like that!” He used the moves taught by Guo Jing and aimed a punch at Yang Guo’s waist. Yang Guo, not knowing how to dodge, took the hit directly. Seeing Wu Dunru’s follow-up kick, he suddenly remembered the technique Guo Jing had taught the Wu brothers the previous day. Instinctively, he crouched slightly with his right leg, and with his left hand, he supported Wu Dunru’s incoming right leg. This move, “Supporting the Beam and Replacing the Pillar,” was from Quan Jinfa’s grappling techniques. Though not a highly advanced technique, it was practical in combat. The Wu brothers had practiced it extensively but were not as agile and adept as Yang Guo, who had only observed briefly. Wu Dunru was thrown far away by Yang Guo’s deft move.

Wu Xiuwen, already furious from the punch, saw his brother fall and immediately charged. Feigning with his left fist, he struck with his right. Yang Guo, deceived by the basic technique, received a hard punch on his right cheekbone. Wu Dunru got up and joined the attack. The Wu brothers, with a solid foundation in martial arts and months of training from Guo Jing, quickly overpowered Yang Guo. He was hit seven or eight times on his head, face, waist, and back. Determined not to run, Yang Guo gritted his teeth and fought back wildly, swinging his fists without any form.

Seeing Yang Guo’s fierce desperation, Wu Xiuwen hesitated. Feeling they had already won, he didn’t want to continue the fight and said, “You’ve lost. We’ll spare you, no need to fight anymore.” Yang Guo retorted, “Who wants your mercy?” and rushed forward, aiming a wild punch at Wu Xiuwen’s face. Wu Xiuwen blocked with his left arm and grabbed Yang Guo’s collar, pulling him forward. At that moment, Wu Dunru struck Yang Guo’s lower back with both fists. Yang Guo lost his balance and fell forward. Wu Dunru pinned his head down, demanding, “Do you admit defeat?” Yang Guo, furious, replied, “Who’s afraid of you, mad dog?” Enraged, Wu Dunru pressed his face into the sandy ground, shouting, “If you don’t yield, I’ll suffocate you.”

Sand filled Yang Guo’s eyes, nose, and mouth, making it impossible to breathe. As his body felt like it was about to burst, Wu Dunru continued pressing his head down while Wu Xiuwen sat on his neck. Unable to break free and on the verge of suffocation, the internal energy taught by Ouyang Feng suddenly surged within him. A wave of heat rose from his dantian, filling him with unexpected strength. He sprang up, eyes still closed, and thrust his palms forward.

His strike hit Wu Xiuwen squarely in the stomach, sending him flying with a scream before he landed on his back, unconscious. This powerful move was a manifestation of Ouyang Feng’s Toad Style. Though not as potent as Ouyang Feng’s own abilities and used instinctively rather than skillfully, it was still beyond Wu Xiuwen’s capacity to withstand.

Wu Dunru rushed to his brother, seeing him motionless with his eyes rolled back. He feared Yang Guo had killed him and, terrified, screamed, “Master! Master! My brother is dead! My brother is dead!” Crying and shouting, he ran to report to Guo Jing, with Guo Fu fearfully following.

Yang Guo spat out the sand from his mouth and wiped his eyes, feeling utterly drained and barely able to move. Seeing Wu Xiuwen lying still and hearing Wu Dunru’s cries, he was bewildered, unsure of what had happened. Realizing the gravity of the situation but unable to escape, he waited in a daze.

After some time, Guo Jing and Huang Rong arrived, running. Guo Jing picked up Wu Xiuwen and began massaging his chest and abdomen. Huang Rong approached Yang Guo and demanded, “Where is Ouyang Feng? Where is he?” Yang Guo, confused, did not respond. Huang Rong repeated, “When did he teach you the Toad Style?” Yang Guo seemed to hear but did not react, staring blankly ahead with his mouth tightly shut, afraid to utter a single word. Huang Rong, frustrated, grabbed his arms and shook him, shouting, “Speak! Where is Ouyang Feng?” But Yang Guo remained motionless and silent.

Before long, Wu Xiuwen regained consciousness under Guo Jing’s internal energy massage. Shortly afterward, Ke Zhen’e arrived with Guo Fu. Hearing Guo Fu describe how Yang Guo had inverted his body and supposedly “killed” Wu Xiuwen, Ke Zhen’e realized that Yang Guo was indeed Ouyang Feng’s disciple. His resentment immediately turned toward Yang Guo. Hearing Huang Rong repeatedly ask, “Where is Ouyang Feng?” and seeing Yang Guo not responding, he stepped forward, raising his iron staff and shouting, “Where is that traitor Ouyang Feng? If you don’t speak, I’ll kill you with one strike!”

Yang Guo, having resigned himself to his fate, shouted, “He is not a traitor! He is a good person. Go ahead and kill me, I won’t say a word.” Ke Zhen’e, furious, swung his staff down. Guo Jing shouted, “Master, no!” Just as the iron staff was about to strike, it veered slightly to the side, hitting the sand instead. Ke Zhen’e thought it inappropriate to kill a child, so he purposely missed.

Ke Zhen’e demanded, “Will you speak or not?” Yang Guo shouted, “If you have the guts, kill me! Do you think I’m afraid of you, old blind man?” Guo Jing, leaping forward, slapped him hard across the face, reprimanding, “How dare you be disrespectful to your grandmaster!” Yang Guo, not crying, coldly retorted, “You don’t need to do anything. If you want my life, I’ll end it myself!” He turned and ran toward the sea.

