Chapter 5: The Tomb of the Living Dead
Yang Guo tumbled down the hillside, rolling into the dense grass and trees below, and passed out. He had no idea how long he had been unconscious when he suddenly felt a stinging pain all over his body. Opening his eyes, he saw countless white bees buzzing around him, and his ears were filled with the incessant buzzing sound. His whole body itched unbearably, and his vision was a blur of white. He fainted again.
After a long while, he felt a cool, fragrant, sweet liquid trickling into his throat. Half-conscious, he swallowed it and felt an indescribable sense of comfort. He opened his eyes slightly and was startled to see a face covered in pockmarks staring at him from two feet away. Shocked, he almost fainted again. The person with the pockmarked face held his jaw with one hand and poured the sweet liquid into his mouth with the other.
Yang Guo felt the intense itching and pain lessen. Realizing he was lying on a bed, he knew that the pockmarked person had saved him. He smiled slightly to express his gratitude. The pockmarked person also smiled, though it made her look even more hideous, yet her smile exuded kindness and gentleness. Yang Guo felt a warmth in his heart and pleaded, “Granny, please don’t let my master catch me.”
The pockmarked old woman asked softly, “Good child, who is your master?” Yang Guo had not heard such a gentle and caring voice in a long time. His chest warmed, and he couldn’t help but burst into tears. The old woman held his hand without saying a word, her face showing a gentle smile, and patted his back lightly. After he cried for a while, she asked, “Feeling better?” Yang Guo, hearing her kind voice, started crying again. The old woman wiped his tears with a handkerchief and comforted him, saying, “Good child, don’t cry, don’t cry. You’ll feel better soon.” The more she comforted him, the more heartbroken he felt, and he cried even harder.
Suddenly, a delicate voice came from outside the curtain, “Granny Sun, why is this child crying non-stop?” Yang Guo looked up and saw a delicate white jade-like hand lift the curtain. A young girl walked in, wearing a thin white robe that made her look as if she were enveloped in mist. She appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. Apart from her black hair, she was entirely white. Her face was extraordinarily beautiful but unusually pale, lacking the rosy complexion of normal skin. Yang Guo blushed, immediately stopped crying, and lowered his head in embarrassment. He then sneaked a glance at her and found her looking at him, so he quickly lowered his head again.
Granny Sun laughed and said, “I can’t do anything. You better try to comfort him.” The girl walked to the bedside, examined the bee stings on his head, and saw his swollen and bruised face. She touched his forehead to check for a fever. When her cold palm touched Yang Guo’s forehead, he shivered. The girl said, “It’s nothing serious. You’ve had Jade Bee Honey. You’ll be fine in half a day. Why did you break into the forest?”
Yang Guo looked up at her and felt she was so pure and elegant that he couldn’t bear to look directly at her. However, her expression was cold and indifferent, making her seem as pure and cold as ice and snow. He couldn’t tell if she was happy or angry, sad or joyful, and felt an inexplicable fear: “Is she a crystal figure or a snow woman? Is she human, ghost, or fairy?” Despite her soft and gentle voice, her tone lacked warmth, leaving him too stunned to answer.
Granny Sun smiled and said, “This is Sister Long, the mistress of this place. Answer her questions properly!” This beautiful white-robed girl was Xiaolongnü, the mistress of the Tomb of the Living Dead. Although she was already eighteen, she looked younger due to living in the tomb without sunlight and practicing internal skills that required emotional restraint. Granny Sun had been her master’s maid. After her master’s death, they relied on each other in the tomb. That day, hearing the bees, they knew someone had entered the forest outside the tomb. Granny Sun found Yang Guo unconscious from the bee stings and brought him back. According to their sect’s rules, no outsiders were allowed in the tomb, especially men, which was a major taboo. But seeing Yang Guo’s young age and severe injuries, Granny Sun couldn’t bear to leave him and broke the rule to save him.
Yang Guo turned over and sat up, jumped to the ground, and bowed to Granny Sun and Xiaolongnü, saying, “Disciple Yang Guo greets Granny and Sister Long.”
Granny Sun, smiling broadly, quickly helped him up, saying, “Ah, your name is Yang Guo, no need for such formalities.” Having lived in the tomb for decades without contact with outsiders, she found herself inexplicably fond of this polite and handsome boy. Xiaolongnü only nodded and sat on a stone chair by the bed. Granny Sun asked, “How did you get here? How did you get hurt? Who beat you like this?” She asked without waiting for his reply and went to get some snacks, urging him to eat continuously.
Yang Guo ate a few bites of the pastries and then recounted his life story from beginning to end. He was eloquent, making his story compelling. Feeling aggrieved, his words were even more emotional. Granny Sun sighed repeatedly, occasionally inserting a few comments, always defending him. She criticized Huang Rong for favoring her daughter and being unfair, neglecting an orphan, and scolded Zhao Zhijing for being narrow-minded and bullying. Xiaolongnü remained impassive, sitting leisurely, only exchanging glances with Granny Sun when Yang Guo mentioned Li Mochou. When Yang Guo finished, Granny Sun embraced him and said, “My poor child.”
Xiaolongnü stood up slowly and said, “His injuries are not serious. Granny, take him out.” Both Granny Sun and Yang Guo were taken aback. Yang Guo shouted, “I won’t go back. I’d rather die than go back.” Granny Sun said, “Miss, if this child goes back to Chongyang Palace, his master will surely make things difficult for him.” Xiaolongnü replied, “You take him back and tell his master not to trouble him.” Granny Sun said, “Ah, the rules of other people’s sects, we can’t interfere.” Xiaolongnü said, “Take a bottle of Jade Bee Honey and tell him. That old Taoist cannot refuse.” Although her words were gentle, her tone carried an authority that was hard to defy. Granny Sun sighed, knowing Xiaolongnü’s stubbornness, and looked at Yang Guo with pity in her eyes.
Yang Guo stood up suddenly, bowed to both of them, and said, “Thank you, Granny and Sister Long, for treating my injuries. I’m leaving now!” Granny Sun asked, “Where will you go?” Yang Guo paused and said, “The world is big; I can go anywhere.” But in his heart, he didn’t know where to go, and his face showed his desolation.
Granny Sun said, “Child, it’s not that our Miss doesn’t want to let you stay overnight, but there are strict rules here that no outsiders can enter. Don’t feel bad.” Yang Guo said proudly, “Granny, don’t say that. Thank you both. We will meet again, and Yang Guo will never forget your kindness.” He spoke like an adult, but his voice was childish. Granny Sun found it both amusing and pitiable, seeing his eyes brimming with tears he was trying to hold back. She said to Xiaolongnü, “Miss, it’s the middle of the night. Let him leave in the morning.” Xiaolongnü slightly shook her head and said, “Granny, have you forgotten Master’s rules?” Granny Sun sighed, stood up, and whispered to Yang Guo, “Come, child, I have something for you to play with.” Yang Guo wiped his eyes and ran out, shouting, “I don’t want it. I’d rather die than go back to that dirty Taoist.”
Granny Sun shook her head and said, “You don’t know the way. I’ll take you out.” She stepped forward and took his hand. As soon as they stepped out of the room, everything went pitch black before Yang Guo’s eyes. Led by Granny Sun, he walked, feeling like they were turning corner after corner, unsure how she could navigate this maze-like path in complete darkness.
In fact, the Tomb of the Living Dead, despite its name, was actually a vast underground warehouse. Before Wang Chongyang launched his rebellion against the Jin, he had employed thousands of laborers over several years to construct it. It was used to secretly store weapons and provisions, serving as a base for the Shanxi and Shaanxi regions. Its exterior was designed to look like a tomb to avoid detection by the Jin. Fearing an eventual Jin attack, the tomb was equipped with numerous ingenious traps to fend off enemies. After his army’s defeat, Wang Chongyang had hidden here. As a result, the tomb was filled with many rooms and complex passageways. Even if the place were brightly lit, an outsider would easily get lost, let alone in complete darkness.
They left the tomb and walked into the forest. Suddenly, they heard a voice calling out, “Zhen Zhibing of the Quanzhen Sect, under my master’s orders, seeks an audience with Miss Long.” The voice came from outside the forbidden area. Zhen Zhibing was Qiu Chuji’s second disciple, highly skilled and competent, and well-regarded in the Quanzhen Sect.
Granny Sun said, “Someone is looking for you outside. Don’t go out yet.” Yang Guo, shocked and furious, trembled violently and said, “Granny, you don’t have to worry about me. I will face the consequences of my actions alone. Since I accidentally killed someone, let them kill me in return.” With that, he strode out. Granny Sun said, “I’ll go with you.”
Granny Sun held Yang Guo’s hand and led him through the forest to the clearing. In the moonlight, they saw six or seven Taoists standing in a row, along with four fire-keepers carrying the severely injured Zhao Zhijing and Lu Qingdu. The Taoists whispered to each other and moved forward a few steps upon seeing Yang Guo. Yang Guo broke free from Granny Sun’s hand and stepped forward, shouting, “Here I am. Kill me or cut me up as you wish, but don’t trouble others!”
The Taoists were surprised by the boy’s stubbornness. One Taoist rushed forward, grabbed Yang Guo by the collar, and dragged him away. Yang Guo sneered, “I’m not running away. What’s the hurry?” The Taoist was Zhao Zhijing’s chief disciple. Seeing his master suffering from the bee stings and uncertain if he would survive, he was filled with respect and anger. He thought it was outrageous for a disciple to defy his master and punched Yang Guo on the head.
