The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 556 Resolute Choice

Wu Chengyu hid outside the house, listening to the two ill-fated lovers in their forties pouring out their hearts to each other. Their love was so deep and their feelings so intense, as if they had turned eighteen years of bitter longing into the most ardent expression of their lives. For a moment, Wu Chengyu found it hard to accept.

Wu Chengyu wondered if thinking like this was a bit of a mood killer, but he was still pleased for the two of them.

But at that moment, the sound of two people's footsteps and a faint conversation came from afar.

"Young Prince, I've brought you the little rabbit you wanted."

"How did it come to this? If Mother Consort hadn't always gone to bed late, we would have missed it today."

"Your Highness, I really don't know where to get this rabbit right now. You required it to be a white rabbit, so it took some time."

"Alright, it's good that there is. Today I got into a fight with someone and my mother happened to see it. My mother dislikes me fighting with others, especially Han people. Although she only said a few words to me on the surface, she will probably sigh and lament all night. I have to find something for her to do."

This matter is none of your concern. You may leave. Later, have more small animals stocked in the manor so I can use them whenever I need them.

The people speaking at this moment were Yang Kang and a servant from the mansion. They were more than 110 meters away from Bao Xiruo's hut. Ever since Wu Chengyu learned the "Cicada's Chirping Breathing Technique" and started to cultivate his spirit, they had been doing so.

After many years, his three-dimensional dynamic image finally broke through the 100-meter distance, and at this moment Yang Kang also appeared in the three-dimensional image. After the servant left, Wu Chengyu clearly saw Yang Kang twist the right hind leg of the little white rabbit he had just obtained.

Wu Chengyu shook his head. Several years had passed, and Yang Kang had come of age, yet he was still using the same trick. Given Yang Kang's intelligence, he shouldn't have resorted to such tactics. This could only mean that this trick had always been very effective against Bao Xiruo, and that the name Bao Xiruo was indeed well-chosen.

Seeing Yang Kang excitedly rushing towards Bao Xiruo's mud house with a rabbit in his hands, while Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo were still hugging each other, unwilling to separate for a moment, Wu Chengyu frowned.

According to his plan, he would simply take Bao Xiruo away tonight and then bring the couple back to Jiangnan. They couldn't stay in Niujia Village anymore, as Wanyan Honglie, that sycophant, would definitely send people to Jiangnan to investigate.

It might be wise to temporarily settle this ill-fated couple, along with Li Ping, in Suzhou. Suzhou is now under Wu Chengyu's control, like an iron barrel, with all the middle and high-ranking civil and military officials under his control.

Half of the main Song army in Pingjiang Prefecture has been replaced by his subordinates, and the total number of troops has reached 50,000. There are also more than 10,000 new recruits undergoing training on the East and West Mountain Islands of Taihu Lake. Even if the Jin army presses in, they will not be able to do anything to Suzhou.

However, although Wu Chengyu was certain of Yang Kang's character, he was even more arrogant than in the original story.

At that time, his martial arts skills were not very good. At most, he could only defeat Lu Guanying, who was an adult and could only study under Xianxia Temple, by using the Nine Yin White Bone Claw. Among the many princes of Jin, Wanyan Honglie was not the most favored or the most powerful. In the end, Yang Kang still chose Wanyan Honglie.

In this life, Yang Kang's martial arts skills have reached a new level. Although he lost to Guo Jing, Guo Jing, though young now, is by no means a small force.

The Nine Yin Manual, the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, the solid foundation laid for him by Wu Chengyu, the top-tier master at the age of eighteen, and the experience gained from years of battlefield combat.

Although Qiu Chuji said that Guo Jing's martial arts had caught up with his own, he was an old man who didn't rely on his physical strength. If they really fought, Guo Jing would definitely win.

Therefore, although Yang Kang was defeated, his current martial arts skills are still extraordinary, and he will definitely enter the top tier in the future. His mindset is completely different now.

Then there's Wanyan Honglie, who is now the most likely prince to inherit the throne of the Jin Kingdom. He is not the crown prince, but he is more powerful than the crown prince. As a result, the status of Prince Yang Kang in the Jin Kingdom has risen even higher.

Although times have changed, it is unlikely that Yang Kang would leave with Yang Tiexin to become an ordinary citizen in Jiangnan, living a powerless and despised life as a Han Chinese. In Wu Chengyu's mind, this was inevitable.

On one side was Wanyan Honglie, who treated him like his own father, caring for him deeply and even spoiling him; on the other side was Yang Tiexin, a destitute commoner who had never shown him any affection. Yang Kang's final choice was self-evident.

But how can you persuade parents to give up on their child like that? Unless they are in a life-or-death situation and completely disappointed, Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo will definitely still hope that Yang Kang will return to Jiangnan with them and live a life of filial piety.

Wu Chengyu had a plan in mind, and in the end, he did not stop Yang Kang. Instead, he hid in the shadows and let Yang Kang approach the earthen house step by step.

The door to the small house wasn't bolted, but Yang Kang didn't care. The Prince's mansion was perfectly safe. He pushed the door open and entered, his face immediately showing a pained expression: "Mother, look how pitiful this little rabbit is, it's injured..."