Guo Jing shouted, “Guo’er, come back!” But Yang Guo ran even faster. Just as Guo Jing was about to chase him, Huang Rong whispered, “Wait!” Guo Jing stopped, watching as Yang Guo ran into the sea and was soon engulfed by the waves. Guo Jing, alarmed, said, “He can’t swim, Rong’er, we must save him.” He prepared to dive into the sea. Huang Rong said, “He won’t die; don’t worry.” After a while, seeing that Yang Guo did not return, she admired his stubbornness. She then dove into the sea, swimming out to save him. Huang Rong, being an expert swimmer, easily rescued him, dragging him back to shore and placing him on a rock, letting him expel the seawater and gradually regain consciousness.

Guo Jing looked at his master and his wife, asking, “What now?” Huang Rong replied, “He learned this martial art before coming to Peach Blossom Island. If Ouyang Feng had come here, we would definitely know.” Guo Jing nodded. Huang Rong asked, “How is little Wu’s injury?” Guo Jing replied, “He will need a month or two to recover.”

Ke Zhen’e said, “I will return to Jiaxing tomorrow.” Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged a glance, understanding his intent. He did not want to stay in the same place as Ouyang Feng’s disciple. Huang Rong said, “Master, this is your home. Why let this boy drive you away?”

That night, Guo Jing called Yang Guo into his room and said, “Guo’er, let’s not dwell on past events. You have been disrespectful to your grandmaster, and I can’t keep you as my disciple. From now on, just call me Uncle Guo. I am not good at teaching and might hinder your progress. In a few days, I will send you to Mount Zhongnan to the Chongyang Palace, asking the Taoist elder Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen Sect to accept you as a disciple. The Quanzhen Sect’s martial arts are orthodox. Practice diligently there, cultivate your character, and strive to become a noble and upright person in the future.”

Yang Guo responded, “Yes, Uncle Guo,” immediately changing his address and no longer acknowledging Guo Jing as his master.

---

One morning, Guo Jing got up early, prepared money and luggage, said goodbye to his master, wife, daughter, and the Wu brothers, and took Yang Guo by boat to the coast of Zhejiang. Guo Jing bought two horses, and he and Yang Guo traveled north, riding by day and resting by night. Yang Guo had never ridden a horse before, but being agile, he mastered it in a few days and controlled the reins skillfully. He was a curious boy and often rode ahead of Guo Jing.

Within a few days, they crossed the Yellow River and reached Shaanxi. By then, the Jin Dynasty had been overthrown by the Mongols, and the land north of the Yellow River was under Mongol control. Guo Jing had once been a general in the Mongol army in his youth and feared encountering former Mongol colleagues, which could cause trouble. Therefore, he exchanged their fine horses for two extremely thin and ugly donkeys and dressed in shabby clothes, disguising themselves as simple country folk. Yang Guo also wore a coarse cloth coat and a blue headband, riding the skinny donkey, which had a bad temper and moved slowly, much to Yang Guo’s annoyance.

One day, they reached Fanchuan, which was near Mount Zhongnan, named after the Han Dynasty’s founding general Fan Kuai, who had been granted land there. The landscape featured winding hills, lush pines and cypresses, and fields and gardens reminiscent of Jiangnan.

Since leaving Peach Blossom Island, Yang Guo had been angry and never mentioned the island. Now, he couldn’t help but say, “Uncle Guo, this place is somewhat like our Peach Blossom Island.” Guo Jing, hearing him say “our Peach Blossom Island,” felt a pang of nostalgia and said, “Guo’er, Mount Zhongnan is not far now. Study diligently at the Quanzhen Sect. In a few years, I’ll come back to take you to Peach Blossom Island.” Yang Guo turned his head and said, “I’ll never go back to Peach Blossom Island in my lifetime.” Guo Jing was taken aback by his resolute words and didn’t know how to respond. After a while, he said, “Are you angry with Aunt Guo?” Yang Guo replied, “How would I dare? It’s just that I made Aunt Guo angry.” Guo Jing, being poor with words, didn’t continue the conversation.

They traveled up a hill and arrived at a temple at noon. Guo Jing saw the temple’s horizontal plaque reading “Puguang Temple.” He tied the donkeys to a pine tree outside and went into the temple to ask for some vegetarian food. There were seven or eight monks in the temple, who were quite cold and indifferent towards the shabbily dressed Guo Jing, offering only two portions of plain noodles and a few buns.

Guo Jing and Yang Guo sat on a stone bench under a pine tree to eat. As Guo Jing turned his head, he saw a stone tablet behind the pine tree, partly covered by grass, with the words “Changchun” (Eternal Spring) visible. Feeling a stir in his heart, he walked over and brushed away the grass, revealing a poem by Qiu Chuji, the Changchun Master:

"The sky vast above, looking down on the earth,

Why not save the suffering beings?

The beings suffer day and night,

Swallowing their cries in silence.

Crying out to the sky, the sky does not respond,

A small creature labors in vain.

How can we restore the great chaos,

To prevent the creator from producing spirits?"

Seeing this poem, Guo Jing recalled his experiences in the Mongolian desert over a decade ago, and he stood silently, lost in thought, feeling both nostalgic and excited about meeting Qiu Chuji soon.

Yang Guo asked, “Uncle Guo, what does this tablet say?” Guo Jing replied, “This is a poem by your ancestor, Qiu Chuji. He felt deeply saddened by the many calamities and sufferings of the people.” He then explained the poem’s meaning, saying, “Master Qiu’s martial arts are extraordinary, but his compassion for all beings is even more admirable. Your father was Master Qiu’s favorite disciple. Out of respect for your father, Master Qiu will surely treat you well. Study diligently, and you will achieve great things.”

Yang Guo said, “Uncle Guo, I want to ask you something.” Guo Jing replied, “What is it?” Yang Guo asked, “How did my father die?” Guo Jing’s face changed color, and he trembled slightly as he thought of the events at the Iron Spear Temple in Jiaxing. He remained silent. Yang Guo asked, “Who killed him?” Still, Guo Jing did not answer.