Granny Sun had intended to talk peacefully with the Taoists, but seeing Yang Guo being forcibly taken away, she couldn’t bear it. Suddenly, when he was struck, her anger flared up. She strode forward, shook her sleeve, and brushed it against the Taoist’s hand. The Taoist felt a burning pain in his wrist and involuntarily let go. Before he could protest, Granny Sun had already picked up Yang Guo and walked away.
Despite being an elderly woman, Granny Sun’s movements were swift and agile. Before the Taoists could react, she had taken Yang Guo several feet away. Three Taoists shouted angrily, “Put him down!” and rushed forward. Granny Sun stopped and turned, sneering, “What do you want?”
Zhen Zhibing, knowing the people of the Tomb of the Living Dead had deep connections with their sect, dared not offend them and stopped the others. “Everyone, back off and show respect to our senior.” He then stepped forward and respectfully greeted Granny Sun, “Disciple Zhen Zhibing greets Senior.” Granny Sun asked, “What do you want?” Zhen Zhibing replied, “This child is a disciple of our Quanzhen Sect. Please return him to us.” Granny Sun’s eyebrows shot up, and she said sternly, “You beat him up so badly in front of me. Who knows how you will torture him if you take him back? I can’t let you take him!” Zhen Zhibing suppressed his anger and said, “This child is extremely unruly, defying his master and ancestors, severely breaking our sect’s rules. In the martial world, respect for one’s master is paramount. Our sect’s punishment is justified.” Granny Sun retorted, “What defying master and ancestors? That’s all one-sided nonsense.” Pointing to the injured Lu Qingdu, she said, “The child competed with this fat Taoist according to your sect’s rules. He didn’t want to fight but was forced into it. Once a fight starts, there are winners and losers. If this fat Taoist couldn’t handle it, who can he blame?” Her already ugly face looked even more frightening when angry, turning purple with rage.
As they spoke, more than ten Taoists arrived and stood behind Zhen Zhibing, whispering among themselves, wondering who this loud, ugly old woman was.
Zhen Zhibing thought that while Yang Guo injuring Lu Qingdu wasn’t entirely his fault, he couldn’t show weakness in front of outsiders. He said, “The right and wrong of this matter should be reported to our grandmaster for a fair judgment. Please hand over the child.” Granny Sun sneered, “What justice will your grandmaster dispense? The Quanzhen Sect hasn’t produced a good person since Wang Chongyang. Why else do you think we’ve never associated with you despite living so close?” Zhen Zhibing thought, “It’s you who doesn’t associate with us, so how can you blame the Quanzhen Sect? You’re even insulting our founder, which is extremely disrespectful.” Not wanting to argue and worsen relations, he said, “Please be considerate. If our sect has offended you, we will visit to apologize as directed by our grandmaster.”
Yang Guo, holding Granny Sun’s neck, whispered in her ear, “Granny, don’t be fooled by him.”
Granny Sun, who had raised Xiaolongnü for eighteen years, always wished to raise a boy as well. Seeing Yang Guo close to her made her very happy, and she decided, “I won’t let them take this child.” She shouted, “If you insist on taking him, how will you torture him?” Zhen Zhibing, taken aback, said, “I have a bond with his late father and would never harm an orphan. Senior can rest assured.” Granny Sun shook her head and said, “I don’t listen to outsiders. Excuse me.” With that, she turned and walked toward the forest.
Zhao Zhijing, lying on the stretcher, suffering from the bee stings, heard the argument between Zhen Zhibing and Granny Sun, growing angrier by the minute. Suddenly, he leaped off the stretcher and jumped in front of Granny Sun, shouting, “He is my disciple. I can beat or scold him as I wish. Is there any rule in the martial world that a master can’t discipline his disciple?”
Granny Sun saw his swollen face and, hearing him speak, realized he was Yang Guo’s master. She had no immediate retort and could only argue stubbornly, “I won’t let you discipline him. What will you do?” Zhao Zhijing shouted, “What is this child to you? Why are you interfering?” Granny Sun, momentarily stunned, shouted, “He is no longer a disciple of your Quanzhen Sect. He has become a disciple of my mistress, Xiaolongnü. Whether he is good or bad, only Xiaolongnü has the right to discipline him. You should mind your own business.”
These words caused an uproar among the Taoists. In the martial world, it was a serious breach of etiquette to change masters without permission. Even if the new master was much more skilled, one could not abandon the original master without consent, as it was considered a serious betrayal and dishonorable. In the past, Guo Jing had never called Hong Qigong “Master” until his original masters, the Jiangnan Seven Freaks, formally agreed. Granny Sun’s words left the Taoists furious. Although many felt Zhao Zhijing had handled things poorly, hearing Yang Guo’s open defiance against his master was unprecedented in the Quanzhen Sect’s history, making everyone very angry.
Zhao Zhijing, in extreme pain and itching from his wounds, wished he could end his suffering quickly. Gritting his teeth, he asked Yang Guo, “Is this true?”
Yang Guo was ignorant of the severity of the situation. Seeing Granny Sun arguing with Zhao Zhijing to protect him, he would admit to any crime, let alone changing masters, as long as it was for her. His willingness to acknowledge anything, even calling a pig or a mad dog his master, without hesitation, reflected his true desire to leave Zhao Zhijing. He shouted loudly, “Stinky Taoist, you despicable old goat with a bull’s nose and a goat’s beard! You haven’t taught me any martial arts and still beat me. How can you still call yourself my master? That’s right, I’ve already acknowledged Granny Sun as my master and also acknowledged Dragon Lady as my master!”
Zhao Zhijing was so furious that he almost exploded. He sprang forward, his hands aiming to grab Yang Guo’s shoulders. Granny Sun shouted, “Are you courting death?” and her right arm shot out, intercepting Zhao Zhijing’s wrist. Zhao Zhijing, one of the top third-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Sect, was highly skilled. Even though he was seriously injured, his attack was still powerful. When their arms collided, both were forced back two steps. Granny Sun spat and said, “You’re not useless after all.” Zhao Zhijing missed with his first grab and immediately went for a second. This time, Granny Sun did not underestimate him and sidestepped the attack. Her leg shot out from under her skirt with lightning speed. Zhao Zhijing heard the wind and tried to dodge, but the bee stings on his body suddenly caused unbearable itching. He screamed, “Ouch!” and crouched down holding his head. In the midst of his screams, Granny Sun kicked him in the ribs, sending him flying. Even in mid-air, Zhao Zhijing couldn’t stop screaming from the itching.
Zhen Zhibing rushed forward, caught Zhao Zhijing, and handed him over to the disciples behind him. He realized that Granny Sun’s martial arts were strange and formidable, as she defeated someone with similar skills as his in just one move. Knowing he couldn’t win, he whistled, and six Taoists surrounded Granny Sun and Yang Guo in the Beidou Array. Zhen Zhibing shouted, “Apologies!” and two Taoists attacked from the left and right.
Granny Sun didn’t recognize the formation, but after exchanging a few moves, she realized its danger. She could only fight with one hand and became increasingly precarious after twelve or thirteen moves. Each of her attacks was neutralized by Zhen Zhibing, and the Beidou Array’s assault was continuous. After another ten moves, two Taoists entangled her right hand, and two more attacked from the left. Forced to release Yang Guo, she used her left hand to defend herself. Suddenly, a whistle from within the formation signaled two Taoists to capture Yang Guo.
Granny Sun was secretly alarmed, thinking, “These stinking Taoists are really skilled. I can’t handle them alone.” While using her leg to fend off two Taoists, she started humming softly. Initially, the humming was faint and the Taoists paid no attention, but the sound grew louder and more intense.
Zhen Zhibing, fully alert while fighting Granny Sun, knew the predecessors who lived in the tomb had martial arts on par with their founder, Wang Chongyang. Hearing the humming, he suspected it was a mind-controlling technique and quickly calmed his mind. Despite the increasing volume of the humming, he felt no effect. Just as he was puzzling over this, he suddenly realized something and was horrified. He was about to order the Taoists to retreat when the distant buzzing merged with Granny Sun’s humming. Zhen Zhibing shouted, “Everyone, retreat!” The Taoists hesitated, thinking, “We’ve got the upper hand. Why should we be afraid of her shouting?” Suddenly, grey shadows flashed in the woods, and a swarm of Jade Bees flew towards them.
Having seen Zhao Zhijing’s suffering, the Taoists were terrified and fled in panic. The bees pursued them relentlessly.
Seeing the Taoists unable to escape the bees, Granny Sun laughed heartily. Suddenly, an old Taoist emerged from the woods, holding two torches emitting thick smoke. He waved the torches at the bee swarm, causing the bees to scatter in disarray and flee. Granny Sun was startled and saw that the old Taoist had white hair and eyebrows and a long face. Recognizing him as a high-ranking member of the Quanzhen Sect, she asked, “Hey, who are you, old Taoist? Why are you driving away my bees?”
The old Taoist smiled and said, “I am Hao Datong. Greetings, Granny.”
Although Granny Sun rarely interacted with people from the martial world, she knew Hao Datong was one of Wang Chongyang’s seven disciples. Realizing he was even more formidable than Zhao Zhijing and Zhen Zhibing, she smelled the smoke from the torches and felt nauseated, guessing they were made from herbs that repel insects. Knowing she couldn’t rely on the bees, she decided to retreat and shouted, “You’ve harmed my lady’s bees. We’ll settle this later.” She picked up Yang Guo and leaped into the forest.