"Who are you? Why are you here? Mother, what are you doing?"

Yang Kang was shocked, and the little white rabbit in his hand fell to the ground. His face was contorted. He never expected that one day his mother would be nestled in another man's arms, looking so close.

"No, it's you? I let you go during the day, but you dare to come to the Prince's mansion and do such a disgraceful thing. Today I will definitely take your life."

After his initial surprise, Yang Kang recognized the man before him as the old man who had brought his daughter to the martial arts contest to find a husband during the day. How could he tolerate his noble and beautiful mother being held in the arms of such a vulgar fellow? He immediately raised his hand, intending to kill Yang Tiexin on the spot.

But Bao Xiruo pushed Yang Tiexin aside, spread her arms to block him, her face showing a resolute look, and her heart was filled with bitterness: "Today's matter must be explained to him clearly, so that father and son can meet."

Then I will take my own life. I have lost my chastity and made a grave mistake; I can never be reunited with Tie Ge in this life.” Thinking of this, tears streamed down my face.

Seeing his mother's unusual expression today, Yang Kang was filled with doubt and uncertainty, and for a moment he could no longer bring his raised hand down.

Bao Xiruo's face was sorrowful, yet she had never been so resolute. She picked up the iron spearhead: "Look at the four characters on the spear."

Yang Kang said, "I asked my mother when I was a child, but you wouldn't tell me who Yang Tiexin was."

Bao Xiruo glanced back at Yang Tiexin, then turned to Yang Kang and said, "This iron spear was originally from Niujia Village in Lin'an Prefecture, the capital of the Great Song Dynasty in Jiangnan. I sent someone to retrieve it from afar."

The half-eaten plowshare on the wall, the tables, stools, cabinets, and wooden bed in this room—every single item was transported from Niujia Village.

Yang Kang said, "I've never understood why Mom insists on living in this dilapidated place. I've brought you some furniture, but you always refuse."

Bao Xiruo said, "You think this place is dilapidated? I think it's much better than the painted beams and carved pillars of the Prince's mansion. Child, you are not blessed to be able to live in this dilapidated place with your own father and mother."

Yang Tiexin stood behind Bao Xiruo. At first, he didn't know how to face his child and was at a loss for words. But upon hearing this, he could no longer suppress his emotions, and tears streamed down his face.

Yang Kang laughed and said, "Mother, what you're saying is getting stranger and stranger. How can Father live here?"

Bao Xiruo sighed, "It's pitiful that he has been wandering around for eighteen years, drifting through the world. How could he possibly stay in this house for even a day or two in peace?"

Yang Kang's eyes widened, a sudden fear gripping his heart. He asked in a trembling voice, "Mother, what are you talking about?"

With unprecedented firmness, Bao Xiruo demanded sharply, "Do you know who your biological father is?"

Yang Kang was even more surprised and said, "My father is the King of Zhao of the Great Jin Kingdom. Why are you asking this, Mother?" Bao Xiruo hugged the iron spearhead to her chest, tears streaming down her face, and cried, "Child, you don't know, but that's not your fault. This, this is the iron spear that your biological father used back then."

She pointed to the name on the gun and said, "This is your biological father's name!"

Yang Kang's body began to tremble uncontrollably, and he cried out, "Mother, you're confused! I'll go get the imperial physician."

Bao Xiruo said, "How am I confused? Do you think you are a Jurchen from the Great Jin Dynasty? You are a Han Chinese! Your name is not Wanyan Kang, your original surname was Yang, and your name was Yang Kang!"

Yang Kang was filled with shock and disbelief, and felt an indescribable anger. He immediately turned to leave, saying, "I will ask my father to come. He will surely be able to bring you back to your senses."

Bao Xiruo grabbed Yang Tiexin and pulled him in front of her: "Your biological father is right here."

Unexpectedly, a sly glint flashed in Yang Kang's eyes. He prepared to strike again, to kill the person in front of him in one fell swoop and nip all the chaos in the bud.

Yang Tiexin sighed deeply, but straightened his chest and did not resist. Bao Xiruo cried out in anguish, "This is your own father! You, you still don't believe me?"

The words had barely left her mouth when she slammed her head against the wall and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Yang Kang was shocked and turned back. When he looked at his mother again, he saw that her forehead was covered in blood, her breathing was faint, and her life was uncertain. He was caught off guard and at a loss for what to do.

Yang Tiexin, his face also filled with grief, bent down to pick up his wife and called out, "Mr. Wu."

A long sigh came from outside, and Wu Chengyu's figure floated in: "What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for each other? No matter what the cause was, Madam Yang raised your son in times of danger and now she is risking her life to hope that you and your son can recognize each other."

Brother Yang, Madam Yang has never wronged you from beginning to end; she was simply powerless to resist this capricious fate.

As Wu Chengyu spoke, he pressed several acupoints on Bao Xiruo's body to stop the bleeding in time, preventing Bao Xiruo from being in mortal danger.

Yang Tiexin nodded silently, knowing that his wife had married and remarried over the years. Even if they were deeply in love, there was bound to be some resentment in their hearts. But with Bao Xiruo's suicide to prove her point, that resentment had completely vanished.