Yang Guo remembered how his mother always avoided answering when he asked about his father’s death. He also noticed that while Guo Jing treated him with great kindness, Huang Rong seemed somewhat wary of him. Though young, he sensed there must be some hidden truth and couldn’t help but shout, “Was it you and Aunt Guo who killed my father?”

Guo Jing, furious, slammed his hand on the stone tablet, shouting, “Who taught you to speak such nonsense?” With his immense strength, the tablet shook violently under his blow. Yang Guo, seeing his anger, quickly lowered his head and said, “I know I was wrong. I won’t speak carelessly again. Please don’t be angry, Uncle Guo.”

Guo Jing, who had always been fond of Yang Guo, felt his anger dissipate upon hearing his apology. Just as he was about to comfort him, they heard a surprised exclamation from behind. Turning around, they saw two middle-aged Taoists standing at the temple gate, staring at them with angry expressions. It was clear that they had witnessed Guo Jing’s earlier blow to the tablet.

The two Taoists exchanged a glance and quickly descended the hill. Guo Jing, seeing their swift and agile movements, guessed they were likely from the Quanzhen Sect, given their proximity to Mount Zhongnan. He thought it best to travel with them to the mountain to see Master Qiu Chuji.

He quickened his pace, catching up with the Taoists. Seeing them ten or more feet ahead, he called out, “Daoists, please wait, I have something to ask.” His voice was loud and clear, carrying far, but the two did not stop; instead, they quickened their pace. Guo Jing wondered if they were deaf. Using a bit of internal strength, he leaped ahead, blocking their path, and said, “Daoists, please wait,” bowing respectfully.

The two Taoists, alarmed by his speed, thought he might be attacking with internal energy and quickly stepped aside. They asked in unison, “What do you want?” Guo Jing said, “Are you from the Quanzhen Sect on Mount Zhongnan?” The thin Taoist replied sternly, “What if we are?” Guo Jing said, “I am an old acquaintance of Master Qiu Chuji and wish to visit the mountain. Could you guide me?” The shorter Taoist sneered, “If you have the guts, go up yourself. Get out of the way!” With that, he suddenly struck out with his palm. Guo Jing had to step aside. However, the thin Taoist’s movements were coordinated with the shorter one, and they attacked together, encircling Guo Jing with a move called “Big Gate Closure,” a high-level technique of the Quanzhen Sect. Guo Jing, recognizing the technique, was puzzled by their aggression. He did not counter or dodge, allowing their palms to strike his ribs.

Feeling their internal strength, Guo Jing realized they were indeed disciples of the Quanzhen Seven. He had prepared his body to absorb the blows without injury and without reflecting the force back, leaving the two Taoists unharmed but perplexed.

The Taoists, having trained these techniques for over a decade, were shocked to find their strikes had no effect, as if hitting soft cotton. They simultaneously leaped up, kicking towards Guo Jing’s chest with a move called “Mandarin Duck Chain Legs.” Guo Jing, surprised by their unfounded aggression, remained still. After several sounds of impact, his chest bore several dusty footprints.

Seeing their strikes and kicks were ineffective, the Taoists were even more astonished. They thought, “This person is so formidable! Even our master doesn’t have such skill.” They stared at Guo Jing, who looked like a simple farmer, in utter confusion, unable to speak.

Yang Guo saw the two Taoists beating and kicking Guo Jing, who didn’t fight back, and became angry. He stepped forward and shouted, “You two smelly Taoists, why are you hitting my uncle?” Guo Jing hurriedly stopped him, saying, “Guo’er, stop talking and come over to greet the two Taoists.” Yang Guo was taken aback, thinking, “Uncle Guo, why are you afraid of them without reason?”

The two Taoists exchanged glances and swiftly drew their long swords from their waists. The short Taoist executed a move called “Dragon Slaying from the Sea,” aiming at Guo Jing’s lower body, while the other used “Strong Wind Sweeps the Leaves,” slicing at Yang Guo’s right leg.

Guo Jing paid no attention to the sword aimed at him but got angry when he saw the thin Taoist’s vicious move. “This child has no enmity with you, why such a ruthless attack? This strike would cut off his right leg!” With a slight movement of his body, Guo Jing placed the edge of his left hand on the short Taoist’s sword handle and gently pushed it to the left. The short Taoist’s sword turned back, clanging against the thin Taoist’s sword and deflecting his attack. Guo Jing’s technique of using the enemy’s weapon against themselves was a variation of the empty-handed technique of entering the white blade. Even if there were ten or eight attackers, he could use their own weapons against each other, neutralizing their attacks.

Both Taoists felt their wrists go numb and their palms ache. They immediately leaped aside, glaring at Guo Jing with a mixture of shock and admiration. They let out low whistles and lunged again with their swords.

Guo Jing thought, “You two are practicing the basic skills of the Big Dipper Formation. Though the sword technique is excellent, you haven’t mastered it, and with only two people, what use is it?” Afraid that Yang Guo might be caught by their swords, he sidestepped their attacks, picked up Yang Guo with his right hand, and said, “I am an old acquaintance of Master Qiu. There is no need to be hostile.” The thin Taoist said, “Pretending to be an acquaintance of Master Ma won’t help you.” Guo Jing replied, “Master Ma indeed taught me martial arts.” The short Taoist angrily said, “You lying thief! Do you think we would believe you even if you claimed Master Chongyang himself taught you martial arts?” He thrust his sword at Guo Jing’s chest.

Guo Jing wondered why the Taoists, clearly from the Quanzhen Sect, treated him as an enemy. He had a deep friendship with the Seven Masters of Quanzhen and didn’t want to offend their disciples, especially since Yang Guo was going to the Chongyang Palace to learn martial arts. So he continued to evade their attacks without countering.