Zhen Zhibing asked, “Uncle Hao, should we pursue them?” Hao Datong shook his head and said, “The founder’s strict rule forbids us from entering the forest. Let’s return to the temple and discuss this further.”
Granny Sun led Yang Guo back into the tomb. After this ordeal, they became even closer. Worried that Xiaolongnü might still refuse to take him in, Granny Sun reassured him, “Don’t worry. I’ll convince her to accept you.” She told him to rest in a stone chamber while she went to speak with Xiaolongnü.
After a long wait, with no sign of Granny Sun returning, Yang Guo grew increasingly anxious, thinking, “Dragon Lady probably won’t take me in. Even if Granny Sun forces her to agree, I won’t be happy staying here against her will.” After a moment of contemplation, he decided to leave quietly.
As he stepped out of the room, Granny Sun hurried over and asked, “Where are you going?” Yang Guo replied, “Granny, I’m leaving. I’ll come visit you when I’m older.” Granny Sun said, “No, I’ll take you to a place where no one can bully you.” Hearing this, Yang Guo realized that Xiaolongnü indeed refused to take him in. Feeling a pang of sorrow, he said, “It’s no use. I’m a mischievous child. No one wants me anywhere. Don’t trouble yourself, Granny.” Granny Sun, frustrated by her failed attempt to persuade Xiaolongnü and seeing Yang Guo’s pitiful state, felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She said, “Child, if no one else wants you, I do. Come with me, and I’ll stay with you no matter where we go.”
Yang Guo was overjoyed and held her hand as they walked out of the tomb together. In her anger, Granny Sun didn’t bother to retrieve their belongings. Feeling a bottle in her pocket, she remembered it was the bee honey she intended for Zhao Zhijing. Thinking that, although he was detestable, he didn’t deserve to die, she decided to give him the antidote and headed towards Chongyang Palace with Yang Guo.
Yang Guo was startled when he saw they were approaching Chongyang Palace and whispered, “Granny, what are you doing?” Granny Sun replied, “I’m delivering medicine to your stinky master.” With a few swift movements, they neared the temple. She jumped onto the wall, ready to leap into the courtyard when suddenly, the bells rang loudly, and whistles echoed near and far. In the midst of silence, the sudden noise filled the air.
The Quanzhen Sect, being one of the foremost sects in the martial world, had always maintained strict security. After recent incidents, they were even more vigilant. Seeing someone intrude, they immediately sounded the alarm. Disciples quickly organized to defend the temple, while groups of Taoists spread out to surround and intercept the intruder.
Granny Sun cursed under her breath, “I’m not here to fight. Who are you trying to scare with all this fuss?” She shouted, “Zhao Zhijing, come out! I have something to say to you.” A middle-aged Taoist stepped out from the main hall and said, “Who intrudes upon our temple at this hour? What is your purpose?” Granny Sun replied, “This is medicine for his bee stings. Take it!” She threw a bottle of Jade Bee Honey towards him. The Taoist caught it, suspiciously wondering, “Why is she being so kind and delivering medicine?” He asked loudly, “What kind of medicine is this?” Granny Sun replied, “No need for questions. Just give it to him and see the effect for yourself.” The Taoist said, “How do I know if you’re being kind or malicious? Zhao Zhijing is already suffering because of you. Why would you suddenly have a change of heart and bring medicine?”
Granny Sun, furious at the Taoist’s insolent words accusing her of delivering poison, placed Yang Guo down and leapt forward, snatching the bottle of Jade Bee Honey. She pulled out the stopper and said to Yang Guo, “Open your mouth!” Although he didn’t understand her intention, Yang Guo obediently opened his mouth wide. Granny Sun tilted the porcelain bottle and poured all the Jade Bee Honey into his mouth, saying, “Good, this will prevent them from suspecting it’s poison. Guo’er, let’s go!” She grabbed Yang Guo’s hand and walked towards the wall.
The Taoist, named Zhang Zhiguang, was Hao Datong’s second disciple. He regretted his suspicion, seeing now that the honey was indeed an antidote. Fearing that Zhao Zhijing might not survive without it, he quickly stepped forward, blocking their path with his hands, and said with a forced smile, “Senior, there’s no need for such anger. I was just joking. As neighbors for many years, we should have some mutual respect. Haha, since it’s the antidote, please leave it with us.”
Granny Sun sneered, “There was only one bottle of antidote. There’s no more. Figure out how to treat Zhao Zhijing yourself!” Zhang Zhiguang said, “I don’t believe there’s only one bottle. I’ll follow you to get more.” He winked and grinned. Granny Sun found his behavior repulsive. She slapped him across the face and said, “You disrespectful brat, let me teach you a lesson.” Her slap was swift, and Zhang Zhiguang, unable to dodge, received it squarely on his cheek with a resounding crack.
The two Taoists by the door turned pale and shouted, “Even if you are a senior, how dare you act so wildly in Chongyang Palace?” They attacked her from both sides with their palms. Having experienced the Beidou Array, Granny Sun knew better than to engage in a prolonged fight in enemy territory. She deftly dodged between their palms, grabbed Yang Guo, and leapt towards the wall.
Just as she was about to land on the wall, someone jumped up from outside and shouted, “Get down!” Two palms pushed towards her. Granny Sun, unable to borrow strength in midair, countered with her right hand. Their palms collided, and both retreated, landing on opposite sides of the wall. Six or seven Taoists surrounded her, pushing her into a corner.
These Taoists were the elite third-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Sect, selected to guard the main hall. In a flurry of attacks and retreats, they advanced and withdrew like waves, pushing Granny Sun into a corner. Each time she tried to break through with Yang Guo, they blocked her.
After exchanging more than ten moves, Zhang Zhiguang, knowing she was exhausted, ordered the candles to be lit. Ten large candles illuminated the hall, casting a ghastly light on Granny Sun’s face, making her look even more terrifying. Zhang Zhiguang shouted, “Stop the formation!” The seven Taoists simultaneously leapt back, standing in defensive positions. Granny Sun panted and sneered, “The Quanzhen Sect, famed throughout the world, indeed lives up to its name. A group of young, strong men bullying an old woman and a child. Impressive, very impressive!”
Zhang Zhiguang blushed and said, “We are simply capturing the intruders in Chongyang Palace. Whether you’re an old woman or a man, if you come in upright, you’ll have to leave bowed.” Granny Sun sneered, “Leave bowed? You mean crawl out on all fours, right?” Zhang Zhiguang, his cheek still stinging from her slap, retorted, “Releasing you is not difficult, but you must agree to three conditions. First, you harmed Brother Zhao with bees, so you must leave the antidote. Second, this child is a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect. Without the grandmaster’s permission, he cannot abandon his master. You must leave him. Third, you intruded into Chongyang Palace and must kneel before our founder’s statue to apologize.”
Granny Sun laughed and said, “I told my lady that the Taoists of the Quanzhen Sect are all useless. When have I ever been wrong? Come, I’ll kowtow and apologize.” She bowed and knelt, catching Zhang Zhiguang off guard. In his moment of surprise, Granny Sun bent forward, and suddenly, a cold flash flew towards him. Zhang Zhiguang cried out and sidestepped, but the projectile, a shattered porcelain bottle, hit his left eyebrow, shattering and covering his face with blood.
The Taoists, seeing Zhang Zhiguang’s bloody face, were enraged and drew their weapons, filling the courtyard with the glint of swords. Granny Sun stood her ground, smirking, knowing she was in a dire situation but refusing to surrender. She turned to Yang Guo and asked, “Child, are you afraid?” Yang Guo, thinking of Guo Jing and feeling confident, said loudly, “Granny, let them kill me. This has nothing to do with you. You should leave.”
Granny Sun, moved by his courage and concern, shouted, “I’ll die with you here to satisfy these stinky Taoists!” She suddenly leapt forward, grabbed the wrists of two Taoists, and disarmed them in a swift move. Her empty-handed technique was so bizarre and skilled that the two Taoists lost their swords in a blink.
Granny Sun handed a sword to Yang Guo and asked, “Child, do you dare to fight these stinky Taoists?” Yang Guo replied, “I’m not afraid. It’s just a pity no one else is here to witness this.” Granny Sun asked, “What do you mean?” Yang Guo loudly replied, “The Quanzhen Sect, renowned throughout the world, bullying an old woman and a child. If no one knows about this, wouldn’t it be a shame?” He had grasped the key point from Granny Sun’s argument with Zhang Zhiguang. His clear, childish voice rang out, making many of the Taoists feel ashamed.
Someone whispered, “I’ll report to the grandmaster and get his instructions.” At that time, Ma Yu was meditating in a small house ten miles behind the mountain, with all sect affairs left to Hao Datong. The speaker was a disciple of Tan Chuduan, feeling the matter was too serious and involved the Quanzhen Sect’s reputation, needing the grandmaster’s direct intervention.
Zhang Zhiguang, with over ten wounds on his face from the shattered porcelain, blood covering his left eye, was so enraged he couldn’t think straight. Fearing his left eye was blinded, he shouted, “Capture this wicked old woman first, then fetch the grandmaster. Everyone, seize them!”
The Beidou Array closed in, and Granny Sun found herself increasingly trapped. When the seven Taoists were within three steps, she swung her sword tightly, preventing them from advancing further. If Zhang Zhiguang had led the attack himself, they might have changed tactics, but fearing poison in her hidden weapons, he only commanded from the sidelines. His absence weakened the formation’s power.