Yang Kang was also shocked by Bao Xiruo's resolute decision. He stood there, stunned, and finally realized that he was not Wanyan Honglie's son after all, and that his biological father was the vulgar old man in front of him.

However, he felt only coldness and anger in his heart. No matter what, he was unwilling to give up his wealth and status and to acknowledge a complete stranger with no feelings for him as his father. He had no interest in it whatsoever.

The best course of action now is to kill everyone in front of me before anyone else knows about this, so that I can secure my bright future. As for my mother, she has always been gentle and submissive.

As long as Yang Tiexin dies, and we appease him properly afterward, the matter will surely be forgotten in no time.

Yang Kang made the most ruthless and merciless decision in the shortest amount of time. He was a first-class master and did not take Yang Tiexin seriously at all. As for Wu Chengyu, who suddenly entered, he was now using his true form and could not recognize him as his master, Wanli Duxing Tian Boguang.

"You treacherous man, how dare you bewitch my mother! Die!"

Yang Kang gathered his innate internal energy and used all his strength this time, unleashing the strongest killing move in the Quanzhen Palm Technique, directly striking Yang Tiexin's crown.

Yang Tiexin was naturally unable to resist, but Wu Chengyu was right beside him, so how could he possibly get hurt?

Wu Chengyu shook his head, waved his hand, and Yang Kang's palm force naturally disappeared. Immediately afterward, the Soul-Guiding Silk, an invisible force field, transformed into ropes that tightly bound Yang Kang.

Wu Chengyu's eyes flickered, and he used his persuasive skills when he spoke. Back when he was Tian Boguang in the Prince's mansion, he had used persuasive skills to influence Yang Kang's subconscious. Now, Yang Kang was even more agitated and naturally found it difficult to resist.

"Actually, you already believe your mother's words and know that Yang Tiexin is your biological father, and that Wanyan Honglie is not related to you by blood, is that right?"

Yang Kang used all his strength, but he still couldn't break free from the Soul-Guiding Silk. Under the influence of the Talking Technique, his eyes showed a bit of confusion, and he opened his mouth to speak.

“I know he is my biological father, but so what? My father, Wanyan Honglie, has treated me like his own son, and has doted on me for many years. How can I betray him?”

These words were spoken with a certain frankness, not empty words or sophistry. Wanyan Honglie and Yang Kang had an excellent father-son relationship, but what Yang Kang said next was even more sincere.

"As for the person in front of me, he is just a powerless and down-on-his-luck江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world). What qualifications does he have to be the father of this young prince?"

My father is now the First Prince of the Jin Dynasty, and will soon become the Crown Prince. I am his only son, and may one day have the opportunity to inherit the throne of the Jin Dynasty. For me to give up my promising future for this old man, he doesn't deserve it."

These words, once spoken, were absolutely from the heart. Yang Tiexin felt as if his heart was being torn apart, and two lines of tears streamed down his face. His arms, which were holding Bao Xiruo, trembled uncontrollably, which actually woke Bao Xiruo up as well.

Upon hearing Yang Kang's words, Bao Xiruo was at a loss for what to do. However, as a mother, she still couldn't let go of her son, so she forced herself to speak.

“Now that I have found your father, even if I die at this moment, my soul will follow your father away from here and return to the Niujia Village in my dreams. Kang’er, you are Han Chinese, the son of your mother and father. Your mother hopes that you will leave everything here and go with your father and mother.”

A mother's love for her son is something she can never let go of, no matter how resolute he may be. Yang Kang's heartfelt words alone were not enough to make Bao Xiruo give up on her son, nor was Yang Tiexin's.

Wu Chengyu understood this as well. Yang Kang was beyond redemption, but at this moment, it was still a bit too late to make Bao Xiruo and Yang Tiexin completely despair of him.

The only option now is to make Yang Kang's betrayal even more thorough, so that Bao Xiruo and Yang Tiexin will be completely disheartened and have no choice but to give up on their son, no matter how much they care about him.

Wu Chengyu turned to Yang Tiexin and said, "Since that's the case, why bother? Just take this kid with you. When we return to Jiangnan, guide him properly, and he might change his mind."

Yang Tiexin knew this was the only way, and nodded in agreement in a daze. He picked up Bao Xiruo, and Wu Chengyu grabbed Yang Kang, preparing to take the three of them away together.

Unable to break free from the Soul-Guiding Silk, Yang Kang rolled his eyes, channeled his inner strength, and shouted in a deep voice, "Guards! Someone is trying to assassinate the Princess!"

With his current internal strength, his voice was incredibly loud in the quiet night, immediately alerting the people in the Prince's mansion, and the sound of numerous footsteps came from afar.

What Yang Kang didn't know was that with Wu Chengyu's abilities, he could have completely blocked the shout with ultrasound. However, Wu Chengyu also wanted to alert the people in the palace, and disappearing silently was not in line with his plan.

He simply grabbed Yang Kang with one hand and Yang Tiexin with the other, and instantly disappeared into the night using his lightness skill.

(End of this chapter)