The two Taoists, both frightened and angry, already knew that Guo Jing’s martial arts were far superior to theirs. They exchanged gestures and suddenly changed their sword techniques, thrusting several fatal strikes at Yang Guo’s chest and back. Seeing their ruthless attacks aimed at a child, Guo Jing couldn’t help but get angry. He released Yang Guo from his right arm, swiftly extended his arm, and used his index and middle fingers to catch the short Taoist’s sword blade, twisting his wrist inward. His right elbow struck towards the opponent’s nose. The short Taoist tried to pull back his sword but couldn’t move it. Seeing Guo Jing’s elbow approaching, he knew that if it hit his face, he would be seriously injured or killed, so he withdrew his sword and leaped back.

At this moment, Guo Jing’s martial arts were at their peak. Every move he made was perfect. He slightly lowered his right hand, causing the sword to stand upright, and the hilt to bounce upward. The thin Taoist’s sword was about to strike Yang Guo’s neck when the hilt of the other sword hit his blade, making a clanging sound. His right arm felt hot, and his body trembled violently. He had to let go of his sword and jump to the side. The two Taoists shouted in unison, “This lecherous thief is formidable! Let’s go!” They turned and fled.

Guo Jing had been called many things in his life, from “fool” to “stupid,” but never “lecherous thief.” This was the first time such a disgraceful name had been attributed to him. He was slightly bewildered, grabbed Yang Guo, and quickly pursued the Taoists. He leaped over them, landed in front of them, and sternly asked, “What did you call me?”

The short Taoist, surprised but still defiant, said, “If you’re not trying to marry that girl named Long, then what are you doing on Mount Zhongnan?” Fearing that Guo Jing might attack, he took three steps back as he spoke.

Guo Jing was stunned, thinking, “Why would I want to marry a girl named Long? Who is she? I already have Rong’er, why would I marry someone else?” He stood there, confused, unable to make sense of it. Seeing him dazed, the Taoists seized the opportunity, exchanged glances, and hurriedly ran up the mountain.

Yang Guo, seeing Guo Jing lost in thought, gently freed himself and said, “Uncle Guo, the two smelly Taoists are gone.” Guo Jing snapped out of it and said, “They said I want to marry a girl named Long. Who is she?” Yang Guo replied, “I don’t know either. These two attacked without any reason. They must have mistaken you for someone else.” Guo Jing laughed and said, “That must be it. Why didn’t I think of that? Let’s go up the mountain!”

Yang Guo picked up the two swords the Taoists had left behind. Guo Jing saw the handles were inscribed with “Chongyang Palace.” They climbed the mountain for over an hour and reached the Jinlian Pavilion. The path ahead was steep, with rocks and cliffs, and they continued climbing. By the time they reached the Rizhao Rock, the sky was growing dark. When they arrived at Baozi Rock, the new moon had already appeared. Baozi Rock resembled a woman holding a child. After resting for a while, Guo Jing asked, “Are you tired, Guo’er?” Yang Guo shook his head and said, “No.” Guo Jing said, “Good, let’s keep going.”

After walking a while longer, they encountered a large, terrifying rock blocking the path. It looked like an old woman bending over. Just as Yang Guo felt scared, he heard several whistles from behind the rock. Four Taoists, each holding a sword, appeared and blocked their way without speaking.

Guo Jing stepped forward, bowed, and said, “I am Guo Jing from Peach Blossom Island, here to see Master Qiu.” A tall Taoist stepped forward and sneered, “Guo Jing, known far and wide, the son-in-law of Senior Huang of Peach Blossom Island. How could someone so shameless be you? Leave immediately!” Guo Jing wondered what he had done to be called shameless and kept his composure. He said, “I am indeed Guo Jing. Please take me to see Master Qiu, and you will see the truth.”

The tall Taoist said, “You’ve come to Mount Zhongnan to show off your strength. You’re tired of living, aren’t you? If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll think the Chongyang Palace is full of useless people.” With these words, he attacked with a move called “Dividing the Flowers and Sweeping the Willows,” aiming at Guo Jing’s side. Guo Jing thought, “Why have the rules of the world changed so much in the ten years I’ve been away from the martial arts world?” He sidestepped the attack, intending to speak, but the other three Taoists raised their swords, surrounding him and Yang Guo. Guo Jing said, “What will it take for you to believe I am Guo Jing?”

The tall Taoist said, “Unless you take my sword from me.” With that, he thrust his sword straight at Guo Jing’s chest. Traditionally, swordplay was about agility and finesse, not brute force. This Taoist’s attack was arrogant and lacked subtlety.

Guo Jing, slightly annoyed, thought, “Taking your sword is no big deal.” As the sword tip approached, he flicked it with his finger, sending the sword flying into the air with a buzz. Before the sword fell, he flicked his finger three more times, sending the other three swords spinning into the air. In the moonlight, the sword blades shimmered. Yang Guo cheered loudly, “Do you believe us now?” Normally, Guo Jing would have held back, but the Taoist’s rudeness had angered him, prompting him to use the full power of his flicking technique, a skill he had learned from Huang Yaoshi. His profound internal strength made the technique formidable.

The four Taoists, having lost their swords, still didn’t understand what had happened. The tall Taoist shouted, “This lecherous thief uses sorcery! Let’s go!” They fled behind the old woman rock and disappeared into the darkness. For the second time in his life, Guo Jing had been called a “lecherous thief,” and now also accused of using sorcery. He found it both infuriating and amusing. He said, “Guo’er, place the swords neatly by the roadside.”