The group of Taoists, frustrated by their inability to subdue Granny Sun, began to feel anxious. Suddenly, Granny Sun let out a shout, dropped her long sword, and dashed forward three steps. She slipped through the Taoists’ sword formation and grabbed a young Taoist by the chest, lifting him up and shouting, “Will you make way or not?” The Taoists were momentarily stunned. Suddenly, a person rushed out from behind, reaching for Granny Sun’s wrist. Before she could see the person’s face clearly, she felt a numbness in her wrist, and the young Taoist was taken from her grip. Then, a strong wind blew towards her as the person struck with their palm. Granny Sun hastily raised her hand to block. Their palms collided with a loud smack, and Granny Sun was forced back a step.
The attacker also retreated slightly, but only by a foot, and immediately launched a second palm strike. Granny Sun countered, but their palms collided again, forcing her back another step. The attacker advanced half a step and delivered a third palm strike. Each strike was faster than the last, forcing Granny Sun to retreat three steps without a chance to see her opponent’s face. By the fourth strike, she was backed against the wall with no room to retreat. The attacker’s right palm struck again, meeting her palm, and he said loudly, “Granny, leave the antidote and the child.”
Granny Sun looked up and saw that the attacker was Hao Datong, the same elder who had driven away the bees with poisonous smoke earlier. She knew from the three palm exchanges that his internal strength far surpassed her own. If he had used his full power, she would have been unable to resist. However, her spirit was unyielding, and she shouted, “If you want the child, you’ll have to kill this old woman first.” Hao Datong, knowing her deep connection with their founder, did not want to harm her. He withheld his full strength and said, “We’ve been neighbors for decades. Why damage our harmony over a child?” Granny Sun sneered, “I came in good faith to deliver medicine. Ask your disciple if this is true.” Hao Datong turned to inquire, but Granny Sun suddenly kicked at his lower body.
This kick was executed without any visible movement or lifting of her skirt. By the time Hao Datong realized it, her toe was already at his abdomen. He didn’t have time to retreat, so in a moment of crisis, he used his full strength and pushed her away with a powerful palm strike. This push contained the highest level of internal energy from his decades of cultivation in the Quanzhen Sect. With a crash, a large section of the wall crumbled, and Granny Sun spat out a mouthful of blood, slowly collapsing to the ground.
Yang Guo was horrified. He lay on top of her and shouted, “If you want to kill someone, kill me. Don’t hurt Granny!” Granny Sun opened her eyes and smiled faintly, saying, “Child, we’ll die together.” Yang Guo spread his arms to protect her, his back facing Hao Datong and the others, completely disregarding his own safety.
Hao Datong, regretting the severity of his attack, saw that Granny Sun was seriously injured and wanted to check her condition and treat her with medicine. However, Yang Guo’s body blocked his view. He said gently, “Yang Guo, let me see Granny. I want to help her.” But Yang Guo, not trusting him, held onto Granny Sun tightly. Hao Datong repeated his request several times. Seeing that Yang Guo wouldn’t budge, he became anxious and reached to pull Yang Guo’s arm. Yang Guo shouted loudly, “Stinky Taoist, kill me if you want, but you can’t harm Granny!”
Amidst the chaos, a cold voice suddenly interrupted, “Bullying a child and an old woman—what kind of heroes are you?” Hao Datong was startled by the icy, stern voice and turned around to see an extremely beautiful girl standing at the entrance of the main hall. She was dressed in snow-white robes, and her gaze was as cold as ice. Despite the Chongyang Palace’s tight security, with guards stationed everywhere, this girl had entered unnoticed. Hao Datong asked, “Who are you, young lady? What do you want?”
The girl gave him a cold glance without answering and walked over to Granny Sun. Yang Guo looked up and said sadly, “Dragon Lady, this evil Taoist… he killed Granny!” This girl in white was Xiaolongnü. She had followed Granny Sun and Yang Guo from the tomb, observing everything. She had believed Hao Datong wouldn’t use lethal force, so she hadn’t intervened earlier. However, seeing Granny Sun gravely injured, she realized it was too late to save her. She had seen Yang Guo risking his life to protect Granny Sun and noted his tears. She nodded and said, “Everyone dies; it’s nothing to be upset about.”
Granny Sun had raised Xiaolongnü since she was a child, and their bond was akin to that of mother and daughter. However, Xiaolongnü had always led a tranquil life, devoid of strong emotions, thanks to her internal cultivation. Though saddened by Granny Sun’s severe injuries, her sorrow was fleeting, leaving her face expressionless.
Hao Datong, hearing Yang Guo call her “Dragon Lady,” realized this was the same Xiaolongnü who had driven away Prince Huo Dou. He was astonished, as her fame had spread throughout the martial world despite never leaving Mount Zhongnan.
Xiaolongnü slowly turned her gaze to the Taoists, one by one. Apart from Hao Datong, who was deeply cultivated and calm, the other Taoists felt a chill from her piercing eyes.
Xiaolongnü knelt beside Granny Sun and asked, “Granny, what happened?” Granny Sun sighed, “Miss, I’ve never asked you for anything in my life. Even if I did, you wouldn’t agree.” Xiaolongnü frowned slightly and asked, “What do you want to ask me now?” Granny Sun nodded and pointed at Yang Guo but couldn’t speak. Xiaolongnü asked, “Do you want me to take care of him?” Granny Sun mustered her strength and said, “I ask you to look after him for his entire life, not letting anyone harm him. Will you agree?” Xiaolongnü hesitated and asked, “Look after him for his entire life?” Granny Sun sternly said, “Miss, if I weren’t dying, I would look after you for your entire life. I took care of you when you were eating, bathing, sleeping, and even when you were relieving yourself. Have you ever repaid me?” Xiaolongnü bit her lower lip and said, “Fine, I agree.” A faint smile appeared on Granny Sun’s ugly face as she looked at Yang Guo, seeming to have something to say but unable to speak.
Understanding her intent, Yang Guo leaned in closer and whispered, “Granny, do you have something to tell me?” Granny Sun said, “Get closer.” Yang Guo bent lower, placing his ear next to her lips. Granny Sun whispered, “Your Dragon Lady has no one to rely on. You… you must… take care of her… for her entire life…” With that, she couldn’t catch her breath and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, covering Yang Guo’s face and chest with blood splatters. She then closed her eyes and died. Yang Guo cried out, “Granny, Granny!” Overwhelmed with grief, he collapsed on her body, wailing loudly.
The Taoists, listening, felt a deep sense of sorrow, and Hao Datong was filled with regret. He stepped forward, bowed to Granny Sun’s body, and said, “Granny, I didn’t intend to harm you. This misfortune was meant to be. Go in peace!” Xiaolongnü stood silently beside him. After he finished speaking, their eyes met.
After a long pause, Xiaolongnü frowned and said, “What? You won’t kill yourself to atone for your mistake? Do you want me to do it?” Hao Datong was stunned and asked, “What do you mean?” Xiaolongnü said, “A life for a life. If you kill yourself, I will spare the lives of all the Taoists here.” Before Hao Datong could respond, the Taoists around them erupted in anger. By now, over thirty Taoists had gathered in the main hall, all shouting, “Young girl, leave now. We won’t harm you.” “Nonsense! Kill yourself to atone and spare our lives?” “Little girl, you don’t know your place.” Hao Datong waved his hand to calm them down.
Xiaolongnü ignored their words, slowly took out an icy white cloth from her bosom, and split it with both hands, revealing it to be a pair of gloves. She put on the gloves, one on each hand, and said softly, “Old Taoist, since you value your life and won’t kill yourself, take out your weapon and fight!”
Hao Datong sighed and said, “I mistakenly injured Granny Sun and don’t want to fight you. Take Yang Guo and leave the temple.” He thought that while Xiaolongnü’s fame had spread after driving away Prince Huo Dou, it was primarily due to the Jade Bees. Given her young age, she couldn’t be more skilled than Granny Sun. Letting her take Yang Guo would honor the relationship between their sects and alleviate his guilt for killing Granny Sun.
Unexpectedly, Xiaolongnü seemed not to hear him. She raised her left hand, and a white silk ribbon shot out silently, aimed at Hao Datong’s face. The move was so sudden that there was no warning. Under the candlelight, the end of the ribbon, with a golden ball attached, shone brightly. Hao Datong, surprised by the swiftness of her attack and the strangeness of her weapon, knew he had to be cautious despite his superior skills. He quickly dodged to the left.
To his surprise, Xiaolongnü’s silk ribbon weapon could turn in mid-air. As Hao Datong leaped to the left, the ribbon followed, producing three consecutive ringing sounds as the golden ball trembled and targeted three acupuncture points on his face: Yingxiang, Chengqi, and Renzhong. The speed and precision of these strikes were top-notch martial arts, and the eerie ringing sound from the golden ball sent chills down his spine. Hao Datong, caught off guard, hurriedly performed the “Iron Board Bridge” maneuver, leaning backward to dodge the ribbon, which missed his face by mere inches. He feared the golden ball would follow up with another strike and, with great agility, shifted his entire body sideways by three feet while leaning back. This unexpected move left Xiaolongnü surprised, as the golden ball struck the ground with a clang. Although her technique was relentless, Hao Datong managed to evade it in a critical moment. Xiaolongnü’s left hand moved the ribbon and golden ball gently through the air, indicating that she was showing mercy by not pursuing the attack further.
Hao Datong straightened up, his face now pale. The Taoists, all either his disciples or younger sect members, revered his martial prowess. Seeing him narrowly escape harm, they were all astonished. Four Taoists thrust their long swords towards Xiaolongnü. She remarked, “So, you should have used weapons from the start!” With a wave of her hands, two white silk ribbons snaked out like water serpents. In quick succession, the golden balls struck the Lingdao acupuncture points on the wrists of the four Taoists, causing their swords to fall to the ground with clanging sounds. This impressive display of skill stunned the group, and no one dared to attack further.