Yang Guo responded, “Yes.” He picked up the four swords, placed them alongside the two swords he already had, and lined them up on a green stone. He was thoroughly impressed by Guo Jing’s martial arts, almost wanting to say, “Uncle Guo, I don’t want to learn from the smelly Taoists, I want to learn from you.” However, remembering the events on Peach Blossom Island, he swallowed those words.

The two of them turned a couple of corners, and the terrain opened up slightly. Suddenly, the sound of clashing weapons could be heard, and seven Taoists leaped out from the pine forest, each holding a long sword.

Guo Jing saw the seven Taoists coming at him in a formation, with four on the left and three on the right, setting up the “Big Dipper Formation.” He thought, “This formation can be quite tricky to deal with.” He didn’t dare underestimate them and whispered to Yang Guo, “You wait behind that big rock over there, stay far away so I won’t be distracted by having to look after you.” Yang Guo nodded, not wanting to show weakness in front of the Taoists. He loudly said, “Uncle Guo, I’m going to pee,” and ran to the rock to relieve himself. Guo Jing was pleased, thinking, “This child is clever and quick-witted, much like Rong’er. If he follows the right path, he will achieve great things.”

Looking back at the seven Taoists, Guo Jing saw that they were backlit by the moon, making their faces hard to see. Six of them had long beards, indicating they were not young. The seventh was smaller and seemed younger. Guo Jing thought, “It’s crucial to explain the misunderstanding to Master Qiu as soon as possible. Why get entangled with these people?” With a flash of his figure, he dashed to the left side, taking the “North Star” position.

The seven Taoists saw him suddenly dash to the left without a word, not understanding his intention. The Taoist in the “Tianquan” position whistled and led the other six towards the left to encircle Guo Jing. However, as soon as they moved, Guo Jing seized the initiative and stepped right, maintaining his position at the “North Star.” The Taoist in the “Tianquan” position initially planned a side attack with three others, but seeing Guo Jing’s odd position, their swords couldn’t reach him, leaving the seven exposed and unable to defend properly. He quickly signaled a retreat and repositioned the formation. But just as they moved, Guo Jing shifted again, maintaining the strategic “North Star” position.

The “Big Dipper Formation” was a high-level skill in the Quanzhen Sect, invincible when mastered. Guo Jing knew its secrets well; by holding the “North Star” position, he could control the formation, making it difficult for the Taoists to perform effectively. These Taoists hadn’t fully mastered the formation. If it were led by Ma Yu or Qiu Chuji, they wouldn’t have allowed Guo Jing to take the critical position so easily. Despite several changes, Guo Jing remained in control, calm and collected.

The Taoist in the “Tianshu” position, being older and wiser, saw the issue and called out, “Change formation!” The seven Taoists scattered, charging left and right, east and west, hoping to confuse their opponent. In an instant, they regrouped, with the formation shifting from west to southeast. The “Tianxuan” and “Yuheng” Taoists lunged forward with their swords, but saw Guo Jing standing at the northern end of the formation, feet firmly planted, palms crossed, and a slight smile on his face. They realized that if they attacked, the “Kaiyang” and “Tianji” Taoists would be severely injured. The “Tianshu” Taoist quickly shouted, “Don’t attack, retreat!” The “Tianquan” Taoist, both angry and surprised, whistled again, prompting the six others to change formation continuously.

From a distance, Yang Guo watched the seven Taoists running around like madmen, while Guo Jing only moved a few steps east, west, south, or north. The seven Taoists never dared to make a single move against Guo Jing. Yang Guo found it increasingly amusing and suddenly saw Guo Jing clap his hands and say, “Excuse me!” before darting two steps to the left.

With the formation under his control, Guo Jing’s movement forced the Taoists to follow, leaving them vulnerable and defenseless. If they didn’t follow his moves, their backs would be exposed to attacks. The young Taoist with the weakest internal strength was already dizzy and struggling to breathe, barely keeping up.

Despite being older, Guo Jing’s youthful spirit remained intact since returning to Peach Blossom Island. He thought, “After being wrongly accused and insulted today, I should show them some real skills. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a wasted opportunity?” He called out loudly, “Guo’er, watch me perform some magic!” and leaped onto a high rock. The seven Taoists were still under his control and had to follow him onto the rock. The “Tianquan” Taoist, frustrated and angry, ordered the formation to follow.

Once on the rock, Guo Jing leaped onto a pine tree, maintaining his control over the “North Star” position. The Taoists, knowing they couldn’t afford to let him stay above them, followed onto the tree. Guo Jing then leaped back down, grabbed the foot of the Taoist in the “Kaiyang” position, forcing the others to descend to help. The whole formation was disrupted again.

Yang Guo watched in awe, thinking, “If I could learn Uncle Guo’s skills, I would endure any hardship gladly.” But then he thought, “How can I ever learn his skills? Only Guo Fu and the Wu brothers are fortunate enough. Uncle Guo knows Quanzhen’s martial arts are inferior, yet he sends me to learn from these smelly Taoists.” His frustration grew, almost to the point of tears. He turned away but couldn’t resist looking back.

Guo Jing thought, “By now, they should believe I’m Guo Jing. It’s best not to overdo it and make Master Qiu lose face.” He suddenly stopped and said, “I’ve offended you, please lead the way.”

The “Tianquan” Taoist, still angry, shouted, “Lecherous thief! You’ve been plotting against our sect. We cannot let you get away with this!” Guo Jing, confused, asked, “What do you mean by that?”

The “Tianshu” Taoist said, “You seem like a skilled martial artist, not a despicable person. I’m advising you to leave the mountain immediately.” His tone showed respect for Guo Jing’s skills. Guo Jing replied, “I have traveled thousands of miles from the south to see Master Qiu. How can I leave without meeting him?” The “Tianquan” Taoist asked, “What is your purpose in seeing Master Qiu?” Guo Jing answered, “I owe a great debt to Master Ma and Master Qiu from my youth and haven’t seen them in over ten years. I also have a favor to ask.”