Initially, Hao Datong had thought Xiaolongnü’s martial skills were mediocre, but her initial attack had nearly bested him, kindling a competitive spirit within him. He took a long sword from a disciple and said, “Miss Long, your skills are indeed impressive. Allow me to learn from you.” Xiaolongnü nodded, and with a ringing sound, her silk ribbon swept from left to right.
According to martial etiquette, Hao Datong, as the elder, should have been respected, and Xiaolongnü should have allowed him three moves first. However, she disregarded these conventions and attacked with lethal intent from the start. Hao Datong thought, “This girl’s martial skills are not weak, but she seems inexperienced in real combat. No matter how strong she is, she can’t be that formidable.” Holding the sword with one hand and making sword gestures with the other, he began to counter her silk ribbons.
Surrounded by Taoists, they watched the battle intently. Under the flickering candlelight, the fight between the white-robed girl and the grey-robed old Taoist grew more intense. The silk ribbons flew like rainbows, and the sword moved like lightning, making for a spectacular sight.
Hao Datong had spent decades perfecting his swordsmanship, ranking among the top in the Quanzhen Sect. Yet, despite exchanging dozens of moves with Xiaolongnü, he couldn’t gain any advantage. Xiaolongnü’s silk ribbons twisted like agile snakes, moving fluidly, with the golden balls emitting a constant eerie ringing sound that disturbed the mind. Although Hao Datong hadn’t fallen behind, he felt embarrassed at the thought of being unable to defeat a young girl after a hundred moves. Growing impatient, he changed his sword technique, slowing down his strikes while increasing their power significantly. Initially, he had to avoid the silk ribbons, but with his increased strength, he began to cut and slash at them.
After a few more moves, the golden ball clashed with his sword, and Hao Datong’s immense internal strength sent the golden ball flying towards Xiaolongnü’s face. Seizing the opportunity, he advanced with his sword, aiming at her wrist, thinking she would have to release the silk ribbons or risk being injured. To his astonishment, Xiaolongnü flipped her right hand, grabbed the sword blade, and with a snapping sound, broke the sword in two.
The Taoists gasped in unison. Hao Datong leaped back, holding half a broken sword, stunned. He couldn’t fathom that her gloves, made of extremely fine and durable white-gold threads, were her master’s unique weapon. They were soft and light but impervious to blades and weapons. Grasping the sword, she had used her skill to break it effortlessly.
Hao Datong’s face turned pale. Defeated, he realized he had underestimated the intricacy of her gloves, mistaking them for high-level martial arts that made her invulnerable to weapons. Trembling, he said, “Alright, alright, I concede. Miss Long, you may take the child and leave.” Xiaolongnü coldly replied, “You think saying you concede is enough after killing Granny Sun?” Hao Datong laughed bitterly, “I must be losing my mind!” and raised the broken sword to his neck, ready to end his life.
Suddenly, there was a clang, and Hao Datong’s hand trembled violently. A copper coin flew in from outside the wall, striking the broken sword and knocking it to the ground. Given his profound internal energy, disarming him was no easy feat. Hao Datong was startled, recognizing the skill behind the coin throw, and knew it was his senior brother Qiu Chuji. Looking up, he called out, “Brother Qiu, I have disgraced our sect. Please take over.” From outside the wall, a voice laughed heartily, “Victory and defeat are common. If I had to slit my throat every time I lost, I would have run out of heads by now.” As the voice approached, Qiu Chuji leaped over the wall, holding a long sword.
Naturally bold and straightforward, Qiu Chuji thrust his sword towards Xiaolongnü’s arm, saying, “Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen Sect seeks guidance from our esteemed neighbor.” Xiaolongnü responded, “You’re quite straightforward for an old Taoist.” She extended her left hand and grabbed Qiu Chuji’s long sword. Hao Datong shouted, “Brother, be careful!” But it was too late. Xiaolongnü exerted force, and Qiu Chuji countered with his internal energy through the sword. Their combined strength resulted in a crack, and the sword snapped. However, Xiaolongnü also felt her arm go numb and a dull pain in her chest. From this exchange, she realized Qiu Chuji’s martial arts were far superior to Hao Datong’s. Knowing she could not defeat him without mastering her sect’s secret technique, “Jade Maiden Heart Sutra,” she threw the broken sword to the ground, picked up Granny Sun’s body with her left hand, Yang Guo with her right, and with a light leap, soared over the wall.
Qiu Chuji, Hao Datong, and the others were taken aback by her extraordinary lightness skill. Both Qiu Chuji and Hao Datong, despite knowing her martial arts were not as refined as theirs, had never seen such impressive agility before. Hao Datong sighed, “It’s over, it’s over.” Qiu Chuji remarked, “Brother Hao, have you not learned anything from all these years of cultivating the Tao? Can’t you handle a minor setback? When we went to Shanxi, didn’t we come back with our tails between our legs?” Hao Datong exclaimed, “What happened? Is everyone alright?” Qiu Chuji replied, “It’s a long story. Let’s discuss it with Brother Ma.”
In Jiangnan, Jiaxing, Li Mochou had injured several people, including Lu Liding, before fleeing to Shanxi. There, she wounded several more heroes in northern Shanxi, inciting public outrage. The local martial arts community sent out heroic invitations to rally against her. The Quanzhen Sect also received the invitation. At the time, Ma Yu and Qiu Chuji discussed it and decided that despite her many misdeeds, Li Mochou’s ancestral ties to their founder, Wang Chongyang, warranted mediation and offering her a chance at redemption. Liu Chuxuan and Sun Bu’er headed north, but Li Mochou’s elusive movements made it difficult to capture her. Instead, she injured several more heroes from southern and northern Shanxi.
Later, Qiu Chuji and Wang Chuyi led ten disciples to support. Knowing she couldn’t face so many skilled opponents alone, Li Mochou provoked them into agreeing to single combat. On the first day, she used her “Ice Soul Silver Needles” to wound Sun Bu’er and then personally delivered the antidote, forcing Qiu Chuji and the others to accept her help. This act put the Quanzhen Sect in her debt, adhering to the rules of martial conduct that they could not attack her again, leading to their humiliating return. Fortunately, Qiu Chuji, eager to return to the mountain, did not join Wang Chuyi in sightseeing at Taihang Mountain, thus saving Hao Datong’s life just in time.
Upon learning from Hao Datong that the conflict with the Ancient Tomb Sect neighbors was due to Zhao Zhijing’s mistreatment of Yang Guo, Qiu Chuji was furious. Remembering his promise to raise Yang Guo well in the Quanzhen Sect because of Yang Kang, he was displeased with this development. With Yang Guo now taken in by the Ancient Tomb Sect, it was inappropriate to forcibly take him back, making Qiu Chuji feel he had let Guo Jing down. He hoped to take care of Yang Guo in the future. Among the third-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Sect, Zhao Zhijing had been the most skilled. Ma, Qiu, and Wang had intended to make him the head of the third-generation disciples. However, his failure to manage the Beidou Formation properly during an assault on Mount Zhongnan and his recent harshness towards Yang Guo showed that while he had high skills, he lacked virtue and leadership. The seven elders decided to appoint Zhen Zhibing of the Changchun lineage as the head of the third-generation disciples. Jealous and resentful, Zhao Zhijing’s enmity towards Yang Guo deepened.
After leaving Chongyang Palace, Xiaolongnü set Yang Guo down and carried Granny Sun’s corpse, returning to the Tomb of the Living Dead with Yang Guo in tow. She placed Granny Sun’s body on the bed where she usually slept, sat in a chair beside the bed, and rested her chin on her hand, staring silently. Yang Guo lay on Granny Sun’s body, crying bitterly and uncontrollably out of grief and anger. After a long while, Xiaolongnü said, “The dead are gone, why are you still crying? No matter how much you cry for her, she won’t know.” Yang Guo was taken aback by her harsh and emotionless words, but he realized there was some truth to them, which made him even more sorrowful, and he burst into loud sobs again.
Xiaolongnü watched him coldly, showing no emotion. After a long time, she finally said, “Let’s go bury her. Follow me.” She picked up Granny Sun’s corpse and left the room. Yang Guo wiped his tears with his sleeve and followed her. The passageways in the tomb were pitch black, and even though he tried his best to keep his eyes wide open, he couldn’t see Xiaolongnü’s white figure ahead. He could only follow closely, not daring to fall behind. She took numerous twists and turns, walked for a while, and then pushed open a heavy stone door. Taking out a fire starter from her bosom, she lit the two oil lamps on the stone table. Yang Guo looked around and shivered involuntarily. The vast hall was empty except for five stone coffins lined up side by side. Upon closer inspection, he saw that two of the stone coffins were tightly sealed, while the lids of the other three were only half-closed. It was uncertain whether there were bodies inside.
Xiaolongnü pointed to the first stone coffin on the right and said, “Our ancestor is sleeping here.” Pointing to the second coffin, she said, “My master is sleeping here.” Yang Guo’s heart pounded as he saw her point towards the third coffin, not knowing whom she would say was inside. He saw that the coffin lid wasn’t fully closed, and the thought of a corpse inside frightened him. Xiaolongnü said, “Granny Sun will sleep here.” Realizing it was an empty coffin, Yang Guo let out a sigh of relief. Curious, he asked, “What about the other two coffins?” Xiaolongnü replied, “My senior sister Li Mochou will sleep in one, and I will sleep in the other.” Yang Guo was stunned and asked, “Will Li Mochou come back?” Xiaolongnü said, “My master arranged it this way. She will eventually come back. There is one stone coffin missing because my master didn’t anticipate your arrival.” Yang Guo was startled and quickly said, “Me? No way!” Xiaolongnü said, “I promised Granny Sun that I would take care of you for the rest of your life. Since I won’t leave this place, you naturally will stay here too.”
Hearing her indifferent discussion of life and death, Yang Guo lost his inhibitions and said, “Even if you don’t let me out, I’ll leave once you die.” Xiaolongnü replied, “Since I promised to take care of you for the rest of your life, I won’t die before you.” Yang Guo asked, “Why? You’re older than me!” Xiaolongnü coldly said, “Before I die, I’ll kill you first.” Yang Guo was startled and said, “Granny Sun also told me to take care of you for the rest of your life.” Xiaolongnü smiled faintly and said, “Can you take care of me? If we both die together, neither of us has to take care of the other.”
Xiaolongnü walked to the third stone coffin, pushed the lid open, and was about to place Granny Sun inside. Yang Guo, feeling reluctant, said, “Let me look at Granny one more time.” Xiaolongnü, annoyed by his deep attachment after only a day of acquaintance, frowned but held still. Under the dim light, Yang Guo saw Granny Sun’s lifelike face and felt like crying again. Xiaolongnü glared at him, placed Granny Sun in the stone coffin, and pulled the lid shut with a loud thud, sealing it tightly.
Fearing that Yang Guo might cry again, she did not look at him and said, “Let’s go!” With a wave of her sleeve, the two oil lamps in the room went out, plunging it into darkness. Yang Guo, afraid of being locked in the tomb, hurriedly followed her out.
In the tomb, there was no distinction between day and night. After the long day, both of them were exhausted. Xiaolongnü told Yang Guo to sleep in Granny Sun’s room. Yang Guo, who had been wandering alone since childhood and was used to sleeping in deserted temples and wild places, usually had a brave heart. However, the thought of sleeping alone in the tomb, surrounded by the dead, filled him with an inexplicable fear. Despite Xiaolongnü’s repeated commands, he remained silent.
Xiaolongnü asked, “Didn’t you hear me?” Yang Guo replied, “I’m scared.” Xiaolongnü asked, “Scared of what?” Yang Guo said, “I don’t know. I just don’t dare to sleep alone.” Xiaolongnü frowned and said, “Then sleep in my room.” She led him to her room.
Used to the dark, Xiaolongnü rarely lit candles, but she made an exception for Yang Guo and lit one. Yang Guo, expecting her room to be elegantly furnished, was disappointed to see it was as bare as the stone coffin room. There was a long stone slab for a bed, covered with a straw mat and a piece of white cloth serving as a thin quilt.
Yang Guo wondered, “Where will I sleep? She’ll probably make me sleep on the floor.” Just as he was thinking this, Xiaolongnü said, “Sleep on my bed.” Yang Guo replied, “That wouldn’t be right. I’ll sleep on the floor.” Xiaolongnü’s face turned stern and she said, “If you want to stay here, you must listen to everything I say. You fought with the Quanzhen Taoists, which is fine. But if you disobey me, I will take your life.” Yang Guo said, “You don’t have to be so fierce. I’ll listen to you.” Xiaolongnü said, “Are you still talking back?” Seeing her young and beautiful but acting tough, Yang Guo stuck out his tongue and fell silent. Xiaolongnü noticed and said, “Why did you stick out your tongue? Are you defying me?” Yang Guo didn’t answer, took off his shoes, and got into bed.
As soon as he lay down, he felt an icy coldness seeping into his bones and jumped up in fright. Xiaolongnü, seeing his alarm, almost laughed despite her usual reserve and said, “What’s wrong?” Yang Guo, noticing a hint of amusement in her eyes, said, “This bed is strange; you’re playing tricks on me.” Xiaolongnü said seriously, “Who’s playing tricks? The bed is like this. Go back to sleep.” She took a broom from behind the door and said, “If you slide off after falling asleep, I will hit you ten times with this broom.”
Seeing she was serious, Yang Guo had no choice but to get back into bed. This time, prepared for the cold, he wasn’t as startled but still felt the chill deepening. His whole body shivered, and his teeth chattered. After a while, the cold became unbearable.
He looked over at Xiaolongnü, seeing a faint smile of schadenfreude on her face, which made him secretly angry. Clenching his teeth, he fought against the cold. Xiaolongnü took out a rope, tied it to an iron hook on the east side of the room, stretched it across to a hook on the west wall, and leaped lightly to lie horizontally on the rope, using it as a bed. She then waved her left hand, extinguishing the candle with a gust of wind.
Yang Guo, impressed, said, “Auntie, will you teach me that skill tomorrow?” Xiaolongnü replied, “What’s so special about this? If you study hard, I have many powerful skills to teach you.” Hearing her willingness to teach him sincerely, Yang Guo felt all his initial resentment melt away, and he tearfully said, “Auntie, you treat me so well, but I used to hate you.” Xiaolongnü said, “You naturally hated me for driving you away. That’s not surprising.” Yang Guo said, “It’s not just that. I thought you were like my previous master, only teaching me useless skills.”
Xiaolongnü heard the trembling in his voice and asked, “Are you very cold?” Yang Guo replied, “Yes, this bed is incredibly cold. What’s underneath it?” Xiaolongnü said, “Do you like sleeping here?” Yang Guo said, “I… I don’t.” Xiaolongnü sneered, “Hmph, you don’t like sleeping here, but many top martial artists in the world would love to sleep on this bed but can’t.” Yang Guo was puzzled, “Isn’t that pure torture?” Xiaolongnü said, “Hmph, you think I’m torturing you, but you don’t understand my intentions.”
Yang Guo, sensing that she meant well, pleaded gently, “Good Auntie, what’s so special about this cold bed? Can you tell me?” Xiaolongnü said, “If you sleep on this bed for a lifetime, you’ll naturally understand its benefits. Now close your eyes and don’t speak again.” In the dark, he heard the soft rustling of her clothes as she turned over in mid-air, lying on a rope as if it were a bed, which seemed unbelievable.
Her last two sentences were stern, so Yang Guo didn’t dare ask more questions and closed his eyes, trying to sleep. But waves of coldness seeped up from the bed, and thinking of Granny Sun made him even more sorrowful, preventing him from falling asleep. After a long while, he softly called out, “Auntie, I can’t take it anymore.” But he heard Xiaolongnü’s slow and steady breathing; she had already fallen asleep. He called out softly a few more times, but there was no response. Thinking, “If I get off the bed, she won’t know,” he quietly slipped off the bed and stood still, not daring to breathe loudly.
Just as he steadied his feet, there was a soft rustling sound, and Xiaolongnü had already leaped off the rope, grabbing his left hand and twisting it behind his back, pressing him to the ground. Yang Guo cried out in surprise. Xiaolongnü picked up the broom and struck his buttocks forcefully. Yang Guo knew that begging for mercy was useless, so he gritted his teeth and endured it. The first five strikes were very painful, but by the sixth strike, Xiaolongnü’s hand had lightened, and the last two strikes were even softer, fearing he wouldn’t be able to endure more. After ten strikes, she picked him up and threw him back onto the bed, warning, “If you get off again, I’ll beat you even more.”
Yang Guo lay on the bed silently, listening as she put the broom back in the corner and leaped onto the rope to sleep. Xiaolongnü expected him to cry and make a fuss, but he remained silent, surprising her. She asked, “Why aren’t you making a sound?” Yang Guo replied, “There’s no point in making a sound. You said you’d beat me, so you had to do it. Begging for mercy wouldn’t help.” Xiaolongnü said, “Hmph, you’re cursing me in your heart.” Yang Guo replied, “I’m not cursing you. You’re much better than my previous masters.” Xiaolongnü was curious, “Why?” Yang Guo said, “Even though you hit me, you actually care about me. The more you hit, the lighter it became because you were afraid I’d be in pain.” Xiaolongnü’s face reddened slightly, feeling embarrassed that he had seen through her, but the darkness hid her blush. She scolded, “Nonsense, who cares about you? Next time you disobey, I’ll hit you harder.”
Hearing the gentleness in her voice, Yang Guo joked, “Even if you hit me harder, I’d still be happy.” Xiaolongnü retorted, “Hmph, if you don’t get a beating every day, you probably can’t sleep.” Yang Guo said, “It depends on who hits me. If it’s someone who loves me, I won’t get angry; I might even be happy. They hit me for my own good. But if someone hates me, even if they just curse at me or glare at me, I’ll make sure to settle the score when I grow up.” Xiaolongnü asked, “Tell me then, who hates you and who loves you?” Yang Guo replied, “I remember clearly in my heart. There are too many people who hate me to count, but those who love me are my deceased mother, my foster father, Uncle Guo, Granny Sun, and you.”
Xiaolongnü sneered, “Hmph, I don’t love you. Granny Sun asked me to take care of you, so I’m taking care of you. Don’t expect me to be kind to you.” Yang Guo, already struggling with the cold, felt like he’d been doused with cold water upon hearing this. Holding back his frustration, he asked, “What’s wrong with me? Why do you hate me so much?” Xiaolongnü replied, “Why should I care about you? I don’t hate you, but I live in this tomb and don’t love or hate anyone.” Yang Guo said, “What’s so fun about that? Auntie, have you ever been outside?” Xiaolongnü said, “I’ve never left Mount Zhongnan. Outside, there are just mountains, trees, the sun, and the moon. What’s so special?”