The “Tianquan” Taoist became more suspicious and hostile. He thought, “In the martial world, ‘恩仇’ (gratitude and revenge) are taken seriously. People often speak of seeking revenge under the guise of repaying gratitude.” He interpreted Guo Jing’s words as having hidden motives, saying coldly, “I suppose you also owe gratitude to our Master Yuyang (Wang Chuyi).”

Guo Jing recalled the events at Zhao Wang’s residence and how Wang Chuyi had risked his life to save him, indeed deserving great gratitude. He said, “So you’re a disciple of Master Yuyang. Master Wang truly did me a great favor. If he is also on the mountain, that would be wonderful.”

The seven Taoist priests, all disciples of Wang Chuyi, suddenly shouted in anger, raised their long swords, and flashed the blue light of their seven swords as they quickly stabbed toward Guo Jing in seven different places. Guo Jing frowned, thinking that the more courteous he was, the fiercer the other side became. He couldn’t understand the reason behind it. He regretted that Huang Rong wasn’t there because she could easily figure out the cause at a glance. He sidestepped, taking up the position of the North Star, and said loudly, “I am Guo Jing from Jiangnan. I have no ill intentions coming to your esteemed mountain. What must I do to earn your trust?”

The Tianquan Taoist said, “You have already taken six swords from the Quanzhen Sect disciples. Why not take the seven of ours?” The Tianxuan Taoist, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke in a voice like a broken gong, saying, “You lecherous dog! You want to show off your skills in front of that Dragon family girl. Do you think our Quanzhen Sect is easy to bully?” Guo Jing was furious and said, “What Dragon family girl? I, Guo Jing, do not know her at all.” The Tianxuan Taoist laughed and said, “Of course, you don’t know her. Is there any man in the world who knows her? If you have the guts, just curse her out loud and call her a little slut.”

Guo Jing was taken aback, thinking he didn’t know who this Dragon family girl was and how he could insult her for no reason. He said, “Why should I curse her?” Three or four Taoists shouted in unison, “Isn’t that admitting it without being beaten?”

Guo Jing, innocent and wrongfully accused, became more and more confused as he listened. He thought he had no choice but to force his way to the Chongyang Palace and clarify everything with Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, and Wang Chuyi. He said coldly, “I am going up the mountain now. If you try to stop me, don’t blame me for being rude.”

The seven Taoists each raised their swords and stepped forward simultaneously. The Tianxuan Taoist shouted, “Don’t use any sorcery; let’s see who is better in martial arts.” Guo Jing smiled, having already formed a plan, and said, “I will use a bit of sorcery. Watch as I take all seven of your swords without touching your weapons with my hands.” The seven Taoists looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief. They thought, “Even if your martial arts are strong, how can you take our weapons without using your hands or feet?” The Tianshu Taoist suddenly said, “Good, we will witness your kicking skills.” Guo Jing said, “I won’t use my feet either. In short, if I touch your weapons or limbs even a bit, I lose. I will clap my hands and leave, and I won’t bother coming up the mountain again.”

The seven Taoists were angered by his boastful words. The Tianquan Taoist swung his sword, immediately leading the formation to encircle Guo Jing.

Guo Jing sidestepped quickly, taking the position of the North Star, then swiftly moved to the left side of the formation. The Tianquan Taoist recognized the danger and hurriedly led the formation to the right. In any fight, one must face the enemy. If the enemy moves behind, one must immediately turn to face them. Guo Jing was heading for the crucial spot in the formation, forcing the seven Taoists to adjust their positions to face him. However, Guo Jing kept moving left without looking back, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, always heading left. He firmly held the North Star position, making the seven Taoists follow him.

Guo Jing ran faster and faster, eventually moving like a galloping horse. His body flickered, covering several meters in an instant. The seven Taoists, though skilled, struggled to keep up, their formation starting to show gaps. They were alarmed, thinking, “If the enemy attacks now, we won’t be able to defend ourselves.” They had no choice but to use all their strength, circling Guo Jing.

As children playing with a stone tied to a string, the stone spins faster and faster and eventually flies out when the string is released. The same happened with the formation; the Taoists spun around Guo Jing, their swords becoming difficult to control. Suddenly, Guo Jing shouted, “Release!” and leaped to the left. The seven Taoists, caught off guard, had to follow, and their swords flew out of their hands like seven silver snakes, shooting into the pine forest ten meters away. Guo Jing stopped abruptly and turned back with a smile.

The seven Taoists, faces ashen, stood still, each maintaining their position in the formation. Guo Jing saw that despite the chaos, their formation remained intact, proving their diligent practice. The Tianquan Taoist weakly whistled, leading the seven back into the mountain.

Guo Jing called, “Guo’er, let’s go up the mountain.” He called twice, but Yang Guo didn’t respond. Looking around, he saw that Yang Guo was gone, leaving only a small shoe behind a bush. Alarmed, Guo Jing thought, “Besides these seven Taoists, there must be others hiding and have taken him.” But thinking that the Quanzhen Sect was just mistaken and wouldn’t harm a child, he wasn’t too worried. He quickly climbed the mountain. After years of seclusion on Peach Blossom Island, though he practiced daily, he missed the thrill of real combat. Today, sparring with the Taoists, every move was precise and satisfying.

The mountain path grew steeper, sometimes requiring him to squeeze between cliffs. Half an hour later, clouds covered the moon, and the path became dark. Guo Jing thought, “I’m unfamiliar with this terrain. The Taoists might use tricks. I must be cautious.” He slowed down and proceeded carefully.