Yang Guo clapped and said, “Oh dear, you’ve wasted your life! The cities are full of all sorts of interesting things.” He then vividly described the many strange and wonderful things he’d seen during his wandering childhood. Though Xiaolongnü had lived to be eighteen without leaving Mount Zhongnan, she believed everything he said. As she listened, she couldn’t help but sigh.
Yang Guo said, “Auntie, let me take you out to have some fun, okay?” Xiaolongnü replied, “Don’t talk nonsense! Granny left strict orders that anyone who has lived in this tomb must never set foot outside Mount Zhongnan.” Yang Guo was shocked, “Does that mean I can’t leave either?” Xiaolongnü said, “Of course not.” Yang Guo wasn’t too worried, thinking, “Peach Blossom Island is an isolated island in the sea, and I was able to leave. How can this tomb truly confine me?” He asked, “You said your senior sister Li Mochou has lived in this tomb. How did she leave Mount Zhongnan?” Xiaolongnü said, “She disobeyed my master and was expelled.” Yang Guo was delighted, thinking, “If there’s a rule like that, it’s easy. When I want to leave, I’ll just disobey you, and you’ll expel me.” But he kept this plan to himself.
As they continued talking, Yang Guo temporarily forgot about the cold, but as soon as they paused, the chill returned, making him shiver. He pleaded, “Auntie, please have mercy. I can’t sleep on this bed.” Xiaolongnü said, “You fought your Quanzhen masters without begging for mercy. Why are you so weak now?” Yang Guo laughed, “If someone treats me badly, I won’t yield, even if they beat me. But if someone treats me well, I’d willingly die for them, let alone beg for mercy.” Xiaolongnü scoffed, “Who treats you well?”
Xiaolongnü had been raised by her master and Granny Sun since childhood, always in the company of these two elderly women for eighteen years. Although both treated her very well, her master made her practice the “Jade Maiden Heart Sutra” and from a young age, required her to suppress emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Whenever she displayed any of these emotions, she was severely reprimanded. Granny Sun, despite her warm nature, did not dare interfere with Xiaolongnü’s training, leading to Xiaolongnü developing a cold and aloof temperament. Not only did she practice cold-based internal energy, but her personality and temper also became cold.
When Yang Guo arrived, with his warm heart and youthful spirit, his behavior and demeanor were a stark contrast to the two old women. Although Xiaolongnü knew his words were often inappropriate, she still found herself enjoying their conversations, forgetting her weariness. Initially, she took in Yang Guo solely because of Granny Sun’s request, but as she listened to Yang Guo repeatedly express gratitude for her kindness, she naturally started to feel that she was indeed treating him well.
Hearing no anger in her tone, Yang Guo cried out loudly, “Cold, cold, Auntie, I can’t take it anymore.” Though he was cold, he didn’t need to shout so loudly. Xiaolongnü said, “Stop making noise. I’ll tell you about the origin of this stone bed.” Yang Guo was delighted, “Alright. I won’t shout. Please go ahead, Auntie.”
Xiaolongnü explained, “I wasn’t lying when I said that all the heroes in the world want to sleep on this bed. This bed is made of ancient cold jade, which is extremely beneficial for practicing high-level internal martial arts.” Yang Guo asked, surprised, “Isn’t this just stone?” Xiaolongnü sneered, “You claim to have seen many strange things, but have you ever seen a stone this cold? This is cold jade that our grandmaster spent several years extracting from hundreds of feet beneath the ice in the extreme north. Sleeping on this jade bed while practicing internal martial arts is equivalent to ten years of normal practice.”
Yang Guo was delighted, “Oh, it has such great benefits.” Xiaolongnü said, “At first, when you sleep on it, you’ll find it unbearably cold, requiring you to use all your strength to resist it. Over time, you’ll get used to it, and even in your dreams, you’ll continue practicing. Most people, no matter how diligent, need a few hours of sleep each day. Practicing martial arts goes against natural processes, with blood and energy circulating differently than usual. When normal people sleep, their blood and energy circulation reverts to its normal state, nullifying most of the day’s practice. But sleeping on this cold jade bed not only retains the day’s progress but also increases it.”
Yang Guo immediately understood, “So sleeping on ice and snow at night is also beneficial.” Xiaolongnü replied, “That’s different. First, ice and snow warm up from body heat and turn into water, and people can’t sleep in cold water. Second, this cold jade is far colder than ice and snow.” Yang Guo said, “Auntie, no wonder you wear white clothes like snow even in winter. You look beautiful, like ice and snow. Other people wear dark coats in winter, but you don’t fear the cold, do you?” Xiaolongnü said, “I’m not afraid of the cold. Do you think white clothes look good? I don’t care about looks; I just wear them. This cold jade bed has another benefit. Practicing internal martial arts risks going astray, requiring half one’s energy to resist internal heat. This cold jade is extremely cold, keeping the heart clear and allowing fearless and vigorous practice without future problems. Isn’t this twice as fast as normal practice?”
Yang Guo, itching with excitement, said, “Auntie, you’re so good to me. You let me sleep on this bed while you sleep on a rope and don’t get its benefits. I don’t know how I can repay you. Granny Sun asked me to take care of you for life, and I surely will.” Xiaolongnü replied, “You’re always crying, how can you take care of me?” Yang Guo said, “I’ll grow up and won’t be a child. Auntie, I’ll practice diligently and won’t fear the Wu brothers or Guo Fu. Although Zhao Zhijing of Quanzhen Sect has practiced longer, I’ll catch up.” Xiaolongnü coldly said, “Our grandmaster’s teaching is to cultivate the mind and character here, not to compete with others.” Yang Guo said urgently, “Should we let them bully me and kill Granny Sun without doing anything?” Xiaolongnü said, “Everyone dies eventually. Even if Granny Sun didn’t die at Hao Datong’s hands, she would die in a few years. Living a few more years or less, what’s the difference? Don’t mention revenge to me again.”
Yang Guo found her words logical but felt something was off. Before he could respond, the cold once again assailed him, making him shiver. Xiaolongnü said, “I’ll teach you how to resist the cold of this bed.” She then taught him a few basic internal martial arts techniques, the foundational skills of her sect. Following her instructions, Yang Guo felt the coldness reduce significantly. After a few cycles of internal energy, he felt warm and comfortable, falling asleep. After half an hour, he was awakened by the cold again and practiced once more. This cycle of waking and sleeping continued through the night, and by morning, he felt no fatigue. In just one night, his internal energy had improved.
The next day, after breakfast, Yang Guo took the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen, washed them clean, and returned to the main hall. Xiaolongnü said, “There’s something you need to think about. If you truly want to take me as your master, you must obey my words for the rest of your life. If you don’t take me as your master, I’ll still teach you martial arts. If you can surpass me in the future, you can use your skills to fight your way out of this Living Dead Tomb.” Without a second thought, Yang Guo replied, “Of course, I want to take you as my master. Even if you don’t teach me any martial arts, I will still listen to you.” Xiaolongnü asked, “Why?” Yang Guo said, “Auntie, I know you care for me, don’t I?” Xiaolongnü sternly replied, “Whether I care for you or not, you’re not allowed to mention it again. Since you’ve decided to take me as your master, let’s go to the rear hall to perform the ceremony.”
Yang Guo followed her to the rear hall, where Xiaolongnü lit two candles on the table. Yang Guo saw that the hall was also empty, except for a painting on each of the east and west walls. The painting on the west wall depicted two girls. One was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, dressing in front of a mirror, and the other was a fourteen or fifteen-year-old maid, holding a basin of water and serving her. The older girl’s reflection in the mirror showed a face of exceptional beauty, with sharp eyebrows that extended into her temples, but there was a hint of killing intent in her eyes. Yang Guo looked at it for a few moments and couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and respect.
Xiaolongnü pointed to the older woman in the painting and said, “This is our Ancestor Master. You should bow to her.” Yang Guo asked, “How can she be the Ancestor Master if she looks so young?” Xiaolongnü explained, “She was young when the painting was made, but later she aged.” Pondering the phrase “young when the painting was made, but later she aged,” Yang Guo suddenly felt a wave of melancholy and, staring at the painting, couldn’t help but shed tears.
Unaware of his thoughts, Xiaolongnü pointed to the girl dressed as a maid and said, “This is my master. You should bow to her too.” Yang Guo turned to look at the painting of the maid, who had a naive and charming look, and thought it surprising that she became Xiaolongnü’s master. Without further thought, he knelt and bowed deeply to the painting, his heart filled with sincerity.
After Yang Guo stood up, Xiaolongnü pointed to the painting hanging on the east wall and said, “Spit on that Taoist priest.” Yang Guo looked and saw that the Taoist priest in the painting was tall, with a sword hanging at his waist and his right index finger pointing to the northeast corner, his back facing out, so his face was not visible. He found it strange and asked, “Who is that? Why should I spit on him?” Xiaolongnü replied, “That is Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen Sect. Our sect has a rule that after paying respects to our Ancestor Master, we must spit on him.” Yang Guo was delighted; he already loathed the Quanzhen Sect and thought this rule was excellent. He spat a big gob of saliva on Wang Chongyang’s back in the painting. One spit didn’t feel enough, so he spat twice more and cursed, “Stinky Taoist!” He was about to spit again when Xiaolongnü said, “That’s enough!”
Yang Guo asked, “Does our Ancestor Master really hate Wang Chongyang?” Xiaolongnü confirmed, “Yes.” Yang Guo said, “I hate him too. Why not destroy his painting instead of keeping it here?” Xiaolongnü replied, “I don’t know. I just heard my master and Granny Sun say that there’s not a good man in the world.” Suddenly, she sternly warned, “If you grow up and do bad things, don’t think I’ll spare you.” Yang Guo said, “Of course, you’ll spare me.” Xiaolongnü intended to intimidate him but was taken aback by his immediate response. With nothing to say, she commanded, “Quickly bow to your master.”
Yang Guo said, “Of course, I will bow. But you must agree to one thing first, or I won’t bow.” Xiaolongnü thought, “I’ve heard from Granny Sun that traditionally, it is the master who makes the disciple agree to conditions, not the other way around.” She remained calm and asked, “What is it? Tell me.” Yang Guo said, “In my heart, I consider you my master, respect you, and will do whatever you say. But I won’t call you ‘Master’; I’ll call you ‘Auntie’ instead.” Xiaolongnü was puzzled, “Why?” Yang Guo explained, “I once took a stinky Taoist from the Quanzhen Sect as my master, but he treated me poorly, and I curse him even in my dreams. So it’s better to call you Auntie to avoid cursing my master and involving you.” Xiaolongnü couldn’t help but laugh, finding his reasoning amusing, and said, “Alright, I agree.”
Yang Guo knelt respectfully and knocked his head on the ground eight times, saying, “Disciple Yang Guo today takes Xiaolongnü Auntie as his master. From now on, Yang Guo will always obey Auntie’s words and take care of her for life. If Auntie faces any danger, Yang Guo will sacrifice his life to protect her. If bad people come to bully Auntie, Yang Guo will fight them to the death.” Although Xiaolongnü’s martial arts were far superior to his, Yang Guo, seeing her delicate and graceful demeanor, felt a surge of manly protectiveness. As he continued, his words became increasingly fervent and passionate. Xiaolongnü, hearing his sincere tone despite the childlike statements, was moved.
After Yang Guo finished bowing, he stood up, his face beaming with joy. Xiaolongnü said, “What are you so happy about? My skills aren’t as good as those of the Quanzhen Sect’s old Taoist Qiu Chuji, nor are they better than your Uncle Guo’s.” Yang Guo said, “Their skills have nothing to do with me. But you are genuinely teaching me martial arts.” Xiaolongnü said, “Actually, learning martial arts isn’t very useful. It’s just that there’s nothing else to do in this tomb, so I’ll teach you.”
Yang Guo asked, “Auntie, what is the name of our sect?” Xiaolongnü replied, “Since our Ancestor Master moved into this Living Dead Tomb, she never interacted with other martial artists. Our sect has no name. Later, my senior sister Li Mo Chou traveled the martial world, and others said she was a disciple of the ‘Ancient Tomb Sect,’ so we just call ourselves the ‘Ancient Tomb Sect’.” Yang Guo shook his head, “Ancient Tomb Sect, that’s not a good name!” He had just joined the sect and was already criticizing its name. Xiaolongnü didn’t mind and said, “Does the name matter? Wait here; I need to go out for a while.”
Thinking of being left alone in the tomb, Yang Guo became frightened and quickly said, “Auntie, let me go with you.” Xiaolongnü gave him a stern look, “You said you’d always listen to me. My first command, and you already disobey.” Yang Guo said, “I’m scared.” Xiaolongnü replied, “What are you afraid of? You just said you’d help me fight bad people.” After thinking for a moment, Yang Guo said, “Okay, but come back soon.” Xiaolongnü coldly replied, “That’s uncertain. What if I don’t catch it quickly?” Yang Guo was puzzled, “Catch what?” Xiaolongnü didn’t answer and left.
After she left, the tomb became even quieter. Yang Guo wondered what she went to catch but thought she wouldn’t leave Mount Zhongnan and must be catching a Quanzhen Taoist. He imagined her torturing the Taoist and found the idea delightful but hoped she wouldn’t get hurt. Lost in thought, he left the hall and walked west along the corridor. After about ten steps, it became pitch black. Afraid of getting lost, he touched the wall and slowly walked back. After twenty steps or more, he still couldn’t see the hall’s light. Panic set in, and he quickened his pace. Already on the wrong path, his panic made it worse. He walked faster, bumping into walls, feeling like he was in an endless maze. He shouted, “Auntie, Auntie, save me!” His voice echoed in the tomb, sounding muffled and eerie.
After wandering aimlessly for a while, Yang Guo realized that the ground was damp, and his feet were getting muddy. He had unknowingly left the tomb path and entered a tunnel connected to it. He became even more frightened and thought, “If I get lost in the tomb, Auntie will find me eventually. But now that I’m here, she won’t find me and will think I’ve run away, which will surely make her very sad.” Afraid to go further, he found a stone, sat down, and propped his chin on his hands, wanting to cry but unable to shed tears.
He sat there motionless for over an hour until he faintly heard someone calling, “Guo’er, Guo’er!” Delighted, Yang Guo leaped up and shouted, “Auntie, I’m here.” But the voice calling “Guo’er, Guo’er” grew fainter and fainter. Yang Guo became anxious and shouted louder, “I’m here.” After a while, the voice was gone. Suddenly, he felt a cool sensation on his ear as someone lifted it.
At first, he was greatly surprised, then overjoyed, and exclaimed, “Auntie, you’re here! How did you find me without making a sound?” Xiaolongnü said, “What are you doing here?” Yang Guo replied, “I took the wrong path.” Xiaolongnü hummed in acknowledgment, took his hand, and led him back. Even in the darkness, she moved as swiftly as if she were in broad daylight. Yang Guo asked, “Auntie, how can you see?” Xiaolongnü replied, “I’ve grown up in the dark all my life, so I naturally don’t need light.” Yang Guo, who had been filled with fear and regret for the past hour, was now overjoyed and at a loss for words.
In no time, Xiaolongnü brought him back to the main hall. Yang Guo sighed with relief and said, “Auntie, I was really worried just now.” Xiaolongnü asked, “Worried about what? I would have found you eventually.” Yang Guo said, “I wasn’t worried about that. I was afraid you would think I had run away and feel sad.” Xiaolongnü replied, “If you had run away, then my promise to Granny Sun wouldn’t count. Why would I be sad?”
Yang Guo felt disappointed by her words and asked, “Auntie, did you catch it?” Xiaolongnü said, “I caught it.” Yang Guo asked, “Why did you catch it?” Xiaolongnü replied, “To help you practice martial arts. Follow me!” Yang Guo thought she had caught a Taoist for him to spar with, which seemed interesting. He hoped it was his master Zhao Zhijing, so he could beat him up after Xiaolongnü subdued him. He followed her, growing more excited at the thought.
After several turns, Xiaolongnü opened a door and entered a small stone room lit by a lamp. The room was so tiny that it was difficult for two people to turn around, and the ceiling was low enough for Xiaolongnü to touch with her outstretched arm.
Yang Guo didn’t see any Taoists and was puzzled. He asked, “Where’s the Taoist you caught?” Xiaolongnü replied, “What Taoist?” Yang Guo said, “Didn’t you say you went out to catch someone to help me practice?” Xiaolongnü said, “Who said it was a person? It’s right here.” She bent down, picked up a cloth bag from the corner of the room, untied the rope at the mouth of the bag, and shook it. Three sparrows flew out. Yang Guo was surprised, “So Auntie went out to catch sparrows.”
Xiaolongnü said, “You have to catch all three sparrows for me without hurting their feathers or claws.” Yang Guo eagerly said, “Alright!” He lunged at them, but the sparrows were quick and agile, darting here and there. Soon, he was panting and sweating, unable to catch even a feather.
Xiaolongnü said, “You can’t catch them like that. Let me teach you the method.” She taught him various techniques for jumping, lunging, and grabbing. Yang Guo realized she was using sparrow catching to teach him martial arts and memorized the techniques. Though he understood the principles, it wasn’t easy to apply them immediately. Xiaolongnü left him to practice in the small room and closed the door.
That day, Yang Guo didn’t catch a single sparrow. After dinner, he practiced on the cold jade bed. The next day, when he tried to catch the sparrows again, he could jump a few inches higher and move quicker. By the fifth day, he finally caught one sparrow. Overjoyed, he rushed to tell Xiaolongnü, but she showed no appreciation, coldly saying, “Catching one is useless; you must catch all three.”
Yang Guo thought, “If I can catch one, catching the other two shouldn’t be difficult.” But he was wrong; he couldn’t catch any for the next two days. Seeing the sparrows were exhausted, Xiaolongnü fed them rice to their fill and released them, catching three more for his practice. On the eighth day, Yang Guo managed to catch all three sparrows in one go.
Xiaolongnü said, “Today, we should go to Chongyang Palace.” Yang Guo, alarmed, asked, “Why?” Xiaolongnü didn’t answer, leading him out of the tomb. Yang Guo hadn’t seen sunlight for seven days and could hardly open his eyes in the brightness.
When they arrived at Chongyang Palace, Yang Guo was apprehensive, constantly glancing at Xiaolongnü. She remained indifferent, and he couldn’t guess her intentions. He heard her call out loudly, “Zhao Zhijing, come out!”
As they approached the palace, someone went inside to report. As soon as Xiaolongnü finished calling, dozens of Taoists rushed out. Two young Taoists supported Zhao Zhijing, who looked haggard, with sunken eyes, unable to stand on his own. The Taoists glared at Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo with their hands on their swords.