After a while, the clouds parted, and the moonlight illuminated the mountain. As he relaxed, he heard the breathing of a large group behind the mountain. Though faint, it indicated a sizable crowd. Tightening his belt, he turned the corner.

Ahead was a large circular clearing, surrounded by mountains. At the foot of the mountain was a large pool, reflecting the moonlight. A hundred Taoists, dressed in yellow crowns and gray robes, holding long swords, stood sparsely by the pool, their swords gleaming.

Guo Jing looked closely and saw that each group of seven Taoists formed a “Big Dipper Formation.” Fourteen such formations were arranged, creating a larger “Big Dipper Formation,” one regular and one inverted, mutually supporting each other. Guo Jing was amazed, thinking, “This formation must have been developed in recent years, more advanced than what Master Qiu taught.” He stepped forward cautiously.

A Taoist in the formation whistled, and the ninety-eight Taoists scattered, surrounding Guo Jing. Each pointed their swords to the ground, silently watching him.

Guo Jing bowed and said loudly, “I am Guo Jing from Jiangnan, sincerely here to see Masters Ma, Qiu, and Wang. Please do not block my way.”

A long-bearded Taoist in the formation said, “Your martial arts are remarkable, but why do you not cherish yourself and instead associate with demons? I advise you kindly: women have always led men astray. Do not let your decades of hard work go to waste. Our Quanzhen Sect has no prior acquaintance or grudge with you. Why do you help the evil ones and join them in causing trouble on the mountain? Please leave immediately. We can meet again under better circumstances.”

Guo Jing felt both amused and annoyed, thinking, “These Taoists have mistaken me for someone else. If only Rong’er were here, she could easily explain this misunderstanding.” He said, “I don’t know anything about demons or women. Let me meet with Masters Ma and Qiu, and everything will be clarified.”

The long-bearded Taoist sternly replied, “You are stubborn. If you insist on meeting Masters Ma and Qiu, you must first break through our Big Dipper Formation.” Guo Jing said, “I am just one person with modest skills. How can I challenge your sect’s exceptional martial arts? Please release the child I brought and take me to see your masters.”

The long-bearded Taoist shouted, “You feign ignorance and mock us. How dare you act wildly in front of the Chongyang Palace?” He swung his sword through the air, the blade slicing through the wind with a long-lasting hum. The other Taoists followed suit, their ninety-eight swords creating a swift wind and forming a web of light.

Guo Jing worried silently, “Their two formations are both regular and inverted. How can I take the North Star position alone? Today’s situation is truly difficult.”

Before he could decide on a plan, the ninety-eight Taoists in the two Big Dipper formations had already surrounded him from both sides, their sword lights intertwining, making it difficult even for a fly to escape. The long-bearded Taoist said, “Draw your weapon! The Quanzhen Sect does not harm unarmed men.”

Guo Jing thought, “This Big Dipper Formation is indeed hard to break, but they may not be able to harm me. The formation has many people, making it powerful, but their skills vary, so there must be weaknesses. I’ll examine their formation first.” Suddenly, he spun around and dashed to the northwest, using the “Hidden Dragon in the Depths” move from the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. His hand extended and retracted, then thrust out diagonally. Seven young Taoists interlocked their swords in their left hands and linked up, simultaneously pushing out their right palms to block his move. Guo Jing’s palm technique had reached a masterful level; the initial push was strong, but the retraction was even more powerful. The seven Taoists used all their strength to block the fierce push, only to be pulled forward by a sudden force. They lost their balance and fell forward, getting up quickly but feeling deeply ashamed, their faces covered in dust.

The long-bearded Taoist was alarmed by Guo Jing’s fierce attack, seeing how just one move had toppled seven of his junior brothers. He let out a long whistle, merging the fourteen Big Dipper formations into one. He thought that even if the enemy’s palm strength was ten times stronger, it would be impossible to move ninety-eight people with both hands.

Guo Jing recalled the battle at Junshan, where he and Huang Rong fought the Beggar Sect. Although their opponents’ martial arts were not strong, their combined efforts were hard to resist. He knew he couldn’t fight the Taoists head-on, so he used his agility to weave in and out of the formation, looking for openings.

He darted and leaped, causing the formation to change. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he realized that breaking the formation alone was extremely difficult. First, he didn’t want to seriously injure anyone. Second, the formation was extremely tight, with seemingly no weaknesses. Third, his slow thinking made it hard to spot any weaknesses in the rapidly changing formation. Under the moonlight, the sword lights shimmered like water, and shadows moved like waves, making it even harder.

After a while, the formation tightened, making it increasingly difficult for him to find gaps. He thought, “I should break out of the formation and go straight to the Chongyang Palace to see Master Ma and Master Qiu.” Looking around, he saw several buildings to the west, some of which were grand. He guessed that the Chongyang Palace was among them and headed east, then turned west with a few leaps.

The Taoists saw his speed increase suddenly, a gray shadow darting through the formation like lightning, almost too fast to see. They became dizzy, and their attacks slowed down. The long-bearded Taoist shouted, “Everyone be careful. Don’t fall for the trick!”

Guo Jing was furious, thinking, “You keep calling me a lecherous bandit. If this reputation spreads in the martial arts world, what will become of me?” He also thought, “The formation is led by this man. If I defeat him, I can find a way to break the formation.” With a split in his hands, he charged at the long-bearded Taoist. The formation’s subtlety was to draw the enemy to attack the leader, allowing smaller formations to surround and attack. Guo Jing took only seven or eight steps before feeling an increase in pressure from behind and flanking attacks from both sides. As he tried to turn to the right, fourteen swords from two small formations simultaneously stabbed at him. Each sword was precisely timed and positioned, leaving him with no room to dodge.

Despite the danger, Guo Jing’s anger grew. He thought, “Even if you mistake me for some bandit, aren’t Taoists supposed to be compassionate? Why are all your moves deadly? Do you really want to kill me?” He suddenly sidestepped, kicked out with his right foot, and reached forward with his left hand, flipping a young Taoist and snatching his sword. Seeing seven swords aimed at his right side, he swung out with his left hand, and all eight swords clashed. With a crack, seven swords snapped in half, while his sword remained intact. The swords were not particularly sharp, but Guo Jing’s inner strength had been applied to the blade, breaking the seven swords simultaneously.

The seven Taoists were shocked and stood still, while two other formations moved in to protect them. Fourteen Taoists each placed their left hand on the right shoulder of the Taoist next to them, combining their strength. Guo Jing thought, “Let’s test my strength against theirs.” He extended his sword to touch the fourteenth Taoist’s blade.

The Taoist tried to pull back, but his sword seemed stuck to an anvil, not moving at all. The other thirteen Taoists applied their combined strength to counter Guo Jing’s sticky force. Guo Jing felt the resistance increase, shouted, “Watch out!” and shook his right arm. With a series of cracks, twelve swords snapped, while two flew into the air. The fourteen Taoists, astonished, leaped away. Guo Jing sighed, “My strength isn’t refined enough; I couldn’t break all the swords.”

This increased the Taoists’ caution. Although twenty-one had lost their swords, their palm strikes were still formidable. Guo Jing, frustrated by his incomplete success, saw the formation tighten and thought, “I don’t know if Masters Ma and Qiu have developed new tactics for the Big Dipper Formation. If they use advanced changes, I might be caught. I must act first.” He shouted, “Taoist brothers, if you don’t let me pass, don’t blame me for not holding back.”

The long-bearded Taoist saw his side gaining the upper hand and thought Guo Jing had reached his limit. He believed that even if Guo Jing broke all ninety-eight swords, he couldn’t escape the Big Dipper Formation. Hearing Guo Jing’s shout, he smirked and tightened the formation further.

Guo Jing suddenly crouched and darted to the northeast corner. Seeing the two formations from the southwest following closely, he quickly flicked his wrist, sending fourteen thrusts in an instant. Fourteen cold stars seemed to shoot out simultaneously, each striking a Taoist’s “Yanggu Point” on the right wrist. This was a top-tier sword technique, with the speed and accuracy of shooting fourteen concealed weapons at once.

Guo Jing struck lightly, causing only a numbness in the wrists of each Taoist, rendering their fingers powerless. Fourteen swords clattered to the ground simultaneously. Shocked, the Taoists leapt back to examine their wrists. They saw only faint red marks on their Yanggu points, with no blood drawn. They realized that Guo Jing had used the sword tips to strike their acupoints, penetrating the acupoints without breaking the skin. The Taoists were astonished, thinking, “Although this scoundrel is shameless, he is not ruthless. If he hadn’t held back, cutting off our hands would have been effortless.”

Now, thirty-five swords had been disarmed. The long-bearded Taoist was furious, knowing that Guo Jing had shown mercy, but the reputation of the Quanzhen Sect was tarnished. Allowing such a formidable opponent into their palace would be a significant threat. He issued a series of commands to tighten the formation, thinking that with ninety-eight Taoists surrounding him, Guo Jing would be overwhelmed.

Guo Jing thought, “These Taoist brothers don’t know what’s good for them. I have no choice but to teach them a harsh lesson.” He directed his left palm and pushed with his right palm. Seven Taoists from one Big Dipper formation intercepted him. Guo Jing quickly moved to the North Star position, and another formation attacked. With fourteen formations, there were fourteen North Star positions, and Guo Jing couldn’t occupy all fourteen simultaneously. Using his agility, he moved rapidly from one North Star position to another, causing confusion in the formation.

Seeing the worsening situation, the long-bearded Taoist ordered the group to spread out and stabilize their positions, countering movement with stillness. He knew that if the Taoists followed Guo Jing’s rapid movements, he could exploit gaps in the formation. By standing firm, they could prevent him from occupying multiple North Star positions at once.

Guo Jing silently praised the long-bearded Taoist’s understanding of formation principles. Thinking that the Taoists would remain stationary, he decided to head directly to the Chongyang Palace. He then realized, “Oh no, Master Ma and Master Qiu are probably not in the palace. Otherwise, they would have known about this fight by now.” He glanced at the palace and saw flashes of white light near the corner of a building, indicating a fight. The distance was too great to see the fighters or hear the clash of weapons.

Suspicious of the night’s events, Guo Jing wanted to investigate the fight but was hindered by the closing formations. Anxious, he used “Seeing the Dragon in the Field” with his left palm and “Regret of the Soaring Dragon” with his right, employing his dual-handed technique. The left formation of forty-nine Taoists blocked his left move, and the right formation of forty-nine Taoists blocked his right move. Guo Jing abruptly changed his techniques mid-move, confusing the formations as they collided with each other. 

The Taoists’ resistance pushed them into disarray, with some swords breaking, others suffering injuries, and more than thirty falling in the chaos. The long-bearded Taoist, though quick to evade, was embarrassed and infuriated. He urgently restructured the formations and pursued Guo Jing, who had headed towards the Jade Clear Pool at the foot of the mountain. In his anger, the long-bearded Taoist lost his composure, a critical error in Quanzhen martial arts that value calmness and adaptability.

Reaching the pool, Guo Jing saw the water gleaming before him. He slashed a thick willow branch with his sword, discarded the sword, and threw the branch into the pool. He leaped, using the branch to spring across the water. The Taoists chasing him couldn’t stop in time and fell into the water with a series of splashes. The remaining Taoists halted on the backs of their fallen comrades, creating a chaotic scene of shouting and splashing as those who could swim helped those who couldn’t.